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Celtic's first ever goal scorer

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Name: Neil McCallum
Born: 3 July 1968
Died: 5 Nov 1920
Games: 33 appearances, 17 goals
Intls: Scotland, 1 cap

Biog

Neil McCallum will go down in history as the man who scored Celtic’s first ever goal.

Tempted away from Renton to sign for the newly formed Celts McCallum opened the scoring on May 28th 1888 when Celtic defeated a Rangers side 5-2. Neil was a popular figure among the early Bhoys support who enjoyed seeing his trickery on the right wing. McCallum also possessed a vicious shot and he enjoyed nothing more than cutting in from out wide and unleashing an angled drive at the keeper.

He was the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest but the Celtic members made it clear to the English club’s representative that he would be lucky to leave Glasgow in one piece should he tempt the popular McCallum to the midlands.

McCallum did however eventually move south to Nottingham in August 1892 after 33 appearances and 17 goals for the Bhoys. Apart from scoring Celtic’s first ever goal this history maker was also part of the first Celtic team to play in a Scottish Cup final (1889) and then win the trophy (1892).

In February 1888 Neil McCallum played for Rangers in a friendly against Aston Villa at Parry Barr, Birmingham. he was one of five guests players that Rangers used that day. Woods & Campbell (Rhapsody In Green, 1990:12) believe that this makes Neil the first Roman Catholic to play for Rangers and also the first individual to play for Celtic and Rangers.

McCallum was capped once for Scotland but it is for his efforts with Celtic that his place in football history is assured. Neil McCallums birth certificates states birthplace as Braehead, Bonhill born on 3 July 1868. He died on 5 Nov 1920 at 657 Edgefauld Road, Garngadhill, Glasgow

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(background: An article on BBC Scotland there was on Bonhill Parish Church minister who is a self confessed Celtic supporter trying to find the final resting place of Celtic's first ever goalscorer which is somewhere in his church graveyard)

Hoops hero buried in minister’s pitch

Nov 9 2006

By Tina Kemp

CELTIC-MAD minister Ian Miller is cock-a-HOOP — after discovering one of his team’s heroes is buried in his churchyard. Ian was delighted to learn that Neilly McCallum — who scored the Celts’ first EVER goal — was laid to rest at Bonhill Church. Now the soccer-daft reverend — a Hoops fan since he was a teenager — has embarked on a quest to find the exact burial place of the player. Ian, who has taken some stick from his congregation over the years about his Old Firm affiliation, had no idea such an important piece of his team’s history lay so close to home. He could hardly believe it when friend and local historian Willie Scobie unearthed the story while researching the church’s history. Said Ian, minister at Bonhill for 31 years: “When Willie told me he had discovered that Neilly McCallum, the man who scored Celtic’s first ever goal, was buried in our churchyard, I couldn’t believe it. We don’t know exactly where his grave is, but I would love to find it so I can just stand there. “I haven’t told my congregation yet — I don’t know what they’ll think!” McCallum, who was also part of the world championship winning Renton side of 1888, died in November, 1920, after a notable footballing career. He joined Celtic in their founding year of 1888 and was the debut scorer in their first ever game — against Rangers. His link with the churchyard was discovered thanks to a chance meeting in Dumbarton Library. Willie said: “It was a case of being in the right place at the right time. I was in the room in the library where people research their family tree and, when a member of the public heard I was working on the history of Bonhill Church, he asked if I knew about Neilly McCallum being buried there. “A member of staff looked up a list of obituaries and we found it in an old edition of The Lennox. It seems he joined Celtic in its founding year and scored their opening goal. His funeral service was taken by the Rev Father Murray and he was then buried in the churchyard.” Willie added: “If it had been any other church it wouldn’t be quite so interesting but because Ian is a Celtic supporter it’s very appropriate!” Ian, 62, now wants to try and find McCallum’s grave, which may not have been marked with a stone. He said: “I take a bit of stick about my loyalties but most of it is good humoured. I’ve even got a photo in the house of Barry Ferguson holding me in a neck lock!” .

From Dunbartonshire.co.uk