Day 14 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 14 August…
SATURDAY 14 AUGUST 1926
Celtic, the League Champions of the previous year, open their defence of the title with a 3-2 win at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock in a tight encounter. 20,000 see Jimmy McGrory, Tommy McInally and Adam McLean score Celtic’s goals.
SATURDAY 14 AUGUST 1948
Charlie Tully
60,000 are at Celtic Park for the first game of the season, with everyone all agog to see the new signing from Belfast Celtic, Charlie Tully. The opposition are Morton, the team who put Celtic out of last year’s Scottish Cup semi-final. The game is a very disappointing goalless draw, however, and the feeling of anti-climax is palpable.
SATURDAY 14 AUGUST 1954
A great atmosphere at Celtic Park today to see the League flag being unfurled by Mrs Kelly, wife of Celtic’s Chairman, and the Scottish Cup also on display with its green and white ribbons before Celtic take on Falkirk in the Scottish League Cup, a trophy that Celtic have never won. John Higgins scores one and Sean Fallon twice as Celtic win comfortably 3-0.
SATURDAY 14 AUGUST 1971
The Old Firm Scottish League Cup game is technically a “home” game for Celtic, but because the Celtic Park is still being refurbished, the game is played at Ibrox. It matters little, for Celtic win 2-0 with goals from Jimmy Johnstone and Kenny Dalglish. Dalglish, in his first game against Rangers, scores with a penalty and famously ties his lace before doing so. His Rangers supporting father watches from the Stand.
WEDNESDAY 14 AUGUST 2002
Celtic play well to defeat Basel of Switzerland 3-1 at Parkhead in the First Leg of the Champions League qualifier. Larsson scores a penalty and the other goals are scored by Chris Sutton and Momo Sylla. The snag is the away goal scored early in the first half by Basel while so many of the fans are still climbing up the steps of the stand!
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…
