Celtic in the Thirties: Unpublished works of David Potter – Chic Geatons | OneFootball

Celtic in the Thirties: Unpublished works of David Potter today features Chic Geatons…

The late David Potter

Chic Geatons and Willie Cook, Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Image by Celtic Curio

One will search in vain on the Scotland’s People website for anyone called Charles Geatons. He was in fact called Charles Gattens when he was born in Ballingry in 1908, and one suspects that it was the anti-German hysteria of the First World War that caused the family to change their name to the more Scottish sounding Geatons.

They were in good company in doing that for the Royal Family felt compelled to do likewise and thus Battenburgs became Mountbattens, and Saxe-Coburgs became Windsors.

Fife which had good Celtic connections

Chic Geatons started his footballing career in Lochgelly, in Fife. Fife which had good Celtic connections had already yielded men like Peter Johnstone, Jean McFarlane and the two Thomsons, Alec and John when Chic joined the club from Lochgelly in 1927.

George Paterson hurdles Jimmy Delaney in training, with support given by Chic Geatons and Jimmy Delaney. Photo The Celtic Wiki

He was originally a right back, and he certainly had the build for that job, but he was never a total success there and the fitness problems of Graham Robertson (yet another Fifer) gave him the opportunity to try the position of left back. Here he absolutely excelled and thus it was that the first magnificent half back line of the 1930s – Peter Wilson, Jimmy McStay and Chic Geatons came into place.

Geatons was never particularly fast

Geatons was never particularly fast – something that possibly deprived him of a full Scottish cap, although he won five Scottish League ones – but had so many other attributes in robust but fair tackling, ball winning skills and passing ability that he soon won the hearts of the faithful, and he played his part in the winning of the Glasgow Cup and the Scottish Cup in 1931.

Following the successful tour of the USA, he was called upon to perform one melancholy task. This was to take over the goalkeeper’s jersey when John Thomson was carried off injured on that fateful day of 5 September 1931.

Chic Geatons takes over in goals after John Thomson is carried off at Ibrox on 5 September 1931. Photo The Celtic Wiki

It is important to correct one misapprehension about this game. Historians often imply that Rangers, realising how seriously John was injured, somehow eased off and settled for a draw. Not so! There was no such assumption that the injury, although serious, was likely to be fatal, and Rangers, the better team and now with an extra man, pulled out all the stops to grab a victory, and Geatons was several times called upon to save Celtic.

Devastated by the death of John Thomson

Geatons of course was as devastated by the death of his fellow Fifer as anyone, and suffered in the general depression around Celtic Park. But the team rallied and season 1932/33 was a better one for Geatons, bringing a cap for the Scottish League.

It was a game at Maine Road, Manchester and the Scottish League won 3-0 with Geatons being singled out for praise. He might have hoped for a full Scotland Cap in April, but he was not chosen.

There was however compensation in the shape of a second Scottish Cup medal on 15 April 1933. The opposition was once again Motherwell, but this was a poorer game with a McGrory tap-in the only difference between two poor sides. Nevertheless, it was a second Cup medal for Geatons, now established as a firm favourite at Celtic Park.

Celtic 1930/31. Back; Willie Cook, Peter Kavanagh, Hugh Smith & Peter Wilson.Middle; Peter McGonagle, Chic Geatons, Denis O’Hare, John Thomson, Bobby Whitelaw, Willie Hughes & Will Quinn (Trainer). Front; Bertie Thomson, Alec Thomson, Jimmy McGrory, Jimmy McStay, Peter Scarff & Charlie Napier.

Whole-heartedness and ability to adapt

One of the many attributes of Geatons was his whole-heartedness and ability to adapt to any given situation (even goalkeeper in 1931!) This involved a change of position to the other side of the field. Peter Wilson moved on to Hibs in 1934, and Geatons after a spell at centre half, where he was less than a total success, found himself at right half, as a new half-back line of Geatons, Lyon and Paterson formed. It was as good as Wilson, McStay and Geatons – and that is saying something!

Geatons also reacted well to Jimmy McMenemy being the trainer and effectively running the team. Now closer to 30 than he was to 20 and prematurely balding, he redoubled his work rate. He simply loved playing for Celtic, and looked upon his move to right half as a “second wind” as it were for his Celtic career, his comparative lack of hair being somewhat deceptive, for he retained his youthful enthusiasm.

Bringing home the bacon

In his first “incarnation” he had never won a Scottish League Championship but he now did, playing as consistently as the rest of the team to bring home the bacon in 1936 and 1938.

Celtic in the Thirties – Volume One

Celtic in the Thirties – Volume Two

There was something reliable in Geatons. He was seldom spectacular – although he did, for a defender, score a surprising amount of goals, some of them from a distance – but he was always reliable, teaming up well with Willie Lyon and George Paterson alongside him, Bobby Hogg behind him and playing his part as an ammunition supplier for McGrory and Crum.

Empire Exhibition trophy was his apex

As in the case of so many players, the Empire Exhibition trophy was his apex, and now in his thirties he began to feel that injuries were taking longer to heal. The War brought its own problems for football players as well, and although Geatons played on until 1941, he was never the same player as he had been a few years previously.

But he was far too good a footballing man. Celtic invited him back to be a Coach after the War finished. It was a questionable move, although his footballing knowledge was as good as any. But these were poor times for Celtic, and it may be that he became frustrated with the set-up (and perhaps even with his old friend Jimmy McGrory who was struggling in his role as Manager) that he decided to call it a day in 1950.

Chic Geatons, Celtic Fc. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Having given up so many good years of his life to football – something that ill equips anyone for anything else – he spent the rest of his life in the licensing trade in Glasgow and Renfrew.

Not granted longevity

Like many ex-footballers he was not granted longevity and died in June 1970 before he reached his 62nd birthday. He was buried in Lochgelly Cemetery and his funeral was attended by men like Jock Stein and Jimmy McGrory. His funeral was not as high profile as some, but he was a much loved Celt. He was survived by his wife Mary whom he had married in 1933.

David Potter

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr, Volumes One & Two, Published by Celtic Star Books

CELTIC IN THE THIRTIES, VOLUMES ONE & TWO BY MATT CORR – OUT NOW! Order your signed copies below…

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. OUT NOW!

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