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Full name: Alfred James Conn
aka: Alfie Conn
Born: Saturday, 5th April 1952,
Birthplace: Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland
Games: 32 games, 7 goals
International: Scotland
Internationals Caps: 2 caps
International Goals: 0

Biog

Alfie Conn rocked Scottish football to the core when he signed for Celtic in March 1977. Jock Stein usurped Rangers who were hoping to bring Conn back to Ibrox and it was felt in later years that Stein saw him as a replacement for Kenny Dalglish who had made it clear he was to depart in the summer of 1977. Alfie Conn was part of the infamous Rangers side that won the ECWC in Barcelona in 1972 (which were banned from defending it the next season).

Despite coming on as a debut substitute in a 0-2 defeat at Pittodrie, Alfie had a tremendous start to his Celtic career and won league and Scottish cup winners medals by May 7th 1977. He made his first Parkhead appearance on March 9th against Partick Thistle and almost lifted the roof with a marvellous goal. The Celtic fans immediately took to Alfie and any doubts that they would not accept him were unfounded.

On March 19th he returned to Ibrox in the green of Celtic and despite predictable constant abuse from the Ibrox support he played well and struck a post in the first half with a great shot in an exciting 2-2 draw.

English newspapers announced on March 25th 1977 that Spurs wanted Conn back and that the Spurs fans were in uproar over the loss of their favourite. However, nothing came of it.

The 1977/78 season was a disaster for Celtic and Alfie. Despite rave reviews in Celtic's summer tour of the Far East, he was badly injured against Dundee United on the opening day of the season and never fully recovered for the rest of the campaign. He was brought on as a second half sub against SWW Innsbruck in the European Cup and was taken off after being brutally hacked by an Austrian defender. His experience and skill was a great loss to Celtic in the coming months.

After Stein's departure and McNeill's arrival as manager in the summer of 1978 a new revigorated Alfie Conn was seen and his early form was splendid. He was instrumental in Celtic's fine early start when they won 12 of their first 13 matches in all competitions. He had a magnificent game at Fir Park in the 5-1 win in August when he scored two exquisite goals. He scored a wonderful winner against St.Mirren at Parkhead during this period, controlling a long ball, beating the centre half and rounding the goalkeeper to score.

Despite earlier relying on his experienced men like Conn, Glavin and MacDonald, by the Spring of 1979 McNeill began to blood a new, younger crop of players like Provan, Conroy, MacLeoad and McCluskey and Alfie was now marginalised and never played in the hoops again after being injured against Aberdeen in March 1979. He moved on in the summer of 1979 and became something of a wanderer.

Alfie Conn's performances in Celtic's green will ensure he is remembered, but then again more so for having wound up the Huns for moving to us than anything else.

Playing Career

Team	Years
Rangers	1968-74
Tottenham Hotspur	1974-77
Celtic	1977-80
Hearts	1980-81
Golden Bay Earthquakes	1980
Blackpool	1980-81
Motherwell	1981-83

Pictures

• Alfie Conn Pics