Roy Aitken made his Celtic debut 50 years ago today – Feed the Bear

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The Celtic Star

·10. September 2025

Roy Aitken made his Celtic debut 50 years ago today – Feed the Bear

Some football players seem destined for a particular team or achievement. There is surely no better example of this than Roy Aitken captaining Celtic to a centenary double in 1988…

Celtic’s pre-season training at Barrowfield, August 1975. Photo The Celtic Star

Aitken made his Celtic debut 50 years ago today, on 10 September 1975. He came on as a substitute in a 2-0 victory for Celtic over Stenhousemuir in the League Cup. It was to be the start of renowned career.

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‘The Bear’ – as he became known – was born in 1958 in Irvine. As a pupil at St Andrew’s Academy in Saltcoats, he became known as a young player of great potential, and was attracted to Celtic when still a teenager.

This young age became an amusing part of his early footballing story. In 1976, Celtic had to go behind the ‘Iron Curtain’ to play Sachsenring Zwickau. National rules meant that 17-year old Aitken was too young to travel alone, so Celtic had to ‘adopt’ him!

Sadly for Aitken and the Celts they still exited the Cup-Winners’ Cup, losing 2-1 on aggregate.

By the time he turned 18, he very much became his own man, and a crucial part of the Celtic side. As well as being a regular player – in defence and midfield – he even captained the side on occasion, at 19, the youngest ever Celt to do so.

In his early Celtic days, perhaps Aitken’s greatest moment came after the departure of Jock Stein, with Celtic’s ‘Big Man’ being replaced as boss by Billy McNeill. In his first season, the Celts won a memorable title.

On the final day of the season, ten-man Celtic came from behind to beat Rangers and win the championship. Aitken played an essential role in the game, his 66th minute goal equalising for the Bhoys and setting them on the road to glory.

During the remainder of Billy McNeill’s first Celtic spell, Aitken helped Celtic to more silverware. With him as an important part of the squad, the Celts also won the 1981 and 1982 titles, as well as the 1980 Scottish Cup and 1982 League Cup.

15/05/82 PREMIER LEAGUE CELTIC V ST MIRREN (3-0) CELTIC PARK – GLASGOWCeltic captain Danny McGrain (left) collects the Premier League championship trophy as Roy Aitken looks on.

It was not simply in Celtic’s green that Aitken was an important figure; he also regularly pulled on the dark blue of Scotland. He made his debut in September 1979 as the Scots drew at home against Peru. In total, he made 57 appearances – including captaining the side – before his final match in 1991.

In 1983, when Billy McNeill first departed Celtic’s managerial position, David Hay replaced him. Although Hay had not played with Aitken – Celtic’s ‘smiling assassin’ had departed Celtic for Chelsea the year before Aitken’s debut – he was well aware of how important a player he was.

However, at first Hay did not enjoy trophy success at Celtic. Two particular games stood out in his early reign, both of which Aitken played in.

19/05/84 SCOTTISH CUP FINAL ABERDEEN V CELTIC (2-1) HAMPDEN – GLASGOWCeltic’s Roy Aitken (4) is ordered from the field by referee Bob Valentine.

Firstly, Celtic lost the to Aberdeen in the 1984 Scottish Cup Final. Aitken and the Celts both had reasons to feel aggrieved; Aitken was sent-off in the 39th minute – with many fans blaming the influence of Aberdeen’s Gordon Strachan – and a seemingly offside goal for the Dons was allowed to stand.

Later in 1984, Celtic faced further problems. Despite losing this cup final, Celtic still entered the Cup-Winners’ Cup as Aberdeen also won the title. The Bhoys started well – looking like one of the favourites for the tournament – until they met Rapid Vienna of Austria.

In October 1984, Celtic lost 3-1 in Vienna, but turned this round with an impressive 3-0 home win, to seemingly go through. However, a Rapid player falsely claimed to have been hit by a missile from the crowd. As such, a replay took place at Old Trafford, and the Celts exited.

Roy and Celtic did at least celebrate at the end of the 1984-85 season. Playing in the 100th Scottish Cup Final, Celtic went behind versus Dundee United before two late goals from Davie Provan and Frank McGarvey gave them victory. Playing in midfield, Aitken was named as the man of the match.

In the following season, it was yet another dramatic title win for the Bhoys. On the final day, Celtic went to Paisley needing a big win. They also had to hope that Hearts failed to take a point at Dens Park. The Bhoys did their job, wining 5-0, and then two late goals from Dundee substitute – and Celtic fan – Albert Kidd ensured there were green-and-white ribbons.

The following season, there were no trophies for the Celts, and it also ended David Hay’s time in charge. He was replaced by a man under whom Aitken had previously flourished: Billy McNeill. This had an immediate impact on Aitken. Danny McGrain retired and so Roy was now made the official captain, doing so in the season that Celtic would celebrate their centenary.

At the start of the campaign, Rangers were expected to dominate, thanks to their newly found riches and top English players, who had been recruited due to a lack of European football for English teams. The Celts very much proved these predictions wrong.

Under Aitken’s on–field leadership, Celtic stormed to the top of the table, eventually winning the league by ten points. Despite expectations of Rangers’ success, Hearts finished second. In front of a cheering crowd in May 1988, Aitken was handed the League trophy by Billy McNeill. But the Bhoys were not yet finished.

Roy Aitken celebrates. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The final game of the season took Celtic to Hampden Park. In a sun-soaked national stadium, Celtic again faced Dundee United. And just like in 1985, the Bhoys fell behind. Once more, it took two late goals – this time from Frank McAvennie – to give Celtic the trophy. Aitken was handed this by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and the club celebrated a glorious season 100 years after first playing.

The following season was less successful as the impact of Rangers’ finances began to be evident. The Ibrox side won the League and League Cup and headed to Hampden for the Scottish Cup Final, hoping to seal another Treble. In front of them stood Aitken and his green-and-white teammates.

In another hot day, Celtic fought and matched their more expensive opponents. And then came Aitken’s big role. He knocked the ball out of play for what should have been a Rangers throw-in. Instead, Roy quickly took the throw, and the Celts ran up the park.

A mistake from Gary Stevens meant the ball fell to Joe Miller, and he knocked home for the game’s only goal. Once again, it was Aitken who led his men up the Hampden steps to celebrate another Scottish Cup win for the Celts.

As much as the club were cheered by this victory, it turned out to be Roy Aitken’s last time lifting a trophy as a Celtic player. The club were now in a downward spiral that would not change until Fergus McCann’s 1994 takeover, and Aitken suffered as much as anyone else.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers with former Celtic and Newcastle player Roy Aitken after the pre-season friendly match between Celtic and Newcastle United at Celtic Park on July 19, 2025. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

He submitted a transfer request, and this was granted. In early-1990, this saw him moving south to Newcastle United for £500,000, where he was captain. However, by 1991 he had returned to Scotland, playing for St Mirren and then Aberdeen before his retiral.

His move to Aberdeen had also helped gain managerial experience with him acting as a player and assistant boss. After Willie Miller was sacked in 1995, Aitken became the official manager, managing to keep them in the top league despite fears of relegation. However, his big Aberdeen success was when they won the 1995 League Cup.

By 1997, the Dons were struggling and Aitken was out of a job. He then went into coaching and has worked at various clubs, Leeds United, Aston Villa and Birmingham City. He was even acting manager at Villa Park for a short spell in 2006. Aitken also had a spell coaching the Scotland national team.

Over the years, Celtic have never been short of on-field leaders. Yet even amongst so many renowned figures, Roy Aitken’s name stands out as a prime example of this.

Despite always playing as a defender or defensive midfielder, Aitken could always be relied upon to get on the scoresheet. He is joint 8th in Celtic’s all-time records for scoring in consecutive seasons, which he managed to do for 14 years (from 1976-77 to 1989-1990, inclusive).

Throughout the late-1970s and 1980s, where Celtic won trophies, ‘The Bear’ was a major part of the team’s efforts. He helped the Celts win multiple trophies, including the League, League Cup and Scottish Cup.

However the defining image of Aitken in Celtic history will always be in the centenary season, as he led the Hoops to a famous league and cup double.

As the chant goes: “Feed the Bear, feed the Bear, feed the Bear!”

Matthew Marr

Celtic in the Eighties – Out Now!…

Celtic in the Eighties by the late, great David Potter is out now on Celtic Star Books. Celtic in the Eighties is now available in the Celtic superstore and all other club shops. And don’t forget that you can still purchase your copy directly from Celticstarbooks.com for same day postage.