John Fallon with A Celtic State of Mind – My Greatest XI of the 1950s

A Celtic State of Mind are currently running polls to establish our greatest teams of the decades from the 1950s right up to the 2010s. These seven sides will then be considered alongside the controversial Cult XI that was established earlier this year.

The 1950s saw many of Celtic’s greatest ever players don the famous green and white hoops with distinction, and the polls have sparked some healthy Twitter debate around who should and who shouldn’t make the cut.

The selection process is almost complete, with the side (managed by Jimmy McGrory) lining up as follows:

1️⃣ John Bonnar
2️⃣ Duncan MacKay
3️⃣ Sean Fallon
4️⃣ Bobby Evans
5️⃣ Jock Stein
6️⃣ Bertie Peacock
7️⃣ TBC
8️⃣ Bobby Collins
9️⃣ TBC
1️⃣0️⃣ Bertie Auld
1️⃣1️⃣ Neil Mochan

The selection process has prompted former goalkeeper, John Fallon, to get in touch to provide his own unique view on the men who should make this lineup.

John – who made his debut in 1959 – pointed out that fellow goalie, Dick Beattie, will always be remembered for the ‘7-1 game’ and he made special mention of Frank Haffey, too, before agreeing that John Bonnar should be between the sticks.

In explaining the omission of Bertie Auld, John explained that the Lisbon Lion was more established in the 1960 (and it is something of a certainty that he will make that side, too).

John Fallon’s Greatest XI of the 1950s lines up as follows:

1️⃣ John Bonnar
2️⃣ Duncan MacKay
3️⃣ Neil Mochan
4️⃣ Bobby Evans
5️⃣ Jock Stein
6️⃣ Bertie Peacock
7️⃣ John Higgins
8️⃣ Bobby Collins
9️⃣ John or Billy McPhail
1️⃣0️⃣ Willie Fernie
1️⃣1️⃣ Charlie Tully

Paul John Dykes