Clydebank Football Club has had an up-and-down existence. They were admitted to the Second Division of the Scottish Football League in 1914-15 and lasted only one season. Then they came back in 1917 and over the next 14 years, had spells in both the First Division and Second Divisions, eventually resigning from the League altogether in 1931.
In the early 1960s, the owners of East Stirlingshire FC decided to amalgamate with Clydebank Juniors and ES Clydebank was ready to begin playing for the start of the 1964-65 season at New Kilbowie Park.
Unfortunately, the amalgamation did not last for long. The Shire went back to Falkirk and the ‘new’ Bankies’ continued under their own steam.
On this day in 1986, Celtic made the fairly short trip to Clydebank, where they were due to face The Bankies in a league match at Kilbowie that was played in front of a crowd of 7,969.
The Hoops were lying in fourth place in the table with 34 points – behind Hearts, Dundee Utd and Aberdeen – while Clydebank were rock bottom with only 16, so it looked a good opportunity for Celtic to pick up another two crucial points.
The home side was Bonner, McGrain, Whyte, Aitken, O’Leary, McLeod, McClair, McStay, Johnston, Burns, Archdeacon ; the attendance was a measly 8,000; and they witnessed a goalless first-half although Pat Bonner made a couple of outstanding saves to keep the Celtic slate clean. The goals all came in the second half –
49 minutes….Brain McClair brought down. Took the kick himself. 1-0 Celtic
55 minutes… Derek Whyte set up the chance; McClair raced on to it. 2-0 Celtic
58 minutes….a solo effort from Tommy Burns, scoring from just inside the box. 3-0 Celtic
68 minutes….another penalty; another for McClair. 4-0 Celtic
80 minutes….this time sub Alan McInally – a sub for Owen Archdeacon – made the score-sheet. 5-0 Celtic
These were vital points for Celtic. In their previous four matches, they had drawn 4-4 with Rangers and 1-1 with Dundee Utd in the league; were put out of the Scottish Cup after a 3-4 defeat at the hands of Hibs at Easter Road; and had drawn 1-1 with Hearts in the league at Celtic Park.
There were groans among the Celtic support at full time when the news was announced that Rangers had been beaten 3-1 by Hearts at Tynecastle. Some had obviously hoped that the Ibrox side would have done Celtic a favour but it was not to be.
Celtic would live to fight another day.
Jim Craig
Gimme Five! Celtic’s first ever Scottish Cup semi-final v Rangers
