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 17th February 1900…
SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 1900 – War is raging in South Africa (and not going very well for the British Empire) but 8,000 at Celtic Park enjoy a fine performance as Celtic beat Kilmarnock 4-0 in the Scottish Cup. The Scottish Cup holders are well on top with goals from Sandy McMahon, Jack Bell, John Divers and Pat Gilhooley but their star man was, yet again, Sandy McMahon.
SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 1962 – 35,045 see a remarkable game at Tynecastle in which, with the scores at 3-3, a twice-taken Pat Crerand penalty decides the issue. Celtic’s other scorers are John Divers with a brace and Steve Chalmers. Celtic look dead and buried when Johnny Hamilton puts Hearts 2-1 ahead in the 70th minute, but then Celtic score twice to make it 2-3 before Danny Paton scores for Hearts to make it 3-3 and a replay looks on the cards until the drama of the late penalty.
SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 1973 – A remarkable game today at Bayview, the home of East Fife, in which three separate Celtic players Bobby Murdoch, Kenny Dalglish and Harry Hood all miss penalties, and Celtic are reliant upon a late Dixie Deans header from a corner kick to earn a 2-2 draw. Dixie also scored Celtic’s first goal. This is one of only five games in Scotland to escape today’s freeze.
SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 1996 – Celtic advance to the quarter final of the Scottish Cup with a 2-0 win over Raith Rovers in front of 30,000 at a half complete Parkhead. Andy Thom and Simon Donnelly score the goals, and the win is quite comfortable over a club who have given us trouble in the recent past.
17th February 1996, Celtic 2:0 Raith Rovers.
Thom and Donnelly. @SimonDonnelly13
Excellent counter-attacking goal for the first. pic.twitter.com/FQCKuhaLES
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) February 17, 2024
SATURDAY 17 FEBRUARY 2001 – A thrilling finish at East End Park, Dunfermline sees the Scottish Cup tie end in a 2-2 draw. Celtic are one up through Henrik Larsson but then Dunfermline equalise through Andrius Skerla and a draw seems likely. Larsson then scores again in the 89th minute and the game seems won until right at the death, Barry Nicholson saves the day for Dunfermline. Celtic will win the replay with a degree of ease however.
17th February 2001, Dunfermline 2:2 Celtic.
Larsson double.
Superb link-up with @chris_sutton73 for the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/xusmoKgMAH
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) February 17, 2024
David Potter
17th February 1990, Aberdeen 1:1 Celtic.
Paul McStay with the equaliser after a good strike from Charlie Nicholas. @CharNicholas10 pic.twitter.com/kQMJ6WZCKO
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) February 17, 2024
17th February 1997, Hibs 1:1 Celtic.
O’Donnell.
Replay needed. pic.twitter.com/Z1OKUSnw7p
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) February 17, 2024
17th February 2007, Aberdeen 1:2 Celtic.
Craig Beattie and Shunsuke Nakamura. pic.twitter.com/V2DOMahTnO
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) February 17, 2024
5 years ago today, Kilmarnock 0:1 Celtic.
Scott Brown won the league at Rugby Park \o/ @ScottBrown8 pic.twitter.com/cXgc1GA29W
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) February 17, 2024
