Former Celtic striker, Joe McBride, died yesterday after suffering a stroke at the weekend. Joe spent only three years at Celtic but was one of the most prolific strikers in the history of a club known for its prolific strikers.
Brought to the club by Jock Stein in 1965 Joe instantly became the star of the team as Celtic went on to win the league for the first time in eight years. The following season, 66-67, would become the focal point of Celtic’s history as McBride scored a phenomenal 37 goals before injury ended his season prior to Christmas. Five months later his team mates took to the field for the European Cup final in Lisbon without their most potent weapon.
Celtic scored twice to win the European Cup but with fans forever wondering what Joe would have been made of the 40 (literally) chances Celtic didn’t convert, if he had played.
Since that season Celtic players have had incredible goal scoring seasons, Charlie Nicholas in 1982-83, Brian McClair in 1986-87 and Henrik Larsson in 2000-01, each time Joe’s achievements in 1966 were our reference point.
I met Joe a few times, on each occasion he was ebullient and charming, but when talk got down to football, he retained his legendary focus.
Our thoughts and prayers to Joe’s family and friends, may he Rest in Peace.
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Joe, a true legend, a Celtic great, a gentleman.
RIP
pigalle
The 2 Million pound bribe. http://t.co/bSoqF5q1 – THIS !! Is what the SFL are saying no to !! Get it RT get emailing, tweeting clubs !!!
Please forward this to friends of all clubs please.
In my opinion Larsson and Dalglish were never out and out No.9’s/predators, although great goalscorers. Joe McBride was the archetypal No.9, a born finisher and goal-poacher supreme. We’ve had a few cracking centre forwards who fit that bill, such as Deans, Nicholas, McAvennie, Cadette and Hartson. However for me Joe McBride tops the list and is behind only Jimmy McGrory and possibly Jimmy Quinn.
YNWA Joe.
hh
Let us forget the mess Scottish Football is in.
Let us remember one of our greats that is Joe McBride. I never saw Super Joe play but from what I’ve heard he was truly a great.
RIPJoeMcBride
Lovely mention of Joe, just there, on Sky News Sport Update.
One more sleep til Armageddon day.
I know where I’d like “Rangers” to be parachuted and it’s not back into football…..
The bad fire, they deserve it.
pigalle
I never saw him play nor met Joe McBride but the testimonies on here speak volumes. Sincere condolences to his family and fiends.
HH
TLK
Ten Men Won The League on 12 July, 2012 at 10:15 said:
RIP Joe McBride
An interesting post from Barcabhoy on RTC this morning
The SFA have poked a stick at the wrong beast . Football clubs might not be able to sue their national association, however individual shareholders acting alone or as a group in a class action have no such restriction.
Regan may shortly find that any attempt to close down any enquiry into Rangers behaviors is resisted in court. There may be no appetite at the SFA to conclude on illegal registrations and bringing the game into disrepute amongst others. There is however a consequence. Shareholders at Celtic have seen the value of their equity seriously damaged by SFA failure to police the game properly.
This isn’t going to end with a vote on Friday. Clubs have been cheated out of £10′s of millions and the SFA have watched it happen. Regan and Peat, along with Smith and Ogilvie are going to find out that their actions have consequences
Something to ponder over a glass of Malbec
………..
I’ll sign up for that class action or whatever they call ithere!
a pic of joe in action and tune from liam clancy for the great joe mcbride, i remember him well.
a tear in my eye!
http://www.vavel.com/files/uk_594822751.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1se8_-fcxZs
get in there big man!
RIP JOE
Fine words Paul.
RIP Joe McBride – Gob bless you.
Celtic Legend.
Wasnt lucky enough to see him play but my dad assures me he was a brilliant goalscorer and wore the famous green and white hoops with distinction. God bless super bhoy Joe and his family
In front of goal, Joe was deadly.
First saw him in the flesh when he scored both of Motherwell’s goals in the 2 – 2 Cup Semi Final at Hampden in ’65. I’m sure that convinced Big Jock to go for him.
Chalmers, McBride, Wallace and Henrik.
Born goal scorers every one.
Thanks for the memories, Joe. RIP.
I was very saddened this morning at the news of Joe McBride’s passing. I have been away for a few days and didn’t even know he was ill.
As a young bhoy I was in awe of Joe’s goal-scoring prowess. I particularly remember a game at a very muddy Easter Road in late 1966 when Celtic trailed 1-3 with only 20 minutes to play. Celtic ran rampant and turned on the style to win 5-3, mainly thanks to a Joe McBride hat-trick in those last 20 minutes.
It was a stunning display of attacking football by Celtic, reminiscent of Lisbon 6 months later.
I met Joe about 12 years ago on a flight to New York for a week of St Patrick’s Day celebrations and was delighted on discovering we were in the same Manhattan hotel. Like Paul, I found him to be a true gentleman and a tremendous ambassador for Celtic Football Club.
I am proud to have included Joe in my recent CQN Magazine article entitled The Nearly Men of 67. I am sure Paul won’t mind my reproducing it here.
Joe McBride was the one man who most certainly would have played in Lisbon, had it not been for a horrendous knee injury. In an incredible first half of the season, McBride scored an astonishing 36 goals before being injured against Aberdeen at Pittodrie, which put him out of the game for a year. It was the injury to McBride that prompted Mr Stein to spend £30,000 to acquire Willie Wallace from Hearts. Despite playing his last game of the season before Christmas, McBride ended the campaign as Scotland’s top scorer. In 3 years with Celtic, McBride scored 86 goals in 94 appearances, including 54 in 55 league games. We can only wonder and speculate as to what his goals tally might have been, had Joe McBride not suffered such an untimely injury.
Joe McBride RIP
Theres a great tribute to Joe on The Lionheart Video from 1992.
Joe McBride is a Lisbon Lion
Rest in Peace Joe. He was our Gerd Muller. The goal he scored against Dunfermline at East End Park is one of the best I’ve ever seen.
Vmhan on 12 July, 2012 at 10:27 said:
Moonbeams WD. Kano 1000 \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. Champions. C’mon Wee Oscar. on 12 July, 2012 at 07:06 said:
………………..
Zbyszek that video doesn’t show them Choosing the route to go passed catholic churches a d desicrate them, it does not show the deliberate walk through traditional catholic communities or the beating of men and woman who attempt to cross the road at the wrong time.
The orange walk is a throwback to a dark time in our history and these fascist scum need to hold on to it rather than live in a modern free, open to all society, a bit like trying to get the SFA to do the right thing…… Scottish football orange ludge.
Have we resigned yet
HH
share on F’book or Twitter
Vmhan on 12 July, 2012 at 10:33 said:
Just seen that Joe McBride’s has passed, may God go with you and keep you safe Joe, thanks for the memories…… Hail Hail
God bless you Joe a true Celt.
Very sad to hear of Joe McBride’s passing today. A wonderful Celt and by all accounts alovely man too.
Rest in Peace Joe and condolences to your family at this sad time.
Philbhoy
RIP Joe. Far too young to remember however a great picture has been painted by older family members. Was at a great dinner night a few years back for Joe at CP. Neil Lennon and SAF among guest. Great night. I am sure he will be mixing with all the Celtic greats already.
RIP Joe McBride – he was the ‘complete’ striker with all the skills and by all accounts was a thorughly decent man.
With regard to Barcabhoys post on RTC – I suggested months ago that shareholders open up a whole new branch to the Rangers/SFA saga. It’s easy for people to forget that Dermot Desmond does not ‘own’ Celtic – he is only the major shareholder.
I still have my shares from 1994 – and I am sure that there are many who post on here and RTC who are in the same boat. Collectively, we could open a potent legal front, acting independently from Celtic – and in addition to the financial threat of supporters.
These shenanigans must stop NOW – or we will have no game left at all. Or is that the ultimate objective?
Day 14 in Cala D’or still no sign of a RFCIA strip! However, overheard a Chelsea Top wearing Glaswegian this morning saying that Fergus McCann “liquidated” Celtic Football Club when he took over so “that mob” have lost their history as well. Had a wee chuckle to myself as I walked past.
I remember the first time I saw Joe McBride, it was a week before I hit the big ONE O. I hated him. Twice I saw him score to put Motherwell in front in the Scottish Cup semi.(1965) I remember his goal celebrations, jumping up and punching the air. Fortunately we equalised for a second time and went on to win the replay 3-0.
Shortly after this we signed Joe. I loved him. R.I.P. Joe McBride, a true Celtic great, a true Celtic man.
If Heacen did 5 a sides –
Ronnie Simpson
Wille O’Neill
BobbyMurdoch
Jinky
Joe McBride
Who would be second?
Rest in peace Joe. I had the pleasure to meet him last year and he was a star. Legend and nice guy.
Heacon – Heaven
Rip big joe
Joe McBride passed on. May he rest in peace.
He leaves us who were graced and supported the team back then with the indelible memories. The greatest goal scorer I ever saw pull on a Celtic top; bar none. Wherever Joe’s soul is going on its eternal journey a wee bit of me has gone with him too.
The hardest part of life is seeing those you love and admire leave you behind; My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
I’m sure I’m not the only one today who has been re-acquainted with stinging dry tears.
Celtic vs Zurich 1966/67
Hearts v Celtic 1966 Scottish Cup
celtic 3 hearts 1 – sc qf replay 1966
celtic 5 rangers 1 – 1966
A song.
Runrig – Loch Lomond
Sad news about Joe McBride.
R.I.P.
So a 16 team set up ?
So it will be the same
Same old with a split ?
30 games then split
Followed with 14
(i) That the Scottish Football League Members agree to admit Sevco Scotland Limited as an Associate Member and agrees to permit Rangers F.C. to play in the League during Season 2012/13.
————————–
As some of the SFL clubs have pointed out, it all falls down at this first resolution. Who or what is Sevco Scotland Limited? The SFL clubs know nothing about them nor whether this entity can complete fixtures in the coming season, at the most basic level. There is a ton of “due diligence” evidence required to satisfy the league members this new entity can meet the criteria necessary to join the league. Apparently none of this information is available to the SFL.
“Permit “Rangers FC””? Eh? Aren’t they dead? If they are not then what happens to all the expected punishments, court cases, ownership uncertainties and extant liabilities?
The SFL clubs do not even know what legal entity they are being asked to vote in. One’s dead the other is still- born. Hmmm.
Unless in the next day it can be explained to everyone’s compete confidence what they are actually being asked to vote in, how can resolution (i) be passed?
HH
TLK
Over the last few months there have been many on here who have commented on what should be done regarding the cups, league titles etc, that have been lost to any Scottish club due to the cheating of a certain ex football team. Many said that they would rather have the history show that ——–“no winner of league that season or no Cup winner due to cheating of X FC”. I always thought that this was the correct way to show football’s history in Scotland, but with the current proposed changes to the game I now believe that that we could put a ———- after every winner of a league or cup competition in the future.
I have now changed my mind and think that the team who should have won the trophies in the past should be awarded them and their name put in the history books. Obviously some sort of explanation as to why the team was awarded the title/cup would still need to be explained i.e awarded after cheating was discovered. If in the future if the new club Sevco5088 were to win anything of note then would that be seen as being tainted due to the present cheating proposals that are being put forward. An outsider looking in at this “competition” may possibly compare it to an old style beauty competition, where the three judges are the father, uncle and grandfather of the ugliest most spoiled girl in the room.
The 16 team set up is only a proposal, not legally guaranteed, so you can bet your backside that if the newco get int SFL1, it will amazingly be branded as unworkable and dropped.
Philbhoy
Big John Cushley also a lion
Kitalba at 10:58
Thanks for that you’re a star HH
I think that the split could work well in an expanded league.
Think of a top 6 – having to play each other again home and away – and there is scope for a lot of excitement. It would also mean that the ridiculous situation where you play some teams three times at home or once at home would cease – but it could increase excitement.
If this was tied in with a ‘back to the future’ style league cup with sections – then it could also spread the money quite nicely.
Oldtim and BT if you’re meeting up on the same day that Celts are playing can I gatecrash?
Oldtim my shout.
HH
“I think those who want 16 teams in the top flight are deluding themselves.”
Neil Doncaster, 5 January 2011
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9338483.stm
Nice to have a plan…….