VERY SCARCE GLASGOW NORTH EASTERN FOOTBALL MEDAL AWARDED TO CELTIC FC 1888-89 monogrammed 'JMCL', inscribed to the reverse 'Won by Celtic FC J.McLaughlin 1888-89', unmarked Please note that excerpts of the associated scrapbook relevant to the medal will be included. The book will remain the property of the vendor and will not be sold. Note: Celtic legend James McLaughlin (1864-1946), who played a key role in the club's 6-1 win against Cowlairs in the Glasgow North-Eastern Cup on 11th May 1889, later passed the medal to his grandson, Bill McLaughlin. Now 83 years old, the lifelong Celtic fan believes it is time for another football fan to become custodian of the historical piece. ''I was very close to my grandpa. He was a fantastic player and would tell me marvellous stories about his time at Celtic and his career as a top referee afterwards. It was because of him that I became a Celtic supporter. One day he called me into his room where I found him and his eldest daughter Cis. He showed me the medal and said, 'This is for you but, until you are old enough to look after it, I am asking Cissie to take care of it for you'. She duly passed it on to me and from then on I wore it round my neck on a gold chain. My two sons and my daughter are all rugby people but with a continuing interest in and love of Celtic, and were all present at the rededication of my Grandpa's grave by the Celtic Graves Society. They love the stories behind the medal but when we talked about what should happen to it in the future we all felt that it would be entirely appropriate for it to be passed to a football fan who would treasure it.'' James McLaughlin played for Celtic for two seasons as a full back and then goalkeeper, and made his debut in the first ever Old Firm game against Rangers on 28th May 1888, which Celtic won 5-2. There was no Scottish league in those early days so McLaughlin and his team mates only played in Cup and Challenge matches. The young McLaughlin made a huge impact on the team and was later made an offer by Arsenal - which he turned down. James loved his time at Celtic and when asked about his teammates was quoted as saying: ''They are a grand bunch of fellows to know.'' In later years James would go on to play for Glasgow Hibs and then Battlefield.