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Fullname: John Kurila
aka: Kurila the Gorilla
Born: 19 April 1941
Died: 6 March 2018
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: 5 Aug 1958
Left: 1 May 1962 (free)
Position: Centre-half, defence
Debut: Celtic 0-2 Motherwell, 8 April 1959
Internationals: none
Biog
Centre-half John Kurila was a strong defender who joined Celtic from St Francis Boys Guild in August 1958. He was an ex-schoolboy goalkeeper turned defender.
He made his competitive debut at right-back in a 2-0 league defeat to Motherwell on April 8th 1959. Despite being an outstanding skipper of a successful reserve side John’s first team opportunities at Celtic Park were limited as he was forced to play under-study to the considerable talents of Bobby Evans and then Billy McNeill. Had John played in another era he could have become a possible regular first team player.
His play was described as being very physical, but lacked a bit on the technical side. In jest, he was tagged by some of the Celtic support as ‘Kurila the Gorilla‘ for his physical style of play but also just as it rhymed well. Some attribute it also to his forthright manner of play against Rangers.
Displacing the aforementioned greats was no easy task, but he enjoyed success in the reserves, winning three 2nd XI Championship medals and a reserve league cup medal also. He had only a few games for the senior side but to no avail.
He played in a run of games around Aug/Sep in 1960 in place of Billy McNeill, but in those five games Celtic lost three games (two to Rangers), drew one and won only once, conceding ten goals over the matches. Didn’t help his case. He was deemed culpable for at least one of the goals in a 5-1 defeat to Rangers, but in a 2-1 defeat to Rangers in the League Cup from reports he was given plaudits for at least keeping Ranger’s quick centre-forward Millar quiet in that game.
Not all on the Celtic terracings were convinced of his talents, but really the biggest problems were in the coaching & team management.
The satirical Celtic fanzine ‘Not The View‘ in a look back on players, ranked him as one of those in their humorous series of players referred to as “They Embarrassed the Hoops“. In fairness, there were many other underperformers at the time, and Celtic had hit a fallow period with no trophies won after the league cup triumph in 1957 until the Scottish Cup victory in 1965.
He was eventually released in May 1962 having had a torrid season through 1961-62 when he had at times to play in the Combined Reserve team and he was released at the end of the season on a free to restart his career at another club for his own sake.
He went on to enjoy success playing for a number of lower league English sides – most notably Northampton Town.
His main claim to fame however is when he was part of the famous Colchester giant killing side who defeated the then mighty Leeds United – Bremner, Giles et al in February 1971. Colchester were 3-2 winners.
John Kurila was of Lithuanian descent, his grandparents having settled from Lithuania during 1914-18.
After football, he settled down south and worked in the building trade after qualifying as a carpenter.
He passed away in 2018.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1958-62 | 5 | 0 | 4 | n/a | 9 |
| Goals: | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none
Pictures
Links
Articles
Not The View (Issue 11)
Passing:
https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2018/march/john-kurila-1941-2018/
Colchester United were saddened to hear the news that former defender John Kurila has passed away, aged 77. John was one of the U’s side to create one of the biggest ever FA Cup upsets, when Dick Graham’s side defeated Leeds United 3-2 in 1971.He started his career with Celtic, but made his name with Northampton Town with whom, over two spells, he played over one hundred games.He joined Essex neighbours Southend in 1968, winning the Player of the Season award, before moving to the U’s in 1970.His name was written in U’s folklore as part of that side and will forever be remembered by the club’s supporters.Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.Colchester United were saddened to hear the news that former defender John Kurila has passed away, aged 77. John was one of the U’s side to create one of the biggest ever FA Cup upsets, when Dick Graham’s side defeated Leeds United 3-2 in 1971.He started his career with Celtic, but made his name with Northampton Town with whom, over two spells, he played over one hundred games.He joined Essex neighbours Southend in 1968, winning the Player of the Season award, before moving to the U’s in 1970.His name was written in U’s folklore as part of that side to beat Leeds and will forever be remembered by the club’s supporters.
Secretary of the Former Players’ Association John Schultz said: “I never actually saw John play but when I have met him he came across as a person I would have loved to have known better. Full of great stories and experiences whilst at the club.”John will always be remembered in history for his contribution whilst at Colchester United, including that never to be forgotten win against Leeds United in the FA Cup.”John and his family settled in Northampton and of course at this time our thoughts and deepest sympathies are extended to John’s family and friends.”RIP John Kurila – a true gentleman.
JOHN KURILA TRIBUTE by St Anthony
http://celticunderground.net/john-kurila-tribute/
The sad news reached us today that ex Celtic player, John Kurila, had passed away at the age of 76.In his autobiography, Alex Ferguson stated that the hardest defenders he ever faced in his career was the late 1950’s Celtic reserve half back line of John McNamee, John Cushley and John Kurila. All three were hard, robust, uncompromising defenders and not noted for taking prisoners.When I was a boy I would laugh when my dad told me that the Celtic support had given John the nickname ‘Kurila the Gorilla’. He also told me that John, who was of Lituanian descent, was a fine player who like many of his team mates just had the misfortune to play for Celtic at a difficult time in the club’s history.John’s main claim to fame was that he was part of the Colchester United side who created a major upset in 1971 when they knocked Don Revie’s mighty Leeds United side out of the FA cup.May he rest in peace.
B.B.The Legend Lives On.
http://www.shrimperzone.com/vb/showthread.php?95693-John-quot-Joe-quot-Kurila
I had a phone call earlier today from Billy Best who informed me that our former defender Big John Kurila had passed away aged 76.
Fans of a certain age will remember John who was a tough no nonsense Scottish defender, who joined us in the summer of 1968 and played in every match of that unforgetable season.
John marked his debut for us by scoring in the 6-1 rout of Bournemouth at Dean Court in the League Cup.
In total John made over 100 appearances for the club and scored 1 league goal which was against Newport County in the final home match of the 1968-69 season.
John was voted “Player of the Year” that season and along with my good friend Mick we had the privilege to present the trophy to John in the final home match that season.
John Kurila left us in 1970 and joined our local neighbours Colchester United and was part of that team that knocked Leeds United out of the F.A.Cup in 1971.
We wish to send our deepest sympathies to all John’s Family and his many Friends.