McGhee, James

Personal

Fullname: James McGhee
aka: Jimmy McGhee
Born: 2 April 1862
Died: 30 July 1941, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Birthplace: Lugar, Ayrshire
Signed: 9 Aug 1889 (loan); 20 Dec 1890 (from Hibs)
Left: 1892 (to Abercorn loan); 11 Apr 1908 (Hearts manager)
Position: Utility
Debut: Vale of Leven 3-1 Celtic, League, 24 Jan 1891
Internationals: Scotland
InternationalCaps: 1 cap (1886 v Wales)
International Goals: 0 goals

Biog

Ayrshire man James McGhee was a well established footballing talent when he joined Celtic in December 1890. Prior he was a plasterer by trade.

Comfortable in almost any position on the park James McGhee really made his name with the original Hibernian FC. In 1886, he and his team-mate James Lundie became the first players from the club to represent Scotland, and he later skippered the Easter Road side to Scottish Cup glory in 1887. He was also in the Hibernian side which opened Celtic Park against Cowlairs in 1888. However, he stuck with Hibernian whilst some of his colleagues left to join the newly formed Celtic.

He came to Celtic only once the original Hibernian side had gone into permanent demise, and his debut for Celtic came in a 3-1 league defeat at Vale of Leven on 24th January 1891.

Strong and robust on the ball but with an excellent touch James McGhee was seen as bringing valuable experience to the Celts and he was regarded as someone the younger members of the club could learn from. The great Sandy McMahon said of him that “Next to Peter Dowds, Jimmy McGhee was the best all-round player I have ever seen“. Dan Doyle (who was also his lodger) described him as “the best right-half I ever saw“. High praise from two of Celtic’s all-time greats.

He departed Celtic in 1892 after 10 league appearances and 3-4 goals. One report states he scored a hat-trick v Vale of Leven in a 9-1 victory in May 1891, so revenge for his debut defeat.

Played for Celtic in the post-season Glasgow Charity Cup games scoring two goals to take Celtic to the final, where Celtic lost to Dumbarton 3-0.

He went on to briefly be manager of Hearts (quite a move as a former player of the original Hibs club) before moving to Philadelphia in the USA in 1910.

He hadn’t forgotten Celtic as on a holiday back in Scotland in 1924 he revisited Celtic Park to watch the club play Airdrie on 23 Aug 1924.

His sons, Bart and Jimmy, played in the American Soccer League. Bart represented the USA and scored the second-ever World Cup goal in 1930.

Jimmy McGhee died in 1941 in Philadelphia, PA (USA). Buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery Cheltenham Avenue & Easton Road Philadelphia, PA 19150.

1924 passport picture