PAUL Wilson, the former Celtic forward who was the only non-white player to be capped by Scotland in the 20th century, has passed away at the age of 66.

Wilson, whose mother was Dutch/Portuguese and whose father was Irish/Scottish, was born in Bangalore in India in 1950.

He moved to Glasgow when he was one, was brought up in Dennistoun and then Milngavie and attended St. Ninian’s High School in Kirkintilloch.

He joined Celtic in 1967 and became one of the group of players known as the Quality Street Gang. Kenny Dalglish, Danny McGrain, George Connelly, Davie Hay and Lou Macari were among his contemporaries.

He became a first team regular in the 1973/74 season – when he helped the Glasgow club win their ninth consecutive league title.

The following campaign Wilson became the only Celtic player ever to score in four Hampden finals.

He netted in the Drybrough Cup final against Rangers, the League Cup win over Hibs, the Scottish Cup triumph against Airdrie and the Glasgow Cup game with Rangers.

Wilson was subjected to racist abuse from the stands during his playing career with Celtic.

“At that time in Glasgow, there were relatively few people like me,” he once said. “I suppose I did get quite a hard time. But it used to upset my mother more than me.

“But I never once, not once, gestured to the crowd or retaliated. I just laughed it off. I felt I had made my point on the pitch. I think big Jock (Stein) respected me for refusing to rise to the abuse.”

Wilson became the first non-white player to represent Scotland in the 20th century and the first Asian footballer to have played for England, Northern Ireland Scotland or Wales at senior level when he came on as a substitute in a European qualifier against Spain in Valencia in 1975.

“The game was tied 1-1 and we needed three points to make it through to the finals,” he later recalled. “I nearly scored, but their keeper just got his hands to my effort. I was as sick as a dog.

“But that was one hell of a Scotland team I played in. We had Danny McGrain, Sandy Jardine, Kenny Dalglish, Joe Jordan, Billy Bremner, Charlie Cooke, Martin Buchan and Gordon McQueen to name a few.

“I was so proud to get my one cap. I achieved everything I wanted to in the game.”

Wilson scored 55 goals for Celtic in 217 games and won two league titles, one League Cup and two Scottish Cups.

He left Parkhead after 11 years in 1978 and enjoyed spells at Motherwell and Partick Thistle as well as at junior side Blantyre Celtic before retiring.