Jim Craig – Billy Connolly’s half time performance

Only one week previously, Celtic had travelled to Lithuania for the first leg of this Champions League qualifier and came away with a comfortable 4-0 victory.

However, the victory had come at a cost.

John Hartson and Henrik Larsson had picked up injuries, so Liam Miller, Shaun Maloney and Jamie Smith were all given starting spots for the return by assistant manager John Robertson, as manager Martin O’Neill was in Finland watching possible opponents HJK Helsinki against MTK Hungaria.

The team on this day in 2003 was Douglas, Balde, Mjallby, Valgaeren, Sylla, Lambert, Miller, Thompson, Smith, Maloney and Sutton.

It was a fairly comfortable romp for Celtic in outfield play but they found it difficult to put the ball in the net. Chris Sutton, Liam Miller and Alan Thompson all had good efforts saved by Kaunas keeper Padimanskas before Celtic scored and it came from an own goal, right back Guildys heading high into the net from a cross by Jamie Smith.

It proved to be the only goal of the game.

NB1.At half-time, Billy Connolly had given an appropriate performance as he presented a cheque to the family of Kaunus striker Audrius Slekys, who had died only three days before the first leg.

NB2When Celtic played Real Socieded in the European Cup of 1982/83, only Pat Bonner was from outside Scotland. In that side listed above against Kaunus, there are players from seven different countries.

John Divers (the second player of that name in Celtic’s history; no relation to the first) was born on this day in 1911. Between 1932 and 1945, Johnny made 197 appearances for Celtic, with 81 goals to his name before going on to have spells with other clubs in Northern Ireland, Scotland and England.

He also had a stint as Chairman of the Players’ Union in 1947.

Johnny Divers died in the Western Infirmary in Glasgow on 8 June 1984 at the age of 73.

Jim Craig

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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