Walsh, James

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Fullname: James Walsh
aka: Jimmy Walsh
Born: 3 December 1930
Died: 6 Aug 2014
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: 21 October 1949
Left: 13 Nov 1956 (to Leicester)
Position: Inside Forward
Debut: v Hibernian (a) 30th April 1951.
Internationals: None

Biog

Jimmy Walsh was signed by Celtic in October 1949 from Bo’ness United.

After initially spending some time in the reserves the inside-forward made his first team debut in a 3-1 league defeat to Hibernian on April 30th 1951.

The likeable Fifer possessed a great shot and his ample pace helped ensure he was a handful for most defences. He was to be a regular in the first team for a handful of seasons from around late season 1950/51 until season 1955/56.

A member of the glorious Coronation Cup team Jimmy wrote his name into the Celtic history books by netting the second goal in the 2-0 final victory over Hibernian at Hampden He also played his part in securing the 1954 league title being a regular for much of the season. He scored a double in a 4-0 league win that season over St Mirren, and chipped in with a handful that season.

An injury meant he would miss the Scottish Cup triumph over Aberdeen that same season, but he still secured himself a double league & cup medal set having played in the quarter-finals.

He played in the 1955 final but by the time of the following final the next season against Hearts in 1956, Jimmy was no longer regarded as a first team starter and was in & out the side in runs.

He finally managed to complete the full medal set with a place in the League Cup winning side of 1956 (won after a replay, playing in both games), although he played in the first final which was a 0-0 draw but was dropped for the replay.

It was no easy time to be at Celtic. The board meddled in the first team, Celtic had just survived a potential relegation scare not long before he came to Celtic, the manager was overruled by the board and morale was too often low. However, Jimmy Walsh played in some great events and played his part in the successes of the period for the club, and for that we should remember him very fondly.

One of his most notable goals was when Celtic beat Rangers 2-1 on 20 September 20 1952. It was the club’s first derby win in two years and Stein’s first success in the fixture since signing the previous December. The match was illuminated by a wonder goal from Jimmy Walsh, lauded by The Herald as “one of the finest ever seen in Scottish football” which should have meant his name & this goal would recalled in years to come. However, there was to be no celebration across the team as this match followed on from the premature death of fellow Celtic player John Millsopp aged only 22, who had passed away unexpectedly. The funeral had been held in the morning before the game.

After 144 competitive appearances and an excellent 59 goals Jimmy Walsh departed Celtic Park for Leicester City in November 1956 aged only 25. He went on to play for Leicester in their FA Cup final loss of 1961, and made a big name for himself becoming one of their top ten highest scorers of all time.

So did Celtic sell him on prematurely? Celtic was no easy place at that time and was badly mismanaged, so it’s possible. One of a number of possible transfer errors during that era.

What was not recognised about Jimmy Walsh during his time with Celtic was that he had a vision problem. This must have diminished his effectiveness and even though his record was still very good, you can only wonder how he would have better fared had this problem been diagnosed and corrected somehow.

In 2009 during a fascinating interview with a Leicester Blogger, aptly named The Fox, Jimmy was asked what his strengths as a striker were. He replied with this incredible admission:

“I would say I was quite quick and I could nip onto chances. If there was a loose ball I would get there first. I should have scored more goals than I did and I blame my eyesight for that. I did score quite a few goals. I had more shots on goal than anybody else.

“But it was only near the end of my career that they found out that my eyesight was bad. It had always been bad, even when I played for Celtic, but I didn’t know it. I thought everybody was the same. Someone would say ‘Is that the number 14 bus?’ and I would say ‘What bus?’”

He passed away on 6 August 2014. A long fine innings.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

• 1954

• 1954

• 1956

• 1951

• 1953

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