A commemorative plaque is to be unveiled in Buncrana to the memory of a former Celtic player who was also a teammate of the great Stanley Matthews.
Hugh ‘Dick’ Doherty played for Glasgow Celtic (1946-47) and later Blackpool when the club was considered one of the best in England, boasting several legendary players, including Matthews, the first winner of the Ballon d’Or award.
Following a celebrated sports career, Doherty went into politics in Donegal and served on Buncrana town’s council as a Fine Gael member for a number of years.
The former player also remained active as a sports administrator up until his death in 2014 at the age of 93 when he was still serving as assistant treasurer of the Inishowen Football league.
The proposal to honour the former footballer received cross party support from Donegal county councillors when it was proposed by Sinn Féin’s Jack Murray.
Mr Murray told Donegal’s Highland Radio: “I think it’s well overdue that a man of the stature of Hugh Dick Doherty should be permanently commemorated in Buncrana, the only Buncrana man ever to play for Glasgow Celtic.
“He had an illustrious career; he went on to play for Blackpool when they were one of the top teams in the English league, with himself and Stanley Matthews playing on the outside right. Stanley Matthews would be rewarded as the best player in the world as the first winner of the Ballon d’Or. That just shows the stature and the illustrious career that Hugh Dick Doherty had.”
Mr Murray said a date for an unveiling ceremony was currently being arranged.
