Celtic On This Day – 11th April – David Potter’s Celtic Diary

Celtic Historian David Potter each morning on The Celtic Star looks back at key Celtic events and matches on this day starting on 11th April 1925. David’s latest bestseller The Celtic Rising ~ 1965: The Year Jock Stein Changed Everything is available now in print on Celtic Star Books, and also on Amazon kindle, links below…

SATURDAY 11th APRIL 1925 – Today is one of Celtic’s iconic Scottish Cup Finals as they lift the trophy for the 11th time before 75,317 spectators. They are trailing 0-1 to a stuffy Dundee side who had scored in the first half through ex-Celt Davie McLean, but then Patsy Gallacher scores his famous goal as he somersaults into the net with the ball wedged between his legs, and then with five minutes remaining, Jean McFarlane takes a free-kick and young Jimmy McGrory catapults forward to head home the glorious winner.

SATURDAY 11th APRIL 1931 – Celtic are very lucky not to lose the Scottish Cup Final, but their fightback has become a part of Celtic folklore. 0-2 down (both goals deflections) to a strong Motherwell side, the cause seems to lost. Within the last ten minutes, however, McGrory pulls a goal back, then in the very last minute a harmless cross from Bertie Thomson skids off the head of Motherwell’s luckless Alan Craig for one of the most famous own goals of all time. Over 104,000 are at Hampden and will in future years tell their children and their grandchildren what they saw.

SATURDAY 11th APRIL 1970 – Celtic have cause to feel aggrieved at the refereeing of Bobby Davidson in the Scottish Cup final as, in a flurry of late goals, Aberdeen beat Celtic 3-1, Celtic’s lone goal coming from Bobby Lennox. But questions must be asked about the penalty kick awarded to Aberdeen when the ball clearly hits Bobby Murdoch’s chest! In addition Celtic have a goal disallowed for offside, and a reasonable penalty claim refused.

TUESDAY 11th APRIL 1995 – Celtic, without being any too impressive beat Hibs 3-1 at Ibrox in the Scottish Cup semi-final replay to reach the final against Airdrie, an incredible six weeks away! Willie Falconer, John Collins and Phil O’Donnell score the goals which relieve rather than delight the 32,410 crowd.

]SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINAL – LIVINGSTON v CELTIC, HAMPDEN –  Livingston goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie (right) brings off a brilliant save from Chris Sutton

SUNDAY 11th APRIL 2004 – At Hampden, Celtic beat Livingston 3-1 to reach the Scottish Cup final. Chris Sutton scores twice and Henrik Larsson once to beat Davie Hay’s side. 26,152 are there, and Celtic will now play the winners of the Dunfermline Athletic and Inverness Caledonian Thistle replay in the final.

David Potter

About Author

I am Celtic author and historian and write for The Celtic Star. I live in Kirkcaldy and have followed Celtic all my life, having seen them first at Dundee in March 1958. I am a retired teacher and my other interests are cricket, drama and the poetry of Robert Burns.

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