Thread by @hailhailhistory

One of the saddest stories in Celtic's history is that of Mick McKeown.

After a notable career with the Bhoys the Ayrshire man's life spiralled downwards.

It came to an end in awful circumstances - the exact location being in the shadow of Celtic Park.

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McKeown was part of many important Celtic firsts, including:

* First game at original Celtic Park (playing for Hibs)
* Celtic’s first trophy (1889 Glasgow North Eastern Cup)
* First Scottish Cup game (his debut)
* First league game

And many others too.

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After leaving Celtic he had multiple problems.

His most notable issue was being an alcoholic, which clouded every experience.

McKeown played for various other clubs and worked as a miner, dyer, navvy, labourer and soldier.

But in all he couldn't escape the demon drink.

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He also spent a fair bit of his time in trouble.

At various times McKeown was arrested and spent time in jail for different petty crimes.

This often involved stealing or sleeping in places he shouldn't, including factories or industrial buildings.

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On 24 October 1903 Mick was in the east end of Glasgow. Celtic played that day although it's not known if he watched them.

That night - almost certainly very drunk - he looked for somewhere to sleep.

Eventually he came to the site of Robert Paul bottle works.

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Mick McKeown's chosen shelter was a lime kiln. This proved to be a fatal mistake.

The day next his dead body was by workers. He had suffocated when in the kiln, a sad and awful ending to any life.

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The Robert Paul bottle works was in Broad Street in Camlachie.

There has often been some mystery about this location.

Many people assume it is the modern day Broad Street near Bridgeton Cross - but this is not correct.

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Broad Street from 1903 no longer exists. It has become part of Biggar Street, next to the Forge Retail Park.

The bottle works was somewhere near the modern site of Pets at Home.

This is just over half a mile from the original Celtic Park where McKeown played.

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After McKeown's body and identity were discovered, he faced a pauper's grave.

Celtic however stepped in to pay for his funeral.

He is buried in Dalbeth cemetery near Celtic Park (in the lair of his Quillan family in-laws).

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McKeown's name will never be as revered as other early Celts like James Kelly, Dan Doyle or Willie Maley.

But his contribution to Celtic's development deserves to be better remembered.

He, like many other forgotten men, helped create the club we now have.

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