Ex-Belfast Celtic 2-3 Celtic – Iconic Shamrock-Political shirt’s first outing

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The Celtic Star

·1 February 2025

Ex-Belfast Celtic 2-3 Celtic – Iconic Shamrock-Political shirt’s first outing

No Celtic match-worn shirt collection would be complete without the iconic Shamrock-Political shirt…

Match worn Celtic Shamrock-Political shirt. Photo Michael Moran

Alex Rollo’s jersey

I have been searching for one for years and finally realised my ambition a few months ago by obtaining ‘Alex Rollo’s jersey from 1952. Alex Rollo played for Celtic 59 times between 1948 and 1954 at left back.

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It is believed that the jersey was one of Celtic’s second strip, LOANED out to Ex-Belfast Celtic players so that they could play verses Celtic FC in this one-off charity match.

It is also believed to be the very first time that the jersey was worn, ironic that it was Ex-Belfast Celtic players that wore the jersey on its very first outing.

This very rare Souvenir Programme

Within ten days of obtaining the shirt imagine my surprise and delight at coming across and purchasing from London this very rare Souvenir Programme of that same charity match, perhaps a unique survivor. At 73 years old it is a fascinating reminder of how close both clubs were, it also added to the provenance of the shirt. The match was played at Celtic Park Belfast on 17 May 1952.

Ex-Belfast Celtic v Celtic Match Programme.

I added some of my own thoughts on the match itself aided by other information relative to the game, especially The Celtic Wiki, the programme itself and information from Belfast Celtic’s own website. There is a slide on both player pictures, they appear to be cropped but the full pictures show the whole Celtic party and the two captains.

Celtic in the Thirties – Volume One

Celtic in the Thirties – Volume Two

I am really enjoying Matt Corr’s Celtic in the Thirties books; Celtic supporters will use them as a reference for evermore, how good is that? I really like the table at the end of each section that relates to players who left or passed on, a really fine and personal touch.

Personally, I am learning many different things regarding our past history, one would be with regard to Peter Scarff, opened my eyes somewhat, but I still have a bit to go. The cover and the pictures are brilliant, couldn’t be better, but I am far from finished reading them, so there’s more to come…

“The Grand Old Teams“

The Brothers of the ‘Order of St. Jean Baptiste De La Salle’

The Brothers of the ‘Order of St. Jean Baptiste De La Salle’, had opened Rubane House – Kirkcubbin Boy’s Home in December 1950. It was hoped that it would eventually take in around one hundred destitute boys between the age of ten to sixteen. They would enter the front door, be educated and perhaps learn a trade before they left to face all of life’s many challenges and challenges there would be.

The Brothers wished to re-furbish the property and needed extra cash to meet the large costs, someone, presumably the secretary of Belfast Celtic came up with the idea of arranging a charity football match between Belfast Celtic and Glasgow Celtic, both clubs whose ‘Raison d’etre was for charitable causes.

There were several problems though in playing this one-off game, Belfast Celtic had resigned from the Irish League in 1949, however Celtic Park, Belfast was still functioning and utilised to accommodate greyhound and pony and trap racing.

Naturally when the club folded the players moved on to other Leagues to further their career, there were many Ex-Belfast Celtic players willing to take part for one last time in this Charity match to help the Orphaned boys, eleven were picked to play.

Saturday 17 May 1952, kick off 3pm

The game itself was arranged for Saturday 17 May 1952, kick off 3pm. As it turns out the day was swelteringly hot. Because Belfast Celtic had resigned from the Irish League in 1949, Newry Town were contacted and they too agreed to facilitate the match, a very kind gesture.

Celtic FC under their manager James Edward McGrory brought over a very strong Celtic team as Bob Kelly had agreed straight away for the football club to take part. They also agreed to provide on LOAN their second team shirt the iconic Shamrock-Political shirt that would be worn by the Ex-Belfast Celtic players, it was the first time that the shirt would be used in any football match.

Older men and women over seventy should look out the paper tissues as drafts are likely to occur, eyes need wiped and tears will fall at the very mention of the name of….

CHARLIE TULLY, there I’ve said it, a legend that played for both clubs. Charlie would lead out Celtic FC alongside his great friend Jackie Vernon leading out Belfast Celtic, Jackie who at one time was considered to be the best centre back in the world and who currently played for WBA. (He had been offered to Celtic for £8,000. but the biscuit tin was screwed down tightly shut).

Jimmy McGrory – Jock Stein – Bobby Evans – Sean Fallon – Bertie Peacock and how could they fail, they had John McPhail, only he never played. The list of great players is endless, the players of my childhood.

Charlie would lead out Celtic FC alongside his great friend Jackie Vernon

The sun shone, the atmosphere electric

The sun shone, the atmosphere electric so the large crowd of almost 30,000 sang – “Will Ye No Come Back Again” and other emotional songs, letting their heroes know just how much they missed “The Grand Old Team”.

A great sunny day, everyone having a wonderful time enjoying the football but remembering why they were there -the Orphan boys from the ‘De La Salle Home’.

Belfast Celtic and Glasgow Celtic Brothers In Football…

The two clubs were strongly linked since Belfast Celtic was founded in the spring of 1891, but after a sticky start, they finally took off after becoming a Limited Company in 1901. They purchased two acres of ground just off Donegal Road. I believe that it would be then or before when Celtic FC donated a large sum of money to help them to become established.

A very successful club in the Irish League

They became a very successful club in the Irish League, winning many League titles and trophies, wearing their green and white hoops, playing at Celtic Park Belfast, a club sharing the same charitable ethos. It’s interesting to note how Hibernian FC made the suggestion to Brother Walfrid, in St. Mary’s in the Calton in November 1887, to…. ‘Go and Do Likewise’.

Match worn Celtic Shamrock-Political shirt. Photo Michael Moran

So, the Irish club from the east of Scotland inspired the beginning of our club from the west of Scotland, which had by far the largest Irish population and Celtic FC, the club from Scotland inspired the club from West Belfast. Irish immigrants helping other Irish immigrants and Irish men and women to raise money for charity and good causes.

When Belfast Celtic was formed, Bob Hayes (secretary) was instructed to write to Glasgow Celtic for assistance, who replied straight away sending them a large cheque.

“I hear the good old Falls. Will not be long without a team. There are whispers of a new one. They will sport the white and green.”

It’s too sad to write and to think about the reasons why Belfast Celtic resigned from the Irish League but this is about the formidable link between our two clubs, a story about charity and doing good things, “Football For Good” – The Celtic Foundation, the men and women who do such wonderful things, they are an inspiration to us all.

No doubt but that if Belfast Celtic had continued, they would eventually have also carried out more great things, but soon they would have to experience their own particular brand of ‘troubles’.

“When we had nothing, we had Belfast Celtic, then we had everything.”

Belfast Celtic is greatly missed, you just have to read some of the tributes on their home page, tributes from all over the world,the club and their players never to be forgotten. Memories of past triumphs and tragedies live on, handed down to new generations adding to the mystique , the legend of a club that lives on in the hearts of those who love football.

Willie Maley summed it up best when writing to them on 6 October 1924, he signed off his letter to them saying…..

“You’re in our hearts and sport”. “The Grand Old Team”.

Michael Moran

Celtic in the Thirties

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

By popular demand, both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are now available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special dedication to your copies please let us know. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…

Click to order Volume One

Click to order Volume Two