JIM KENNEDY

GLASGOW CELTIC FC

1955 - 1965

Jim Kennedy was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire in the 1930's. Just like many others in the Johnstone area, Jim was Celtic-crazy and would travel everywhere to see his favourites playing in the hoops. At first, he was happy watching and had no interest in playing the game. Like most of the young men in those days, Jim served his 2 years National Service with the army, entering at the age of eighteen. It could have been his time in the forces that changed his attitude to the game for afterwards he was more inclined to be a player than a spectator. In a matchday programme interview written by Andrew Smith in the mid 90's, Jim said "I wasn't that interested in playing football - going to see Celtic gave me a big enough kick. I never ever thought I was good enough to become a professional and certainly not one that would pull on the hoops". "I can't explain how it all turned around other than to say that it just happened and I'll always be extremely grateful." He went on to say "I had to be coaxed to take up the game seriously.".

Six months after leaving the Army, Jim joined Johnstone Glencairn and played his first game against local side Kilbarchan. Jim eventually signed up for Junior outfit Duntocher Hibernian and it was there that he was approached by Celtic manager Jimmy McGrory to sign for Celtic. A quiet and unassuming man, Jim said "It was hard for me to comprehend that Celtic wanted to sign me! And even more difficult to take in when, less than a year after taking up junior football, I was called up to the Celtic first team."

Jim Kennedy signed for Celtic in November 1955 and his debut game was against Partick Thistle at Firhill on the 23rd April 1956. About his debut Jim said "Everything just seemed to happen so quickly. Firstly, I was called up to the park and turning out against the great John McKenzie soon after. I'll never forget that the game was played on a Monday night and I felt 10 feet tall." Jim was a tough-tackling no-nonsense defender and the Celtic faithful would love to see him go into a tackle with an opponent.

During his career with Celtic, Jim scored 2 goals in domestic competitions - v Hearts League Cup 64/65 in a 6-1 victory (Murdoch 3 and Gallagher 2 were the other scorers); v East Fife League Cup 64/65 in a 6-0 victory (other scorer Chalmers 5). Both goals were scored at Celtic Park.

Jim's career as a player with Celtic lasted for 10 seasons during which he captained the side when Billy McNeill was unavailable. It began in 1955/56 and ended in 1964/65. During this period, he played no fewer than 235 games for the club including Celtic's first ever European match. Although he failed (narrowly) to gain any winners medals, in 1964 at the age of 30, Jim was capped against Wales and then England at Hampden in a 1-0 win for Scotland watched by 134,000 spectators.

At the end of 1965, Jim was transferred to Morton and became their captain. Jock Stein said that when his playing career was over, there would be a job at the park for him. When his time at Morton ended in 1968, Big Jock invited him back to become the Supporters' Liaison Officer, where he remained in one capacity or another until he retired.

Jim still attends every Celtic match home and away with his son of the same name and they can be seen in stadiums the length and breadth of the country cheering on their beloved hoops.

SCOTLAND REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS

England 1964, Finland 1965, Germany 1964, Ireland 1965, Wales 1964, 1965.

English League 1964, Italian League 1963, League of Ireland 1962, 1963.