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 7th January 1905…
SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 1905 – Only 2,500 are at Celtic Park on a miserable day to see Celtic beat Port Glasgow 3-0. Davie Hamilton scores twice and the other goal is an own goal. Celtic remain on course for the League Championship, but another five games are still to be played.
SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 1928 – It is “Tell me the old, old story, A hat-trick for McGrory” as Celtic visit Falkirk and Jimmy McGrory scores all three goals in the 3-1 win at Brockville and Celtic maintain their 100% record in 1928, having already beaten Rangers and Queen’s Park.
SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 1956 – A huge crowd of 35,000 are at Pittodrie today to see Celtic go down 0-1 to a goal scored by Scotland International Graham Leggat. Celtic played well enough, but as in their game against Rangers on New Year’s Day, they failed to score a goal!
SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 1967 – No-one as yet knows what 1967 is going to bring Celtic. As the New Year games were postponed, this game against Dundee at Parkhead is the first game of the year, and Celtic really need to get back to winning ways after losing their last game to Dundee United on Hogmanay. It is a fine 5-1 win, the goals coming from Jimmy Johnstone, Charlie Gallagher, two from Willie Wallace and an own goal.
SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 1978 – Outrageously bad refereeing by Mr JRP Gordon of Newport-on-Tay denies Celtic victory at Ibrox. At least two clear cut penalties are refused, and as everyone is arguing about one of them, Rangers are allowed to go up the field and score! For a while it looked as if the Celtic players were going to refuse to play, and even a riot looked imminent, but Neil Mochan and Jock Stein urged the players to continue. It was, in the unanimous opinion of all the media, a gross injustice as Rangers won 3-1.
David Potter
7th January 1984, Motherwell 2:2 Celtic.
McGarvey and McStay. Great strike from McGarvey.
Some tackle from Willie McStay in buildup for 2nd. pic.twitter.com/HSzQUYIwav
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) January 7, 2024
7th January 1989, Celtic 2:0 Hamilton.
Walker and Miller. pic.twitter.com/q5iHfjUMQH
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) January 7, 2024
7th January 1995, Celtic 1:1 Dundee Utd.
Collins equaliser. pic.twitter.com/gAw7GGmuOw
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) January 7, 2024
A year ago today, Celtic 2:0 Kilmarnock.
Jota. pic.twitter.com/jxqdBSPxrR
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe785) January 7, 2024
I was at that game in 1978. In the enclosure in front of the main stand. At the time of the “penalty ” claim I thought Celtic were a bit slack in not playing to the Whistle. However when the 3rd goal went in I was sure it would be chalked off for offside. When the ball is played forward to Greig there is only 1 Celtic defender between him and the goal. The defender does touch the ball to Greig but in those days surely an offside flag should have gone up as soon as the ball was passed towards Greig? That all seemed to be ignored in the flap about the penalty.