The late, great Celtic Historian David Potter’s Celtic Diary looks back at key Celtic events and matches on this day starting on 12th November 1904…
SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER 1904 – Games between Hibs and Celtic are not always good football games, as petty Irish jealousy often plays too large a part, but this game at Easter Road was an agreeable exception to the rule, ending up in a 2-2 draw with Jimmy Quinn scoring with a header, and then a long drooping ball from Davie Hamilton on the left being carried over by Hibs goalkeeper Harry Rennie. It was a good result for Celtic because they were without Jimmy Young, Jimmy McMenemy and Alec Bennett.
SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER 1921 – Celtic experienced real hard luck at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock in a pulsating game which they lost 3-4. At one point they were 0-3 down, but Tommy McInally scored twice to bring them back to 2-3, they then conceded another goal, but Adam McLean pulled it back to 3-4, and it was generally agreed that they were unlucky not to get an equaliser. The game was watched by Sunny Jim Young, now retired and crippled, a Kilmarnock man and supporter of the club, but a man who had played and captained Celtic through their greatest years.
WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 1969 – 80,000 are delighted with a tremendous Celtic performance as Benfica are beaten 3-0 at Parkhead in the European Cup. Tommy Gemmell scores one of his trademark thunderbolts, and Willie Wallace and Harry Hood score the other two goals.
SATURDAY 12 NOVEMBER 1983 – A fine performance at Celtic Park today as Celtic beat managerless Motherwell 4-0 with two goals from Brian McClair, and one each from Frank McGarvey and Murdo MacLeod. Motherwell have just lost their Manager Jock Wallace to Rangers, a move which seems to smack of desperation as the dismal performances continue from Ibrox.
SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2006 – Following a rather disappointing exit from the Scottish League Cup in midweek after a penalty shoot out at Parkhead at the hands of Falkirk, Celtic bounce back with a 3-1 win over St Mirren at Love Street with a hat trick scored by Thomas Gravesen. Celtic are now an unbelievable 15 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League, and it is only November!
David Potter