Celtic On This Day – 13th August – David Potter’s Celtic Diary

Day 13 of Celtic Historian David Potter’s new diary on The Celtic Star  which will run throughout the new season and will highlight key Celtic related events relevant to each day, today covering 13 August…

SATURDAY 13 AUGUST 1892

The current Celtic Park is opened for the first time today, but not yet for a football match. The occasion is the Celtic Sports, a prestigious event which attracts athletes and cyclists from all over the British Isles. Unfortunately a heavy downpour late in the afternoon ruins the event.

SATURDAY 13 AUGUST 1938

Since Jimmy McGrory took over as manager of Kilmarnock, Celtic have beaten them 8-0 and then unaccountably lost to them in the Scottish Cup. Today as the season opens at Parkhead, Celtic proceed to give them another beating to the tune of 9-1 with two each from Jimmy Delaney and Johnny Divers, Chick Geatons, Malky MacDonald and Frank Murphy score one each and there are two penalties sunk by Willie Lyon and Johnny Crum. There is an element of revenge and vindictiveness about all this, for feelings about last year’s defeat in the Scottish Cup are still raw.

SATURDAY 13 AUGUST 1966

Celtic’s greatest ever season opens in dreadful weather at Tynecastle. 25,000 are huddled under the enclosure roofs at the Edinburgh ground and they see a good Celtic performance, as they begin their League Cup campaign with a 2-0 win, both goals coming from Joe McBride, one from a penalty kick.

SATURDAY 13 AUGUST 1977

For the first day of the season, the atmosphere at Celtic Park is very muted. 34,000 are there, mainly muttering their disapproval of the transfer of Kenny Dalglish to Liverpool a few days previously. Perhaps sensing the mood of the supporters, the team struggle to a 0-0 draw against Dundee United, and matters are made a great deal worse by injuries to Pat Stanton and Alfie Conn. The normally ebullient Jock Stein looks a sad and forlorn figure.

SATURDAY 13 AUGUST 2011

Celtic’s good start to the season continues with a 5-1 defeat of Dundee United at Celtic Park before a crowd of 50,589. The weather is fine and the goals are scored by Joe Ledley, James Forrest, Ki Sung-Yueng, Gary Hooper and Anthony Stokes.

David Potter

David Potter’s new book, Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style is featured in the new edition of the Celtic View which is out now and available from the Celtic Stores. You can also pick up the Willie Fernie book there too or order direct from Celtic Star Books, link below…

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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