Celtic On This Day – 29th March – David Potter’s Celtic Diary

SATURDAY 29 MARCH 1919 – A severe blow to the much improving Celtic team as they travel to St Mirren and lose 0-I in the Victory Cup which is taking the place of the Scottish Cup this season. Jimmy McMenemy is missing for Celtic and that is a big loss, for Napoleon makes all the difference.

SATURDAY 29 MARCH 1947 – The first official season after the Second World War has been little short of disastrous for Celtic, but now there are at least a few signs that the awful winter of this year is receding as Celtic travel to Rugby Park, Kilmarnock and win 2-1 with goals from Tommy Kiernan and Gerry McAloon.

SATURDAY 29 MARCH 1958 – On one of the worst days imaginable with persistent torrential rain, only 5,000 are huddled together at Dens Park to see Celtic lose 3-5 to a Dundee side struggling to avoid relegation. Bobby Evans measures his length in the mud at an early stage, but in spite of the conditions, it is not a bad game of football with Bobby Collins scoring a penalty kick and Matt McVittie and Sammy Wilson scoring Celtic’s goals.

SATURDAY 29 MARCH 1969 – 24,000 cram into Love Street, Paisley to see Celtic take another step towards the League Championship with a good 3-0 win over St Mirren, the goals being scored by Harry Hood (who was making his first team debut), John Hughes and Jim Craig. Tonight Lulu who was brought up near Celtic Park wins the Eurovision Song Contest tonight with “Boom Bang A Bang, Bang”, but, curiously, the award is shared with three other contestants. No-one has ever thought of a “penalty sing out” or anything like that!

SATURDAY 29 MARCH 1986 – Kilbowie Park, Clydebank was the scene of a 5-0 win for Celtic today. Brian McClair scored a hat trick (but two of them were penalties) and Tommy Burns and Alan McInally scored the others. Hearts beat Rangers 3-1 today, which means that they stay at the top of the League.

David Potter