Celtic On This Day – 5th February – David Potter’s Celtic Diary

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 5th February 1916…

SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY 1916 – Willie Maley uses all his considerable persuasive and diplomatic skills to get all his men off their work in the munitions industries on the Saturday morning to allow them all to travel to Aberdeen to play in the afternoon. His hard work is rewarded when Celtic beat the black and golds 4-0. Patsy Gallacher scores twice and Jimmy McColl and Jimmy McMenemy once each.

SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY 1927 – Celtic break new ground by travelling to Brechin in the Scottish Cup. Brechin shock Celtic by scoring first through Wattie Gentles but Celtic turn on the style to win 6-3 with four goals from Jimmy McGrory and one each from Adam McLean and Alec Thomson. 4,000 spectators watch this game with some enterprising local firms supplying lorries for spectators to stand on for an additional fee. Willie Maley is not happy with his goalkeeper Peter Shevlin for losing the first goal and decides that it is perhaps time that the young Fifer John Thomson was given a run in the team.

SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY 1955 – Scottish Cup day and Celtic’s first visit to Recreation Park, Alloa for 32 years as an all ticket crowd of 15,000 cram into the tight little ground to see Celtic win 4-2. Mike Haughney both misses a penalty and scores a penalty, Jimmy Walsh scores twice and Bertie Peacock another. Ex-Celt Tommy Kiernan scores for Alloa.

SATURDAY 5 FEBRUARY 1966 – Stranraer were founded in 1870 and it has taken them almost a century to play a competitive game against Celtic. They are given a warm reception as they run out today from the Parkhead crowd for this Scottish Cup tie. Celtic unsurprisingly win 4-0 with goals from Charlie Gallagher, Bobby Murdoch, Joe McBride and Bobby Lennox.

WEDNESDAY 5 FEBRUARY 2002 – Celtic have bad luck tonight at Hampden as they lose 1-2 to Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final after extra time. Celtic’s goal was scored by Bobo Balde as he was sitting on the ground! Martin O’Neill praises his players and says they should have won what would have been their sixth victory in a row over Rangers.

David Potter

Happy Birthday Patrick Roberts. @patrick7roberts

Every Celtic goal. pic.twitter.com/oIx4MAMARG

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 5, 2024

5th February 1983, Dundee Utd 1:1 Celtic.

Nicholas. @CharNicholas10

Excellent penalty save from @PackieBonner1 pic.twitter.com/tgZkgLPhsF

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 5, 2024

5th February 2017, St Johnstone 2:5 Celtic.

Henderson, Dembele(3) and Sinclair. @liam53henderson @MDembele_10 @Scotty_Sinclair

Dembele comes off the bench to score a hattrick including a tremendous team goal to finish it off. pic.twitter.com/lHPCFZwFVh

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 5, 2024

5th February 2020, Motherwell 0:4 Celtic.

Edouard(2), Griffiths and McGregor. @Oedouard22 pic.twitter.com/ok2Tv5jK38

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 5, 2024

A year ago today, St Johnstone 1:4 Celtic.

Kyogo, Mooy and Turnbull. @Kyogo_Furuhashi @10DavidTurnbull pic.twitter.com/1svYw6I3Jh

— Li'l Ze (@LilZe785) February 5, 2024