Jim Kennedy (footballer)

Jim Kennedy (31 January 1934 – 2 December 2003) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Celtic, Greenock Morton and Scotland.

On his return from National Service, he played for Johnstone Glencairn and Duntocher Hibs before signing professionally with Celtic. He stayed a part-time player for several years. It was only in the latter part of the 1959-60 season that he emerged as the regular left-back, partnering Dunky McKay in what became a solid full-back partnership. Kennedy soon became known as "The President" after his namesake John F. Kennedy who was elected president of the United States in November 1960.

In 1961, Kennedy (Jim, that is) lined up for Celtic in the final of the Scottish Cup against Dunfermline, but after a goalless first game he had the misfortune to contract appendicitis and had to listen to his teammates lose the replay from a hospital bed. By 1961-62, Kennedy had become a full-time player and he enjoyed a fine season. He played in the 1963 Scottish Cup Final against Old Firm rivals Rangers, which ended in a draw, and was sadly out of touch in the 0-3 defeat in the replay.

In the following season, 1963–64, Jim had to give way for the emerging Tommy Gemmell at left-back, but he was far too good a player to keep out of the side and came in at left-half. In one of Scottish football’s more bizarre cameos, he was given six Scotland caps at left-back, while playing left-half for Celtic. His international career was an honourable one, the jewel in the crown being his appearance in the team that faced England in the rain in April 1964, when Alan Gilzean headed Scotland to victory - the third win in a row over the Auld Enemy.

It is a shame that his career coincided with one of Celtic’s "wilderness years" eras, (which coincided with one of Rangers’ best teams) for he was a fine player who would run till he dropped. However charming and chivalrous he could be off the field, he was a hard tackler who gave no quarter on the field, and sought none. Sadly, Jim never won any honours with Celtic, and did not long survive the arrival of Jock Stein as manager in 1965.

He moved to Morton in the autumn of that year, and in April 1966, in a very poignant moment, he played in the game that relegated the Greenock side but gave Celtic the two points that virtually sealed the championship. Morton and Kennedy came back and they regained their First Division spot the following year, only weeks before Celtic won the European Cup in Lisbon. Soon afterwards he returned to Celtic Park, first as a coach and then as the supporters’ liaison officer.