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Celtic On This Day – 2nd January – David Potter’s Celtic Diary

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The late, great Celtic Historian David Potter’s Celtic Diary each morning on The Celtic Star looks back at key Celtic events and matches on this day starting on 2nd January 1909… 

 

Willie Loney scored

SATURDAY 2nd JANUARY 1909 – Yesterday’s 3-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox is welcome but comes at a cost with injuries, not least to goalkeeper Davie Adams. Sunny Jim Young suggests to Maley that rather than try to find a new goalkeeper on New Year’s Night, he (Sunny Jim) could take over the mantle of the custodian, for he was unable to play in his normal position of right half because of a leg injury. Rather against his better judgement, Maley agrees to this for today’s game at Kilmarnock, and Celtic duly lose 1-3, their only goal coming from Willie Loney. Perhaps the celebrations of yesterday’s New Year Day victory were a trifle over zealous.

Jimmy McGrory

SATURDAY 2nd JANUARY 1926 – Considered unlucky to merely draw with Rangers yesterday, Celtic today travel to Hampden to defeat Queen’s Park 4-1. Jimmy McGrory scores twice, and Alec Thomson once (but some sources give McGrory a hat-trick and Adam McLean the other) as Celtic consolidate their position at the top of the League. But for Jack Harkness in goal for Queen’s Park, the score would have been a great deal more.

SATURDAY 2nd JANUARY 1971 – This is one of Scottish football’s saddest days as 66 Rangers supporters die in the immediate aftermath of the Old Firm game at Ibrox. Celtic and Rangers supporters are united in grief for this terrible tragedy caused by crushing on the infamous Stairway 13 at Ibrox. The game had been a good one with Jimmy Johnstone scoring Celtic’s goal in the 1-1 draw.

Franke McAvennie scored

SATURDAY 2nd JANUARY 1988 – Celtic begin their Centenary Year in style with a fine 2-0 win over Rangers at Parkhead. Frank McAvennie scores the two goals which definitely give Celtic the edge in the race for the Scottish League Championship. 60,800 applaud a stylish Celtic performance.

Henrik Larsson scored four times

TUESDAY 2nd JANUARY 2001 – Saturday’s game against Motherwell was snowed off, but the thaw arrived with the New Year, and today’s game against Kilmarnock at Parkhead went ahead. Celtic opened their New Year with a 6-0 victory. Henrik Larsson scored four times and Chris Sutton twice in a devastating display of attacking football. Ally McCoist comes on for Kilmarnock near the end, but fails to turn the tide.

David Potter

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About Author

I am Celtic author and historian and write for The Celtic Star. I live in Kirkcaldy and have followed Celtic all my life, having seen them first at Dundee in March 1958. I am a retired teacher and my other interests are cricket, drama and the poetry of Robert Burns. David Potter passed away on 29 July 2023 after a short illness. He was posthumously awarded a Special Recognition award by Celtic FC at the club's Player of the Year awards in May 2024. David's widow Rosemary accepted the award to huge applause from the Celtic Supporters in the Hydro.

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