Celtic On This Day – 24th April – 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 24th April 1909. 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…

SATURDAY 24th APRIL 1909 – Celtic’s charge for the League flag stalls temporarily as they are held 0-0 by Airdrie at Parkhead. They are tired but this is hardly surprising as they have now played four games since the riot at the Scottish Cup final last week! Today at Ibrox (Hampden still lies in ruins after the riot) Dundee beat Queen’s Park. Dundee have now completed all their fixtures, and Celtic now need to take six points out of a possible eight (two points for a win in 1909) to win the League. As they have to play on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, that will not be easy.

SATURDAY 24th APRIL 1937 – The crowd is given as 146,433 but in fact there are a lot more than that at Hampden to see Celtic beat Aberdeen 2-1 to win the Cup for the 15th time. It is Aberdeen’s first Scottish Cup final and the black and golds are well supported, but it is Celtic with goals from Johnny Crum and Willie Buchan who win the day. The veteran Jimmy McGrory in his last Cup final does not, unfortunately, find the net.

24th April 1937, Celtic beat Aberdeen 2:1 to win the Scottish Cup in front of a world record attendance: 147,365 fans. pic.twitter.com/YlrsYgb0Al

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) April 23, 2023

SATURDAY 24th APRIL 1954 – Celtic win the Scottish Cup for the 17th time and have now won the League and Cup double for the first time since 1914 as they get the better of a good Aberdeen side before a crowd of 130,060 at Hampden by 2-1, the goals coming from Sean Fallon and an own goal. Celtic’s half back line of Evans, Stein and Peacock is immense.

24th April 1954, Celtic beat Aberdeen 2:1 in the Scottish Cup Final.

Sean Fallon with the winner. @SeanFallonCelt pic.twitter.com/Cvp12RY3dd

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) April 23, 2023

SATURDAY 24th APRIL 1965 – Celtic are born again this day after seven and a half years of winning nothing! The Scottish Cup Final is a classic with Celtic twice going behind to a spirited Dunfermline side, but twice coming back with goals from Bertie Auld. Then in epic, almost unbelievable, Boys Own style, Celtic’s captain Billy McNeill rises to head home a corner kick from Charlie Gallagher to make it 3-2. Jock Stein has only been in the manager’s chair for six weeks, and scenes of triumph and relief are a sight to behold. It is Celtic’s 18th Scottish Cup.

24th April 1965, Celtic beat Dunfermline 3:2 to win the Scottish Cup.

Bertie Auld double and a Billy McNeill winner to give Jock Stein his first success as Celtic boss. pic.twitter.com/J5wOEjKkzA

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) April 23, 2023

WEDNESDAY 24th APRIL 2003 – Celtic qualify for the UEFA Cup final by beating Boavista 1-0 in Portugal! This follows a rather unsatisfactory drawn first leg at Parkhead, but tonight Henrik Larsson scores the only goal of the game, and then Celtic with Bobo Balde outstanding, defend brilliantly until the end of the game. Their opponents in the final will be Porto.

20 years ago today, Celtic beat Boavista 1:0 away to reach the Uefa Cup Final.

Larsson with the winner. pic.twitter.com/nLUpdxZGIU

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) April 23, 2023

David Potter