Celtic On This Day – 3rd February – David Potter’s Celtic Diary

The late, great Celtic Historian David Potter each morning on The Celtic Star looks back at key Celtic events and matches on this day starting on 3rd February 1917...

SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY 1917 – Celtic, still unbeaten this season, are very impressive with a devastating 5-0 win over Raith Rovers before 16,000 fans at Celtic Park. Jimmy McColl scores two, as does Patsy Gallacher, and Andy McAtee scores the other. It is clear however that, given the problems of war-time working and transport, Raith Rovers are struggling to get a team to Glasgow. Fans are impressed by Raith’s right winger Sandy Archibald who will, of course, go on to play for Rangers after the war, but the greatest cheer is of course when Patsy Gallacher runs out after having been suspended for “bad timekeeping” in the shipyards!

WEDNESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 1937 – Only a very small crowd at Parkhead this Wednesday afternoon see Celtic repair the damage to their reputation after their lucky draw with Stenhousemuir on Saturday in the Scottish Cup. Today is the replay and two goals from Jimmy McGrory do the job for Celtic, but the “warriors” earn plaudits for their doughty performance.

SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY 1962 – The heavy rain relents to allow Celtic’s game against St Johnstone at Parkhead to go ahead, and it is a good game too with John Hughes in particular relishing the heavy conditions, and scoring one of the goals in a 3-1 win, the other two goals coming from John Divers.

SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY 1973 – Scottish Cup day brings East Fife to Celtic Park on a miserable rainy day. A fine Celtic performance (one of their best games for a while) sees a 4-1 win with two goals each from Kenny Dalglish and Dixie Deans.

SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY 1996 – The partially built Celtic Park sees a great goal by Paul McStay to give Celtic a 2-1 victory over Hibs as Celtic come from behind to maintain their challenge for the League. Pierre Van Hooijdonk had earlier equalised.

3rd February 1996, Celtic 2:1 Hibs.

Pierre and McStay. @pierrevh17

Darren Jackson with a spell in goals for Hibs. pic.twitter.com/HUTtM87XQv

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 3, 2024

David Potter

3rd February 1993, Celtic 5:1 St Johnstone.

Coyne(2), McAvennie, Wdowczyk and Collins. @MaccaFrank pic.twitter.com/gZrTTZ14jh

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 3, 2024

3rd February 2013, Raith Rovers 0:3 Celtic.

Commons, Forrest and Mulgrew. @charlie_mulgrew pic.twitter.com/kn6GVfSYdc

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 3, 2024