Celtic on this Day, a look back at five memorable matches against Boavista, Hamilton, Man Utd, Anderlecht and Rangers…
Dixie Deans scores for Celtic against Boavista at Celtic Park on 5 November 1975. Photo The Celtic Wiki
5 November 1975, Celtic 3-1 Boavista
Edvaldsson scores for Celtic against Boavista at Celtic Park on 5 November 1975. Photo The Celtic Wiki
The two sides had played out a goalless draw in Portugal two weeks prior to the second leg in Glasgow. Celtic as ever prepared for the upcoming European match at Seamills. Notably, season 75/76 saw Sean Fallon standing in for Jock Stein. Celtic wore numbers on the back of their hooped jerseys for the first ever time following a direct order from UEFA.
Kenny Dalglish scored inside 35 seconds, with Shuggy Edvaldsson netting 20 minutes later. Despite Boavista pulling one back, Dixie Deans late finish sealed a place in the European Cup Winners Cup third round where the Hoops would go onto face German side Sachsenring Zwickau.
Hamilton 0-8 Celtic – on the next page…
5 November 1988, Hamilton 0-8 Celtic
Frank McAvennie scores against Hamilton as Celtic romp to an 8-0 win on 5 November 1988. Photo The Celtic Wiki
36 years ago today, Hamilton 0-8 Celtic. Frank McAvennie and Mark McGhee both bagged hat-tricks versus the Accies on a cold November afternoon in North Lanarkshire. It was McGhee’s second hat-trick in four weeks having scored three in a league match at Celtic Park against St Mirren a month previous. Billy Stark and Joe Miller scored the other two of the eight. To this day, Billy McNeill’s side inflicted Hamilton’s biggest ever home defeat in their 137-year history.
Celtic 1-1 Man Utd – on the next page…
5 November 2008, Celtic 1-1 Man Utd
Goalkeeper Ben Foster of Manchester United attempts the save as Scott McDonald of Celtic shoots and scores the opening goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Manchester United at Celtic Park on November 5, 2008. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
It had only been two years earlier when Shunsuke Nakamura scored that iconic free-kick past Edwin Van Der Sar in the Man Utd net. Gordon Strachan was looking to replicate a similar type of performance and result to the one he got that night. Strachan nearly got it as Scott McDonald’s delightful lob over Ben Foster looked like it was going to be well worthy of winning the match for Celtic. However, a late header from Ryan Giggs levelled the match.
After the encounter Alex Ferguson said that, “we [Man Utd] would love to have an atmosphere like that, but…” and then Ferguson did not close with his statement. In later years, former England internationalist Ben Foster said that night at Paradise was the best atmosphere he had ever played in. Overall, the 2008/2009 Champions League campaign was a sore one and despite gaining five points, Celtic finished bottom of their group which included Man Utd, Aalborg and Villareal.
Celtic 3-1 Anderlecht – on the next page…
5 November 2003, Celtic 3-1 Anderlecht
Celtic team group taken before the UEFA Champions League Group A match between Celtic and Anderlecht held on November 5, 2003 at Celtic Park. Celtic won the match 3-1. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
5 November 2003 Celtic 3-1 Anderlecht. “I’ve faced many great strikers, but the toughest one was when I was 17 and playing against a great Celtic team. On the other side was Larsson and Hartson, which was just an unbelievable strike force.” Those were the words echoed by current Bayern Munich manager and then Anderlecht centre-back Vincent Kompany.
Three goals in 16 minutes from Larsson, Miller and Sutton saw Celtic take a 3-0 lead inside 27 minutes. Although Martin O’Neill’s side accumulated seven points from games against Anderlecht, Lyon and Bayern Munich in Glasgow’s East End, it was the away matches that killed Celtic once again in the 2003/2004 campaign as the Hoops lost every match on the road in Europe’s elite club competition culminating in O’Neill’s men exiting the Champions League.
Henrik Larsson of Celtic scores the first goal against Anderlecht during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Anderlecht at Celtic Park on November 5, 2003. (Photo Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Henrik Larsson celebrates scoring the first goal against Anderlecht during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Anderlecht at Celtic Park on November 5, 2003. (Photo Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Chris Sutton of Celtic celebrates scoring the third goal against Anderlecht during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Anderlecht at Celtic Park on November 5, 2003. (Photo Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Rangers 1-2 Celtic – on the next page…
5 November 1983, Rangers 1-2 Celtic
Tommy Burns scores the winner at Ibrox as Celtic beat Rangers 2-1 in the Scottish Premier League on 5 November 1983. Photo The Celtic Wiki
41 years ago today, Rangers 1-2 Celtic. Standing in as caretaker manager for Rangers was Tommy McLean following the resignation of John Greig who had departed Ibrox after five years in charge. Celtic fans were given three sides of Ibrox. Oh, how things have changed. An estimated 91 arrests were made before and after the match. It was Frank McGarvey who had given Davie Hay’s side the lead following great work by Paul McStay. Tommy Burns scored Celtic’s second in a memorable victory at Ibrox.
Conor Spence
Celtic in The Thirties – out today!
Matt Corr’s highly anticipated Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One & Two) are published today on Celtic Star Books. Order your copies today and receive signed copies which will be posted on Wednesday. Order at celticstarbooks.com
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!
