Celtic on this Day in 1993 tensions between fans and the board had reached boiling point. “I hope you’re wearing a bullet-proof vest”…
Frank Connor is in the Celtic dug-out after the exit of Liam Brady following the midweek defeat at Perth against St Johnstone. Image via The Celtic Wiki
Kelly and Co, time to go
Demonstrations of ‘Kelly and Co, time to go” rang loud inside and outside of Celtic Park following a 2-1 victory versus Dundee On This Day in 1993. As the Hoops headed into their 11th Scottish Premier Division game of the season having only won once in the first ten league matches, tensions between fans and the board had reached boiling point.
The dismal start to the season culminated in Liam Brady resigning on the cusp of Celtic’s fixture with Dundee after Brady’s side had been beaten 2-1 at McDiarmid Park the game previous.
Pat McGinlay scored the winner for Celtic against Dundee on this day in 1993. Image via The Celtic Wiki
‘Sack The Board’ sentiments ramp up
Friday’s AGM saw the ‘Sack The Board‘ sentiments ramp up. Celtic fans had argued that a consortium’s offer to inject £18m into the club would be the last chance to bring a halt to Rangers’ dominance. Kelly and co had no interest in the offer and attempted to hang on to their roles for dear life in order to protect themselves.
Off the park, Celtic were in a mess. On the pitch, it was just as painful. The Celts would now have to turn to a fourth manager in the space of six years. Players needed stability, and in the 90s, in particularly the early part of the decade, steadiness was neglected.
Frank Connor takes temporary charge
Liam Brady’s departure saw Frank Connor take temporary charge. This would be the first of three games in the dugout for Connor. Despite the barring spell of the 90s, it was home to an unbeaten Celtic manager. He took charge of three games across his short run in the dugout, defeating Dundee, impressively beating Sporting Lisbon 1-0 in the UEFA Cup with his only dropped points coming against Hibs at Easter Road in a 1-1 draw.
Pat McGinlay celebrates scoring goal football Celtic versus Dundee. 9 October 1993. Photo via The Celtic Wiki.
A scunnered 16,994 turned out
A scunnered Celtic support of 16,994 turned out at Celtic Park 31 years to the day. They had watched their side come from behind to win a first home league victory of the 1993/1994 campaign and only the second domestic three points of the season. Tough times indeed.
Furthermore, caretaker manager Frank Connor reflected on the encounter in later years, “Tom McAdam was reserve coach at the time and joined me in taking the first team. We beat Dundee 2-1 in our first match but lost a goal early in the game. I turned to Tam and said, I hope you’re wearing a bullet-proof vest!”
Creaney and McGinlay scored in quick succession
Gerry Creaney and Pat McGinlay scored in quick succession of one another at a Celtic Park bereft of any hope. A daily reminder of how football is a funny game. 31 years on and things have dramatically changed in Glasgow…
Frank Connor’s starting Celtic XI on 9 October 1993 was; Marshall, Gillespie, Boyd, Grant, McNally, Galloway, Byrne, McStay, Creaney, Nicholas, Collins.
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. Photo: The Celtic Star, 2024. Pre-orders opening this afternoon.
