“50 years ago today. First time I saw Celtic play outside Scotland,” Joe Le Taxi

“50 years ago today. First time I saw Celtic play outside Scotland,” Joe Le Taxi tweeted. Few fans will remember this game, the vast majority will not even be aware of it. That’s the prefect situation to refer to the wonderful resource For Celtic fans – The Celtic Wiki – which has been undergoing maintenance and an upgrade over the past few months and is being to look really impressive, after a shaky few months fighting the gremlins.

So let’s have a look at what The Celtic Wiki have to say about this match against Blackpool on this day, 9 August 1971…

50 years ago today… First time I saw Celtic play outside Scotland…..🍀 pic.twitter.com/r1sUc7FSty

— Joe Le Taxi (@JLwalrus67) August 9, 2021

Well the first surprise is that Celtic lost the match 4-3. The Celtic Wiki have just the one photograph of the game, featuring Danny McGrain in action: here it is…

Things get a bit clearer when we look at the Wiki’s review of the match and it seems like this was a mere set-back from what was essentially a very young Colts team…here’s the match ticket:

The Celtic Wiki’s Trivia from the match 50 years ago this evening…

Trivia – Played at Bloomfield Rd, Blackpool with a 7:30pm kick off. Celtic fielded a side comprised entirely of under 23 players against Blackpool’s first team.

A short and sweet Review – Highlight of the game is when Vic Davidson scores with a tremendous 30 yard shot.

Teams

Blackpool:Burridge Hatton Bentley Booth Allcock Suddaby Ainscow Green James Suddick Burns
Scorers: James 2 (34, 47), Ainscow (62), Suddick (88)

Celtic:Lally, McGrain, Quinn, Hay, Connelly, Cattanach, McCluskey, Dalglish, Macari, Davidson, Wilson
Scorers: Davidson (55), Dalglish (78), Davidson (90)

Referee: C Fallon (Blackpool)

And there’s more on the match from the press cutting shown below…

Incidentally just before the game against Blackpool, Celtic lost the first ever Drybrough Cup Final against Aberdeen with the Dons winning 2-1 at Pittodrie.