The late, great Celtic Historian David Potter’s Celtic Diary each morning on The Celtic Star looks back at key Celtic events and matches on this day starting on 13th December 1913…
Ebenezer Owers scored for Celtic
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 1913 – It is a field day for triskaidekaphobes (those who do not like the number 13) as Celtic make their way to Kirkcaldy to play Raith Rovers. It is now thirteen League games since Celtic lost a goal, the date is the 13th and the year is 1913. Celtic do concede a goal today (getting one past Shaw, McNair and Dodds is not easy!) but they still win the game 2-1 thanks to goals from Ebenezer Owers and Johnny Browning. Raith’s goal (the only one conceded by Celtic between 7 October and 18 February) was scored by Jimmy Scott, a man who would not return from the Great War.
“Happy Feet” Charlie Napier scored twice for Celtic
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 1930 – Celtic continue their recent good form with a 4-0 win over Leith Athletic at Celtic Park. Jimmy McGrory scores (of course!) as does Chick Geatons, but the man of the match is two-goal Charlie Napier, now called “Happy Feet” by the crowd.
Mike Jackson opened the scoring with a fine header
WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER 1961 – It is an early start for the Scottish Cup (the game should have been played on Saturday the 9th but it was postponed because of frost) but Celtic take care of Cowdenbeath before 19,000 fans at Parkhead. Steve Chalmers scores two and Mike Jackson, John Divers and John Hughes in a 5-1 victory.
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 1969 – It is a cold day at Perth but Celtic continue their winning ways with a 4-1 defeat of the talented St Johnstone side. Willie Wallace scores twice and Tommy Gemmell and Harry Hood score the others. 15,500 brave the bracing cold and are duly entertained.
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 2003 – Celtic’s failure to qualify for the Champions’ League knock out stage in midweek is compensated for by a 3-2 win over Dundee at Celtic Park today before 57,573 fans with the goals coming from Henrik Larsson, John Kennedy and Bobo Balde. This makes it 15 straight wins for Celtic, and the 3-2 score line is slightly misleading for Dundee’s second goal came in injury time.
David Potter