Auction of Johnny Doyle’s Celtic memorabilia

RARE memorabilia associated with Celtic star Johnny Doyle – who tragically died in an accident at the age of 30 – could fetch thousands of pounds at auction.

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The items include Doyle’s jersey and international cap from his single appearance for Scotland, a Celtic jersey he wore in a title-clinching win over Rangers, a 1980/81 Reserve League Cup winners’ medal and a League Cup runners-up medal.

Winger Doyle started his senior career at Ayr United under Ally MacLeod and made his only Scotland appearance as a Somerset Park player in December 1975 in a 1-1 draw with Romania. Four months later he was signed by Celtic for a then club record £90,000.

Brian Clements, managing director at McTear’s Auctioneers in Glasgow said: “Although Johnny Doyle was a hugely gifted player and made 118 appearances for Celtic, he only played once for Scotland. This alone makes both the cap and jersey extremely rare pieces of sporting memorabilia.

“To have so many high quality items associated with such a famous player in one sale is quite remarkable and I am sure they will attract a lot of interest.”

Doyle was famously sent off on a return to Somerset Park when a cross whacked the referee in the face, knocking him over. When the stunned whistler recovered, he sent Doyle for an early bath, a decision later rescinded.

Doyle died in 1981 when he was electrocuted while working on his home.

His cap has been valued at between £7,000 and £10,000, with his Scotland jersey set to fetch £1,000 to £2,000. His Celtic shirt – worn in the 4-2 win over Rangers in May 1979 that secured the title for Celtic – is estimated to fetch between £2,000 and £4,000. Both medals are valued at between £2,500 and £3,500.

Other items in the 180 lot sale include a commemorative Lisbon Lions 25th anniversary jersey with 14 signatures, which has an estimate of £5,000 to £7,000.

The Sports auction will run on McTear’s www.gallery1842.com website until29th January.