Alphabet Of A Celt

Stevie Chalmers was a humble man who achieved extraordinary things as a footballer

S is for Speed

Amazingly, it was initially considered that the young Chalmers had maybe too much speed in his heels and little else to offer, but Stevie was one of that marvellous group of players who were to blossom under Jock Stein. The new manager harnessed Stevie’s speed and the striker, who wasn’t exactly shy in front of goals beforehand, began to find the back of the net even more so. His pace often left even the sprightliest of defenders flat on their heels in conjuring up a vital goal when absolutely nothing looked on.

T is for Top-scorer

Stevie Chalmers was Celtic’s top-scorer in four different seasons throughout the 1960s – not a period when he was without rivalry for the post. In season 1960/61 he topped the list with 26 goals and he was really on fire in ‘63/64 when he netted 38 goals. He maintained top spot for successive seasons with 26 goals the following term but it was in the never-to-be-forgotten season of 1966/67 that he would top the goalscoring chart once more. With 36 goals he only beat Joe McBride by one – but what a goal it was!

E is for Europe

Stevie took his continental bow for Celtic in the Hoops’ very first game in European competition when the team travelled to play Valencia in the Fairs Cities Cup on September 26, 1962. His first goal in Europe came at home against Basel in the European Cup-Winners’ Cup of 1963/64 when he scored in the 78th minute of a 5-0 win that took the Hoops through 10-1 on aggregate. That was one of 13 European goals he would score in 38 starts and one sub appearance. His final Euro appearance was in Dublin when Celtic beat Waterford 7-0 in 1971.