Gillan George Image 1 Hamilton Academical 1948

Description

Inside right and later right half George Gillan began his football career with Saltcoats Victoria, from where he joined Kilmarnock, making his Scottish League debut and sole appearance for Killie in a 5-1 defeat by Heart of Midlothian at Tynecastle at the end of April 1938, joining Arthurlie in the 1938 close season, then moving to newly promoted Scottish First Division club Alloa Athletic in 1939. However the outbreak of the Second World War soon intervened to interrupt his career, but he had impressed to the extent that he was signed by Glasgow Celtic on loan from Alloa in August 1940, scoring on an impressive debut for The Bhoys as Celtic drew 2-2 with Hamilton Academical in the Regional League at Parkhead on August 10th. He played for a single season with Celtic, scoring the winner against Rangers in the Glasgow Cup Final the following month among his 10 goals in 30 appearances for The Hoops.

Celtic were keen to make his move a permanent one but Motherwell stumped up the transfer fee and took Gillan to Fir Park where he continued to impress. He later played for Berwick Rangers and after the War joined Hamilton Academical, where he converted to right half where it was said of him that he’d “found his true position and has put up many sterling displays”. Described in 1948 as “sturdily built and strong in the tackle, he is a stalwart in defence”, he was a mainstay for Hamilton until 1950, and he scored twice in 94 League appearances during Hamilton’s first five post war seasons, making his final appearances for The Accies during their 1950-51 campaign. He later coached at Ardeer Thistle.