John Brown signed on for Celtic in 1911 from an impressive Falkirk side, brought in as cover for the popular Davie Hamilton yet Davie ended up understudying John Brown from early on.
He made a goal-scoring debut at home to Airdrie as the Bhoys opened their league campaign on August 15 with a comfortable 3-0 victory. He'd a great start to his Celtic career with three goals in his first five games for the club.
John netted seven goals that season and was part of the Hoops side that claimed the Scottish Cup with a 2-0 Hampden win over city rivals Clyde. He'd scored the winning goal v Dunfermline earlier in the competition to give Celtic a slender 1-0 victory to take us through the round.
Despite some good comments on his ability, Patsy Gallacher described him as being "the most in and out player I ever saw". Apparently he used to play with a toothpick in his mouth.
Overall, John Brown was seen as not good enough, and was an unsatisfactory winger better suited to the centre described in that position as "like a lion with dash and pluck he never shows on the wing".
Despite any criticism, he was a mainstay in the side for most of the 1911-12 season and still played a number of games the next season, but Gray and then Browning took over from him in the First XI. Should add that Brown played for the Scottish League v English League sides in what was a 2-0 defeat, so despite any criticisms of him at Celtic, he was respected enough to play for the league select team. There were four Celts in the team that day.
Playing usually on the left wing John scored 10 goals in 47 league & Scottish Cup appearances for Celtic before leaving to join English side Chelsea FC in 1913, but later returned back up north. He played 16 games, scoring 4 goals for Chelsea FC
After playing, he fought for his country in World War One but was invalided home in September 1917. Later he ran a sweets shop in Glencraig, and was 'a splendid masseur' when he was a trainer for Dundee under manager Alec McNair (the great ex-Celt).
He passed away in 1943.
He made a goal-scoring debut at home to Airdrie as the Bhoys opened their league campaign on August 15 with a comfortable 3-0 victory. He'd a great start to his Celtic career with three goals in his first five games for the club.
John netted seven goals that season and was part of the Hoops side that claimed the Scottish Cup with a 2-0 Hampden win over city rivals Clyde. He'd scored the winning goal v Dunfermline earlier in the competition to give Celtic a slender 1-0 victory to take us through the round.
Despite some good comments on his ability, Patsy Gallacher described him as being "the most in and out player I ever saw". Apparently he used to play with a toothpick in his mouth.
Overall, John Brown was seen as not good enough, and was an unsatisfactory winger better suited to the centre described in that position as "like a lion with dash and pluck he never shows on the wing".
Despite any criticism, he was a mainstay in the side for most of the 1911-12 season and still played a number of games the next season, but Gray and then Browning took over from him in the First XI. Should add that Brown played for the Scottish League v English League sides in what was a 2-0 defeat, so despite any criticisms of him at Celtic, he was respected enough to play for the league select team. There were four Celts in the team that day.
Playing usually on the left wing John scored 10 goals in 47 league & Scottish Cup appearances for Celtic before leaving to join English side Chelsea FC in 1913, but later returned back up north. He played 16 games, scoring 4 goals for Chelsea FC
After playing, he fought for his country in World War One but was invalided home in September 1917. Later he ran a sweets shop in Glencraig, and was 'a splendid masseur' when he was a trainer for Dundee under manager Alec McNair (the great ex-Celt).
He passed away in 1943.
John Brown signed on for Celtic in 1911 from an impressive Falkirk side, brought in as cover for the popular Davie Hamilton yet Davie ended up understudying John Brown from early on.
He made a goal-scoring debut at home to Airdrie as the Bhoys opened their league campaign on August 15 with a comfortable 3-0 victory. He'd a great start to his Celtic career with three goals in his first five games for the club.
John netted seven goals that season and was part of the Hoops side that claimed the Scottish Cup with a 2-0 Hampden win over city rivals Clyde. He'd scored the winning goal v Dunfermline earlier in the competition to give Celtic a slender 1-0 victory to take us through the round.
Despite some good comments on his ability, Patsy Gallacher described him as being "the most in and out player I ever saw". Apparently he used to play with a toothpick in his mouth.
Overall, John Brown was seen as not good enough, and was an unsatisfactory winger better suited to the centre described in that position as "like a lion with dash and pluck he never shows on the wing".
Despite any criticism, he was a mainstay in the side for most of the 1911-12 season and still played a number of games the next season, but Gray and then Browning took over from him in the First XI. Should add that Brown played for the Scottish League v English League sides in what was a 2-0 defeat, so despite any criticisms of him at Celtic, he was respected enough to play for the league select team. There were four Celts in the team that day.
Playing usually on the left wing John scored 10 goals in 47 league & Scottish Cup appearances for Celtic before leaving to join English side Chelsea FC in 1913, but later returned back up north. He played 16 games, scoring 4 goals for Chelsea FC
After playing, he fought for his country in World War One but was invalided home in September 1917. Later he ran a sweets shop in Glencraig, and was 'a splendid masseur' when he was a trainer for Dundee under manager Alec McNair (the great ex-Celt).
He passed away in 1943.
He made a goal-scoring debut at home to Airdrie as the Bhoys opened their league campaign on August 15 with a comfortable 3-0 victory. He'd a great start to his Celtic career with three goals in his first five games for the club.
John netted seven goals that season and was part of the Hoops side that claimed the Scottish Cup with a 2-0 Hampden win over city rivals Clyde. He'd scored the winning goal v Dunfermline earlier in the competition to give Celtic a slender 1-0 victory to take us through the round.
Despite some good comments on his ability, Patsy Gallacher described him as being "the most in and out player I ever saw". Apparently he used to play with a toothpick in his mouth.
Overall, John Brown was seen as not good enough, and was an unsatisfactory winger better suited to the centre described in that position as "like a lion with dash and pluck he never shows on the wing".
Despite any criticism, he was a mainstay in the side for most of the 1911-12 season and still played a number of games the next season, but Gray and then Browning took over from him in the First XI. Should add that Brown played for the Scottish League v English League sides in what was a 2-0 defeat, so despite any criticisms of him at Celtic, he was respected enough to play for the league select team. There were four Celts in the team that day.
Playing usually on the left wing John scored 10 goals in 47 league & Scottish Cup appearances for Celtic before leaving to join English side Chelsea FC in 1913, but later returned back up north. He played 16 games, scoring 4 goals for Chelsea FC
After playing, he fought for his country in World War One but was invalided home in September 1917. Later he ran a sweets shop in Glencraig, and was 'a splendid masseur' when he was a trainer for Dundee under manager Alec McNair (the great ex-Celt).
He passed away in 1943.
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