Celtic Historian David Potter each morning on The Celtic Star looks back at key Celtic events and matches on this day starting on 1st April 1907. 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…
MONDAY 1st APRIL 1907 – Holiday Monday at Celtic Park and Celtic’s two points against Queen’s Park take them to the verge of the Scottish League Championship. The goals are scored by Jimmy Quinn and Davie Hamilton, and speculation is now growing that Celtic can be the first team to win the Double of the Scottish League and the Scottish Cup in the one season.
SATURDAY 1st APRIL 1967 – “Ach, ye never get a good gemme atween thae two” is the conventional wisdom of the East End, and to-day’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden between Celtic and Clyde proves that point as the game finished in a 0-0 draw. Most spectators however think that Clyde are lucky not to concede a penalty kick for hand-ball late in the game.
TUESDAY 1st APRIL 1969 – It is the stuff that champions are made of! Celtic, two down at half-time to Willie Ormond’s strong St.Johnstone side at Muirton Park, come back to win 3-2 at the death with goals from Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Harry Hood.
WEDNESDAY 1st APRIL 1981 – Doomed Hearts are thrashed at Parkhead 6-0 by a rampant Celtic team with the Championship clearly in their sights. George McCluskey scores twice (one is a penalty) as does Murdo MacLeod while McGarvey and Provan score the others in front of a paltry 13,300 crowd. Hearts are but a shade of their great teams of the past and are an eloquent testimony to the folly of incompetent management and stewardship.
1st April 1981, Celtic 6:0 Hearts.
McCluskey(2), Provan, McGarvey and Murdo(2). @murdomacleod06 pic.twitter.com/eS8dFKk5I2
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) March 31, 2023
SUNDAY 1st APRIL 2012 – Celtic move to within one point of the SPL title with a 2-0 win over St Johnstone before 57,848 fans at Celtic Park. They are hardly at their best, but Georgios Samaras scores with a good header from a Kris Commons free kick halfway through the second half, then Celtic get the benefit of an own goal a few minutes later to seal the points.
1st April 2012, Celtic 2:0 St Johnstone.
Samaras and an own goal. pic.twitter.com/kGlGQTXDGB
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) March 31, 2023
David Potter
1st April 1961, Celtic beat Airdrie 4:0 in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
Hughes(2), Chalmers and Fernie. pic.twitter.com/kqSjLwf6sH
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) March 31, 2023
1st April 1970, Leeds 0:1 Celtic.
George Connelly gives Celtic the advantage in 1st leg of the European Cup Semi-Final. pic.twitter.com/Z6kcuACom7
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) March 31, 2023
1st April 1972, Celtic 3:1 Partick Thistle.
Jinkys goal. Vic Davidson got the other 2. pic.twitter.com/e2SgbuwaWE
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) March 31, 2023
1st April 1995, Celtic 1:1 Motherwell.
Walker equaliser.
Lambert.😂 pic.twitter.com/EsBvHaS1f3
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) March 31, 2023
1st April 1996, Celtic 5:0 Aberdeen.
Donnelly(2), Pierre(2) and Cadete. @SimonDonnelly13 @pierrevh17 @JorgeCadete11
Cadete scores on his debut, Tosh on 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HYRZSRLCRo
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) March 31, 2023
1st April 2001, Aberdeen 0:1 Celtic.
Didier Agathe with the winner. pic.twitter.com/IusT5TVPPs
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) March 31, 2023