Belfast Celtic
Encyclopedia
Belfast Celtic Football Club was a football
club in Northern Ireland
that was founded in 1891
, and was one of the most successful teams in Ireland until forced to withdraw from the Irish League in 1949
.
, and was founded on the same principle of raising community spirit and money for charity. Their home was Celtic Park
on Donegall Road in west Belfast
, known to the fans as Paradise. Celtic won their first league title in 1900 after beating fierce rivals Linfield
by a single goal. The team was affectionately referred to as The Mighty Belfast Celtic by its support.
The political violence that engulfed Ireland
in the 1920s spilled on to the terraces of the Irish League and Celtic was forced to withdraw in 1920, not rejoining until 1924. Celtic's support base was strongly Irish nationalist.
Despite this, the club went from strength to strength and the inter-war years proved to be Celtic's strongest: they were league champions four years running after their return. The club also produced some of the greatest players of their generation and at one stage had five international goalkeepers in their squad. The famous Charlie Tully
, a legend at Celtic, learned how to kick a ball with Belfast Celtic.
The end came on Boxing Day
1948 at the annual Linfield-Celtic game at Windsor Park
. Celtic were winning for most of the match but Linfield equalised in the last minute. Linfield fans invaded the pitch and attacked several Celtic players including centre-forward Jimmy Jones who suffered a broken leg. Soon after the club decided to withdraw from the league.
After the 1948/49 season The Mighty Belfast Celtic went on a tour of America from which they returned midst internal wrangling over flags and financial issues . At a meeting of the board it was decided that Celtic would temporarily leave the league until such matters had been resolved. They were not and the internal wrangling at boardroom level continued until Celtic Park was sold to developers. The club would never again play a competitive match but played several friendlies including an historic victory over Scotland
in the United States
in 1949 and a match at home to Celtic
on May 17, 1952. A final match was played away to Coleraine on June 24, 1960.
The ground continued to function as a greyhound stadium until the 1980s when it was bulldozed and replaced by The Park Centre, a small shopping mall. Today, a small plaque reminds shoppers of the glory days. A small museum has since been opened in the Park Centre.
† Won by Belfast Celtic II
See also
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
that was founded in 1891
1891 in football (soccer)
The following are the association football events of the year 1891 throughout the world.-Events:*Royal Arsenal turn professional, renaming themselves Woolwich Arsenal in the process.-Clubs founded in 1891:*AIK*Belfast Celtic F.C.*C.A...
, and was one of the most successful teams in Ireland until forced to withdraw from the Irish League in 1949
1949 in football (soccer)
The following are the football events of the year 1949 throughout the world.-England:for fuller coverage see 1948-49 in English football*First Division: Portsmouth*Second Division: Fulham*Third Division North: Hull City...
.
History
The club was named after Celtic Football ClubCeltic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, and was founded on the same principle of raising community spirit and money for charity. Their home was Celtic Park
Celtic Park (Belfast)
Celtic Park was a multi-use stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was used mostly for football matches and was the home of Belfast Celtic F.C.. It was also a greyhound racing course. The stadium was able to hold 50,000 spectators at its height...
on Donegall Road in west Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, known to the fans as Paradise. Celtic won their first league title in 1900 after beating fierce rivals Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
by a single goal. The team was affectionately referred to as The Mighty Belfast Celtic by its support.
The political violence that engulfed Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in the 1920s spilled on to the terraces of the Irish League and Celtic was forced to withdraw in 1920, not rejoining until 1924. Celtic's support base was strongly Irish nationalist.
Despite this, the club went from strength to strength and the inter-war years proved to be Celtic's strongest: they were league champions four years running after their return. The club also produced some of the greatest players of their generation and at one stage had five international goalkeepers in their squad. The famous Charlie Tully
Charlie Tully
Charles Patrick "Charlie" Tully was a famous footballer of Celtic Football Club.Tully was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1944 he was struggling to break into a very strong Belfast Celtic team and in a bid to garner better match experience was sent on loan to Cliftonville F.C....
, a legend at Celtic, learned how to kick a ball with Belfast Celtic.
The end came on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1948 at the annual Linfield-Celtic game at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
. Celtic were winning for most of the match but Linfield equalised in the last minute. Linfield fans invaded the pitch and attacked several Celtic players including centre-forward Jimmy Jones who suffered a broken leg. Soon after the club decided to withdraw from the league.
After the 1948/49 season The Mighty Belfast Celtic went on a tour of America from which they returned midst internal wrangling over flags and financial issues . At a meeting of the board it was decided that Celtic would temporarily leave the league until such matters had been resolved. They were not and the internal wrangling at boardroom level continued until Celtic Park was sold to developers. The club would never again play a competitive match but played several friendlies including an historic victory over Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1949 and a match at home to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
on May 17, 1952. A final match was played away to Coleraine on June 24, 1960.
The ground continued to function as a greyhound stadium until the 1980s when it was bulldozed and replaced by The Park Centre, a small shopping mall. Today, a small plaque reminds shoppers of the glory days. A small museum has since been opened in the Park Centre.
Senior honours
- Irish League: 14
- 1899/00, 1914/15, 1919/20, 1925/26, 1926/27, 1927/28, 1928/29, 1932/33, 1935/36, 1936/37, 1937/38, 1938/39, 1939/40,1947/48
- Irish CupIrish CupFor the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
: 8- 1917/18, 1925/26, 1936/37, 1937/38, 1940/41, 1942/43, 1943/44, 1946/47
- City CupCity Cup (Northern Ireland)The City Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Northern Ireland. It was run by the Irish Football Association. It had previously been known as the Dunville Cup and ceased to exist in 1976...
: 11- 1905/06, 1906/07, 1918/19 (shared with Glentoran), 1925/26, 1927/28, 1929/30, 1930/31, 1932/33, 1939/40, 1947/48, 1948/49
- Gold CupGold Cup (Northern Ireland)The Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....
: 6- 1911/12, 1925/26, 1934/35, 1938/39, 1939/40, 1947/48
- County Antrim ShieldCounty Antrim ShieldThe County Antrim Shield is a football competition in Northern Ireland. The competition is open to senior teams who are members of the North East Ulster Football Association , often plus intermediate teams who...
: 7- 1894/95, 1926/27, 1935/36, 1936/37, 1938/39, 1942/43, 1944/45
- Dublin and Belfast Inter-city Cup: 1
- 1947/48 (shared with Distillery)
- Belfast and District League: 1
- 1918/19
- Northern Regional League: 4
- 1940/41, 1941/42, 1943/44, 1946/47
- Substitute Gold CupGold Cup (Northern Ireland)The Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....
: 4- 1940/41, 1943/44, 1945/46, 1946/47
Intermediate honours
- Irish Intermediate Cup: 5
- 1914/15†, 1936/36†, 1936/37†, 1937/38†, 1940/41†
- Steel & Sons CupSteel & Sons CupThe Steel & Sons Cup is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North East Ulster Football Association . The competition culminates in the final which has traditionally been played on Christmas Day...
: 5- 1912/13†, 1916/17†, 1917/18†, 1934/35†, 1935/36†
† Won by Belfast Celtic II
Selected former players
 Tom AherneTom Aherne Thomas Aherne , also referred to as Bud Aherne, is a former Irish footballer and hurler. He played football for Belfast Celtic and Luton Town and was a dual internationalist, playing for both Ireland teams – the IFA XI and the FAI XI... Louis Bookman Louis Bookman Louis Bookman , also known as Louis Buckhalter or Louis Buchalter, was a Lithuanian Jewish footballer and cricketer who represented his adopted country, Ireland, at both sports... Bertie Fulton Bertie Fulton Robert Patrick Fulton was an amateur footballer from Northern Ireland who played as a left back.-Club career:... Tommy BreenTommy Breen Tommy Breen is a former Irish footballer who played as a goalkeeper for, amongst others, Belfast Celtic, Manchester United, Linfield and Shamrock Rovers... Jackie BrownJackie Brown (footballer) Jackie Brown , also referred to as Johnny Brown or John Brown, was a dual internationalist who played football for both Ireland teams – the IFA XI and FAI XI... Jackie Coulter Jackie Coulter Jackie Coulter is a former Northern Irish footballer.He played for a number of intermediate clubs before signing for Belfast Celtic as a seventeen year-old... Sammy Curran Sammy Curran Sammy Curran was a former Northern Irish footballer who played as a centre-forward.One of the Irish League's most prolific goalscorers between the Wars, Curran's feats in front of goal brought a host of medals and representative honours his way.Nicknamed "Blind Sammy" because he never lost sight... Mickey Hamill Mickey Hamill Michael "Mickey" Hamill was an Irish association football wing half who played professionally in Ireland, Scotland, England and the United States.... Andy Kennedy Jimmy McAlindenJimmy McAlinden Jimmy McAlinden was an Irish footballer who played as a forward for several clubs, most notably, Belfast Celtic, Portsmouth, Shamrock Rovers and Southend United. As an international, McAlinden also played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI and the FAI XI... Billy McMillanBilly McMillan William McMillan , commonly referred to as Billy McMillan, was an Irish footballer who played for Belfast Celtic and Ballymena United... Patrick O’Connell Elisha Scott Elisha Scott Elisha Scott was an Irish football goalkeeper who most notably played for Liverpool from 1912 to 1934 .-Life and playing career:... Vincent Morrison |
Albert Edward (Ned) Weir Albert Edward (Ned) Weir Ned Weir is a Northern Irish footballer who played for Belfast Celtic from 1926 to 1929. He came from Sydney Street and started his football career with Junior side Brantwood F.C. before moving onto Westend FC , which he captained until his move to Celtic in 1926... Charlie Tully Charlie Tully Charles Patrick "Charlie" Tully was a famous footballer of Celtic Football Club.Tully was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. In 1944 he was struggling to break into a very strong Belfast Celtic team and in a bid to garner better match experience was sent on loan to Cliftonville F.C.... Jackie VernonJackie Vernon (footballer) John Joseph Vernon also referred to as Jackie Vernon, is a former Irish footballer who played for, amongst others, Belfast Celtic and West Bromwich Albion. Vernon was a dual international and played for both Ireland teams - the IFA XI and the FAI XI... Jimmy Jones Johnny Campbell Johnny Campbell John "Johnny" Peter Campbell was a footballer from Derry, Northern Ireland.Campbell grew up playing Gaelic football at school. He was also an accomplished sprinter, and an Ulster champion over 100 and 200 metres. He first played football for Foyle Harps, before being signed-up by Derry City, and... Ron Greenwood George Kay George Kay George Kay was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley, the so-called White Horse Final.He was manager of Liverpool for 15 years and... John Feenan John Feenan John Feenan , also referred to as Johnny Feenan, is a former Northern Irish footballer who played for Belfast Celtic, Sunderland and Shelbourne. As an international he also played for Ireland. In the 1940s he served as manager of Shelbourne... Mick O'Flanagan Mick O'Flanagan Mick O'Flanagan is a former Irish sportsman who represented his country at both soccer and rugby union. As a soccer player, O'Flanagan played for, among others, Home Farm, Bohemians and Belfast Celtic. His older brother, Kevin O'Flanagan, was also a notable sportsman who also represented his... Oscar Traynor Oscar Traynor Oscar Traynor was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and revolutionary. He served in a number of Cabinet positions, most notably as the country's longest-serving Minister for Defence.... Robin Lawler Robin Lawler Joseph "Robin" Lawler was an Irish professional football player.From Dublin, he began his career with Home Farm F.C.. Later played with Distillery F.C., Drumcondra F.C. and Transport F.C.. Played for Drums in the FAI Cup win against Shamrock Rovers in 1946... Willie McStay |
See also
Further reading
- Mark Tuohy, Belfast Celtic, 1978 ISBN 0-85640-139-0
- Flynn, Barry, "Political Football: The Life and Death of Belfast Celtic", 2009, Nonsuch Publishing
- Padraig Coyle, Paradise Lost & Found: The Story of Belfast Celtic , Mainstream Publishing 1999
- Padraig Coyle, Alex Moore's Almanac: A Young Man's Diary of a Sporting Farewell , Marine Media 2005