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Fullname: John Bonnar
aka: Johnny Bonnar, Tiger, Coronation Bonnar
Born: 11 January 1924
Died: 14 January 2004
Birthplace: West Calder
Signed: 13 August 1948 (from Arbroath)
Left: 18 August 1958 (to Dumbarton)
Position: Goalkeeper
Debut: Clyde 0-4 Celtic, League, 6 November 1948
Internationals: N/A
International Caps: N/A
Biog
John Bonnar will go down in Celtic folklore for his part in ensuring one of the great unique triumphs in Celtic history.
Born in West Calder – John Bonnar was signed in August 1948 from Arbroath – the son of Donegal parents – he had originally made a name for himself as a junior. However it would be in the Coronation Cup of 1953 that the keeper would earn his place in Celtic and football folklore. Prior he was a shale-miner but was much sought after as a player.
John Bonnar was nicknamed as ‘Tiger‘ due to a perceived similarity in looks to the great Moscow Dynamo keeper ‘Tiger‘ Khomich, not a bad accolade.
Originally brought as cover for Willie Miller John’s debut for the Bhoys came on 6th November 1948 when he kept a clean sheet as the Celts defeated Clyde at Shawfield in a league tie. It was said that he was inspired in that game.
Despite playing second (and even third fiddle) he was given back his chance on Hogmany 1949 when Willie Miller was injured, and it was Bonnar and not Alex Devanny given the nod to play. He was soon heralded as “Celtic’s best since John Thomson“.
Supposedly: “He’s not a big Lad but he makes up for it by his catlike ability and magnificent anticipation“.
Not particularly tall for a keeper, Bonnar was prone to the odd costly error but was also able to produce moments of magic. So it was that in 1953 Bonnar turned in a string of magnificent performances against Arsenal, Manchester United and Hibernian to play a huge part to help an unfancied Celtic lift the Coronation Cup.
The next season (1953/54) he played his part in a league and Scottish Cup double, with an exceptional record conceding just 7 goals at home in the league and 22 goals away. Notably, he made four world-class saves against Partick Thistle on 20th March 1954 to help Celtic to the points on the road to a league title win (Partick Thistle were a strong side coming third that season). This adds to the affection the support from the time had for him.
He would later lose his place to Dick Beattie, and John Bonnar would leave Parkhead for Dumbarton in 1958. He had played little over recent seasons, and unfortunately for him he didn’t play in the League Cup runs that won Celtic back-to-back titles, including the famous 7-1 final win over Rangers in 1957.
In truth, he is best described as a competent goalkeeper but could be inconsistent (not exactly an uncommon trait at Celtic in any era for goalkeepers), but his Coronation Cup heroics (for which he was dubbed ‘Coronation Bonnar‘) meant he will always be remembered with huge affection by all Celts. He was for some a ‘jewel of a keeper‘.
After football, John Bonnar became organiser of the Celtic Development Fund (31 March 1963) and later owned the Spur Bar in Polmadie not far from Celtic Park.
He passed away in January 2004.
Quotes
“I wish to record here and now that when Bonnar was having a great game I never saw a goalkeeper anywhere in my life who was better than him.”
Charlie Tully
“He was a great keeper and a real character. He used to call himself ‘Tiger’ and would make a save before shouting out “Ye cannae beat the Tiger!” He had let in a really soft equaliser direct from a corner-kick in the 1955 Scottish Cup final against Clyde and big John McPhail clearly hadn’t forgotten, commenting to us “mibbee someone should take a corner!” Well, that’s the polite version!”
Billy Craig
“Do you remember John’s defence when he lost a goal? He would say, “Aye but I touched it,” like that made any difference!”
Peter Goldie
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1948-1958 | 120 | 22 | 38 | n/a | 180 |
| Shut-outs | 33 | 6 | 10 | – | 49 (27%) |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish league
Scottish Cup
Coronation Cup
Pictures
Links
Articles
Obituary
Herald and the Sunday Herald,
January 15, 2004
He spent 10 years at Celtic and retired in 1960 after short spells with Dumbarton and St Johnstone. Bonnar will best be remembered for his world-class displays against Arsenal, Manchester United and Hibs when Celtic won the Coronation Cup in 1953
Lisbon Lions Jim Craig and Bertie Auld,former Celtic assistant manager Sean Fallon,ex Chairman Jack McGinn, current youth coach Tommy Burns, ex-players – Frank McGarvey, John Fallon, Jim Brogan, Alec Boden, Willie Fernie, Billy Craig, Bertie Auld, John Cushley and Benny Rooney attended the service at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, less than a mile from Parkhead.
Billy Ritchie the ex Rangers keeper who like John also came from West Calder also attended the funeral.
Region: United Kingdom, Europe, Western Europe
Provided By: Financial Times Information Limited
Copyright 2004. All Rights Reserved. Record Number: A20040115 -12D0-EIW,0,XML,EIW
How Celtic’s greatest prize ended up in police cell after fan reveals his dad brought European Cup home for the night
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/celtic-fan-reveals-dad-brought-10491566
John Bonnar told how his Dad, former Hoops goalkeeper Johnny Bonnar, borrowed the iconic trophy for the evening.
ByPaul O’Hare,
21:00, 24 MAY 2017
Updated23:46, 24 MAY 2017
John’s Dad Johnny borrowed the trophy for a celebration (Image: Daily Record)
A Celtic fan has revealed how his dad brought the European Cup home for the night – and then handed it over to the police for safekeeping.
Former Hoops goalkeeper Johnny Bonnar borrowed the iconic trophy from the club for a celebration concert.
![[Untitled]](https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/7da26bc43419d7d317313734205ca27d "[Untitled]")
But the Celtic Pools boss was so concerned about keeping it for a second night he had it taken into custody.
The late legend’s son shared the remarkable tale for the first time to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the club’s most famous triumph.
John, 59, told The Record: “My Dad Johnny played for Celtic from 1948 to 1958 and ran the Celtic Pools from 1964 to 1974.
“He had the game of life in the Coronation Cup final, when we beat Hibs 2-0 on May 20, 1953.
“When Celtic won the European Cup Bob Kelly, the chairman, gave every department within the football club a wee bonus.
“He gave my Dad money, it was all cash in hand in those days, and my Dad went round all the staff and gave them all a wee bung.
“Bob Kelly said to Dad: ‘Right, John. What do you want?’
“He replied: ‘I would like to repay the agents as they have been great. They have built up the Celtic Pools within three years. I would like to give them a concert.’”
Bob agreed to the event and gave the green light for the European Cup to be the guest of honour.
Johnny used to frequent a city centre cafe used by Larry Marshall of Scottish Television’s One O’Clock gang and approached him about booking acts for the celebration.
Neighbours gathered as they caught wind of the trophy being in their street (Image: Daily Record)
The Celtic fanatic agreed and was told he had a £200 budget to play with.
Johnny collected the trophy on Easter Saturday 1968 but made the mistake of letting the neighbours know.
Word quickly spread and queues formed outside the family home in Drumover Drive in Glasgow’s east end.
John, who now lives in Paisley, recalled: “It got totally out of hand.
“Everybody and their cat and dug wanted their photo taken with the European Cup.”
The following night, April 14, 1968, the Odeon Cinema in Renfield Street was packed for the big bash.
Carer John explained: “Larry got all the acts together – and probably took a good bung for himself.
“Glen Daly was top of the bill singing the Celtic songs and the star prize was a black and white television set.
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“It was a great night and everything went to perfection.
“On the way home we were driving along the Gallowgate and my Dad said to my Mum: ‘Betty, what are we going to do with this cup?’
“Mum said we could keep it in the house and leave it back in the boardroom at Celtic Park on the Tuesday, as the Monday was a holiday.
“Dad said: ‘I can’t leave it in the house. I thought we were going down to Troon tomorrow with the kids.’
“Mum said: ‘Aye we are, John. We can stick it under the bed. It’s only a cup.’
“My Dad said: ‘Only a cup? It’s the European Cup! What are you talking about?’”
Johnny was so worried he stopped at the police station on Tobago Street.
John said: “Dad said to the sergeant on the desk: ‘I want you to look after the cup. I’ll come back on Tuesday and pick it up.’
“The sergeant on the desk said: ‘John, it’s not our responsibility it’s yours. You will have to look after your own cup.’
“After a bit of toing and froing he agreed to phone the Divisional Commander, who was in his kip.
“The sergeant phoned him and said: ‘Johnny Bonnar is down here with the European Cup. He wants us to look after it to Tuesday.
“The divisional commander took the same line as the sergeant and said it wasn’t their responsibility.
“But after a bit of persuading the divisional commander told the sergeant to take it and stick it in a cell.
“He added: ‘Make sure it is under lock and key because I don’t want the responsibility if it is stolen.’
“The fairytale of the story goes that there was not a police officer on the beat in the east end of Glasgow on Easter Sunday night of 1968 as they were all in Tobago Street with their wee Kodak cameras getting their photo taken.
“The story also goes that when the divisional commander got in on the Tuesday he went looking for the cup and it was in the kitchen where the boys have their cups of tea.
“They had taken it up and everyone was having a kiss and a cuddle.”
John believes his Dad was one of the few fans to get the trophy overnight – with good reason.
He said: “Bob Kelly was petrified about that cup getting stolen from Celtic Park.
“In the Gallowgate in those days there were a lot of scrap men, not all of Celtic persuasion.
“Even if they were a Celtic supporter it might not have made any difference because inside that cup it was gold plated.
![[Untitled]](https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/82acfbfaf16969b56e42b8934bc4e73c "[Untitled]")
“Bob Kelly was always petrified in case they melted that down to get the scrap value out of it.
“I can assure you very few people that had the European Cup in their house overnight.”
John has fond memories of his Dad, who made 180 appearances for Celtic and died in 2004 aged 80.
And he will always cherish Easter weekend, 1968.
He added: “There’s not many wee boys in the east end of Glasgow that had the European Cup in their house.
“They didn’t have a replica at that time.
“It was the real one that big Billy held up.”