The first three seasons of the 1930s had brought mixed fortunes for Celtic.
Granted, the team had won the Scottish Cup in 1931 and 1933 but the league championship had stayed tantalisingly out of Celtic’s reach, with Rangers (twice) and Motherwell getting their names on the trophy.
Season 1933/34 had started less than promisingly too.
In the period up to the turn of the year, Celtic’s record was P21, W9, D5, L7, F42, A30. They had drawn the first Glasgow Derby contest of the season but frankly, Rangers were in dominant form, comfortably positioned at the head of the table.
As the New Year began, Celtic drew the Ne’erday encounter with the Light Blues, then, on this day in 1934, played host to Kilmarnock, at that point lying just outside the top four.
The Celtic side that day was Kennedy, Hogg, McGonagle, Dawson, McStay, Hughes, A Thomson, McGrory, F O’Donnell, MacDonald, Napier; and they romped to a comfortable 4-1 victory, the goals coming from Charlie Napier, Malcolm MacDonald and, of course, Jimmy McGrory with two.
At right-half for Celtic that day was Danny Dawson, playing in only his second match for the club. He had signed from Larkhall Thistle in the summer of 1932 and had made his debut against Queen’s Park on 30 September 1933. Danny went on to make 20 appearances for the club, scoring 3 goals.
Charlie McGinlay – born on this day in 1926 – made 11 appearances as an inside-forward for Celtic between 1943 and 1946 before moving on to St Johnstone.
Jim Craig
