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

Celtic Historian David Potter each morning on The Celtic Star looks back at key Celtic events and matches on this day starting on 13th March 1929. David’s latest bestseller The Celtic Rising ~ 1965: The Year Jock Stein Changed Everything is available now in print on Celtic Star Books, and also on Amazon kindle, links below…

Paddy Connolly scored

SATURDAY 13 MARCH 1929 – Celtic’s form this season has been inconsistent to put it mildly, but today they record a fine win at the difficult ground of Fir Park, Motherwell with good goals from Jimmy McGrory and Paddy Connolly.

Joe Rae scored

SATURDAY 13 MARCH 1943 – A rare “ray of sunshine” for Celtic in this terrible season comes when Joe Rae scores twice at Parkhead to beat St Mirren 2-0 in the Southern League Cup before a disappointing crowd of 6,000. The war has now taken a decisive turn for the better with the British success in North Africa and the Russian triumph at Stalingrad, but there is as yet no great upturn in Celtic’s fortunes.

Harry Hood scored twice

SATURDAY 13 MARCH 1971 – It is not often these days that Celtic visit Central Park, Cowdenbeath. Today’s trip to the strange old ground which is also used for speedway and stock car racing sees a comfortable 5-1 win with two goals from Harry Hood (one was a penalty) and one each from John Hughes, Billy McNeill and Bobby Lennox. This result is all the more welcome, for in midweek Celtic went down to a shocking 0-3 hammering in Amsterdam to Ajax.

Tommy Burns scored

SATURDAY 13 MARCH 1982 – Celtic consolidate their challenge for the Scottish League title with a fine 5-2 win over St Mirren at Love Street. It is Danny Crainie’s debut, and he proves himself worthy of the jersey. Murdo MacLeod scores twice and there are also goals from Tommy Burns, George McCluskey and Dom Sullivan. Meanwhile at Ibrox, Aberdeen show that they are the main challengers by beating Rangers 3-1.

Photo imago/Colorsport – Jimmy Johnstone (Celtic)

MONDAY 13 MARCH 2006 – The death is announced of Jimmy Johnstone at the age of 61. Jimmy died of Motor Neurone Disease, an illness which attacks the nervous system. Jimmy is reckoned by some to be the best Celtic player of them all and on his day (at Lisbon, for example) he could be quite unbeatable.

David Potter

Matthew Marr’s debut Celtic book – The Bould Bhoys! Glory to their name – is out on 24 March on Celtic Star Books

Matthew Marr’s debut Celtic book – ‘The BOULD BHOYS – Glory to their name’ comes out on to Friday 24 March. Thanks to everyone who has ordered since we announced the book on Monday evening via an interview with the author. Please note that all pre-ordered books will be personally signed by Matthew Marr and you can order below if you’d like a signed copy posted out to you 24 March.

READ THIS...‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ by Matthew Marr

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.

Comments are closed.