Johnny Johnny Doyle is a sportsperson. I don’t remember ever seeing him play for the team; I wasn’t even born when he signed, and I was still a pup on this day in 1981 when he tragically passed away.
I do however like most Celtic supporters know about him and what type of player he was, what type of man he was, and from what the older Celtic supporters all say Johnny was a great player, lovely man and a brilliant Celt and that’s good enough for me!
Johnny fulfilled a boyhood dream when he signed for the club from Ayr United for a then club record of £90,000 back in 1976. A talented pacy winger he would go on to appear 180 times in the hoops scoring 36 goals. Winning five honours along the way.
He had a fiery temperament and was famously sent off in the famous ‘10 men won the league’ game at Celtic park against Rangers in 1979. There was also a crazy moment that most Celtic supporters know of, which was of course that moment at Somerset park in 1977 when he was ordered off for accidentally hitting the referee when attempting a cross into the box,.
Johnny was a fine player though and served the club well. He tragically died in an accident at his home in Kilmarnock on this day in 1981 and that was a tremendous lose to his own family and also to his wider Celtic family where he was also much loved. Back in those days Celtic players were regular visitors to supporters club functions, with some more enthusiast than others about attending.
According to our Editor, who I spoke with about Johnny, he was always the first to volunteer, and no one attended these events more frequently than the one and only Johnny Doyle.
He passed away while still a Celtic player, and the Celtic fanbase will always have warm memories of him. Godspeed, Johnny. You can be sure that the Celtic fans won’t forget you. And this tonight, when The Celtic Star take over the stadium at Celtic Park for a spectacular evening of Celtic conversation and singing, Johnny will be remembered at the packed-out Kerrydale.
