Farewell to Pat Woods and a Happy Heavenly Birthday to David Potter | OneFootball

Another bittersweet couple of days for the Celtic family this week…

Yesterday we said farewell to the wonderful man that was Pat Woods. As you would expect there was a full house inside Daldowie to pay our last respects to Pat and to celebrate his life. Two very emotional tributes were paid, firstly by his dear friend Terry Dick, a wonderful orator, who captured Pat to an absolute tee. His life. His love of the Celtic and movies, particularly Westerns. His mannerisms. Brought a few smiles on what was the saddest of days.

Next up was Pat’s long-time friend, broadcaster and author Archie Macpherson. Listening to Archie (video above) I couldn’t help but smile as I recalled Pat warning his hospital visitors that he had a ‘VIP visitor’ coming up to see him in the Royal Infirmary, and refusing to disclose his identity, although I suspect he was second-guessed on that one.

Anyway, Archie was indeed that man and he and his lovely wife also visited Pat in Lightburn Hospital a few weeks later. The close bond between the two men was there for all to see as Archie expressed how sad he was at the loss of his great friend. Both raised in Shettleston, they also had one immortal bond, being present at Celtic’s fairytale moment, in the heat of Lisbon, Archie as a young broadcaster supporting Kenneth Wolstenholme, and Pat, one week shy of his 21st birthday, travelling overland to see his heroes become the champions of Europe and setting off a glorious obsession with that event which would see him through the rest of his days.

Pat Woods, Celtic Historian and Author.

Although raised in Glasgow’s east end, Pat was born in North Wales, and that birthright was honoured by two fabulous anthems from the land of his mum, before heading off to that other home of the Celts to celebrate a life so well lived. Where else would we go?

This morning brings another set of mixed emotions, on what would have been David Potter’s 77th birthday. Incredibly, it feels like just yesterday rather than just over two years that we said goodbye to our dear friend and colleague. Where has that gone?

David Potter, Celtic Historian and Author.

Like Pat, David devoted so much of his adult life to researching and writing about Celtic, to ensure that the stories of our heroes and heroic events, our triumphs and our tragedies, were captured for posterity and for the benefit of those who follow behind them. Two quite different men in many ways but sharing the same core values. Two wonderful men who I was privileged to know for a few short years and to call my friends. They will never be forgotten in any case as the men they were, but their incredible written legacy takes that to another level and makes them immortal. Forever in our hearts and mentioned anytime the subject is Celtic.

With another sad recent loss to the Celtic family, Tom Campbell, I refer to them respectfully as Celtic’s Holy Trinity, but if Pat and David were here, I might make that the Unholy Trinity, just to reflect the devilment and humour that perhaps were not so well known outwith their close circle of friends.

Anyway, to two incredible men. Thank you for the friendship. Thank you for the memories.

You’ll never walk alone.

Matt Corr

David Potter’s final Celtic book, titled Celtic in the Eighties is published by Celtic Star Books on Friday 5 September 2025.

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books on 5 September 2025. Click on image to pre-order.

More Stories / Latest News

Farewell to Pat Woods and a Happy Heavenly Birthday to David Potter

Aug 29 2025, 11:29

Major Kasper Dolberg update as Celtic target Danish striker

Aug 29 2025, 10:34

No option-to-buy for incoming left-back Marcelo Saracchi

Aug 29 2025, 10:30