Geehrin, Patrick

G | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: Patrick Geehrin
aka: Pat Geehrin, Patrick Gechern, Patrick Gehern, Patrick Geheran, Pat Geeherun, Pat Gecherin,
Born:12 March 1887
Died: 15 July 1946
Birthplace: Loanhead, Lasswade, Midlothian *
Signed: 11 April 1910
Left: Sep 1911 (Bristol City)
Position: Full-Back
Debut:
St Mirren v Celtic, League, 18 Mar 1911
Internationals
: N/A

BiogGeehrin, Pat - Pic

Full-back Patrick Geehrin made a solitary first team appearance for the Hoops.

A really good man to fall back on” it was reportedly said about him.

He was a junior Scottish international player who had played for Scotland’s junior side in a 2-2 draw v Ireland at Celtic Park just a year earlier before his arrival at Celtic.

Signed in April 1910 from Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic**, the Musselburgh-born defender made his only senior competitive appearance for the Bhoys in a 1-1 league draw at St Mirren on 18th March 1911 when he was a stand in for Jimmy Hay. Celtic apparently pulled in Jock Davie of Hamilton in time as Jimmy Hay’s replacement ahead of Pat Geehrin, although Jock Davie himself never ended up playing a single first team game for Celtic.

It wasn’t a successful league campaign that season (1910/11) for Celtic who finished the campaign in fifth position. Celtic did go on to win the Scottish Cup the next month after his debut match (after a replay), but Patrick Geehrin sadly didn’t get to play a part in the run of matches to that title victory.

From some research, after a loan spell at Alloa it appears that Patrick Geehrin initially signed for Dundee Hibs (pre-cursor to Dundee Utd) in September 1911 but very soon after left to move to Bristol City, and later on signed for Alloa (1912) before wrapping up his career with Alloa Armadale in 1914.

He actually had played for Alloa against Celtic whilst he was turning out for Celtic reserves

He was the brother-in-law of the great Celtic player Barney Battles, and interestingly Pat Geehrin has a connection to a Scottish big screen legend. The parents of the future James Bond star, Sean Connery, were the best man & bridesmaid at Pat Geehrin’s Wedding, and possibly Pat Geehrin was Sean Connery’s godfather [TBC***]. Both Sean Connery and Pat Geehrin played junior for Bonnyrigg Rose, so was Pat Geehrin possibly a football mentor for Sean Connery but also maybe Barney Battles jr too, his nephew whose father had played for Celtic. Barney Battles jr went on to play for Hearts.

After his playing career ended, his occupation was as a coal miner and a ‘corporation labourer’.

Pat Geehrin passed away in 1946. His death certificate was signed by Barney Battles jr (son of the ex-Celtic great Barney Battles).

* Originally listed as born c.1899, Musselbrugh.He was born Patrick Gehern in Loanhead, Midlothian on 12 March 1887[Celtic Graves Research Thread]
** From our research it’s Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic and not Bonnyrigg Thistle as some sources claim
*** Claims he may be Sean Connery’s godfather. See https://twitter.com/jamiebhoy2009/status/1310290617277337600

Playing Career

APPEARANCES LEAGUE SCOTTISH CUP LEAGUE CUP EUROPE TOTAL
1910-11 1 0 1
Goals: 0 0 0

Honours with Celtic

  • none

Pictures

Forums

Notes:

(below is from research from Arab Archives (Dundee Utd site) Andy Body (@andyboyd1967) on twitter), see: https://twitter.com/andyboyd1967/status/1308765607836385281

1) Names for the family (Ancestry & Scotland’s People) 1873
– Martin Geheren. 1874 – Ann Gaharin. 1876 – Catherine Gehern*. 1878 – Thomas Geehern. 1899 – Bernard Battles marries Catherine Gecherin*. 1901 Census – Geeherun. 1911 Census – Gecheran. 1924 – Geheran.

2) Monday, 4 September 1911. Dundee Evening Telegraph.
To-day they (Dundee Hibs) signed P. Gechern, of Glasgow Celtic, as right back. Gechern, who is an international junior, went to the Celtic two years ago as a right back and played several games for them.

3) Saturday, 19 March 1910.
Scotland v Ireland, Junior International, @ Celtic Park. (2-2) Gechern – or Geechran – of Bonnyrigg Rose played.

4) Named in The Dundee Hibs team v Dundee ‘A’ , 9 September 1911.
Not mentioned in the match reports I’ve seen.

5) 1911 Bristol City 4 games 1 goal. Scottish League players records, 1890 to 1939. Geehrin, Pat. Musselburgh, 1889. Bonny This. Celtic 1910/11 Alloa, loan. B. City. Alloa Armadale.

6) Saturday, 23 September 1911. Alloa Advertiser. Patrick Geechrin, the Celtic player, who assisted Alloa Athletic last season, has been transferred by the Celtic to Bristol City. “Paddy” is credited with playing a good game for the Reserve XI. on Saturday last.

7) Mentioned in 2 reports for Bristol City Reserves on 21st, v Bristol Rovers Reserves, & 22nd September, v Swindon Town Reserves. 22nd – “Bristol gave trials to two young Scotsmen – Gechern, a full back, and Wilson, an inside left.”

8) Football League players records, 1888 to 1939. Gechern, Pat. 1911 Bristol City 4 games 1 goal. Scottish League players records, 1890 to 1939. Geehrin, Pat. Musselburgh, 1889. Bonny This. Celtic 1910/11 Alloa, loan. B. City. Alloa Armadale. John Litster’s list no mention
The Rose.

“Dundee Evening Telegraph 04 September 1911”

Date would be 14 Sept 1911 according to the Dundee Courier.

Dalkeith Advertiser. Thursday, 8 April 1954.


Was he the godfather of Sean Connery?

Trying to find if ex-Celt Patrick Geheran is the Godfather of Sean Connery doesn’t come into that category, but at least we do know that James Bond’s Mother & Father were best man & bridesmaid at Pat’s Wedding. Both Sean and Patrick played junior for Bonnyrigg Rose, was Pat his football mentor? or even the great Celt Barney Battles who was the Brother in Law of Pat