The late Celtic Historian David Potter’s Celtic Diary highlights key Celtic related events relevant on each day, today covering 8 August…
SATURDAY 8 AUGUST 1931
Celtic open the new season with a trip to Marine Gardens, Leith where they beat Leith Athletic 3-0 with two goals from Jimmy McGrory and one from Alec Thomson. The changing rooms are the luxurious Empress Ballroom! The 22,000 crowd includes a large Celtic contingent.
SATURDAY 8 AUGUST 1959
No-one realised it at the time (although the prescient might have guessed!) but one of Celtic’s worst ever seasons began today with a 1-2 defeat by Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park. Celtic’s goal was scored by Tommy Mackle.
SATURDAY 8 AUGUST 1970
Still reeling from the awful events of the spring when both the Scottish Cup final and the European Cup final were lost in heart breaking circumstances followed by a summer of rumour and counter-rumour about players and the Manager, Celtic and their supporters today return to real football. At Tynecastle, Celtic begin the defence of the Scottish League Cup by beating Hearts 2-1 with goals from Jimmy Johnstone and John Hughes.
SATURDAY 8 AUGUST 1987
Billy McNeill’s second tenure as manager of Celtic gets off to a good start with a very convincing 4-0 victory over Greenock Morton at a crowded Cappielow, a ground that is now beginning to show signs of being past its best. Andy Walker scores twice and Mark McGhee and Billy Stark once each.
8th August 1987, Morton 0:4 Celtic.
McGhee, Stark and Walker(2). pic.twitter.com/FoGNS4Ctik
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) August 7, 2023
WEDNESDAY 8 AUGUST 2001
Celtic amaze Europe by beating Ajax 3-1 in Amsterdam in the first leg of the qualifying round of the European Champions’ League. Goals are scored by Didier Agathe, Bobby Petta and Chris Sutton, but the standard of play by everyone is very impressive, as indeed is the support given by a sizeable proportion of the 51,000 crowd.
8th August 2001, Ajax 1:3 Celtic.
Petta, Agathe and Sutton. @bobbypetta @chris_sutton73 pic.twitter.com/W0PFv7aRDd
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) August 7, 2023
David Potter
8th August 1979, Celtic 6:1 China. 🇨🇳https://t.co/6eEc4QBgzW pic.twitter.com/8zVMZ0Z54f
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) August 7, 2023
25 years ago today, Celtic host Liverpool in a friendly to open the Jock Stein stand.https://t.co/Rv2i1tQy2P pic.twitter.com/P5fNWGI4X3
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) August 7, 2023
8th August 2004, Celtic 2:0 Motherwell.
McNamara and Sutton. @Jackie_Mc4 @chris_sutton73 pic.twitter.com/K27gIJbmFb
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) August 7, 2023
8th August 2009, Chris Killen equalises against Man City in a friendly.
Bellamy would score the winner for City. pic.twitter.com/Ft6an45wVj
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) August 7, 2023
8th August 2012, HJK Helsinki 0:2 Celtic.
Ledley and Samaras. @joe16led pic.twitter.com/AbJizdLKap
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) August 7, 2023
8th August 2017, Celtic 5:0 Kilmarnock.
Griffiths(2), Ralston, Tierney and Armstrong. @kierantierney1 @anthonyralston8 pic.twitter.com/1ZXTv0Q2AK
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) August 7, 2023
5 years ago today, Celtic 1:1 AEK Athens.
McGregor. pic.twitter.com/c5eJJ8UwJb
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) August 7, 2023
8th August 2021, Celtic 6:0 Dundee.
Kyogo(3), Rogic, Ralston and Edouard. @Kyogo_Furuhashi @Tom_Rogic @anthonyralston8 @Oedouard22
Not a bad home debut for Kyogo.🙌 pic.twitter.com/KGXmYXjgho
— Li’l Ze (@LilZe_7) August 7, 2023
