Born
Dan DOYLE born in Renfrew, Paisley (1864).
Father Allan, Mother Janet DOWNIE, Stepfather Paul COX.

In nearly 120 years there have been few players in the history of Celtic who have been as controversial or as loved as the legendary Dan Doyle.

Paisley-born Doyle was a former Hibernian player who had really made a name for himself as a left-back in England with various clubs but most notably Everton.

Doyle’s first game at Celtic Park had been as a Hibs player in the match with Cowlairs on May 8th 1888 which marked the opening of the ground. But it would be his return to Parkhead in the summer of 1890 that really created a stir.

At that time Doyle was registered with Everton where he was club captain and had just lifted the English league championship trophy. Unbeknown to the Merseysiders Doyle had also accepted terms to play for both Bolton Wanderers and Celtic and during that summer the player happily collected wages from all three clubs.

As the new season approached the matter came to a head and to the astonishment of everyone Doyle moved home to Scotland to sign for the supposedly amateur Celtic.

That the amateur club could tempt such a sought after talent away from the professional game in England created much suspicion and anger but if it ever bothered the headstrong Doyle he never let it show.

The audacious capture of Doyle was greeted ecstatically by the ever growing Celtic support and the crowds flocked to Parkhead to see their prestigious new signing in action.

Doyle did not disappoint. He was a strong and wonderfully two footed player who was arguably the best defender of his generation. His perfectly timed tackles thwarted attack after attack and would be greeted by cheers as vigorous as those that met any goal.

Quick in both body and mind his pinpoint long passes from defence were a trademark feature of his game and a vital weapon in Celtic’s attacking armoray.

On and off the pitch there were few plays as vocal as Doyle and he was not afraid to let opponents, team-mates or club officials know his feelings. At one point he went on strike for more money – missing Celtic’s humiliating Scottish Cup defeat to Arthurlie in January 1897 in the process.

He also had an arrangement with the club where he would get paid his wages a year in advance. Doyle was also known to miss training sessions if it got in the way of his hectic social calander.

But for all that the Celtic fans loved Doyle and the player’s qualities were such that he would also become captain of both Celtic and Scotland.

He was simply an immense talent and whatever his antics off the field there was never any doubting that on the pitch Doyle gave nothing less than his all.

When he retired in 1899 after nine years as Celt he had played 133 times for the Bhoys and scored 6 goals. In that time he won three league championships, three Scottish Cups and eight Scotland caps. He had also assured himself a place in history as one of the most loved Celts of all time.

Dan Doyle died in Bellshill (1918), near Glasgow. He had owned a whisky distillery but had fell on hard times in latter years.

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