Celtic On This Day – 18th December – 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 18th December 1915. David’s latest bestseller The Celtic Rising ~ 1965: The Year Jock Stein Changed Everything SOLD OUT on Celtic Star Books but the good news is that it is now back in stock! You can place an order here and we’ll post same day via first class post. The Celtic Rising is also now available on Amazon Kindle, link below.

SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER 1915 – Serious campaigning in Europe has ground temporarily to a halt, as Britain slowly recovers from the Battle of Loos, but the war continues. 22,000 however are at Firhill today to see a magnificent 4-0 win for Celtic over Partick Thistle with goals from Jimmy McMenemy (twice), Andy McAtee and Johnny Browning. “Celtic sit down on the Thistle” is the way that The Sunday Post put it.

SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER 1937 – This superb Celtic team slips into gear with a fine 3-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road with goals from Joe Carruth, Malky MacDonald and John Divers. The ground is hard – and quite a few other Scottish games are off – but nothing seems to stop this Celtic team, even without the injured Jimmy Delaney.

SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER 1965 – Willie Cunningham’s Dunfermline are widely believed to be the “third force” in Scottish football, and therefore a victory at East End Park is all the more to be valued. The first half is tight, but Stevie Chalmers scores two goals half-way through the second half and Celtic finish the game well on top. This match is extensively covered in The Celtic Rising ~ 1965: The Year Jock Stein Changed Everything by David Potter.

SATURDAY 18 DECEMBER 1982 – Still on a high after winning the League Cup a fortnight ago and beating Aberdeen last week, Celtic travel to Kilmarnock and beat the home side 4-0, the goals being scored by four separate players viz. Davie Provan, Tom McAdam, Frank McGarvey and Tommy Burns.

WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2003 – Celtic are almost invincible in the Scottish League this season, but it is a different story in other competitions. Last week saw the end of Champions League aspirations, and tonight any hopes of a domestic treble vanish when Celtic are put out of the Scottish League Cup, losing to Hibs at Easter Road. Celtic score first through Stan Varga, but Hibs equalise with a penalty and then Kevin Thomson scores their winner late in the game. It is a huge disappointment for the Celtic faithful.

David Potter

18th December 1993, Celtic 1:0 Hibs.

The Maestro with the winner. pic.twitter.com/AFa1b0HXT8

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) December 18, 2022

18th December 1999, Celtic 4:1 Dundee Utd.

Blinker, Viduka, Lubo and Burchill. @RegiBlinker @Burchyboy27 pic.twitter.com/cabj912GSr

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) December 18, 2022

18th December 2004, Celtic 1:0 Dundee Utd.

Chris Sutton with the only goal. @chris_sutton73 pic.twitter.com/gZiUayTYY4

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) December 18, 2022

8th December 2005, ICT 1:1 Celtic.

Hartson with the equaliser. @JohnHartson10

Good penalty save from @ArturBoruc pic.twitter.com/vLIMOhAxNF

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) December 18, 2022