Neil Mochan

Who was Neil Mochan?

Neil Mochan was a Scottish professional footballer whose twenty-year playing career included periods in both the Scottish and English top divisions.

Born in Carron, Stirlingshire, he attended St Francis RC School in Falkirk, concurrently developing his footballing skills with juvenile side Dunipace Thistle. He joined Greenock Morton in 1944 and played seven seasons by the Tail of the Bank before a £14,000 transfer to Middlesbrough. He returned to Scotland two years later joining Celtic for £8,000.

Mochan's Celtic career started with a flourish, his new side winning the Coronation Cup in only his second game for them. He enjoyed further success the next year as Celtic won the Double in 1953-54. He made his debut for Scotland at that season's end and was selected in the squad for the 1954 FIFA World Cup in Switzerland. However, he couldn't prevent Scotland succumbing to both Austria and Uruguay and exiting the competition in the first round.

Mochan had predominantly played as a centre-forward of outside left during his career but, despite a consistent scoring record, he was not always a first-team regular at Celtic Park. Resultantly, he became somewhat of a utility player, filling in at inside left and even leftback when required. He was selected at outside left in what was probably his most famous performance for Celtic, in the 1957-58 Scottish League Cup final. This match, commonly referred to as Hampden in the sun, witnessed Mochan score twice as Celtic defeated their Old Firm rivals Rangers by 7-1.