Shaw, Charlie

“Shaw, McNair and Dodds understood one another so well that they developed the pass-back into a scientific move of which there have been many imitators but none to equal the originators. It was indeed a spectacle to see either McNair or Dodds passing, with unerring accuracy and cheeky coolness, the ball to Shaw two yards away, with the opposing forwards almost on top of them. That was their method of getting out of a corner, which in all probability would otherwise have been fatal.” (Weekly News 25 July 1936)

Shaw-McNair-Dodds were referred to as The Holy Trinity, quite an attribute that their quality was bringing out the religious epithets to describe them.

He became Celtic captain in September 1916 following ‘Sunny‘ Jim Young’s retirement (1916) and his commanding voice was heard throughout games offering encouragement and instructions to his team-mates. The captaincy even to today is a rare honour gifted to a goalkeeper and is a measure of how highly thought of he was by his peers and coaches.

Notably, the fans at one game in 1922 were singing his name and praises to him, which is said to have struck one reporter as an “extraordinarily stupid idea” to sing for a goalkeeper. It reflected more just how out of touch that journalist was, and also his clear lack of knowledge of Shaw and his reputation & achievements, as well as the genuine adoration the support had for him.

Charlie Shaw was also vocal off the pitch and his criticism of the low wages many footballers were paid did not go down well among the affluent and influential in the Parkhead boardroom. This likely stemmed from Shaw’s more modest background, having come from Twechar (a small mining village as was commonly dotted around Scotland in those days). It is a wonderful measure of the man that despite his sporting prowess and lauded position that he would still fight for proper terms & conditions that he and his peers had to work within. While some Celtic directors may not have appreciated Shaw and his comments, the supporters most likely certainly did.

He was an immensely popular figure who was not only one of the finest keepers in the game but also a true Celtic man who clearly loved the club he served so well. After a spell on loan at Clyde, Shaw was released in the summer of 1925. He had played 436 league & Scottish Cup games for Celtic, amassing 240 clean sheets. He had won six league titles (1914-1917, 1919 and 1922) and two Scottish Cups (1914 and 1923).

Incredibly, he was never capped for Scotland, which is incredible when you look back on it. Charlie Shaw’s record is peerless, and despite such a long-career, the highest he received by the authorities was three caps for the Scottish League XI matches. It was humoured that Celtic’s first team was “Ten Internationals and Charlie Shaw”.

In fairness, part of the reason was that international matches took place very occasionally during the duration of the First World War (July 1914 to November 1918) with Scotland only playing two, both military benefit matches against England. Following the end of the way, Scotland played in two Victory International matches against Ireland followed by two against England in Spring 1919. Established competitions and fully recognised international matches resumed in the 1919–20 season.  However, his greatest spell was pre-war, and sadly he has the unwanted tag for some as the greatest Celtic player never to have been capped by his country.

He moved across the Atlantic to the US where he played for New Bedford Whalers FC, the leading football side in the US and became their player/manager. He later took over some Celts with him including Andy McAtee.

He died of pneumonia in New York in 1938, a much missed man.

Charlie Shaw is a Celtic great, and regarded as one of our finest goalkeepers.

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Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Scottish League

• 1913-14, 1914-15, 1915-16, 1916-17, 1918-19,
• 1921-22

Scottish Cup

• 1914, 1923

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Pictures

• Player Pics

Articles

• Celtic’s Prince Charlie (by TheHumanTorpedo, 2013)

Links

• The Holy Trinity
• Grave & Memorial
• Remembrance Service (2013)

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Anecdote

UK Record for duration without conceding a goal!

One of Charles Shaw greatest achievements was that he went 1287 minutes in all competitions without conceding a goal!

The set of matches are as follows:

• Raith Rovers 1-2 Celtic, League, Sat 13 Dec 1913
  • Raith Rovers scored sometime in the first half, so Shaw went at least 45mins of this game without conceding, he then went the following games (minutes) without conceding
• Celtic 0-0 Motherwell, League, Sat 20 Dec 1913 90mins
• Ayr United 0-6 Celtic, League, Sat 27 Dec 1913 90mins
• Celtic 4-0 Rangers, League, Thu 01 Jan 1914 90mins
• Partick Thistle 0-0 Celtic, League, Sat 03 Jan 1914 90mins
• Clyde 0-1 Celtic, League, Mon 05 Jan 1914 90mins
• Celtic 4-0 Dumbarton, League, Sat 10 Jan 1914 90mins
• Dundee 0-1 Celtic, League, Sat 17 Jan 1914 90mins
• Celtic 1-0 Airdrieonians, League, Sat 24 Jan 1914 90mins
• St Mirren 0-3 Celtic, League, Sat 31 Jan 1914 90mins
• Clyde 0-0 Celtic, Scottish Cup, Sat 07 Feb 1914 90mins
• Celtic 2-0 Clyde, Scottish Cup, Tue 10 Feb 1914 90mins
• Celtic 3-0 Greenock Morton, League, Sat 14 Feb 1914 90mins
• Forfar Athletic 0-5 Celtic, Scottish Cup, Sat 21 Feb 1914 90mins
• Falkirk 1-0 Celtic League Sat 28 Feb 1914 45
  • Finally conceded against Falkirk

Falkirk put one past him sometime in the second half, so again he went at least 45mins of this game without conceding.

Net, that accumulates to an overall total of AT LEAST 1,260 minutes.

Even more outstanding, is that until Raith had scored against him (in the match on 13 Dec 1913) he had gone the following games since playing Aberdeen on 4th Oct 1913 (who scored in the 2nd minute in that match) without conceding and about 900mins.

• Celtic 2-1 Aberdeen League Sat 04 Oct 1913 88mins
• Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic League Sat 11 Oct 1913 90mins
• Celtic 1-0 Dundee League Sat 18 Oct 1913 90mins
• Rangers 0-2 Celtic League Sat 25 Oct 1913 90mins
• Celtic 4-0 Kilmarnock League Sat 01 Nov 1913 90mins
• Queen’s Park 0-2 Celtic League Sat 08 Nov 1913 90mins
• Dumbarton 0-4 Celtic League Sat 15 Nov 1913 90mins
• Celtic 1-0 Hamilton League Sat 22 Nov 1913 90mins
• Airdrieonians 0-1 Celtic League Sat 29 Nov 1913 90mins
• Celtic 3-0 Third Lanark League Sat 06 Dec 1913 90mins

If only Raith hadn’t scored (but they did), he would have went at least 2,203 mins in all comps and 1,933 mins in the league without conceding!!!

If we take it as a consecutive game record (overall) add the 3 cup games included = 270, onto 900 = 1,170 for Shaw, 26 minutes short of Chris Woods (Rangers).

However, add the second half of the game before the record started and the first half of the game the record stopped (which is fair as this was the method used to measure Woods/Van der Sar) then Shaw has at the very least 1,260mins, which is a Scottish record we are certain.

However, from our records:

• Raith Rovers scored in the 24th minute against Celtic on 13th December 1913
• Falkirk scored in the 51st minute against Celtic on 28th February 1914

So we have a net estimated figure of 1,287 minutes without conceding in the league or cup! Exceeding Chris Woods!

Van der Sar (Manchester United) went 1,311 minutes in total and holds the British record to time of writing, his run was ended ironically by an ex-Rangers player (Peter Lovenkrands).

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Anecdote – “Pass it to Charlie”

“Pass it to Cherlie” became quite a familiar cry at Celtic matches, The cry was either directed to McNair or Dodds, whoever had possession when a passback opportunity presented itself. In this connection i heard the “Pass it to Cherlie” used in circumstances which set a great gallery of people laughing, it was at Troon. A footballers golf championship was in progress. McNair and a partner had driven off from the first tee, Alec had sent his ball into the bunker. I was one of the following crowd and so was Charlie Shaw. McNair found his ball hard up in the face of the bunker. He stood looking down at it, mashie in hand, wondering what he should do. He certainly could not advance. The gallery gathered round, watching in silence. Alec continued to concentrate, Not a word. Then from the back of the crowd came a voice — “Pass it to Cherlie” That did it. The gallery guffawed, Even icicle McNair melted. Charlie Shaw in a spasm of uncontrolled laughter, fell into the bunker ! Alec took two to get out.