Power, Patrick

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Fullname: Patrick Power
aka: Pat Power
Born: 11 July 1876
Died: […]
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: 10 October 1894
Left: 17 May 1895
Position: Left-half
Debut: Celtic 6-0 Dumbarton, League, 20 Oct 1894
Internationals: none

Biog

Left-half Patrick Power played a single league game and one in the Glasgow Cup for the Celts in 1894 at the young age of 18, arriving from Blantyre Victoria where he started in April 1892.

His solitary first team league match appearance was against Dumbarton on 20th October 1894 came when James Kelly was ruled out with injury, and so Willie Maley moved in to the centre-half position to accommodate.

Celtic won that league encounter at home 6-0 v Dumbarton but a counterpoint was that as a defender, Patrick Powers was likely given little opportunity to prove himself going by the scoreline. The match also reflected a decline in Dumbarton who in the early days were one of the powerhouses in the game, the Dunbartonshire region having been a hotbed to the development of the game.

He retained his place in the team for the Glasgow Cup semi-final match v Cowlairs a week later in a 2-0 win. Probably his greatest contribution in a Celtic shirt came in this match as he helped set up the opening goal:

“After fully 30 minutes’ play, Power banged the ball across to the right, and Blessington running up, with nobody near him, scored the first goal with a really good shot”.

Despite that, sadly for him he didn’t go on to play for Celtic in the final which Celtic won 2-0 v Rangers at Cathkin Park on 17th Nov 1894.

Later on in the season, he played in a friendly v Queen’s Park on 6th April 1895 but Celtic lost 4-0.

It was another major season with Hearts taking the league title for the first time in their history, but Celtic also had a fine season coming in second place in the challenge for the league title, let down mostly by lost points from drawn games. So a good side but hard for players to break into (let alone young inexperienced players).

Patrick Power was not able to retain his position ahead of James Kelly (a tough ask) and he signed for Airdrie in May 1895 who were then in the second tier. Records appear to indicate he may only have made one senior competition appearance for Airdrie. A year later he moved to Blantyre FC where he is believed to have played from 1895 to 1898.

He may not have made a long-term career in the senior game, but whilst at Celtic he had the chance to fill in for the great James Kelly which is in retrospect a major honour we hope that he will have cherished for the rest of his life. He also help set up Celtic with an assist for a goal for the win v Cowlairs which pushed Celtic on the way to the Glasgow Cup title which is also something great to take pride from.

Not his last on-field interaction with Celtic. He played centre-half for Blantyre versus Celtic in a club benefit on 26th August 1895.

Playing Career

APPEARANCES LEAGUE SCOTTISH CUP LEAGUE CUP EUROPE TOTAL
1894-1895 1 0 n/a n/a 1
Goals: 0 0 – – 0

Honours with Celtic

none

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Notes

  • Some records don’t state that Patrick Power played in the league match v Dumbarton, however the Glasgow Herald report state he did so that is why we have him down for this game.
  • Blantyre Victoria – The Vics started as essentially a pub team under the leadership of the man who is regarded as the founder – Sam Dawson – playing their fixtures in some rough fields adjacent to Forest Street. The squad used a local pub to get changed for many years as they won two league titles in a row. See: https://www.blantyrevics.com/our-history
  • There is a Patrick Power born 1872 and died in Blantyre, is this the same man?
    If so then then above needs amended/updated. See: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/197249683/patrick-power
  • However, CGS research indicates they are both different Patrick Powers, The Celtic one is “Born: 11/07/1876 (Parents James Power & Alice Richardson) “. TBC
    Birth

    County Waterford, Ireland
    Death Sep 1942 (aged 69)

    Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
    Burial
    Dalbeth Cemetery
    Glasgow, Glasgow City, Scotland
    Plot Section 14: Lair 93

Articles

Power, Patrick - The Celtic Wiki
N.B.: Alphabet of the Celts reports he started at Blantyre Celtic in April 1892.