Celtic on Hogmanay…and what an away support should
For those waking up and still celebrating yesterday’s brilliant result, it is indeed a happy Hogmanay. In fact, over the years, the final day of the year has generally been a very positive one for Celtic.
In the club’s 136 year unbroken history, Celtic have only played 18 times on Hogmanay, with fixtures at this time of the year more likely to be on the first two days in January.
Of these 18 matches, 13 have resulted in wins for Celtic, along with one draw and four defeats. In total, 47 goals have been scored by the men in green-and-white (not always hoops), whilst conceding 25.
Celtic’s first ever Hogmanay match came in 1892, a friendly with Third Lanark. This had been scheduled to be a Glasgow Cup tie but poor weather ensured that the official match was repeatedly postponed. Instead, it proved an entirely one-sided 6-0 home win for the Celts. Celtic won their next six games played on this day (1894, 1898, 1904, 1906, 1910 and 1921), seeing off English and Scottish teams such as Burnley, Kilmarnock and Raith Rovers.
It was 1932 – 40 years after first playing on Hogmanay – that Celtic finally tasted defeat. Hamilton came to Celtic Park for a league match, leaving with both points and a comprehensive 3-0 victory.
Another defeat that was of particular note came on 31 December 1966. Celtic lost 3-2 to Dundee United at Tannadice; in fact, United were the only team that Celtic failed to beat in 1966-67, with the Bhoys losing home and away to the tangerine side.
When Ayr United beat Celtic 2-1 at Somerset Park in 1977, this was the last time that the Bhoys lost on this day. Since then, Celtic have played and won four times: 1983, 1988, 1994 and 2016.
Celtic’s most recent Hogmanay victory came at an Ibrox league game in 2016. Despite going one down to the new Rangers, goals from Moussa Dembele and Scotty Sinclair turned around the match, helping claim three points.
When it comes tomorrow, have a Happy New Year. But after yesterday’s match, what else could it possibly be!
Matthew Marr
To find out the full story of Celtic’s first League title, you can buy Matthew Marr’s debut book, ‘The Bould Bhoys! Glory to their name’. It’s available now in our HALF PRICE WINTER SALE over on Celtic Star Books.
Follow Matthew on Twitter @hailhailhistory
