Celtic On This Day – 12th February – David Potter’s Celtic Diary

The late, great Celtic Historian David Potter’s Diary each morning on The Celtic Star looks back at key Celtic events and matches on this day starting on 12th February 1898…

SATURDAY 12 FEBRUARY 1898 – Celtic win the League for the fourth time as they beat St Mirren 3-0 in the rain at Parkhead with two goals from Pat Gilhooly and one from Alec King. But the news is only confirmed when a telegram arrives to say that Rangers have been beaten 1-2 at Carolina Port, Dundee. One of Dundee’s scorers is ex-Celt Barney Battles.

SATURDAY 12 FEBRUARY 1910 – Once again, it is old reliable Jimmy Quinn who turns up trumps with a hat-trick today as Celtic beat Third Lanark 3-1 at Parkhead in the Scottish Cup. 50,000 are there on a bleak day, alleviated at half time by music of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. We are told that captain Jimmy Hay carried the ball on to the park, but the man who carried it off was the hero from Croy, Jimmy Quinn.

SATURDAY 12 FEBRUARY 1927 – Over 20,000 see Celtic eventually defeat Dundee 2-1 in this close encounter with goals from Jimmy McGrory and Alec Thomson, but the main talking point is the performance of Celtic’s new goalkeeper, John Thomson. Although partially to blame for the loss of Dundee’s goal, his second half performance is excellent and it is to a large extent due to the young Fife goalkeeper that Celtic win the game.

SATURDAY 12 FEBRUARY 1966 – A very impressive performance from this Celtic team as they beat Falkirk 6-0 with a hat-trick from Joe McBride, a couple from Bertie Auld and one from John Hughes. The pitch is hard and the players all wear rubber soles. Bertie Auld who has been out of the team since the New Year is superb.

Sitting in his living room a year or so before he passed away, Tommy talked to me about this game and also the time he convinced Jock Stein to play him as a striker in an American tour game…and The Big Shot scored a hat-trick! (Editor).

WEDNESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 1969 – Celtic and Clyde play out a dull goalless draw in heavy conditions in the Scottish Cup at Shawfield but Celtic are hampered by a bad shoulder injury to goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson. Tommy Gemmell has to go into the goal for a large part of the game, and Celtic never really get going after that.

TUESDAY 12 FEBRUARY 2013 – In a very disappointing European Champions League game, Celtic go down 0-3 to Juventus. Efe Ambrose, who two days ago won the African Cup for Nigeria, more or less steps off the plane to play for Celtic and is culpable for at least one, possibly two of the goals. Yet Celtic played well enough and there were not really three goals in it.

David Potter

30 years ago today, Hearts 0:2 Celtic.

Nicholas double. pic.twitter.com/kEtsa9y54T

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 12, 2024

12th February 2000, Dundee 0:3 Celtic.

Mjallby, Viduka and Healy.

Kenny Dalglish in charge after Barnes sacking a few days previous. pic.twitter.com/IITdU33qRZ

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 12, 2024

12th February 2006, Rangers 0:1 Celtic.

Maciej Zurawski with the winner.

Keane.😎 pic.twitter.com/X7EoKEc7Q8

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 12, 2024

12th February 2020, Celtic 5:0 Hearts.

Ntcham, Jullien, McGregor, Christie and Jozo. @OlivierNtcham @Chri6ViF @SimunovicJozo pic.twitter.com/9H8VNNr8M1

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 12, 2024