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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Cfc1888
Strikes me based on previous post…high level political interference being applied to SFL and SPL CEOs…
Both lack the spine required to stand up to it..
BBC:
Celtic and Hibs legend Joe McBride dies aged 74
Joe McBride, the much-travelled striker who was part of the Celtic squad that won the European Cup in 1967, has died after suffering a stroke, aged 74.
McBride began his career with Kilmarnock and also had spells with Wolves, Luton, Partick Thistle, Hibs, Motherwell, Dunfermline and Clyde.
He also won two caps for Scotland.
“McBride’s association with Hibernian was brief, but he made a huge impact and scored a phenomenal 58 goals”
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “Joe was a very fine man, an absolute gentleman and someone who gave tremendous service to the club.”
McBride, who joined Celtic from Motherwell in 1965, missed out on playing in the European Cup final against Inter Milan after picking up an injury on Christmas Eve that kept him out of action for the rest of the season.
Up until that point in December, the man born yards from the home of Glasgow rivals Rangers in Govan had already scored 35 goals in 26 games for Jock Stein’s side.
He left for Hibs in 1968, having won two league championships and two League Cup medals with the Parkhead club, scoring 86 goals in 94 games, but continued his high scoring rate with the Edinburgh outfit.
McBride still wore the Celtic colours as part of the matchday hospitality team of legends who meet and greet the fans and Lawwell told the club website: “The passing of Joe McBride is tragic news.
“It was a privilege to know Joe and it was fantastic that someone who gave so much to Celtic was still involved with the club in a number of ways.
“He will truly be sadly missed by everyone at Celtic.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon knew McBride and his son, also called Joe, who himself played for Everton, Rotherham, Oldham, Hibs, Dundee, East Fife, Albion Rovers, Livingston and Hamilton and is now a coach with Cardiff.
McBride was one of the most prolific scorers in Celtic’s history
“It was a pleasure to be in Joe’s company and, on a personal level, Joe was someone who was always very supportive to myself,” added the former midfielder.
“I know Joe Jr well too and, on behalf of the whole management and backroom team, and the players, we offer our sincere condolences to Joe’s family.”
Hibs praised McBride’s “huge impact” during his time with them.
“A prolific striker, McBride’s association with Hibernian was brief – totalling 91 appearances in just over two years – but he made a huge impact and scored a phenomenal 58 goals,” said a statement from Easter Road.
“Our sincere thoughts are with his family at this difficult time – he left a lasting impression on our club and he will always be remembered with great affection.”
It was McBride’s form at Fir Park that captured Stein’s attention.
Motherwell chief executive Leeann Dempster said: “Although Joe will probably be remembered by most in the Scotland football world for his time with Celtic, Motherwell fans who had the pleasure of seeing him blossom will always hold him in high regard.
“We take a great sense of pride in his achievements whilst he was at Fir Park and how players of his quality graced our club in what was a golden era in terms of quality of football.”
Thistle, McBride’s club between 1960 and 1962, also paid their respects.
“All at Firhill were saddened to learn today of the passing of one of our former players, Joe McBride,” said a website statement.
new article posted.
Seems to be talk of the possibility that the vote might not take place tomorrow ?
If that happens, the SFA will have lost ALL credibility….
I struggle to remember any particular game Joe played in. I have a black and white memory of a game at Dunfermline I think when Joe scored a few in a what I’ve checked was a 5-4 away victory.
Funnilly what I do remember was the secret of his goal scoring ability which, apart from instinctivly knowing how to position himself, was the powere he could could get in a shot with very little backlift.
RIP Joe. I hear Gabriel plays in goal and always goes to the right at penalties (but dont clip his wings)..
Farewell Joe McBride.
Legend.
http://sport.nieuws.nl/
Schotse oud-international McBride overleden
(Novum/AP) – De Schotse voetballegende Joe McBride is overleden. De oud-international bezweek woensdag aan de gevolgen van een beroerte. Hij werd 74 jaar.
McBride maakte deel uit van de gouden generatie van Celtic, die in 1967 de Europa Cup 1 won. De aanvaller maakte dat seizoen 35 goals in 26 wedstrijden, maar moest de hele tweede seizoenshelft toekijken met een blessure. McBride miste daardoor de met 2-1 gewonnen finale tegen Internazionale.
Celtic-manager Neil Lennon noemt het verlies van Joe ‘verschrikkelijk nieuws’. McBride kwam tussen 1965 en 1968 voor Celtic tot 86 goals in 94 wedstrijden. Hij speelde ook voor Motherwell en Hibernian.
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Requiescat in pace Joe McBride and my condolences to his loved ones.
So sad to hear of the death of Joe McBride.
For generations who followed after mine (born mid-fifties) it must seem odd how Joe became both Celtic Hero and Celtic Legend despite playing fewer than 100 games & netting less than 100 goals.
In fact I’d assert Joe is unique in our history – I can think of no player in our so highly regarded yet having played as few games.
To the youngsters out there asking ‘how can that be’ I hope the following will explain the essence & importance of Super Joe. Please forgive – I may wander in memories & nostalgia.
My generation was too young for the League Cups of 56 & 57. When I was a child, the very young men called The Kelly Kids were growing up in football. My earliest Celtic related memory is of the 63 Cup Final replay TV evening highlights. It was in my grannies cottage in Tannochside. I recall nothing of the football but do remember the camera sweep across the huge Hampden terrace, empty of supporters with 20 minutes still to play. At the time, as a six year old, nothing really registered. Years later I appreciated we had been so out-played by RFC & the Celtic team selection had been so bizzare that the fans could suffer no more embarrassment.
In 1964 we lost to RFC in the League Cup Final, a match I do remember and I remember the bitter tears of disappointment.
You might think Celtic were awful in these years. You’d be wrong. I wonder if any Celtic squad (excluding 1966-1970) have ever played so excitingly or created as many chances?
You might think Celtic had no worthwhile strikers. You’d be wrong. Stevie Chalmers, John Divers, John Hughes were all regular scorers and Bobby Lennox was coming on the scene too.
Everybody knows what happened when Big Jock came and sorted things out but how come Joe became so loved among so many other heroes?
In my opinion 3 players helped Celtic move from good to super-great: Ronnie Simpson, Bertie Auld & Joe McBride. ‘Faither’ steadied the young defence, Bertie brought his gallus genious and street-wise and Joe…
Well, as I said earlier we had players who were genuine goal scorers in a team constantly attacking and creating record numbers of chances. The ratio of goals to chances was not good enough. Teams which should have been killed off weren’t. Our opponents always knew they had a chance of catching us out and they did.
Enter Super Joe…. while our other players were effective goal scorers Joe McBride was lethal. Few chances were ever going to be passed up by him. Teams now were killed off, we supporters were no longer to be frustrated nor short changed.
I am not clever enough to put into words the effect Joe had on us but because he was in the team we knew everything would be better, we knew a future so much brighter lay ahead, we knew he was one of us and there was none better ANYWHERE. I have never met a Celtic supporter of those awsome18 months whose favourite player was not Joe McBride, who did not consider Joe as talisman, who did not love Joe McBride.
So to the generations which followed now you know why Joe has a unique place in our history.
I’m sorry if this sounds like an an old guy (not that old!) being sentimental and yearning for times past. I’m genuinely moved by todays news so I hope you will forgive.
I saw every game that wee Joe Mc Bride played for the Hoops, both home and away, and I met him a couple of times after he stopped playing.
I had no hesitation in telling him the happiness that his goals had brought me and mine and how sad we all were that, through injury, he missed out on the biggest game in Celtic’s history!
What a goal scoring machine – what a real gent!
He will be sadly missed.
Our thuoghts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones.
May he rest in peace.
Terrymac.
Spoke to Joe breifly in the Thorniewood club at the Jinky memorial garden event. Still had that big grin on his face. Great Celt, great player & striker, a true gent!!.
Was at the game when he sustained that horror injury. We all knew it was a bad one. How many wd Joe have scored that season? God only knows.
ps I could never understand why Celtic let him go as he went to score lots of goals elsewhere!!
You left Paradise to early Joe but Im sure you are in Paradise now with Jinky. Ronnie, Bobby, Willie & Big Jock and other great Celtic players. YNWA RIP
HaiL HaiL
Forever in our hearts Joe.
May you rest in peace.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 12 July, 2012 at 12:07 said:
…Perhaps our most glorious chapters remain to be written.
Lenny understands that.
Hi Macjay,
What a wonderfully hopeful statement! When I read that I immediately thought a) How great it is to be a Celtic Supporter and b) to always KEEP THE FAITH!
Yours in Celtic,
TB&F.
With the new season approaching kick off; ambiguity of information from the SFA/SPL is designed to cause confusion amongst its members; consequently any major decision regards the identity of ‘club 12’ will be deferred.
The key to this entire fiasco lies with forcing the above issue.
Until ‘club 12’ is replaced on the fixture list by an actual football club; the door is left open for another parachute rescue mission of newco r@angers.
All focus of endeavour should be toward revelation of the true identity of ‘club 12’; the knock on event from that would allow matters to follow a natural course, as already demonstrated by the monkeys in suits at their Hampden tea parties; the rule book is in tatters, although said pages could be used to good effect for an entirely different course of nature……. I’ll get the saw dust.
My dear,dear,dear,friend.. Canuckbhoy
So. ye tell me that The Last California Brown Bear wiz shot ,in the Nineteen Twenties?
Interesting.
Well.. Ah kin assure ye that The Big Hulki Brute that Ah Met that day in the Forest..
Wiz.. Brown.. it wiz Bear… and Ah wiz in California at the the time.
‘
So.. well..
Ah figured it musta bin ..
A Californian Brown Bear..!
Right???
Made sense tae me..
Kojo
yer pal.. who likes ye. fur ye ur a fly wee monkey..
Still, Laughin’… of Course!!
Big Joe
What a player.
RIP
When will we see your likes again?
KINGLuBO
I always thought I could detect a wee cheeky grin on Joe’s face even on the pitch. I believe it reflected the tremendous joy he felt playing for Celtic similar to the passion than shone from Tommy Burns. He was the Lion who never got the chance to roar. Maybe that is why he gave his old team some hard times after he went to Hibs. Even Big Jock admitted he probably underestimated the talent that Joe was by letting him go far too soon. It is good to know that, in spite of what might be considered a short spell at Celtic, Joe is one of the very big names engraved on the hearts of the Celtic family. Rest in peace, Joe. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
H H
Rest in peace Joe
I received this Email last night from a well respected Celtic man.
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Joe passed away this evening,my granda thought he was up there with McGrory and Quinn, no finer accolade for a Celtic centre forward.
That’ll do for me Gerry.
Teuchter