Born on the 10th of June, 1938, in Govan, a stone’s throw from Ibrox Park, Joe McBride’s early life seemed intertwined with the game. He left an indelible mark on Scottish football and his contributions to Celtic’s golden era, his revival at Hibernian, and his overall impact on the game are fondly remembered.
Joe McBride’s rise to prominence began at St. Gerard’s RC Secondary School, where his scoring prowess became apparent. Here, alongside future football chairman Brian Quinn, McBride honed his skills, catching the eye of Kilmarnock scouts. In 1953, at the age of 15, McBride signed for Kilmarnock, beginning his professional career. To aid his development, McBride was loaned to Scottish junior clubs Shettleston and Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, a common practice at the time for young players. Upon returning to Kilmarnock in 1957, McBride made an immediate impact. He possessed a natural ability to find the back of the net, and this skill did not go unnoticed. The young forward’s form quickly made him a hot commodity, and it wasn’t long before English clubs began to take interest in his talents. In 1959, just two years after his debut, Wolverhampton Wanderers came calling, paying £12,500 for the Scottish striker—a significant fee at the time.
Despite the promise of English football, McBride’s tenure in the Football League was far from fulfilling. His move to Wolverhampton Wanderers was met with high expectations, but the striker struggled to break into the first team. During his short stint at Molineux, McBride found opportunities hard to come by, and his lack of game time stunted his development. In search of more playing time, McBride moved to Luton Town for a fee of £8,000, but this transfer similarly did little to advance his career. Luton, like Wolves, failed to unlock McBride’s potential, and the forward became unsettled. In need of a return to form and stability, McBride decided to return to Scotland in a swap deal that sent Jim Fleming to Luton, while McBride headed to Partick Thistle.
Back in Scotland, McBride quickly found his feet. Partick Thistle gave him the platform he needed to regain his confidence, and he did so with aplomb. During his time with the Jags, McBride reestablished himself as a top-tier striker, scoring 22 goals in 44 appearances, showcasing the sharpness and instinct that had earned him his initial move south. Yet, his rise didn’t stop at Partick Thistle. In 1962, Motherwell secured McBride’s services for another fee of £8,000. At Fir Park, McBride hit his peak. Over the next three seasons, McBride cemented his place as one of the most fearsome forwards in Scotland, finishing as Motherwell’s top scorer for three consecutive seasons. His consistency in front of goal drew the attention of one of the biggest clubs in Scotland—Celtic.
In 1965, Celtic’s new manager, Jock Stein, signed McBride for £22,000. At Celtic Park, McBride joined a team destined for greatness. He shared the spotlight with players like Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox, and McBride immediately repaid Stein’s faith in him. Alongside Alex Ferguson of Dunfermline, McBride topped the scoring charts during the 1965-66 season with 31 goals. His deadly finishing made him indispensable to Celtic’s attacking machine, and in the following season, McBride again began in blistering form, netting 35 goals by December 1966. However, just when McBride seemed set to etch his name in Celtic’s folklore, tragedy struck. In December 1966, McBride suffered a serious knee injury, sidelining him for the remainder of the 1966-67 season. Consequently, he missed out on playing in Celtic’s most historic match—the 1967 European Cup Final, where the “Lisbon Lions” famously defeated Inter Milan to become the first British team to win the prestigious trophy. Despite being part of that legendary squad, McBride’s injury marked the beginning of a decline in his time at Celtic. Though he returned to fitness, he never regained his place in the starting lineup with the same regularity, eventually leading to his departure from the club in 1968.
McBride’s next stop was Hibernian, where he immediately rediscovered his form, showing the kind of resilience that defined his career. In particular, his debut for Hibs was nothing short of spectacular. In his first match against Rangers, McBride found the net, setting the tone for his time at Easter Road. His second match produced a hat-trick against Lokomotive Leipzig, while his third match saw him score four goals in a demolition of Morton. In total, McBride netted 24 goals in his debut season for Hibernian, finishing as their top scorer in both the 1968-69 and 1969-70 seasons. Furthermore, his prowess extended to European competition. McBride scored another hat-trick against Malmö FF in European competition, further solidifying his reputation as a striker for the big occasion. His time at Hibs marked a successful period in his career, but despite his form, McBride found himself leaving the club in 1971 due to an ongoing dispute about his reluctance to move away from Glasgow.
After leaving Hibernian, McBride joined Dunfermline Athletic, but his time at East End Park was short-lived. He then had a brief spell at Clyde before deciding to hang up his boots in 1972. While his playing days may have been coming to an end, McBride’s contribution to Scottish football was already deeply embedded in the country’s footballing history. Although McBride’s club career was his main claim to fame, his talents did not go unnoticed by Scotland. He earned two caps for the national team, both during the 1967 British Home Championship. While his international appearances were limited, McBride also represented the Scottish League XI, for whom he scored an impressive eight goals in just four appearances, proving his worth as one of Scotland’s finest goal-scorers.
McBride’s legacy in Scottish football remains significant not only for his ability to find the back of the net with stunning regularity but also for his resilience in the face of adversity. His career serves as a testament to the highs and lows of professional football, from the frustration of his failed moves to England to his triumphant resurgence at clubs like Motherwell, Celtic, and Hibernian. McBride’s story is one of talent, determination, and a love for the game that never wavered despite the challenges he faced. His son, also named Joe McBride, followed in his father’s footsteps, carving out his own professional footballing career. While the younger McBride may not have reached the same heights as his father, the McBride name remains synonymous with footballing excellence in Scotland.