The incredible story of Alec McNair, Celtic’s Icicle

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The Celtic Star

·28 de janeiro de 2026

The incredible story of Alec McNair, Celtic’s Icicle

105 years ago – on 4 January 1921 – the Celtic team played a benefit game to celebrate one of their teammates. By modern standards, there were some surprising elements to this…

Alec McNair, Celtic FC. Photo The Celtic Wiki

For one thing, it wasn’t his first benefit match. Secondly, it was played against Rangers. Furthermore, the man being honoured had so far spent a remarkable 17 years at the club. In fact, by the time he retired, he had been wearing Hoops for 21 years and is Celtic’s longest continuous serving player.

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This is the story of Alec McNair, Celtic’s Icicle…

The record-breaking defender was born in Stenhousemuir on Christmas Eve in 1882. After leaving school, McNair worked in Larbert Foundry – but he had big footballing dreams. In his early years he was known to be a big supporter of Rangers. As well as admiring the Ibrox side, he soon built for himself a reputation as a hardy and capable player. This brought him to the attention of his local team, Stenhousemuir.

In 1900, McNair followed in the footsteps of his older brother James by signing for the Warriors. In this era, Stenhousemuir had some notable successes, including twice winning the Scottish Qualifying Cup and reaching the semi-final of the senior Scottish Cup, where they lost to Rangers.

Although Alec McNair did not play in this semi-final, the club’s growing profile ensured that prominent young players such as him came to attention of bigger clubs, including Celtic. In May 1903, he was given a Celtic trial but did not yet end up at Parkhead. It would not take long for this to change.

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Alec McNair, Celtic FC. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Perhaps McNair was best suited to hoops, rather than vertical stripes. In August 1903, the Bhoys made the switch to their now famous green-and-white hooped tops, and the following April, Alec McNair signed on as a Celt.

By May 1904, McNair was wearing this shirt in different friendly games, including in Aberdeen and Inverness, and also participated in a European tour. But in a competitive sense, he made his debut for the Bhoys later that year. This was a significant season for the Celts, and a notable part of Scottish football history too.

In September 1904, the Hoops welcomed Queen’s Park to Celtic Park for a Glasgow Cup tie. The home men comfortably disposed of the Spiders with a 3-0 win. Unusually, McNair featured on the left-wing, which was not the position for which he would be known.

This win set the Bhoys on a path to claim the Glasgow Cup, beating Rangers 2-1 the following month to win the trophy for the first time since 1896. It was something of an omen for the season that Celtic were looking to break losing runs.

The Celts had last been Scottish League champions in 1898, meaning they were yet to taste twentieth-century title success. By the end of the league campaign, Celtic and Rangers sat tied on 26 points, unable to be separated.

Unlike now, goal difference or head-to-head records were not used. Instead, a playoff match was held to decide the outcome of that season’s championship. McNair was part of the Celtic team that went to Hampden in May 1905 for this special fixture.

So tense was the game that an English referee – Fred Kirkham – was drafted in to ensure no bias. And it was the Celts that celebrated after a remarkable six minutes in the second half. The Bhoys scored twice in a minute before Rangers quickly halved the deficit, but no equaliser came.

Celtic had won their first title since 1898. And it was a notable moment as the only time that the Scottish League has been decided by a playoff. The one other time that a playoff occurred – in 1891, the League’s first season – a draw between Rangers and Dumbarton led to the title being shared.

This title was certainly not be the last that McNair and the Bhoys enjoyed. In fact, the Celts went on a six-in-a-row League winning run, claiming all leagues up to 1910. This was then a world record, and it would be 1972 before the record was beaten in Scotland, as part of Celtic’s first famous nine-in-a-row run.

During this record-making run, there were numerous notable Celtic moments in which Alec McNair featured.

In April 1907 came a piece of Scottish football history. The Bhoys won the Scottish Cup by beating Hearts then four days later, a victory away to Partick Thistle gave Celtic the title. This was the first time any team had won the League and Scottish Cup double.

The Celtic team pose with three cups they won in season 1907-08. The Charity Cup, The Scottish Cup and the Glasgow Cup. Back row from left: T.White, J Kelly, T.Colgan, J. McKillop, J Grant, M Dunbar,Middle Row: Manager Willie Maley, Jim Young, P Somers, Jimmy McMenemy, Davy Adams, Mitchell, Weir, R Davis. Front row: D Hamilton, D McLeod, W Loney, J Hay, Jimmy Quinn, Alec McNair. Photo The Celtic Wiki

In 1909 there was a much more notorious event. The Celts met Rangers in that year’s Scottish Cup Final. After a 2-2 draw, a replayed game also ended in a draw. Fans assumed there would be extra time but instead another replay was ordered. This led to a riot that caused huge damage at Hampden and saw that year’s cup being withdrawn and won by no-one.

In this very successful and celebrated era for Celtic, McNair was an essential part of the team. He was known for his fitness and stamina, and as a strong figure at the heart of Celtic’s defence. So calm and assured was he that he was given a nickname which exemplified this: ‘The Icicle’.

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Although McNair was best known for wearing Celtic’s green-and-white, he also starred in dark blue. On 15 occasions, he was chosen to represent Scotland, although he never managed to score. Scotland had a mixed record at this time; McNair won seven times, lost four and drew four as well.

Arguably the Icicle’s best moment in a Scotland shirt came when he helped his country win the 1909-10 British Home Championship. This was a notable part of the football calendar in the days before international tournaments such as the World Cup or European Championships.

Since 1904, the Bhoys had regularly taken part in European summer tours, and Alec had enjoyed such visits in 1904, 1907 and 1912. However, he had not travelled in 1911 owing to the tragic death of his newborn daughter, Helen just before the Bhoys were to depart.

By 1913, McNair was in his 30s. It may be expected that he would be giving some thoughts to retiring. As such, the Celts started the 1913-14 season with a benefit game for him. Rangers lost 2-0 at Celtic Park, and Alec took home a large cheque. Although Celtic’s choice of opponent might seem surprising, in fact such games were not unusual in this era.

By the end of that season, the Bhoys were the Champions for the first time since 1910. They were also again on the move, visiting Germany, Austria and Hungary. Once more, Alec was not part of the group, although the reason for this absence is unclear. There have variously been suggestions about a possible injury or needing to take care of his wife.

Either way, he did not join his teammates, who witnessed evidence of growing military preparations across the continent. Within months of returning from this trip, Europe and the world were plunged into a bloody war which would last more than four years. Many Celtic fans and some players and former players would fight and even die in the conflict.

At home, McNair and his teammates were still footballers, although in changed conditions. Scottish football saw many differences, including restrictions on when games could be played and the Scottish Cup not being held again until peacetime.

Players lives were altered too. As well as a maximum wage of £1 per week, they were also expected to contribute to the war effort. Some Scottish players enlisted in the armed forces whilst others worked in reserved jobs deemed an essential part of Britain’s military actions. In McNair’s case, and given his previous expertise, he went to work in a munitions factory.

In 1915, Alec still lived in Stenhousemuir, doing so with his wife Mary and their children. Alec and Mary had enjoyed a mainly happy life together, albeit one that also included tragedy, such as the death of their daughter in 1911. However, Mary often had health issues.

In August 1915, Alec faced the biggest challenge of his life. His wife died of a heart attack when aged only 28. Aside from having to deal with this loss, McNair now had to take sole responsibility for raising his children, alongside his war duties too. It was a challenge he met, but not easily.

In a footballing sense, the 1914-18 era had been a successful one for Alec and the Bhoys. They claimed the 1915, 1916 and 1917 titles. As Champions, they also helped raise funds for war causes as each year the league winners played a League Select at Hampden in a special charity match.

November 1918 saw an end to more than four bloody years of fighting. By the following year, Celtic were once more the Champions, and Alec was able to celebrate a league title in his fifteenth year at Celtic Park. Despite this impressive feat, he was far from finished and would still have many more years in green-and-white.

Alec McNair, Celtic’s Icicle by David Potter, click to order your HALF PRICE copy.

In 1920 came an on-field event which possibly laid a path for Alec McNair’s future career plans. The Celts hosted Dundee in April. The match ended in chaos owing to a pitch invasion by some Celtic supporters. They even tried to attack some visiting players, but it was McNair who stepped in to protect his footballing opponents.

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In the modern era, few players stay long enough at one club to be given a testimonial match. In McNair’s case, he stayed so long at Parkhead that he got two of them! In 1921 – 17 years into his time at Celtic Park – a second benefit game was held in his honour. If playing Rangers in 1913 might have seemed unusual to modern eyes, this second benefit was even more surprising!

In January 1921, a joint Celtic and Rangers XI – wearing green-and-white hoops – took to the field, playing against a Scottish League Select. 30,000 fans came along to honour Celtic’s Icicle and cheer on the ‘Old Firm’! Owing to injury, McNair played only a short time and his team lost 3-1.

It is said that time eventually ends all things. In this case, regardless of how long Alec McNair had been at Celtic Park, it could not continue forever. In March 1923, the Bhoys defeated Hibs 1-0 in the Scottish Cup Final. Although no-one knew it at the time, this would be McNair’s final national trophy whilst playing for the Celts. His last success in green-and-white came the following year, in May 1924. The Bhoys faced old foes – and friends! – Rangers in the Glasgow Charity Cup Final. Although the Ibrox men were favourites, it was the Celts who claimed a 2-1 victory.

As happy as this made McNair, the game also showed age’s the impact upon him. One match report said that he had “improved as the game went on. But in the first half looked more than a bit shaky.” He considered retiring but chose to spend one more year as a Celt, playing for the last time in April 1925. Having signed 21 years before in April 1904, this is a phenomenal achievement.

McNair’s playing retiral did not end of his time in football. Instead, now came the next phase, with management the order of the day. In 1920, he had acted to protect Dundee players from being attacked by Celtic fans. Perhaps as a consequence of this, he now became the manager at Dens Park.

Celtic v Newcastle United, Paris, May 1921. Willie McStay in action with Alec McNair in the background.

He spent just over two years in charge on Tayside. It was a period of little success for McNair and the Dark Blues. They finished third bottom of the League in 1926 although improved the following season and rose up to fifth place. They had little luck in the Scottish Cup, and had only memories of defeat to Celtic in the 1925 final.

Early in the 1927-28 season, McNair decided that football management was not for him and resigned in October 1927. The next stages of his life were relatively private but kept some football links. In the days before football players earned enough to never work again, he made his living as a stockbroker, being based in Falkirk.

His footballing connection was as a Referee Supervisor. McNair spent two years travelling around Scotland watching matches and then speaking afterwards to match officials about their performances.

Following this, McNair departed from public scrutiny. By 1951, he had been ill for some time. His family played their role in looking after him, but his life came to an end on 18 November that year. He was aged 68, and his funeral – held in Larbert – was a huge event as numerous people turned out to celebrate this famous Celt.

There is often a tendency to simplify a football club’s history. Fans may fixate on either recent players, or if historic ones are known, it tends to be a small number. Those such as Jimmy McGrory or Patsy Gallacher whose goal contributions were significant perhaps have an advantage in this regard.

However, the impact of Alec McNair is one that deserves significant celebration. His 21 years in the Hoops will surely never be emulated, far less beaten. To get one benefit match nowadays is amazing so for McNair to get two – both of which featured Rangers! – gives an idea about how important a player he was for the Celts.

A record-breaking Celt, celebrated as the Icicle in his playing days, Alec McNair is a true Celtic legend.

Matthew Marr

If you want to learn more about Celtic history, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X. You can also take part in a FREE Celtic history walking tour. Visit celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.

If you would like to read more about Alec McNair then David Potter’s wonderful biography Alec McNair – Celtic’s Icicle, published by Celtic Star Books in 2021, is available not at just £10 in our half-price January sale. We literally have one box of this book remaining. All available books are half price and sale ends on Sunday 1 February.

And a quick reminder…

It’s the last few days of the Half Price January sale at Celtic Star Books. Every book ordered is now just £10 and p&p is only charged on the first book at £4.50. So ordering three books will cost a total of £34.50 and given you a £30 saving. Order at celticstarbooks.com/shop

All Books Now Half Price in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…

These books now available at at HALF PRICE in our January sale – click on image to order…

Order from Celtic Star Books HERE!

Please note that p&p is priced at £4.50 is only charged on ONE book so you can buy as many of our books as you like and the postage cost will remain the same. Why not expand your Celtic library today?