former celt john cushley dies

Newsroom Staff
CELTIC Football Club is saddened to announce that former player John Cushley has died at the age of 65.

John passed away peacefully in the early hours of Monday, March 24, 2008.

Born in Hamilton January 1943, John was a centre-half who joined Celtic in July 1960, making his debut against Kilmarnock in March 1963.

Over the next four years he made a total of 41 appearances for the club before moving south in 1967 to West Ham United. After two years in London he returned to Scotland with Dunfermline and moved to Dumbarton in 1972.

A Modern Languages graduate of the University of Glasgow, John famously acted as interpreter in 1964 when he and Jimmy McGrory travelled to Spain to try and persuade Alfredo Di Stefano to sign for Celtic.

After hanging up his boots John enjoyed a successful career in teaching and in recent years returned to Celtic as the club’s Education Officer.

He retired last summer through ill health after having being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic Football Club are with John’s wife, Mary, his family and friends at this very sad time.