JOHN KURILA, CELTIC F.C., SCOTTISH RESERVE LEAGUE CUP GOLD MEDAL
1959-60

the shamrock shaped medal inscribed Won by Celtic F.C. 1959-60, Scottish Reserve League, Scottish Reserve League Cup and to the reverse named to John Kurila, stamped 375 for nine carat gold, in original fitted case, the case bearing a faded label named to the player

The medal has an unusual error in the engraving, the '9' of 1959 has been stamped in reverse

(12.19g)

the medal 3cm wide

John Kurila

Fullname: John Kurila

aka: Kurila the Gorilla

Born: 19 April 1941

Died: 6 March 2018

Birthplace: Glasgow

Signed: 5 Aug 1958

Left: 1 May 1962 (free)

Position: Centre-half, defence

Debut: Celtic 0-2 Motherwell, 8 April 1959

Centre-half John Kurila was a strong defender who joined Celtic from St Francis Boys Guild in August 1958. He was an ex-schoolboy goalkeeper turned defender.

He made his competitive debut at right-back in a 2-0 league defeat to Motherwell on April 8th 1959. Despite being an outstanding skipper of a successful reserve side John's first team opportunities at Celtic Park were limited as he was forced to play under-study to the considerable talents of Bobby Evans and then Billy McNeill. Had John played in another era he could have become a possible regular first team player.

His play was described as being very physical, but lacked a bit on the technical side. In jest, he was tagged by some of the Celtic support as 'Kurila the Gorilla' for his physical style of play but also just as it rhymed well. Some attribute it also to his forthright manner of play against Rangers.

Displacing the aforementioned greats was no easy task, but he enjoyed success in the reserves, winning three 2nd XI Championship medals and a reserve league cup medal also. He had only a few games for the senior side but to no avail.

He played in a run of games around Aug/Sep in 1960 in place of Billy McNeill, but in those five games Celtic lost three games (two to Rangers), drew one and won only once, conceding ten goals over the matches. Didn't help his case. He was deemed culpable for at least one of the goals in a 5-1 defeat to Rangers, but in a 2-1 defeat to Rangers in the League Cup from reports he was given plaudits for at least keeping Ranger's quick centre-forward Millar quiet in that game.

In his autobiography, Alex Ferguson stated that the hardest defenders he ever faced in his career was the late 1950's Celtic reserve half back line of John McNamee, John Cushley and John Kurila. All three were hard, robust, uncompromising defenders and not noted for taking prisoners.