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Fullname: John Higgins
Born: 7 Jan 1933
Birthplace: Uddingston
Signed: 10 Jan 1950
Left: 1 Aug 1959 (Queen of the South)
Position: Outside Right
Debut: Celtic 0-0 Clyde, (Glasgow Charity Cup), 3 May 1952
Internationals: none
Celtic Coach: 1961
Chief Scout: 18 June 1967 - 3 July 1975

Biog

The talented John Higgins was signed as a teenager by Celtic in January 1950 from St John’s Uddingston BG.

An outside-right John’s first team debut would come in an uneventful 0-0 Charity Cup draw at Parkhead against Clyde on May 3rd 1952 and it would be another 17 months before he made his first league appearance.

After finally forcing himself into the first team John would play a key role in the league and Scottish Cup double triumph of season 1953-54. He had the intelligence and ability to both create and score goal from out wide and was a potent attacking outlet for the Hoops. Just a year after being a little known reserve he was regarded as one of the Bhoys’ key men.

Sadly though John’s obvious talent was not allowed to flourish as he was struck by a seemingly never ending run of injuries. He attempted several comebacks but despite some fine performances he would never reach the heights of his breakthrough year. He missed most of the seasons from 1955-57. He made a comeback in season 1958-59 playing in his accustomed outside right position but he looked half the player he had been. He was freed from Celtic in May 1959.

John would briefly join Queen of the South in August 1959 but within a month he had called time on his career after finally admitting defeat in his constant battle with a knee injury.

For a man marked as potentially "the New Delaney" this was a painful moment to end his career so prematurely. He continued
to work as a draughtsman for Babcocks in Paisley for many years.

John played 84 times for Celtic and scored 40 goals. He would later be a coach and chief scout at Parkhead.

Playing Career

Honours with Celtic

Scottish League

• 1953-54

Scottish Cup

• 1954

Pictures

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