Joe Dodds (Scottish footballer)

Joseph Dodds (14 July 1887 – 14 October 1965) was a Scottish footballer who played club football for Celtic (in two spells), Cowdenbeath and Queen of the South. Dodds was unbeaten in his three full international caps for Scotland, and was regarded as a quick and dependable left back.[1]

Joe Dodds
Personal information
Full name Joseph Dodds
Date of birth 14 July 1887
Place of birth Carluke, Scotland
Date of death 14 October 1965(1965-10-14) (aged 78)
Place of death Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s) Left back
Centre half
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Carluke Milton Rovers
1908–1920 Celtic 322 (23)
1920–1921 Cowdenbeath
1921–1922 Celtic 30 (4)
1922–1928 Queen of the South 50 (8)
International career
1912–1920 Scottish League XI 8 (2)
1914 Scotland 3 (0)
Managerial career
1922–1923 Queen of the South
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

edit

Born in Carluke, Lanarkshire, Dodds joined Celtic in the summer of 1908 from Carluke Milton Rovers. He made 351 league appearances.[2] Dodds was considered among the Celtic greats of his era and along with Charlie Shaw and Alec McNair was considered to have formed one of the greatest club defences in British football.[3] At Celtic Dodds picked up many senior medals.[4]

While at Celtic, Dodds gained three full Scotland caps, including playing in the 3–1 win over England on 4 April 1914. This followed draws against Wales (0–0 at home on 28 February) and Ireland (1–1 away on 14 March) of the same year, giving Dodds an unbeaten full international record.[1] Dodds also represented the Scottish League XI eight times between 1912 and 1920.[5]

Dodds left Celtic in 1920 to join Cowdenbeath then of the Central Football League, who were offering him more money.[1] He returned to Celtic a year later for one last season, but resigned in August 1922 after a dispute about a benefit.[1]

Dodds went to Queen of the South in a move that surprised many as he had been expected to sign for then-top division club Morton. Dodds joined as player-coach,[6] with the signing creating a sensation as it was viewed as a major coup for the fledgling Dumfries club, then in their third season. Dodds made his Queens debut on 28 October 1922 against Royal Albert at their Raploch Park. In 1922–23, Dodds played alongside another experienced signing, ex-Liverpool F.A. Cup finalist Bob McDougall, in the last season Queens when played in a regional set up. Queens were unbeaten in winning the Western League that season.[6] With Bob McDermid also having joined them, Dodds was with Queen of the South when they entered the Scottish Football League in the newly created Third Division. The club finished third and won the Scottish Qualifying Cup.[6] Dodds remained at Queens until his retirement in 1928.[3][7]

In 1936 Dodds went back to Celtic as assistant trainer, working with friend and former teammate Jimmy McMenemy. During the War, he served in France in the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver.[1]

Honours

edit
Celtic[4]
Queen of the South

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e Joe Dodds, Scottish Football Association
  2. ^ www.scottishleague.net :: View topic - Played more than 300 league appearances for one club
  3. ^ a b "The Queens" by Iain McCartney on Creedon Publications, 2004
  4. ^ a b Celtic player Dodds, Joseph, FitbaStats
  5. ^ "SFL player Joseph Dodds". London Hearts Supporters' Club. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  6. ^ a b c "Club History" on the official Queen of the South website
  7. ^ John Litster (October 2012). "A Record of pre-war Scottish League Players". Scottish Football Historian magazine. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ a b c d e "Anniversary of debut of Celtic great, Joe Dodds". Celtic FC. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  9. ^ "A - Z OF QUEEN OF THE SOUTH". QOSFC Archive. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
edit