Celtic on this Day – Sir Bob Kelly given standing ovation at Paradise plus Paul Byrne’s memorable goal at Ibrox…
4 January 1964
Celtic 7-0 Falkirk. Newspaper headline reads, “Bairns Given A Spanking,” as a full-strength Celtic ran riot. John Clark, Billy McNeill and Bobby Murdoch were fit again and went straight back into the Celtic team. The Hoops’ first of the afternoon courtesy of Jinky was the most memorable of the seven. Dancing and weaving his way past defenders, Johnstone’s goal typically mesmerised the 16,000 spectators inside Celtic Park. Stevie Chalmers grabbed a hat-trick whilst Yogi Hughes and John Divers’ double contributed to the scoreline. There is much discussion around how many games are played these days — this was Jimmy McGrory’s side’s third match of 1964, and we were only four days into the New Year! A fourth game in a week however didn’t stop Celtic prevailing in their Scottish Premier Division encounter.
4 January 1997
Celtic 5-0 Motherwell. The league was over by this point as Celtic had just been beaten 3-1 from Rangers at Ibrox — meaning the gap at the foot of the table was now 14 points. There had been rumours around this period that Tommy Burns, who was on the hunt for a new striker was looking at Darren Jackson from Hibs. Needless to say, it was an excellent response to the Old Firm defeat. The game against Alex McLeish’s Motherwell was played in front of the lowest crowd of the season, fans just had complete apathy towards the team and this decade. Celtic scored three of their five in the last 15 minutes. Di Canio, Van Hooijdonk and a Cadete double ensured the points whilst Mortin Weighorst grabbed his first goal of the season.
4 January 1969
Celtic 3-1 Dunfermline Athletic. Sir Robert Kelly was given a standing ovation by the fans prior to the game after the award of his knighthood. Jock Stein surprisingly named Jimmy Johnstone as a sub but came on later in the game for Bobby Lennox. Jock Stein expected a response from his side following a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox two days prior. Willie Wallace who had a poor game against Rangers scored after a minute versus the Pars, and scored a second moments later as sleet began to fall. Lennox netted in the second half to extend the scoreline to 3-1. Celtic were due to play AC Milan in March in the European Cup quarter-finals and Milan’s manager Nereo Rocco and assistant Cesare Maldini were on a scouting mission from the main stand.
4 January 1995
Rangers 1-1 Celtic. Tommy Burns’ side travelled to Ibrox having only won six league games since August. Celtic went into the game massive underdogs and with a depleted squad as well, therefore a point was viewed as a positive one. Ian Ferguson opened the scoring, but Paul Byrne’s magnificent volley gave Celtic their all-important equaliser. It would be the Irishman’s last ever goal for Celtic. Burns dedicated the performance to Tony Mowbray who missed the game due to the sad passing of his wife three days earlier.
