1st January – Five Memorable Celtic Moments on New Year’s Day

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The Celtic Star

·1 January 2026

1st January – Five Memorable Celtic Moments on New Year’s Day

Five memorable Celtic moments, with a nod to the late Celtic Historian and Celtic Star legend David Potter, on this day starting on New Year’s Day 1912…

Jimmy Quinn, Celtic FC, photo The Celtic Wiki

ONE – MONDAY 1st JANUARY 1912 – The latter part of 1911 has not seen Celtic at their best, as Maley’s great team is now ageing and he is trying hard to build another. But it is old faithful Jimmy Quinn who once again shows just why he is considered to be the best centre forward in the business. Today 1912 is welcomed in with a hat-trick from the shy man from Croy as Celtic beat Rangers 3-0 at Parkhead.

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Johnny Browning scored twice

TWO – THURSDAY 1st JANUARY 1914 – Celtic begin the last year of peace with an excellent 4-0 over Rangers at Parkhead before 75,000. Johnny Browning scores twice, Sunny Jim Young another but the highlight is the tremendous goal scored from long distance by Jimmy McMenemy.

Joe Cassidy scored twice as Celtic win at Ibrox

THREE – SATURDAY 1st JANUARY 1921 – 70,000 see Joe Cassidy score twice at Ibrox as Celtic defeated Rangers 2-0. The second goal is a dummy by Tommy McInally whose cry of “Joe!” is heard even in the stand as he jumps over the ball. Contemporary reports give vivid accounts of the Celtic Brake Clubs returning home from Ibrox with colours flying, bugles blowing and songs being sung.

John Divers scored twice

FOUR – SATURDAY 1st JANUARY 1938 – This game is quoted as hosting Parkhead’s record crowd. Some books say 92,000 but the evidence is shaky and 83,500 seems a more likely figure. It is of little importance however for Celtic beat Rangers 3-0 with two goals from John Divers and one from Malky MacDonald.

FIVE – SATURDAY 1st JANUARY 1983 – The new Ibrox stadium is very impressive, but Celtic retain the edge over their rivals this season with a 2-1 win over Rangers, the goals coming from Paul McStay and Charlie Nicholas. Nicholas’s goal as he transferred the ball from one foot to the other before crashing home looking particularly spectacular.

Happy New Year from everyone at The Celtic Star!

Celtic in the Thirties – Both Volumes Half in the Celtic Star Books January Sale…

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books. ORDER NOW!

Both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are now available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special dedication to your copies please let us know. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click on the links below…

Click to order Volume One

Click to order Volume Two