The late, great Celtic Historian David Potter’s Celtic diary highlights key Celtic-related events relevant to each day, today covering 26 October…
Malky MacDonald, born on this day in 1913. 🍀
“I just want to be remembered as Malky MacDonald of Celtic”.https://t.co/kMSxWdbkH7 pic.twitter.com/8kKQxsNYe6
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023
SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 1895
Celtic beat Dundee 11-0 at Parkhead in what is still a record score in the Scottish League. The pitch is frankly unplayable after heavy overnight snow and Dundee are very critical of referee Mr J Baillie’s decision to let the game go ahead. Dundee have three players injured and in the second half take the field with only nine men, but by this time the score is already 6-0 for Celtic, who have had to change their strips because the green and white vertical stripes clash with the blue and white vertical of Dundee. Accounts of who scored all the goals vary, but the general consensus seems to be that Johnny Madden scored three, Jimmy Blessington two, Barney Battles two, Allan Martin two, James Kelly one and Willie Ferguson one.
26th October 1895, Celtic beat Dundee 11:0.
Record league victory for the Celts.https://t.co/ItxxT5g4Pq pic.twitter.com/AnTMSBW8B3
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023
SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 1907
At the third attempt after two draws, Celtic win the Glasgow Cup by beating Rangers 2-1 at Hampden before 55,000 spectators. Both Celtic goals come in the first half from Peter Somers from a defensive mix-up and Davie McLean with a “finely judged shot of power”. It is McLean’s first competitive game for the club because Davie Hamilton is suspended. Rangers score in the second half, but Celtic finish the game well in command.
SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 1963
Celtic beat Airdrie 9-0 in a brilliant display of attacking football, sadly watched by only a paltry crowd of 13,000 – such has been the disillusionment with failures earlier in the season, But to-day both John Hughes and John Divers score hat-tricks, and Charlie Gallagher, Bobby Murdoch and Steve Chalmers score one each. At the end, Celtic are awarded a penalty, Frank Haffey the goalkeeper takes it – and misses! Was this compassion for the other goalkeeper poor Roddy McKenzie of Airdrie? On the same day, however, Rangers win the Scottish League Cup final by putting five past second division Morton – something that says a great deal about how easy it is for Rangers when Celtic have been in the doldrums for so long!
26th October 1963, Celtic 9:0 Airdrie.
Celtic goalkeeper Frank Haffey misses a penalty to make it 10 nil.https://t.co/BV5bJyJiSB pic.twitter.com/OZD5tRL45e
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023
SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 1974
Celtic, having lost the last four League Cup Finals in a row, turn it on and win this one with a scintillating display of attacking football. The final score is Celtic 6 Hibs 3 before 53,848 fans at Hampden on a crisp autumn day. Two hat-tricks are scored – one by Dixie Deans of Celtic and one by Joe Harper of Hibs, who thus has the rare, if not unique, distinction in world football of having scored a hat-trick in a major Cup final and ended up on the losing side.
Never exactly the darling of the Celtic crowd, he is nevertheless given a round of applause by the magnanimous Celtic fans as he collects his loser’s medal. One of Deans’ goals is truly remarkable as he dives to head home a rebound from a Jimmy Johnstone drive, which cannoned off a defender’s leg. Celtic’s other goals are scored by Paul Wilson, Stevie Murray and Jimmy Johnstone, and Celtic have now won the Scottish League Cup 8 times.
26th October 1974, Celtic beat Hibs 6:3 in the League Cup final.
Jinky, Deans(3), Wilson and Murray. pic.twitter.com/jCJmqtP8ak
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023
WEDNESDAY 26 OCTOBER 2011
Celtic delight their fans at Easter Road and in the TV audience with a splendid second half performance to beat Hibs 4-1 in the League Cup quarter-final. Down 0-1 at half-time, Celtic then turn it on with two lovely goals from James Forrest, a bullet header from Anthony Stokes and a crisp finish from Gary Hooper.
26th October 2011, Hibs 1:4 Celtic.
Forrest(2), Stokes and Hooper. @HOOP588 pic.twitter.com/nP6wxyiIve
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023
David Potter
26th October 1994, Celtic beat Aberdeen 1:0 in the League Cup semi-final.
Brian O’Neil with the winner in Extra-Time. @brianoneil1972 pic.twitter.com/qWfoZZvA61
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023
26th October 1996, Hibs 0:4 Celtic.
Thom(2), Pierre and Donnelly. @pierrevh17 @SimonDonnelly13
3rd goal was Grants tbf. pic.twitter.com/LacxPcGAHj
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023
26th October 2000, Bordeaux 1:1 Celtic.
Larsson. pic.twitter.com/GLGmHchJyl
— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023
26th October 2005, Celtic 5:0 Motherwell.
Petrov(3), Maloney and Nakamura. @StanPetrov1 pic.twitter.com/kVxCvVlVkl
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023
26th October 2014, Celtic 2:0 Kilmarnock.
Guidetti and Scepovic. @superguidetti pic.twitter.com/QxuUGwD5IQ
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023
26th October 2016, Ross County 0:4 Celtic.
Roberts, Armstrong, Sinclair and Dembele. @patrick7roberts @Scotty_Sinclair @MDembele_10 pic.twitter.com/yktLCBH13m
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) October 25, 2023