Personal
Fullname: John Neilson
Born: 26 Dec 1874
Died: […]
Birthplace: Renfrew, Renfrewshire
Signed: 31 Jan 1897 (from Abercorn)
Left: 1 May 1897 (back to Abercorn)
Position: Left-half
Debut: St Mirren 2-0 Celtic, League, 13 Mar 1897
Internationals: Scottish League XI
International Caps: one for Scottish League XI
Biog
John Neilson’s brief spell as a Celt saw him play just one league game, but he is better known for his time at Third Lanark.
The left-half had signed for the Bhoys from Abercorn in January 1897 and his solitary league match came at St Mirren where Celtic were defeated 2-0 on 13th March 1897. However, he also did go on to play for Celtic in the local Glasgow League competition, but again for just one game, an 8-0 victory over Clyde on 20 Mar 1897.
There was lot of chopping and changing of players at this time, and few were ever present. He had also played for Celtic in a friendly v Sunderland on Wearside just a couple of weeks before his competitive debut.
He actually had been selected to play for Celtic at Dundee in the league on 20 Feb 1897, but was found at the last moment to be ineligible for reasons unclear.
His league debut coincided with the day that Celtic director John Glass had his home burgled with the loss of the 2nd XI Cup.
John Neilson would return to Abercorn in May before going on to play for Third Lanark, and then moving to Bristol Rovers (1900-02), but he returned back to Third Lanark in 1902.
He had great success at Third Lanark helping them to win the Scottish Cup, two Glasgow Cups and one league title, their most successful era. He played in two consecutive Scottish Cup finals – a win over Rangers in 1905 via a replay and a loss to Heart of Midlothian in 1906. A stalwart at the club with over 150 appearances. He was also a regular penalty kick taker for Third Lanark.
John Neilson was selected once for the Scottish Football League XI in 1900, a six nil win over the Irish League XI and he scored once in this match too.
He played for Third Lanark against Celtic on various occasions, scoring three times in 13 matches he’d played in between the two. This included a 3-1 victory over Celtic in August 1903 which is believed to possibly be the first time Celtic wore the Hoops. The match is also notable as Celtic wore black armbands to remember one of the clubs’ biggest supporters since its inception: Irish Nationalist Hugh Murphy (who died 2 days before this match).
John Neilson then went on to help Third Lanark to defeat Celtic 1-0 in a final replay to win the Glasgow Cup final in 1903 (the Third Lanark winner was scored by ex-Celt John Campbell). It was the third time Celtic had lost to Third Lanark that season. John Neilson had actually scored in the first final at Ibrox, a 1-1 draw, only for Celtic’s Jimmy McMenemy to score a late equaliser to take the final to the replay.
Celtic finally went on to finally defeat Third Lanark that season in March 1904, but it was overall Third Lanark’s season as they won the league title, so an incredible double for them of the league & Glasgow Cup. It was their only top tier league title.
He moved on to Wishaw Thistle (loan) in 1907 and then to Albion Rovers in 1908. His career appears to have wrapped up in season 1908/09 with Albion Rovers.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 1897 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 |
| Goals: | 0 | – | – | – | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
none
Pictures
Articles
https://grahambuddauctions.co.uk/GB18-lot-10-A-9ct-gold-enamel-Glasgow-F-A-Cup-winner-s-medal-awarded-to-John-Neilson-of-Third-Lanark-in-seas?arr=0&auction_id=73&box_filter=0&cat_id=&department_id=&exclude_keyword=&export_issue=0&high_estimate=60000&image_filter=0&keyword=&list_type=list_view&lots_per_page=10&low_estimate=30&month=&page_no=1&paper_filter=0&search_type=&sort_by=lot_number&view=lot_detail&year=
Lot 10A 9ct. gold & enamel Glasgow F.A. Cup winner’s medal awarded to John Neilson of Third Lanark in seas…Estimate £400 – £600View Hammer PriceDescriptionA 9ct. gold & enamel Glasgow F.A. Cup winner’s medal awarded to John Neilson of Third Lanark in season 1903-04, inscribed GLASGOW FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, CUP WINNERS, 1903-4, THIRD LANARK ATHLETIC CLUB LTD., WON BY JOHN NEILSON, 3RD.
John Neilson had played a single SFL match for Celtic in 1897 before joining Third Lanark at the start of the 1899-1900 season.
Then after two seasons in England at Bristol Rovers, Neilson returned to Third Lanark and was part of the team during the club’s most successful era, helping them win their one and only Scottish Championship title in 1903-04 and the Scottish Cup in 1904-05, a competition in which they also finished runners-up the following season. The present winner’s medal is for the Glasgow Cup of 1903-04 when they beat Celtic 1-0 in a replay.
They were the Cup’s reigning holders and would reach two further finals in 1905-06 and 1906-07, although on both these occasions they had to settle for the runners-up spot. John Neilson made a total of 140 League & Cup appearance for Third Lanark between 1899-1900 and 1906-07 and scored Third’s goal in the first match 1-1 draw in the 1904 Glasgow Cup final. He appears to have been Third’s penalty taker.
