charles o'hagan

Arrived from Middlesborough in 1906, Irish international O'Hagan was an ideal partner for Dons winger Willie Lennie. A skilful inside forward the Irishman weighed in with 24 goals for the Dons in over 100 appearances for the club. O'Hagan was the first Aberdeen player to be capped for his country, before moving to Morton in 1910 for a fee of £185 - a figure set by the SFL after an appeal by the player. He then had a brief spell with Third Lanark in 1912/13.

O'Hagan served in France with the Highland Light Infantry during the Great War and was fortunate to survive. On his return he was appointed manager of Norwich City for their debut season in the Football League in 1920/21. He resigned after the Canaries registered just four wins in their first 22 League games. Two years later he emerged as manager of Sevilla in Spain where he stayed for a season. He then became a journalist and sailed to New York from Londonderry on the 20th November 1928. He died there less than three years later.

In October 1908, Charles O'Hagan began contributing a series to Bon-Accord entitled "My Football Reminiscences" entirely penned by himself. The series ran over 12 weekly issues. Bon-Accord were rightly proud of the series and at one point printed this promotional "story":

Got What He Wanted

Charlie one evening was making his way up to "Bon-Accord" office. At Windmill Brae a man suddenly sprang on our friend. 'Your money or your life! said he hoarsely. Was Charlie dismayed? No, not he. He just took a copy of a paper from his pocket and handed it to the robber, saying simply, 'This is an advance copy of "Bon-Accord." You'll find my life in it.'

Bon-Accord, 29th October 1908