Celtic on this Day – Under a Blood Red Sky, the crowds had gathered in green and white and Celtic score the 100th goal of the season…
8 January 1997
Celtic 6-0 Kilmarnock. Tommy Burns’ side exemplified they were still well in the title race with a fantastic performance against Killie. It had been Celtic’s second big win since a 3-1 defeat at Ibrox to open the calendar year of 1997. In fairness to Killie, they had been hampered with various injury and illness for their visit to Celtic Park subsequently leading to 11 first team players being absent. Jorge Cadete took the match ball home, and McNamara, Weighorst and Hay were also on the scoresheet.
8 January 2002
Alloa 0-5 Celtic. This Scottish Cup third round tie was played at Clyde’s Brockvillie instead of Recreation Park because the SFA deemed it unfit to play the game there given the travelling support Celtic were anticipated to bring. Martin O’Neill played a makeshift side as the Hoops deposed Alloa with relative comfort. Rab Douglas, Joos Valgaeren, Henrik Larsson, Alan Thompson, John Hartson, Paul Lambert, Neil Lennon and Johan Mjallby were all given the weekend off. There were five different scores for the reigning Scottish Cup holders including a first in a Hoops jersey for Mo Sylla; Balde, Weighorst, Maloney, Petta, Sylla. Celtic set up a Scottish Cup fourth round tie versus Kilmarnock.
8 January 1977
Dundee United 1-2 Celtic. This was Celtic’s first game of 1977. Due to heavy snow, games against Motherwell at Fir Park and Rangers at Celtic Park at the turn of the year had been postponed which had a real effect on the table. League positions looked confusing because of the number of postponed games. Subsequently, Celtic tried to arrange a friendly with Southampton to dust off the cobwebs, but nothing was agreed. With several games being postponed, there was talk of extending the season to cope with the backlog of fixtures. The game itself against Dundee United was entertaining. Kenny Dalglish netted a sensational volley after half an hour, but five minutes after the restart, he placed his penalty wide. Tom McAdam equalised for United, but it was Johnny Doyle who clinched the winner for the visitors as he celebrated deliriously with the travelling Celtic support.
8 January 2012
Peterhead 0-3 Celtic. An Anthony Stokes hat-trick booked the Hoops a place in the Scottish Cup fifth round against a hard-working Third Division side in Peterhead. The Blue Toun built temporary stands for the visit of Neil Lennon’s side, and it was a sellout crowd at Balmoor Stadium, breaking a previous attendance record of 3700. It had just been announced that Beram Kayal was out for four months following a challenge with Lee McCulloch which severely damaged Kayal’s foot in the latest Old Firm derby. Celtic were never in doubt against the part-timers but with the several changes Lennon made, it was far from a dazzling display.
8 January 1983
St Mirren 0-1 Celtic. The Buddies played in an unfamiliar all red strip. Celtic wore green socks. Murdo scored Celtic’s 100th goal of the season with a spectacular 20-yard volley into the roof of the net. A strong wind spoiled the match — with Bonner, notably, having continuous trouble at his goal kicks. The ball would just come back towards him due to the gale forced wind.
Conor Spence
