The talented John Higgins was signed as a teenager by Celtic in January 1950 from St John’s Uddingston BG.

An outside-right John’s first team debut would come in an uneventful 0-0 Charity Cup draw at Parkhead against Clyde on May 3rd 1952 and it would be another 17 months before he made his first league appearance.

After finally forcing himself into the first team John would play a key role in the league and Scottish Cup double triumph of season 1953-54. He had the intelligence and ability to both create and score goal from out wide and was a potent attacking outlet for the Hoops. Just a year after being a little known reserve he was regarded as one of the Bhoys’ key men.

Sadly though John’s obvious talent was not allowed to flourish as he was struck by a seemingly never ending run of injuries. He attempted several comebacks but despite some fine performances he would never reach the heights of his breakthrough year. John would briefly join Queen of the South in August 1959 but within a month he had called time on his career after finally admitting defeat in his constant battle with a knee injury.

John played 84 times for Celtic and scored 40 goals. He would later be a coach and chief scout at Parkhead.