Much like today, Celtic dominated Scottish football in the early 20th century. They claimed the Scottish League Championship six times in a row from 1905 to 1910, then they won the Scottish Cup in both 1907 and 1908, the former marking the first time a Scottish club had won the double. Iconic players such as Alec McNair, Jimmy Quinn, “Sunny” Young, Peter Somers, Alec Bennett, Davie Hamilton, Jimmy McMenemy and goalie Dave Adams formed Celtics backbone during this time. As the decade turned, several crucial players retired or left the club, and Celtic was hit with a change of fortune, having to watch enemies Rangers  rack up three consecutive league titles between 1911 and 1913. However, Celtic still enjoyed success in the Scottish Cup which they won in 1911, 1912 and 1914 with wins over Hamilton, Clyde and Hibernian respectively.

 

During this era, “Sunny” Jim Young, the teams captain, was at the height of his powers and despite appearing somewhat frail, Patsy Gallacher displayed exhilarating skill out on the wing. This was complemented by other emerging players like Peter Johnstone and Andy McAtee along with long-time players such as Young, McNair and McMenemy. The club managed to regain the league championship in 1914, thus completing their third league and cup double. Celtic headed to Budapest in 1914 where they played Burnley for the prize of the Ferencvaros Vase. The match was a bad tempered affair and ended in a draw.  A winner was needed but both teams refused to play extra time, nor could a replay be organised in Budapest as Celtic had their tickets booked to return to Glasgow. A coin toss was conducted to determine where the replay would be held, which Burnley won. There, Celtic were 2-0 victors but were not given the trophy as it had been sold for the war effort.

 

Even World War I couldn’t stop Celtic. They won the league 4 times in a row during the Great War, going 62 matches unbeaten, a record that stands in British football to this day. However, due to the war, Celtics attendances fell and players salaries were reduced. Several players went off to battle including William Angus who won the Victoria Cross for bravery and fan-favourite Peter Johnstone, who, after 200 appearances for Celtic, was killed in the Battle of Arras in 1917. Over 70 years later, in 1988 while Celtic celebrated their centenary, Ferencvaros suddenly remembered that they owed Celtic a trophy. They brought a decorative porcelain vase to Glasgow and presented it to Celtic at their centenary championship winning match against Dundee that year.
 

Achievements: Scottish League Championship – Champions x10
Scottish Cup – Winners x5
Ferencvaros Vase – x1

Peter Johnstone, DoB 30 December 1887 Cowdenbeath, Scotland

Johnstone signed for Celtic in 1908 and over his 200 appearances he played all over the pitch in defence, midfield and forward, even having a go at goal keeping! Winner of two Scottish Cups, three Glasgow Cups, four Charity Cups and four league championships with Celtic, he was a mainstay at the club. Johnstone had two day jobs, a newsagent and a coal miner, and despite these being reserved occupations he enlisted in the army in 1916, joining the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders before transferring to the Seaforth Highlanders. He travelled overnight from England to help his teammates defeat Rangers in the 1916 Scottish Cup, scoring in the game. This would turn out to be his final match. He lost his life in 1917 when his battalion tried to capture a chemical factory near Rouex in France during the Battle of Arras. He is remembered in an inscription on the Arras Memorial in the Fauborg d’Amiens Cemetery