I’ve done remembrance articles before for recently passed Celtic players.
However, I have a unique insight into this one as I actually knew Jim Brogan.
He was married to my late mother’s first cousin and one of her closest friends so growing up he was a regular face at social occasions.
Firstly to Jim the player and of course his career was wrapped up long before my time.
My father always told me, Jim, was a hard no-nonsense type who had spent nearly all of his whole senior career at the club he and of course we love.
James Andrew Brogan was born in June of 1944 in Glasgow. He made his debut in a Celtic jersey in 1963 against Falkirk. His older brother Frank played beside him that day. Both had come through at St Rochs Juniors which used to provide a conveyor belt of talent for Celtic back then.
Frank departed for Ipswich Town the following year but Jim would stay with Celtic for twelve more glorious years becoming an integral part of the famous nine-in-a-row team.
It took five years to get any type of regular first-team football but when Jock Stein gave Jim his chance to take over from the injured John Clarke – not a bad player to be playing second fiddle to previously – he took it with both hands.
A tough tackling defender who started in central defence beside the great Billy McNeill he later slotted into left back. He was, to say the least monstrously competitive and if he decided the ball was his then it pretty much was going to be either by hook or by crook earning him the affectionate nickname ‘Crazy Horse’ amongst the Celtic faithful.
Jim made 341 first team appearances for Celtic winning seven league championship, four Scottish Cup and three league cup winner’s medals.
After relishing the challenge of the 1970 European Cup semi-final against a physical Leeds Utd team who didn’t know what had hit them in matches Jim was born for he went onto play in that years European Cup final against Feyenoord and he collected four caps for Scotland at a time when every position in the national team was laden with talent almost unfathomable now.
Probably Jim’s proudest moment in a Celtic jersey came when he stepped in for the recently retired Billy McNeill to captain Celtic against Rangers in the Glasgow Cup Final, at Hampden, on 10 May 1975 a game which marked the cities 800th anniversary.
It ended 2-2 with both sides sharing the cup in front of 70,000 fans and was Jim’s last appearance for his beloved Hoops.
He wound down his career spending a season with Coventry and then a final few years at Ayr United before retiring from the game in 1978.
Now to Jim the man and I’m not going to pretend I was particularly close to him or anything like that but I certainly have fond memories.
The first time I met him – when I was old enough to remember him at least – was on the day of my First Communion on a summer’s day back in 1989. As any kid who grew up Catholic will tell you your First Communion was like ten birthdays rolled into one.
Returning from the chapel the masses awaited in the house and it was all for me. Jim was the first person who greeted me, congratulating me and my response was to shout out “Who are you?”
Of course, I’d later come to regret that when I found out he was literally a living Celtic legend.
Jim was a character who was always well dressed and drove nice cars. I particularly remember a Mercedes he used to park outside the house when visiting back when having a Merc was a big deal.
A publican in his post footballing years he built up pubs and sold them on before moving onto new premises. I had Christmas dinner in one of them one year. I believe it was in Maryhill though I’m cloudy on the details. Still, it was the first time I’d had Christmas dinner anywhere except my own home so it was a pretty significant occasion at the time.
Kind and sincere he was the type of person who made you feel important when he spoke to you and he was always fun to be around with a sharp sense of humour and a mischievous smile to boot.
I have many fond memories of going over to Jim’s house both in Glasgow and on family holidays in Gweedore, Donegal back in the 90’s and early 2000’s where you were always made most welcome by him, his wife Joyce and all of their children all of whom were significantly older than me but were always happy to engage you, in particular his daughter Collette.
Indeed they were a source of kindness and support when my own mother passed away. I still remember Jim approaching me just after her funeral Mass and telling me in reference to my family “They’ll need your strength now son.”
Jim never talked much about his time with Celtic. Perhaps he was fed up about being constantly asked but he always seemed satisfied with his achievements and various winners medials with not much need to grandiose them.
One of the few times I can remember him even mentioning that he was an ex-player, to me at least, was when he approached me on the way into the chapel for a family communion – I’m starting to see a theme here – sized me up and said:
“Aye. You’re big son. But if it was 50/50 ball I’d still cut you in half.”
He smiled, winked and held the door open for me.
That was the Jim I remember.
Sadly he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s back in 2008 though he’d been showing symptoms long before then.
As a result of his illness, Jim’s appearances at any extended family gathering were limited and I only ever spoke to him again on the phone where it was clear that his memory had faded quite significantly.
In the last few weeks, I had the pleasure of visiting him with my father on a few occasions at the care home where he was being looked after. Alzheimer’s like dementia, in general, robs people of themselves and literally leaves them as a shell. It’s an awful disease which lingers and gradually strips a person away.
Though communication was limited, Jim was fairly comfortable and contented as Elvis was played in the background. Through the fog of his illness, he still appreciated the company and on the wall was a collage of his time with Celtic, a reminder of a time long ago that will never be forgotten.
Rest in peace Jim Brogan. You’ll never walk alone.
If you’d like to donate to Alzheimer’s research here is a link to do so. Considering the impact it has had on so many peoples lives including many of our own clubs legends I think we can all agree it’s a more than worthy cause.
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/make-donation
....Always A Tim! 