Joe McBride (born 10 June 1938 in Glasgow) is a former Scottish footballer who played for Celtic, Hibernian, Motherwell and Dunfermline Athletic. He was a prolific goalscorer, who is the third highest goalscorer in the Scottish league since football resumed after the Second World War. He won two caps for Scotland, both in 1967 British Home Championship matches.

McBride was born in Govan, just 200 yards from the home of Rangers. He signed for Kilmarnock when he was 15, and was loaned out to Kirkintilloch Rob Roy. He made an immediate impact when he was brought into the Kilmarnock first team, and was sold to Wolves for £12,500, a significant transfer fee at the time. McBride failed to settle in England, however, and his career only really took off when he signed for Motherwell.

McBride was Motherwell's top goalscorer in three successive seasons, which attracted the attention of new Celtic manager Jock Stein, who signed him for a fee of £22,000 in 1965. Along with Alex Ferguson of Dunfermline, McBride was the top goalscorer in the 1965–66 Scottish League with 31 goals. He again scored prolifically during the 1966–67 season, but suffered a serious injury in December 1966. This injury meant that although McBride was part of the Lisbon Lions squad, he did not play in the 1967 European Cup Final.

He never regained a regular place in the Celtic side, and subsequently transferred to Hibernian in 1968. McBride quickly regained his goalscoring form with Hibs, scoring on his debut, against Rangers, a hat-trick in his second match, against Lokomotive Leipzig, and four goals in his third match, against Morton. He was Hibs' top goalscorer in both the 1968–69 and 1969–70 seasons, and scored a second European hat-trick for Hibs, against Malmö FF.

McBride left Hibs in 1971, apparently because the club were unhappy that he did not want to move from his home in Glasgow. He ended his playing career in 1972 after short spells with Dunfermline and Clyde. McBride's son, also named Joe, also became a professional footballer.

References

1. Scotland - All-Time Topscorers, RSSSF.
2. Joseph McBride, London Hearts.
3. Scotland - List of Topscorers, RSSSF.

External links

• Newcastle Fans profile