Celtic on this Day – Pre-Christmas action and a very special future Celt is born

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The Celtic Star

·22 December 2024

Celtic on this Day – Pre-Christmas action and a very special future Celt is born

Celtic on this Day – Pre-Christmas action and a very special future Celt is born…

Celtic goalscorer Brian McClair celebrates as Rangers goalkeeper Peter McCloy watches the ball nestle in the back of his net. Photo The Celtic Wiki

22 December 1984

Celtic 1-1 Rangers. Just like the first derby of the season at Ibrox, nothing could separate the two sides. This Old Firm clash was originally supposed to have been played on 27 October, but Rangers played Dundee United in the Scottish League Cup final at Hampden that day. Brian McClair opened the scoring after a costly error from Peter McCloy – goalkeeping errors would be a theme of the match.

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Despite Pat Bonner saving a Cammy Fraser spot-kick following a disgraceful decision by referee Brian McGinlay to award a penalty, the Irish goalkeeper made a complete mess of Davie Cooper’s equaliser. Failing to properly deal with a basic cross-ball, Bonner and the Celtic defence were in disarray which allowed Cooper to finish from a tight angle and snatch a point for the visitors. The Hoops would remain unbeaten against their rivals in the 1985/1986 season, winning once and drawing on three occasions.

22 December 2012

Scott Brown celebrates during Celtic’s 4-0 win v Ross County on 22 Dec 2012. Photo Big Lens.

Celtic 4-0 Ross County. Performances had been extremely iffy in the league, but November into December seemed to be Celtic’s most consistent period of results in the first-half of the season as they managed to win four straight league games in a row for only the second time of the campaign. It was a second-half rout as Neil Lennon’s side blew the Staggies away courtesy of Scott Brown, a Gary Hooper brace and James Forrest.

With theRangers competing in the Third Division, Celtic went five points clear of Inverness Caledonian Thistle with a game in hand. All eyes were on Celtic’s Champions League exploits after securing Last 16 football thanks to an outstanding group stage campaign.

22 December 1973

Celtic’s Alan Thompson scores against Rangers during the Scottish Premier League match at Ibrox. Photo Imago

Alan Thompson is born. Signing from Aston Villa in 2000 for £2.75 million, Thommo went onto make 227 appearances for Celtic in seven years, scoring 51 goals. The Englishman was an integral part of the Martin O’Neill years including playing his role on the Road to Seville.

Also creating history at the club, Thompson became the first Celtic player to be capped for England whilst playing for the Hoops. Unjustly, it was only one cap, but it was one cap more than many others got. Thompson netted many an important goal between 2000-2007. Two winners against Rangers, and a crucial strike against Barcelona in the UEFA Cup back in 2004.

Alan Thompson scores the winner against Barcelona at Celtic Park – March 2004. Photo IMAGO

The iconic free-kick at Anfield speaks for itself. Possessing a wand of a left foot, Thompson won nine honours whilst at Celtic; four Scottish Premier League championship medals, three Scottish Cup triumphs and he won the Scottish League Cup twice. Speaking after his career, recollecting on his time in Glasgow, he said, “there’s no football place quite like Glasgow, it’s a unique city.” Happy birthday Alan Thompson!

22 December 2018

Mikey Johnston celebrates, photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Celtic 3-0 Dundee. Odsonne Edouard was injured, and Leigh Griffiths was given a break, which meant Celtic had no strikers. Teenager Mikey Johnston was asked to fill the role, and he took his opportunity scoring his second and third senior goals in Celtic colours. On-loan defender Filip Benkovic netted the Hoops’ third with Brendan Rodgers’ side heading to Pittodrie then Ibrox in a buoyant mood.

Regulars in the starting XI at this point of the 2018/2019 season were Anthony Ralston, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Mikey Johnston all who were products of Celtic’s academy setup.

22 December 2021

Callum McGregor of Celtic reacts after a missed opportunity. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

St Mirren 0-0 Celtic. St Mirren asked for their upcoming games against Celtic and theRangers to be postponed after 11 of their players tested positive for COVID-19. The SPFL denied their request, and despite Ange Postecoglou’s side having 31 shots, and 83% possession in the game, they could not break the Buddies down, nor could they put the ball past stand-in St Mirren goalkeeper Dean Lyness who had the performance of his life. Ominously, the Hoops were now six points behind theRangers.

It was bizarre period as COVID had hit Scotland again and with Boxing Day matches going ahead in front of 500 fans, the SPFL then postponed matches thereafter and brought forward the winter break meaning there was no New Year derby between Celtic and theRangers at Paradise. Of course, it evidently proved to work in favour of Celtic who reclaimed the title in May inspired by a defining night on 2 February 2022 against their rivals.

Conor Spence