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Personal
Fullname: George Johnstone
Born: 15 Dec 1914
Died: 11 Sep 1974
Birthplace: Caldercruix (Lanarkshire)
Signed: 20 Aug 1940 (loan)
Debut: Celtic 2-2 Hamilton Accies, Regional League, 10 Aug 1940
Position: Goalkeeper
Internationals: none
Biog
Aberdeen goalkeeper George Johnstone was a wartime loan signing who played 37 regional league & regional league cup appearances for the Bhoys. By trade he was a baker and had previously played against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final of 1937 (Celtic triumphing 2-1 in front of a Cup winners and European record club attendance: 146,433 – unofficial 147,365).
He joined Celtic in August 1940 and made his debut on 10th August 1940 in a 2-2 Regional League draw at home to Hamilton Academicals. Manger Willie McStay wanted him as soon as he took the job, but Aberdeen relented late.
He inspired Celtic in the Glasgow Cup final to success at Ibrox in Sep 1940. A great win, and significant as one of the few triumphs for Celtic in the otherwise disastrous war years for the club.
In one match v Rangers, when he came off he asked the opposition player Jimmy Smith:
“Why don’t you leave the goalkeeper alone? It doesn’t do you any good.”
In reply the Rangers’ player retorted:
“I don’t like goalkeepers – especially Celtic ones!“.
You can read into that line as you like.
He may have played in every league game in season 1940/41, but the Caldercruix-born keeper was to depart Celtic Park after a bonus row. He charged the club with breach of contract over bonus money in Sep 1941. Bizarrely, Celtic were fined (£25 for breach of agreement) and then threw George Johnstone’s case out the window. His reaction was so forthright (unsurprisingly) and he was brought back to the chamber to repeat his thoughts. he made his feeling known not once but twice to the SFA! He was subsequently suspended sine die until he apologised on 7th Mar 1942.
He returned to the Dons, but Celtic in time had the great Willie Miller to come in goals. Maybe without George Johnstone’s departure that may not have come into being, so both sides benefited with George Johnstone’s departure.
In fairness, George Johnstone was an ever present for Celtic at a difficult time and helped the first team to a (minor) cup victory which at time was a very rare success for the club in a dire era. That should be respected when anyone reflects back on the service he gave Celtic at a very difficult time for the club and society as the war went on.
Another positive note to George Johnstone’s name is that despite having had a poor shut-out record, the truth is that in season 1940/41, Celtic conceded the second fewest goals in the league that season (just 40 goals). The greater problem was goalscoring with only the bottom two in the league out of 16 scoring less than Celtic. The Celtic First Team finished fifth that season in the league.
As Celtic were to struggle for dependent goalkeepers until Willie Miller stepped in, it is a credible argument that the loss of George Johnstone was another bad move by the club management in that era.
He was to become a favourite keeper of the Aberdeen support, appearing in two Scottish Cup finals and a League Cup win. He moved on to Dunfermline in 1949 and then Raith Rovers.
He passed away in 1974.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | REGIONAL LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP |
REGIONAL LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1940-41 | 30 | 0 | 7 | – | 37 |
| Shut-outs: | 7 | 0 | 1 | – | 8 (17%) |
Honours with Celtic
none