3rd January – Five Memorable Celtic Moments on This Day

Five memorable Celtic moments, with a nod to the late Celtic Historian and Celtic Star legend David Potter, on this day starting in 1905…

Peter Somers scored

ONE – TUESDAY 3 JANUARY 1905 – For no apparent reason, Celtic disappoint their supporters and go down 2-3 to Airdrieonians at Celtic Park today. Two excuses are offered in referee Neilson’s decisions and the absence of Jimmy Quinn, but it was quite simply a bad day. Celtic’s two goals are scored by Willie Loney and Peter Somers.

TWO – MONDAY 3 JANUARY 1955 – 30,000 are at Celtic Park to see Celtic beat Raith Rovers 4-1 with goals scored by Bobby Evans, Bobby Collins, Jimmy Walsh and Charlie Tully. It is a fine “bounce-back” after a disappointing performance at Ibrox on New Year’s Day.

Steve Chalmers scored a hat-trick

THREE – MONDAY 3 JANUARY 1966 – If there were the slightest doubt that the Glasgow pendulum were beginning to tilt towards Celtic, it is dispelled on this day as Celtic put Rangers to the sword in a 5-1 thrashing on a bone hard pitch as the mist begins to descend over Celtic Park. Rangers score first through Davie Wilson but in the second half, Steve Chalmers scores a hat-trick and Charlie Gallagher and Bobby Murdoch one each to record an emphatic Celtic victory.

FOUR – MONDAY 3 JANUARY 1972 – It is not often that Jim Brogan scores for Celtic, but today he appears from nowhere in injury time to latch on to a Harry Hood lob to beat Rangers in front of a huge 70,000 crowd at Parkhead. Earlier Jimmy Johnstone had scored for Celtic, and Colin Stein had levelled for Rangers. This result keeps Celtic well ahead in the League race, although their second placed rivals Aberdeen also won.

FIVE – SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2004 – Celtic, with a 100% League record apart from the first day of the season (a 0-0 draw at Dunfermline) deliver a comprehensive hammering to Rangers today as they beat them 3-0 with goals from Stan Varga, Alan Thompson and Stilian Petrov. It is generally agreed that the score should have been a great deal more.