About John Divers
Lived 1911 – 1984 (aged 72). John Divers was a British association football player and association football coach.
John Divers (6 August 1911 – 8 June 1984) was a Scottish footballer, who played for Celtic, Morton, Oldham Athletic and the Scotland national side.
Career Divers was born in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire. He was a creative, goal-scoring but tough inside left, who joined Celtic from Renfrew Juniors in 1932. He helped the club to win the Scottish league championship in 1937–38 and was also the creative mastermind behind its victory in the Empire Exhibition Trophy of summer 1938, when Celtic beat Everton 1–0 in the final, before winning a Glasgow Cup at the end of the same year. He made 70 League appearances for the club, but played over 200 matches overall including unofficial wartime games (he did not see frontline service, instead working in a reserved occupation in the local shipyards, so was able to continue playing).
He left Celtic for Morton in 1945, moving to Oldham Athletic for several months in 1947 before returning to finish his career with a second spell with Morton between 1948 and 1949. He earned one cap for Scotland, against Ireland in October 1938.
Family Divers was the nephew of former Celtic and Ireland player Patsy Gallacher, while his son, also named John, played for Celtic and Partick Thistle. His family connections mean he was also related to fellow footballing descendants of Patsy Gallacher: sons Willie and Tommy, and grandsons Brian and Kevin.
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Important facts
People in John Divers's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Divers's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Divers?
Scottish footballer (1911-1984)
When was John Divers born?
John Divers was born on 6 August 1911 in Clydebank.
When did John Divers die?
John Divers died on 8 June 1984 in Glasgow.
What was John Divers's occupation?
John Divers was an association football player and association football coach.
What nationality was John Divers?
John Divers was British.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: John Divers (footballer, born 1911)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Divers. https://biography.guide/john-divers-association-football-player/
MLA: "John Divers." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-divers-association-football-player/.
Chicago: "John Divers." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-divers-association-football-player/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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