Celtic On This Day – 15th August – David Potter’s Celtic Diary

The late, great Celtic Historian David Potter’s Celtic highlights key Celtic related events relevant to each day, today covering 15 August…

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST 1903

This is the day that the “hoops” were said to be born! Recent research, however, of The Scottish Referee makes no mention of new strips on this day, and says that August 29 v Third Lanark was the day of the new strips. It is a significant day in Scottish football however for both Aberdeen and East Fife make their debut today (East Fife wearing green and white hoops!). The weather is awful, but Celtic beat Partick Thistle 2-1 with goals from Alec Bennett and Jimmy Quinn. Barney Battles misses a penalty.

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST 1914

It is a bizarre beginning to the new season with the country at war for the past eleven days and some newspapers demanding that football should be closed down for the duration of hostilities. In this atmosphere of euphoria, jingoism and “sense of duty”, Celtic travel to Tynecastle to play Hearts. Perhaps unsettled by the strange circumstances, Celtic’s fine all-conquering side of last season, lose 0-2.

WEDNESDAY 15 AUGUST 1962

An amusing if somewhat embarrassing night at Dens Park, Dundee when Dundee, winners of last year’s Scottish League decide provocatively to unfurl their flag before the game with Celtic whose supporters successfully manage to drown out the speeches of the Lord Provost and other dignitaries. After this, the flag gets stuck and needs a good tug before it unfurls. Dundee however have the last laugh, for a Gordon Smith goal gives them a narrow victory. But the young Celtic team impress and with a little more luck and conviction in front of goal, might have won.

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST 1987

Celtic’s good start to Billy McNeill’s second spell as Celtic Manager continues with an excellent 4-1 win over Motherwell at Celtic Park with two goals from Andy Walker and one each from Mark McGhee and Billy Stark.

SATURDAY 15 AUGUST 2009

Aiden McGeady scores twice and Scott McDonald once as Celtic beat Aberdeen 3-1 at Pittodrie on the opening day of the League season. It is a good beginning to Tony Mowbray’s reign as Celtic manager.

Celtic striker Scott McDonald and Aberdeen defender Andrew Considine chase a loose ball during the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League match at the Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen. (Photo by Chris Clark – PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images)

David Potter

Meanwhile, check out Matt Corr speaking to the one and only Martin O’Neill on The Celtic Star Podcast…

About Author

David was a distinguished Celtic author and historian and writer for The Celtic Star. He lived in Kirkcaldy and followed Celtic all my life, having seen them first at Dundee in March 1958. He was a retired teacher and his other interests were cricket, drama and the poetry of Robert Burns. David Potter passed away on 29 July 2023 after a short illness. He was posthumously awarded a Special Recognition award by Celtic FC at the club's Player of the Year awards in May 2024. David's widow Rosemary accepted the award to huge applause from the Celtic Supporters in the Hydro.

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