Celtic Player of the Day – John Divers (the first one)

The Celtic Star

·6 May 2025

Celtic Player of the Day – John Divers (the first one)

The first John Divers has no blood relationship, as far as can be ascertained to the other two of the same name…

He was born in Glasgow in 1874, played for Celtic in the 1890s, and was a powerful forward, although in the opinion of Willie Maley, he would have won more Scottish caps than his solitary one, if he had had a more robust physique.

He joined the club in 1893 and was in the side that won the Scottish League in 1894, playing alongside great Celtic players like Sandy McMahon and Dan Doyle, but he is forever tainted with being one of the three players, along with Barney Battles and Peter Meehan who went on strike in November 1896 and refused to play unless a journalist was removed from the Press box.

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The result was the disastrous year of 1897 and a move to Everton. He was brought back by Willie Maley in 1898 and won Scottish Cup medals in 1899 and 1900.

He was a tricky player – “too much artistry” said Maley – but he was allowed go in 1901 to Hibs.

This was clearly the wrong decision for he was in the Hibs side which beat Celtic 1-0 in the Scottish Cup final of 1902. Little seems to be known of his subsequent life but he died in 1942.

David Potter

After helping the club to two league championships John Divers left Celtic for Everton in May 1897 but returned in October the following year and was in the Celtic side which defeated Rangers in the 1899 Scottish Cup final. He also played with Celtic as they retained the trophy the next season.

“He’s an artist, I tell you. It’s a treat to watch him play. His only fault is, he’s too artistic at times. He does too much,” Willie Maley on John Divers

*Player of the Day article by the late, great David Potter from The Celtic Star Archives.

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