John Divers (footballer, born 1911) explained

John Divers
Birth Date:6 August 1911
Birth Place:Clydebank, Scotland
Death Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Position:Inside forward
Clubs1:Renfrew
Years2:1932–1945
Clubs2:Celtic
Caps2:70
Goals2:42
Years3:1945–1947
Clubs3:Morton
Years4:1947–1948
Clubs4:Oldham Athletic
Caps4:1
Goals4:0
Years5:1948–1949
Clubs5:Morton
Years6:1950
Clubs6:Portadown
Manageryears1:1950
Managerclubs1:Portadown (player/manager)
Nationalyears1:1938
Nationalteam1:Scotland
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0

John Divers (6 August 1911 – 8 June 1984) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Celtic, Morton, Oldham Athletic and the Scotland national side.

Career

Divers was born in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire. He was a creative, goal-scoring but tough inside left, who joined Celtic from Renfrew Juniors in 1932. He helped the club to win the Scottish league championship in 1937–38 and was also the creative mastermind behind its victory in the Empire Exhibition Trophy of summer 1938, when Celtic beat Everton 1–0 in the final, before winning a Glasgow Cup at the end of the same year. He made 70 League appearances for the club, but played over 200 matches overall including unofficial wartime games (he did not see frontline service, instead working in a reserved occupation in the local shipyards, so was able to continue playing).[1]

He left Celtic for Morton in 1945, moving to Oldham Athletic for several months in 1947 before returning to finish his career with a second spell with Morton between 1948 and 1949. He earned one cap for Scotland, against Ireland in October 1938.[2]

Family

Divers was the nephew of former Celtic and Ireland player Patsy Gallacher, while his son, also named John, played for Celtic and Partick Thistle. His family connections mean he was also related to fellow footballing descendants of Patsy Gallacher: sons Willie and Tommy, and grandsons Brian and Kevin.[3]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Celtic player John Divers profile. Fitbastats. 2 October 2017.
  2. http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/players/john2divers.html (Scotland player) John Divers
  3. News: Tommy Gallacher obituary. 6 October 2001. The Scotsman. 2 October 2017.