Crum Johnny Image 3 Glasgow Celtic 1937

Description

Hyndland, Glasgow born inside left or centre forward Johnny Crum began his football career with Maryhill Hibs and played for Ashfield Juniors before joining Glasgow Celtic in February 1932, scoring twice on his Scottish League debut in a 4-1 victory over Motherwell at Parkhead on 22nd October. He had the difficult and unenviable role of taking over from Jimmy McGrory after his retirement, moving from inside left to centre forward during a period of decline for Celtic. Crum scored in the Scottish Cup Final in 1937, pouncing on a parried shot to steal a goal in Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Aberdeen at Hampden Park in front of more than 147,000 spectators. The following year he was central to their wonderful success at the Empire Exhibition tournament, scoring the only goal in the Final against Everton at Ibrox. He also won The Scottish League Championship twice with Celtic in 1936 and 1938.

He was first selected for Scotland in a 1-1 draw against England at Wembley in April 1936 and won his second and final cap in a 2-0 victory over Ireland at Windsor Park, Belfast in October 1938. He also represented The Scottish League once in a 2-1 defeat to The League of Ireland at Dalymount Park, Dublin in March 1939.

Crum scored 88 goals in 211 League and Cup appearances for Celtic until the outbreak of the Second World War, when he was still only 27, and he continued to play wartime football for The Bhoys until 1942, when he joined Greenock Morton, and he continued to play for Morton until his retirement from football in 1946.