Celtic had started the 1981/82 league campaign in convincing fashion by winning the first three matches, against Airdrie (5-2; H), Aberdeen (3-1; A) and Morton (2-1; H). On this day in 1981, Celtic travelled across the city to Ibrox for the first of the season’s clashes with the Light Blues and a crowd of 40,900 was there to watch.
It was a big day for Rangers, as they opened their new £4million pound stand but when it came to the football, they were frankly never in the game and Celtic dominated the play.
The goals came early and late, Tom MacAdam in 11 minutes and Murdo MacLeod in 86 but in-between, every Celtic player rose to the challenge and never allowed their opponents the space or time to perform.
Teams;-
Rangers; McCloy, Jardine, Forsyth, Stevens, Dawson, Miller, Bett, Redford, Cooper, Johnstone, Johnston.
Celtic; Bonner, McGrain, Aitken, MacAdam, Reid, Sullivan, MacLeod, Burns, Provan, McGarvey, McCluskey
Many Happy Returns to three ex-Celts, Pat McMahon, George McCluskey and Jackie McNamara Snr.
Jim Craig
Matt Corr provided more detail on this match and indeed Celtic’s start to that season earlier this week on The Celtic Star – you can catch up here and also watch the video of the goals from that game at Ibrox which had Celtic fans in THREE of their stands!…see HERE.
