Arguably the most obvious of these was not just a debut for one player, but in fact the entire team and club.
Celtic’s first game, first goal and first hat-trick
Celtic’s first ever match took place in May 1888, against the side that would become their greatest rivals, Rangers. By full-time, there were numerous reasons to celebrate, and some special memories created for individual players.
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- 1887: The Celtic FC team line-up for the 1887-88 season (back row left to right, players only) Willie Groves, Tom Maley, Paddy Gallagher, Willie Dunning, Willie Maley, Mick Dunbar, (front row left to right) Johnny Coleman, James McLaren, James Kelly, Neil McCallum, Mick McKeown. The players are wearing the club’s first strip; white shirt with green collar, black shorts, and emerald green socks. The club crest is a green cross on a red background, reflecting the involvement of Brother Walfrid, of the Marist Brothers Catholic organisation, in the founding of the club.(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
A 5-2 victory for Celtic over any Rangers is always to be cheered. Furthermore, Neil McCallum wrote his name into Celtic folklore when he scored the first ever goal for the club. And not only that, but Tom Maley – brother of legendary manager Willie Maley – also got the Bhoys’ first hat-trick.
Scoring a hat-trick in your first game for the Bhoys is a great moment – and it’s been done more often than you might think.
David McLean did so in 1907 as Celtic eased past Port Glasgow Athletic in a league match. Tommy McInally emulated this in 1919 when the Bhoys beat Clydebank.
Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi Photo: Jane Barlow
Kyogo Furahashi started with a hat-trick
Five years later, there was another hat-trick as Willie Fleming did the same in a comfortable win over Kilmarnock. And in more recent times, Kyogo Furahashi took home the match ball against Dundee in 2021.
Many other players have found the net on their first Celtic bow, and some of these moments particularly stand out. Just as hat-tricks have happened, so too have double goal celebrations for debutants.
Phil O’Donnell arrived at Celtic Park in 1994 as the club’s then record transfer signing. In his first game in the Hoops, his two goals had given the Celts victory over Partick Thistle at Firhill.
