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Fullname: James Weir
aka: Jimmy Weir
Born: 23 Aug 1887
Died: […1959 ?…]
Birthplace: Muirkirk
Signed: 13 May 1907
Left: 24 Aug 1910 (to Middlesborough)
Position: Left-back, Defence
Debut: Celtic 1-1 St Mirren, League, 27 Apr 1907
Internationals: none
Biog
Muirkirk-born Jimmy Weir was a former Ayr United defender who first played for Celtic as a trialist in a 1-1 league draw with St Mirren at Parkhead on April 27 1907.
Reported to have been a Rabbie Burn’s song specialist, a true son of Ayrshire.
He signed with the Hoops in May that year and quickly established himself as the first choice left-back. A fully committed defender Jimmy was a strong tackler but in those days of more robust football he would often get as good as he gave and he did so without complaint.
A key player in the 1908 league and Scottish Cup double triumph, Jimmy was a strong and resilient defender who offered opposition forwards little opportunity to shine. Hard working and exceptionally fit he once even played eight games in 11 days as Celtic took the 1908-09 league flag.
A stout defender, he managed just a solitary goal in his time with the first team. He finally got that goal for Celtic in October 1909, in 3-2 league win over Port Glasgow Athletic.
Wasn’t always easy. In one game v Dundee on Mar 28th 1908, he was so continually hacked that manager Willie Maley walked onto the pitch and remonstrated with the referee.
He helped Celtic to four league titles and two Scottish Cups, a golden period for Celtic as the first team won six league titles in a row.
As part of the defensive unit, the team had an excellent record, exemplified by that they conceded just 30, 24, 27 & 22 goals respectively in his four seasons.
Jimmy Weir’s commitment, drive and ability made him a fans’ favourite and although out of favour by the start of the 1910-11 season it was with a heavy heart that the Celtic support bid farewell to the Ayrshire man as he departed for Middlesbrough in August 1910.
His partnership with Donny McLeod was said to be invincible and after Donny left, Weir followed him down South to form a duo described as:
´”the most dogged, dour and fearless pair of backs in England´”.
Jimmy Weir played 96 league & Scottish Cup games for Celtic with just the one goal. His departure is said to have been much lamented. As Celtic were to slump the season after his departure, critics of his departure may have a point.
He hung up his playing boots in 1920, and Jimmy Weir and his son went on to run the Crown Hotel in Redcar.
He died in 1959 […to be confirmed…].
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (goals) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1907-10 | 82 | 14 | n/a | n/a | 96 |
| Goals: | 1 | 0 | – | – | 1 |
Honours with Celtic
Pictures
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From “An Alphabet of the Celts”
Articles
JAMIE WEIR
Source: https://theceltmag.tumblr.com/post/623333946322714624/jamie-weir
It took a good man to replace Willie Orr, but Jamie Weir was just that man, replacing the ageing Willie Orr in the left back position in summer 1907 and holding the position down for three glorious years in which he won three Scottish League medals, one Scottish Cup medal, one Glasgow Cup medal and one Glasgow Charity Cup medal – not a bad haul for three years!
The chaIt took a good man to replace Willie Orr, but Jamie Weir was just that man, replacing the ageing Willie Orr in the left back position in summer 1907 and holding the position down for three glorious years in which he won three Scottish League medals, one Scottish Cup medal, one Glasgow Cup medal and one Glasgow Charity Cup medal – not a bad haul for three years!The change was seamless,although the style of play was different. Weir was younger (born in 1887 in Muirkirk, Ayrshire) and has been described as “ strong, truculent and fearless” and freely compared to Storrier, Battles and Doyle. not to mention Willie Orr himself. This doughty character whose tackle was ferocious, apparently had the habit of shouting at his opponent “Get Rid Of The Ball” as a sort of warning as he charged in! He had a good relationship with his full back partners Donnie McLeod and later Alec McNair, and on the left flank he could interchange with another Ayrshireman, James Hay, who was of course now the captain.Being an Ayrshireman, Weir, like quite a lot of early Celts (Sandy McMahon, Peter Somers, Sunny Jim) had a great love of Robert Burns and did, we are told, a mean Tam O’Shanter at the Celtic soirees at the intensive training sessions at various Hydro hotels. His finest hours were the Scottish Cup final in 1908 and the glorious 12 days of April 1909 when Celtic were required to play 8 games to win the League. They duly did so, and Weir played in every game without giving the slightest hint of being tired! His departure in 1910 was quite abrupt, and apparently involved a falling out with Maley and the establishment over wages. He left to play for Middlesbrough and stayed with them until after World War One. He settled in the North East and as late as the 1950s, he was running the Crown Hotel in Redcar. He died in around 1959 or 1960 but the exact date of his death has been difficult to tie down.Jamie Weir is yet another of the many undervalued Celts of the great days. His replacement at left back was eventually the great Joe Dodds.
nge was seamless,although the style of play was different. Weir was younger (born in 1887 in Muirkirk, Ayrshire) and has been described as “ strong, truculent and fearless” and freely compared to Storrier, Battles and Doyle. not to mention Willie Orr himself. This doughty character whose tackle was ferocious, apparently had the habit of shouting at his opponent “Get Rid Of The Ball” as a sort of warning as he charged in! He had a good relationship with his full back partners Donnie McLeod and later Alec McNair, and on the left flank he could interchange with another Ayrshireman, James Hay, who was of course now the captain.
Being an Ayrshireman, Weir, like quite a lot of early Celts (Sandy McMahon, Peter Somers, Sunny Jim) had a great love of Robert Burns and did, we are told, a mean Tam O’Shanter at the Celtic soirees at the intensive training sessions at various Hydro hotels.
His finest hours were the Scottish Cup final in 1908 and the glorious 12 days of April 1909 when Celtic were required to play 8 games to win the League. They duly did so, and Weir played in every game without giving the slightest hint of being tired!
His departure in 1910 was quite abrupt, and apparently involved a falling out with Maley and the establishment over wages. He left to play for Middlesbrough and stayed with them until after World War One. He settled in the North East and as late as the 1950s, he was running the Crown Hotel in Redcar. He died in around 1959 or 1960 but the exact date of his death has been difficult to tie down.
Jamie Weir is yet another of the many undervalued Celts of the great days. His replacement at left back was eventually the great Joe Dodds.
DPotter
JAMES WEIR 93-1 [SL 79-1 ; SC 14]
1906/7 ; SL 2
1907/8; SL26 SC 5 (31)
1908/9 ; SL 31 SC 6 (37)
1909/0 ; SL 20-1 SC 3 (23-1)
Statistic Ian