Hay, Chris

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Personal

Fullname: Christopher Drummond Hay
aka: Chris Hay, Christopher Hay
Born: 28 Aug 1974
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
Signed: 27 May 1993
Left: 5 Aug 1997
Position: Striker, Forward
Debut:
Celtic 1-1 Partick Thistle, League, 7 May 1994
Internationals
: none


BiogChris Hay

Striker Chris Hay was signed as a 19 year-old by the Bhoys from Giffnock North AFC in May 1993.

He enjoyed an impressive scoring run with the reserves- netting a hat-trick against Rangers – and was given his first taste of senior action in a 1-1 home draw with Partick Thistle on May 7th 1994.

Celtic were going through the start of the new regime, with Tommy Burns having just taken over and a huge overhaul needed of almost every aspect of the club. No easy environment for any young player. The first team were picking up after the nightmare season of 1993-94 but there was a desperation for any trophy and the league title too (finally managed the Scottish Cup in May 1995).

He had few games until the 1996/97 season, when he was given 4 starts and 12 off the bench, and in this spell he managed 4 goals, including a crucial late goal that won Celtic a match by 2-1 against Raith Rovers.

Hopes were high that the young striker might blossom into a top quality finisher with a good career. He actually had a fine record, in that Celtic only lost in one game in which he turned out for the first team, although ironically he was the scorer in this 2-1 defeat to Motherwell.

In truth he made little overall impact on the first team (bolstered by the high profile signings of van Hooijdonk and Cadette) during his time at Parkhead, making only nine starts but plenty of substitution appearances to give him more exposure.

He last appearance was to play in European competition football, scoring a goal against the comically named Inter Cardiff in the UEFA Cup qualifying first round in 1997 in a 5-0 victory.

In total he managed a commendable 5 goals, but sadly it wasn’t to be for him at Celtic.

Post-Celtic

Chris Hay was sold to Swindon Town in 1997 for £330,000 in August 1997 – where he enjoyed an initial rich vein of scoring form – after appearances for the Bhoys.

In 2000, Chris Hay then moved to Huddersfield Town and spent two seasons at the McAlpine Stadium.

He returned to Scotland in 2002 with Billy Stark’s St Johnstone. He was the Saints’ top scorer in his first season, notching nine league goals. He went on to make 70 league appearances for the Perth club before joining Stirling Albion in 2005. He scored a hat-trick against Forfar Athletic on 3rd December 2005, but he was released after just one season at Forthbank.

Chris Hay at time of writing has moved out of football and now works in insurance.


Playing Career

APPEARANCES LEAGUE SCOTTISH CUP LEAGUE CUP EUROPE TOTAL
1993-1997 9 (17) 0 (3) 0 (0) 0 (2) 9 (22)
Goals: 4 0 0 1 5

Honours with Celtic

none


Pictures