David Potter’s Celtic Diary is now into its fourth month of the season and there’s plenty to report from Celtic’s long, proud and unbroken history starting on this day in 1888. Over to you, Mr Potter…
“Darling Willie” Groves scored twice
SATURDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 1888 – Celtic with a surprising amount of supporters travel through to Stockbridge in Edinburgh to play St.Bernards in the Scottish Cup. The crowd at the Royal Gymnasium ground is given as 6,000 and they see Celtic win 4-1 with two goals from “Darling Willie” Groves and one each from Neil McCallum and Tom Maley.
A hat-trick from Jimmy Quinn
SATURDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 1906 – Even without the injured Willie Loney and Jimmy Hay, Celtic’s good form continues. Today at Douglas Park, Hamilton, before 5,000 spectators, Celtic beat the home side 5-2 with a hat-trick from Jimmy Quinn, one from Peter Somers and a penalty from Sunny Jim Young.
Two goals from Jimmy McGrory
SATURDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 1928 – Poor weather restricts the crowd at Celtic Park to 7,000, but those who are there see an entertaining performance by Celtic who defeat Raith Rovers 3-1 with two goals from Jimmy McGrory and one from Alec Thomson.
WEDNESDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 1965 – Celtic fly to Denmark to beat AGF Aarhus 1-0 in the first leg of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Joe McBride scores the only goal in a low-key game.
Henrik Larsson scored
SATURDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2001 – 9041 fans are leaving McDiarmid Park convinced that a hard-working St Johnstone team has earned a point until Henrik Larsson scores with a free kick with virtually the last kick of the game. Late goals have been a feature of the team in recent weeks, and is an indication of the professional attitude of the team. Today is a 2-1 victory at a difficult ground. Earlier in the game Darren Dods of St Johnstone achieved the unusual feat of scoring for both sides!
David Potter
