| Matches: 1948 – 1949 | 1948-1949 Pictures | League Table | Statistics |
Better but…….
Celtic finished the 1948-1949 season in a far better position than the previous season, at 6th in the table behind winners Rangers, followed by Dundee, Hibernian, East Fife, Falkirk and Celtic. They won two more games than the previous season, and although now the lionised and adored Tully plied his skills, the ills of the previous season had still not been vanquished from the team. Goal scoring was still a problem. The fans had to wait 297 minutes for the first goal of the season – a penalty scored by John McPhail against Hearts in the fourth game of the season. They had to wait even longer for a home win at Celtic Park. That did not come until December 18th and a 3-2 win over Motherwell.
In goal, Willie Miller continued with his usual bravery. Celtic, however, had gone and found a decent backup keeper for the times when Miller put bravery before discretion and came away injured and to cover for the times when Willie was away on Scotland duty. John Bonnar was signed from Arbroath. Johnny stepped in to replace Miller for two periods through the season.
The ever-present pairing of full backs Roy Milne on the left, and Jimmy Mallan by and large continued with the tough tackling of 'Killer' Jimmy McGuire getting an outing whenever either of the two were out through injury. The half backs saw solid pairings between John McPhail, Pat McAuley, Alec Boden and the superb Bobby Evans. Up front, it was mix 'n' match but Tully was there for every game passing and passing and passing.
The big new players for the season were Leslie Johnston, an ex-ships carpenter and centre-forward, who Celtic paid Clyde the rather large fee of £12,000 for. Unfortunately he was played more often than not out of his favoured position and ask to play at inside forward. Johnston proved less successful but more expensive even than the great Charlie Tully who had arrived from Belfast Celtic for a mere £8,000. Tully it was who mesmerised the fans and gave them a hero to feel proud of.
During the season Bobby Hogg, Tommy Bogan, Duncan McMillan and Willie Corbett all left – long serving Bobby going to Alloa on a free transfer (with a parting gift of £500 in his hand), an unhappy Tommy Bogan leaving for Preston, Duncan McMillan joining Grimsby Town after playing in the Friendly against them, and Willie Corbett also going to Preston. At the end of the season they would be joined by Jimmy Sirrel, Konrad Kapler (who had spent the whole season playing for the Reserves) and Willie Gallacher, who were all given free transfers.
In the other competitions, Celtic again failed to qualify for the later stages of the League Cup having been drawn in a tough group with both Rangers and Hibernian. They finished third in the group of four (ahead of Clyde). In the Scottish Cup they were again put out by lower division opposition in the first game, losing 4-3 to Dundee Utd.