Jock Weir’s perfect hat-trick ended Celtic’s relegation woes

The Celtic Star

·17 April 2025

Jock Weir’s perfect hat-trick ended Celtic’s relegation woes

On this day in 1948 Celtic were involved in a relegation scrap that could have ended up badly had results gone a certain way. The only way to avoid that was to beat Dundee at Dens Park and at 2-1 down it didn’t look good. However a Celtic hat-trick hero saved the day and Celtic’s blushes…

The fans came in their thousands (31k), Dundee v Celtic, 17 April 1948. Photo The Celtic Wiki

SATURDAY 17th APRIL 1948 – Celtic save themselves from relegation with a 3-2 win at Dens Park, Dundee before 31,000 fans. The team were at one point 1-2 down, but Jock Weir who scores a hat-trick that day, saves the day for Celtic. Jimmy McGrory tells us that Dundee were on a huge bonus to beat Celtic. This does not seem likely for there is the common belief that Dundee are by no means enthusiastic about killing a goose that lays a golden egg, an idea that gains ground by the suspicious absence of a key Dundee defender and the ill-disguised Celtic sympathies of several of the Dundee team.

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David Potter

“One with my left, one with my right and one with my head” the perfect hat-trick to win the match and guarantee safety from relegation,” Jock Weir on his hat-trick v Dundee to save Celtic from relegation

Jock Wer, Celtic FC. Press cutting Celtic Curio

The history of Celtic Football Club is one laced with success and triumph. From the earliest days, the club was competing in Scottish Cup finals and breaking records. Over 50 league titles have followed, Empire Exhibition and Coronation Cups, Quadruple trebles and the biggest achievement of all – the European Cup.

In the 1940s Celtic was left in the doldrums

Yet, in the 1940s the club was left in the doldrums. A poor run in the WWII years saw fleeting moments of joy, before Jimmy McGrory took the reins, having been the manager of Kilmarnock.

On this day in 1948, Celtic travelled to Dens Park assuming that they would need a final day victory over Dundee to avoid relegation. Results elsewhere ultimately meant that the scoreline at Dens would have been academic, but Celtic weren’t to know at the time.

The Gallacher brothers, Patsy’s sons, faced off against each other

The Hoops took to the field with Bobby Hogg among their ranks for the last time. The Gallacher brothers, Patsy’s sons, faced off against each other; and Bobby Evans played in an unfamiliar half back role which he would eventually make his own.

Patsy Gallacher with his sons when Celtic faced Dundee in the late 1940s

Jock Weir put the Hoops ahead inside 15 minutes

31,000 fans paid entry. They witnessed Jock Weir put the Hoops ahead inside 15 minutes, but the teams went into the break level. The game was turned on its head on the hour mark as Dundee took the lead. However, Weir’s second and then third goals (67th and 88th minutes) guaranteed safety in dramatic fashion.

It was an incredible story for Weir to score such an important hat trick – or so Celtic thought at the time. He remarked at full time: “One with my left, one with my right and one with my head. The perfect hat-trick to win the match and guarantee safety from relegation.”

Jock Weir, Celtic FC’s hat-trick hero at Dens Park against Dundee on 17 April 1948.

Queen’s Park and Airdrie – not Celtic – were relegated that year

Queen’s Park and Airdrie were relegated that year. Celtic remained in football obscurity for the next decade and a half, bar the odd success, but fortunately never plunged to those depths again.

It is fitting that we reflect on such moments today – 75 years on. The club is now breaking records, swatting aside all before them and on the brink of lifting their 16th trophy from the last 20 available to them. What a journey.

Liam Kelly

Celtic’s Jock Weir, Charlie Tully, Johnny Bonnar, Alex Rollo and Bertie Peacock in training during the 1950s. Press cutting via The Celtic Wiki

Here’s the Glasgow Herald report from 19 April 1948…

Glasgow Herald, 19 April 1948

Dundee: Brown, Follon, Irvine, Gallacher, Gray, Boyd, Gunn, Pattillo, Stewart, Ewen, Mackay Dundee scorers: Ewen (44), Mackay (60)

Celtic: Miller, Hogg, Mallan, Evans, Corbett, McAuley, Weir, McPhail, Lavery, Gallacher, Paton Celtic scorers: Weir (14, 67, 88)

Referee: Mr Scott of Paisley Attendance:: 31,000

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books.

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