Celtic On This Day – 23rd August – David Potter’s Celtic Diary

The late, great David Potter’s Celtic diary highlights key Celtic related events relevant to each day, today covering 23 August…

SATURDAY 23 AUGUST 1890

In Celtic’s second-ever game in the Scottish League, Celtic travel to Tynecastle to thrash Hearts 5-0 with two goals from Johnny Madden, two from “darling Willie” Groves and one from Peter Dowds. 8,000 are very impressed but unfortunately Celtic field a goalkeeper called James Bell who is technically still registered for Dumbarton. For this offence, they will be deducted four points.

SATURDAY 23 AUGUST 1924

Celtic have now played three games and drawn them all this season. Today was another dismal encounter against Airdrie at Parkhead, the only bright spark being a goal by Patsy Gallacher. Airdrie are a good side, however, the current holders of the Scottish Cup.

SATURDAY 23 AUGUST 1958

An injury to Bobby Evans rules him out of today’s game against Clyde and gives an opportunity to a tall youngster called Billy McNeill. The 39,000 crowd are impressed by the young debutant as Celtic win 2-0 with goals from Bertie Auld and Sammy Wilson.

SATURDAY 23 AUGUST 1980

A last minute winner for Rangers deprives Celtic of a deserved draw in the first Old Firm game of the season on a windy day at Parkhead. Tommy Burns had scored for Celtic, and it was generally agreed that Celtic were worth a draw at least, especially as a good goal had been disallowed not long before Rangers’ winner which came about from a shot by Alex Miller which went over the head of the inexperienced Paddy Bonner.

SATURDAY 23 AUGUST 2003

Without being any too impressive Celtic beat Partick Thistle 2-1 in a lunch time kick off at Firhill. Paul Lambert and Alan Thompson (with a penalty) score the goals.

David Potter