Three months later, Celtic returned to Dunfermline, this time to open the second East End Park. On 19 August 1903, they played another friendly. This time, it ended 5-1 to the Glasgow men. It actually could have been more than five but torrential rain meant full-time was called 20 minutes early.
Post-match reports praised Dunfermline’s new ground, and also the new strips that the home team were wearing. In fact, August 1903 was also the month in which Celtic first wore their now famous green-and-white hoops.
St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Hampden Park has been an important location in Celtic’s history. In fact, there have been three Hampden Parks. In 1903, Queen’s Park moved to the third – and current – one. In October of that year, Celtic were the first team to play at the venue, but they lost 1-0 to Queen’s Park in a League game.
This was far from Celtic’s only Hampden story in the ground’s opening season. In April 1904, Celtic beat Rangers 3-2 to win the Scottish Cup, a match which created the infamous ‘Old Firm’ label.
Celtic – Scottish Cup winners 1904. Jimmy Quinn is the Celtic Hero
It was very much a day of firsts, being the first Scottish Cup Final at the current Hampden, witnessed Celtic’s first Scottish Cup Final hat-trick – scored by Jimmy Quinn – and was the first trophy claimed by the Bhoys when wearing green-and-white hoops.
Another story which is not about an entire stadium took place in 1912. That year, Celtic went to Kilbowie in Clydebank. On 30 August 1912, the Bhoys played Clydebank Juniors to open the ground’s new pavilion. Celtic won 2-1 that night.
Twenty years later – in 1932 – Celtic made an east coast journey to open a Junior ground. Dundee side East Craigie had moved to a new home, called Craigie Park. The ground was officially opened by Lord Kinnaird, a football legend who played in nine FA Cup Finals, still a record to this day. 7500 fans were attracted to this friendly match and they saw the west coast team win 3-1.
Two other venues that were opened by Celtic had a Rangers connection, one of which would be considered to be an unusual event.
On 20 August 1935, Rangers and Celtic left their southside and east end homes to go to Springburn in the north of Glasgow. Their destination was Petershill Park, home of Petershill. The two teams had agreed to play a friendly as the official opening event for the ground, a match in which the Ibrox men ended up as 3-1 winners.
The following year, Celtic and Rangers players were once again on the same pitch – but this time they were on the same side! In 1936, Glasgow University opened new recreation grounds in Garscadden. In the first game, a joint Celtic and Rangers played the Glasgow University team. It ended 7-1 to the ‘Old Firm’ side.
