Celtic On This Day – 26th January – 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 26th January 1918. 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 your order immediately. The Celtic Rising is also now available on Amazon Kindle, link below…

SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 1918 – A thrilling 3-3 draw at Celtic Park against Airdrie entertains the 10,000 spectators but means that Rangers who won today are now level on points with Celtic at the top of the League. Celtic’s goals were scored by Patsy Gallacher, Adam McLean and Hugh Brown. The weather is pleasant enough for the end of January, but the arrival of spring in 1918 is dreaded for it will mean another “push” in France, and this time the Germans will be reinforced by their victorious army from the East. The British now have the as yet unproven Americans. Loads of money, loads of “mouth”, but is there any mettle?

SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 1957 – Celtic’s inconsistency is truly astonishing. After some absolutely appalling performances, today they turn it on, and to the delight of the 17,000 crowd, beat Falkirk 4-0 at Parkhead with goals from Neil Mochan, Billy McPhail, John Higgins and an own goal.

WEDNESDAY 26 JANUARY 1966 – In a game switched from Kiev to Tblisi in Georgia for climate reasons, Celtic earn the 1-1 draw which is enough to win the tie 4-1 on aggregate over Dinamo Kiev. Dinamo score first through Sabo but then Tommy Gemmell equalises after some fine work by John Hughes. A black mark is the ordering off of Jim Craig after a clash with Dinamo’s Khmelnitsky, but Celtic are now in the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 1980 – 18,000 are at Celtic Park to see an undistinguished Scottish Cup performance against First Division Raith Rovers. The final score is 2-1 but with a bit of luck, the Fifers might have earned a replay. Bobby Lennox and Johnny Doyle score the goals for Celtic, but the crowd are not slow to show their displeasure at the poor fare on offer.

SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 1991 – With the First Gulf War raging in the middle east, Celtic travel to Forfar to play the local side in the Scottish Cup for the second year running. They struggled last year, but this year they have fewer problems in a routine 2-0 victory with goals from Tommy Coyne and Dariusz Wdowczyk.

David Potter

26th January 1997, Clydebank 0:5 Celtic.

Cadete(2), Malky, Pierre and Di Canio. @JorgeCadete11 @pierrevh17 pic.twitter.com/tGoqHSsb6D

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) January 26, 2023

26th January 2002, Kilmarnock 0:2 Celtic.

Larsson and an own goal. pic.twitter.com/jmVEcFyU32

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) January 26, 2023

26th January 2011, Celtic 4:0 Hearts.

Forrest, Stokes(2) and McCourt. pic.twitter.com/4db8HrreFZ

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) January 26, 2023

26th January 2014, Hibs 0:4 Celtic.

Commons(2), Virgil and Pukki. @VirgilvDijk pic.twitter.com/yk80ezxETh

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) January 26, 2023

26th January 2019, Celtic 3:0 Hamilton.

McGregor, Christie and Sinclair. @Scotty_Sinclair pic.twitter.com/fz9QLadQrA

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe_7) January 26, 2023