Five memorable Celtic moments, with a nod to the late Celtic Historian and Celtic Star legend David Potter, on this day starting in 1920…
Andy McAtee scored
ONE – MONDAY 5 JANUARY 1920 – 18,000 were at Shawfield this Holiday Monday to see Celtic beat Clyde 2-0. The ground was hard and ice bound but Celtic mastered the conditions better than Clyde did, and the two goals were scored by Tommy McInally and Andy McAtee.
Willie Gray scored twice
TWO – SATURDAY 5 JANUARY 1929 – Celtic lost to Rangers on New Year’s Day, so only a paltry 6,000 are at Celtic Park to see Willie Gray score twice and Paddy Connolly the other goal in a 3-0 defeat of Ayr United.
John Hughes scored a hat-trick
THREE – SATURDAY 5 JANUARY 1963 – Following New Year’s Day’s crashing 0-4 defeat at Ibrox, wholesale changes are made and the bullet is bitten in the dropping of Pat Crerand, the man held to be largely responsible for the defeat. In addition full back Dunky Mackay and Jim Kennedy are dropped, in come youngsters Ian Young and Tommy Gemmell, and Billy McNeill is made captain. These changes work a treat, and Celtic travel to Aberdeen to win 5-1 at Pittodrie with a hat-trick from John Hughes and two goals from Bobby Craig. The Celtic fans, small in numbers but extremely vocal in the 16,000 crowd and as always on good terms with the Aberdeen fans, roar their support for the team.
Bobby Lennox slides in for the winner
FOUR – SATURDAY 5 JANUARY 1974 – Celtic’s 1-0 victory over Rangers at Parkhead should have been a lot more, such is Celtic’s superiority in class. Bobby Lennox scores the only goal of the game, but both he and Dixie Deans miss chances near the end.
Tommy Coyne scored
FIVE – SATURDAY 5 JANUARY 1991 – Celtic’s dismal run of form continues with a poor draw against Hibs at Celtic Park today. It is a typical Celtic performance following a defeat by Rangers with everyone so depressed that they cannot raise their game for the next match. The crowd of 20,521 leave very unhappy with a few mutterings beginning to be heard about Billy McNeill as a Manager. Tommy Coyne scores Celtic’s only goal in a 1-1 draw, and Peter Grant is sent off for a “professional foul”.
🗓️ On this Day 5th January 1963
Tommy Gemmell made his debut for Celtic Football Club in a 5-1 away League victory over Aberdeen 🍀 pic.twitter.com/jX2MvZGKLt
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) January 5, 2026
Celtic in the Thirties – Both Volumes Half in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!
Both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are now available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special dedication to your copies please let us know. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…
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