Celtic on this Day – High-flying Aberdeen beaten at Celtic Park, a costly 3-3 draw in an Old Firm match at Paradise and a very happy Birthday to Alan Stubbs…
6 October 1984, Celtic defeat Aberdeen 2-1 in the league. Davie Provan came in from the cold to give Celtic their most stimulating win of the season tearing the championship race wide open. Ultimately, Aberdeen won the 84/85 title by seven points but at the time it was a significant victory for Davie Hay’s side. In the match, Pat Bonner pulled off a crucial save from a Billy Stark penalty. McGarvey scored the opener for Celtic. Meanwhile, speculation had been brewing in the run up to the game as Celtic had a £300,000 bid for Dundee United striker Davie Dodds rejected.
An Old Firm classic was contested 22 years ago today. In a six-goal thriller Celtic drew 3-3 with Rangers at Celtic Park. Having won the league the previous season by 18 points, Martin O’Neill’s side headed into the game as heavy favourites. The Hoops had also seen off Lithuanian side Suduva with a 2-0 victory away from home during the week. O’Neill described the draw as a “result that got away.” Celtic squandered the lead once in the match but came from behind twice. Larsson scored twice and Sutton grabbed the other with the first Old Firm derby of the season ending all square.
6 October 1937, Celtic played Sunderland in a friendly at Parkhead. McGrory and Buchan were on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win for Willie Maley’s side in what was a fine exhibition of football. Sunderland had many a link with Scotland in the 1930s. Tommy Cochrane who was in the dugout for The Black Cats had managed St Mirren between 1916-1928. Ironically, he led the Buddies to Scottish Cup final glory over Celtic in the 1925/1926 season. Five starters for Sunderland against the Hoops on this day in 37’ were Scottish.
The most prolific was striker Bobby Gurney who is the all-time scorer for the club having netted 228 times in 388 league appearances. Celtic and Sunderland were united in the 1930s having both experienced tragic incidents. 22 year-old Celtic goalkeeper Johnny Thomson died following an accidental collision with Sam English at Ibrox in 1931. Five years later, a year before the friendly between the two sides, Sunderland had lost young goalkeeper Jimmy Thorpe, also 22 years-old after he was the victim of terrible treatment by Chelsea players. Both players are remembered fondly to the day.
Happy 53rd birthday to former Celtic defender Alan Stubbs. Signing from Bolton Wanderers in July 1996 for £4 million, Stubbs went onto make 101 appearances in the Hoops between 1996-2001. Following a shaky debut season, the Scouser went onto win the league under Wim Jansen’s stewardship in the 1997/1998 season. He partnered Marc Rieper in the defence for majority of the campaign. Most famously, Stubbs scored a last minute equaliser against Rangers in the season that stopped our rivals from clicnhing a 10th consecutive league championship. Historically, some would argue that was the most important goal of Celtic’s first title win since 1988.
Conor Spence
