Celtic Historian David Potter each morning on The Celtic Star looks back at key Celtic events and matches on this day starting on 28th March 1936. 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…
Jimmy McGrory scored
SATURDAY 28 MARCH 1936 – Another step towards the League flag is taken today as Celtic beat relegation threatened Hibs 4-1 at Celtic Park. Today Willie Lyon scored with a penalty, and the other goals are scored by Jimmy McGrory, Willie Lyon and Frank Murphy. Rangers are involved in the Scottish Cup semi-final today, but the League table shows Celtic four points ahead albeit with two games in hand. (Two points for a win in 1936).
Stevie Chalmers scored twice
SATURDAY 28 MARCH 1964 – A glimpse of what it could have been this year as Celtic travel to Fir Park and beat Motherwell 4-0 with a couple of goals from Steve Chalmers, one from Bobby Murdoch and one from Jimmy Johnstone. It is a pity that is a meaningless League game, but there have been some consolations in the winning of the Glasgow Cup for example on Wednesday, and there is still the European Cup Winners’ Cup to play for, with MTK of Hungary coming to Glasgow in a little over two weeks.
Tommy Gemmell missed the penalty
SATURDAY 28 MARCH 1970 – Celtic knew that if they won today against Hearts at Tynecastle they would win the League for the fifth year in a row, so it was disappointing to see a goalless draw which included a missed penalty by Tommy Gemmell. But everyone was brightened up at full time when transistor radios gave the news that Celtic were Champions anyway, for Rangers had also drawn 1-1 at home against Airdrie!
Celtic are the Champions again on this day in 1970 Tommy Gemmell with the bottle of champagne
Tommy Burns scored direct from a corner kick
WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH 1979 – A good performance tonight by Celtic as they beat Morton 3-0 at Parkhead with goals from Davie Provan, Tommy Burns and Ronnie Glavin. Tommy Burns scored direct from a corner kick! The disappointing crowd of 16,000 perhaps indicate just how highly the fans rate Celtic’s chances of winning the League, but such has been the severity of the winter that there are still 15 games left to be played. They are however 7th in a 10 team League! Tonight the Labour Government of James Callaghan was defeated in the House of Commons, so there will be a General Election on May 5.
Alan Thompson scored
SUNDAY 28 MARCH 2004 – For the fourth time this season, Celtic get the better of Rangers, to-day winning 2-1 at Ibrox with goals from Henrik Larsson and Alan Thompson. Although Rangers pull a goal back near the end, Celtic’s win is comfortable as they take another huge step towards the SPL title.
David Potter