Celtic On This Day – 1st January – David Potter’s Celtic Diary

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 1st January 1912…

MONDAY 1st JANUARY 1912 – The latter part of 1911 has not seen Celtic at their best, as Maley’s great team is now ageing and he is trying hard to build another. But it is old faithful Jimmy Quinn who once again shows just why he is considered to be the best centre forward in the business. Today 1912 is welcomed in with a hat-trick from the shy man from Croy as Celtic beat Rangers 3-0 at Parkhead.

THURSDAY 1st JANUARY 1914 – Celtic begin the last year of peace with an excellent 4-0 over Rangers at Parkhead before 75,000. Johnny Browning scores twice, Sunny Jim Young another but the highlight is the tremendous goal scored from long distance by Jimmy McMenemy.

Joe Cassidy scored twice as Celtic win at Ibrox

SATURDAY 1st JANUARY 1921 – 70,000 see Joe Cassidy score twice at Ibrox as Celtic defeated Rangers 2-0. The second goal is a dummy by Tommy McInally whose cry of “Joe!” is heard even in the stand as he jumps over the ball. Contemporary reports give vivid accounts of the Celtic Brake Clubs returning home from Ibrox with colours flying, bugles blowing and songs being sung.

SATURDAY 1st JANUARY 1938 – This game is quoted as hosting Parkhead’s record crowd. Some books say 92,000 but the evidence is shaky and 83,500 seems a more likely figure. It is of little importance however for Celtic beat Rangers 3-0 with two goals from John Divers and one from Malky MacDonald.

SATURDAY 1st JANUARY 1983 – The new Ibrox stadium is very impressive, but Celtic retain the edge over their rivals this season with a 2-1 win over Rangers, the goals coming from Paul McStay and Charlie Nicholas. Nicholas’s goal as he transferred the ball from one foot to the other before crashing home looking particularly spectacular.

40 years ago today, Rangers 1:2 Celtic.

McStay and a beauty from Nicholas. @CharNicholas10 pic.twitter.com/OtWqNO5d4w

— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) January 1, 2023

David Potter

New Year’s Day 1985 – Rangers 1-2 Celtic with the Celtic goals coming from Judas and Brian McClair. This is the only available footage…

1st January 1985, Rangers 1:2 Celtic.

Judas and McClair. @BrianMcClair13

Think the only footage of this was filmed on a Nokia 5110. pic.twitter.com/T3S9MjJYQs

— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) January 1, 2023

New Year’s Day 2006 – Hearts 2-3 Celtic – ‘Magic Game’ as Celtic fight back from two goals down to win 3-2 with a sensational late double from Stephen McManus after Pearson had pulled one back for Gordon Strachan’s Celtic side.

1st January 2006, Hearts 2:3 Celtic.

2 down at half-time but goals from Pearson and McManus(2) win it late on. @Pearoboy25 @StephenMc446

Magic game. pic.twitter.com/Q866S3Qe1l

— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) January 1, 2023

New Year’s Day 2014 – Celtic 1-0 Partick Thistle – Joe Ledley gets the only goal of the game just before the half-time whistle at Celtic Park.