James McGhee
Encyclopedia
James McGhee was a Scottish
football
player, most notably with Hibernian
and Celtic
, who later became a manager with Hibernian's city rivals
Heart of Midlothian
.
McGhee began his career in his native Ayrshire with Cronberry in 1878 and then Boswell Thistle
two years later before moving to Edinburgh
side Hibernian in 1883. Hibernian had been founded for the benefit of Edinburgh's immigrant Irish Catholic
population but the club quickly became a beacon for the Irish-Catholic minority throughout Scotland. They were able to attract players from Irish communities across the country and with this abundant supply of talent they rapidly became one of the dominant sides in Scotland. McGhee was one such player and, as a free-scoring inside forward, he developed into a key part of the side. He is still Hibs record goalscorer against Hearts with at least 24 goals. He scored a remarkable 5 goals in the first 25 minutes in the Rosebery Charity Cup
final of 1887, Hibs winning 7-1.
In 1887, McGhee captained Hibs to victory in the Scottish Cup
, the first time a side from the east of Scotland had won the tournament. A year earlier, alongside
teammate, James Lundie, he had become the first Hibs player to be capped by the Scottish national side
.
Hibs suffered a rapid decline when the foundation of Celtic in 1888 usurped their position as the standard-bearers of the Irish community. After a brief period with St Bernards, McGhee followed the example of many of his former Hibs team-mates by moving to Celtic. He later ended his playing career with short spells with Dykebar and Abercorn
.
In 1908, McGhee was hired as manager of Hibernian's city rivals
Hearts, the third person to hold the role at the Tynecastle
club. His appointment was not popular with the Hearts' support because he had been a prolific scorer against their side in his playing days with Hibs. He had also been at the centre of an incident that resulted in crowd disturbance in a Rosebery Cup match between the sides in 1886, when his tackle broke the leg of Hearts opponent Peter Bell.
McGhee left Hearts in December 1909 after he had suspended the club's star player Bobby Walker
due to a breach in team discipline (missing a game). When Walker was reinstated by the board, McGhee and his assistant David Smart resigned.
McGhee emigrated to the United States of America
in 1910, where he settled in Philadelphia, sending for his family two years later. His son Bart
would later play football for the United States
as an Outside Left, earning selection in their squad for the 1930 World Cup
and scoring their first goal at the finals.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, most notably with Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
and Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, who later became a manager with Hibernian's city rivals
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
.
McGhee began his career in his native Ayrshire with Cronberry in 1878 and then Boswell Thistle
Lugar Boswell Thistle F.C.
Lugar Boswell Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club, based in the village of Lugar, near Cumnock, Ayrshire. Members of the Scottish Junior Football Association, they currently play in the Ayrshire District League...
two years later before moving to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
side Hibernian in 1883. Hibernian had been founded for the benefit of Edinburgh's immigrant Irish Catholic
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
population but the club quickly became a beacon for the Irish-Catholic minority throughout Scotland. They were able to attract players from Irish communities across the country and with this abundant supply of talent they rapidly became one of the dominant sides in Scotland. McGhee was one such player and, as a free-scoring inside forward, he developed into a key part of the side. He is still Hibs record goalscorer against Hearts with at least 24 goals. He scored a remarkable 5 goals in the first 25 minutes in the Rosebery Charity Cup
Rosebery Charity Cup
The Rosebery Charity Cup was a football competition organised for senior clubs from the East of Scotland.- History :The tournament was organised by and named for an early patron of Scottish football Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery and received continued support from his son, Harry...
final of 1887, Hibs winning 7-1.
In 1887, McGhee captained Hibs to victory in the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
, the first time a side from the east of Scotland had won the tournament. A year earlier, alongside
teammate, James Lundie, he had become the first Hibs player to be capped by the Scottish national side
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
.
Hibs suffered a rapid decline when the foundation of Celtic in 1888 usurped their position as the standard-bearers of the Irish community. After a brief period with St Bernards, McGhee followed the example of many of his former Hibs team-mates by moving to Celtic. He later ended his playing career with short spells with Dykebar and Abercorn
Abercorn F.C.
Abercorn Football Club was a football club based in Paisley, Scotland, which played in the Scottish Football League from 1890 until 1915. The team's strip colours were blue and white stripes. Abercorn were founder members of the Scottish Football League, but eventually could not compete with...
.
In 1908, McGhee was hired as manager of Hibernian's city rivals
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
Hearts, the third person to hold the role at the Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
club. His appointment was not popular with the Hearts' support because he had been a prolific scorer against their side in his playing days with Hibs. He had also been at the centre of an incident that resulted in crowd disturbance in a Rosebery Cup match between the sides in 1886, when his tackle broke the leg of Hearts opponent Peter Bell.
McGhee left Hearts in December 1909 after he had suspended the club's star player Bobby Walker
Bobby Walker
Robert Staig "Bobby" Walker was a Scottish professional football player.-Hearts:Walker joined Hearts from Dalry Primrose in 1896, making his debut in a "trial" match vs Sunderland. He played in a few games that clinched Hearts 2nd League Championship in 1897...
due to a breach in team discipline (missing a game). When Walker was reinstated by the board, McGhee and his assistant David Smart resigned.
McGhee emigrated to the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1910, where he settled in Philadelphia, sending for his family two years later. His son Bart
Bart McGhee
Bartholomew “Bertie” or “Bart” McGhee was an American soccer forward who typically played left wing forward. He played for the United States men's national soccer team at the 1930 FIFA World Cup, and scored the second goal in World Cup history against Belgium. He was inducted into the U.S...
would later play football for the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
as an Outside Left, earning selection in their squad for the 1930 World Cup
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
and scoring their first goal at the finals.