On this day 46 years ago – A draw at Firhill then a new Bhoy arrives | OneFootball

On Saturday 9th February 1980 Celtic made the short trip to Maryhill to take on Partick Thistle at Firhill on Premier League duty…

It also happens to be the very day I took my first breath in this mortal coil, so it’s a game that will always have a special place in my heart, even though it would a be few hours after full-time before I entered the world!

Celtic went into the game as league leaders, with Billy McNeill as manager, while fellow Celtic legend and Lisbon Lion teammate Bertie Auld was occupying the home dugout.

The Celtic side boasted legendary names such as Danny McGrain, Bobby Lennox, Roy Aitken and Murdo McLeod.

In the run up to the game, the Celtic skipper Danny McGrain had been awarded his well deserved testimonial which was to take place six months later, with Manchester United being chosen as the opposition. Danny had also recently been included in the Scotland squad for the upcoming European Championship clash with Portugal as were his Celtic teammates Roy Aitken and Davie Provan, with Murdo MacLeod and George McCluskey selected for the under 21s.

The game itself would take place in atrocious winter conditions, in front of 17,000 spectators who braved the continuous heavy rain which lasted throughout the entire ninety minutes hindering the surface, one that could only be described as a mud bath.

Ironically the week previously saw Celtic’s home clash with St Mirren postponed due to heavy snowfall, once again highlighting the usually dreadful Scottish winter weather.

Despite the elements, both sides that Saturday afternoon at Firhill made it a decent spectacle, in a game that also saw the use of a ball with a broad red stripe, a rare sight in Scotland but common place in England at the time.

Both sides created several chances, more so Celtic, who were denied on several occasions by Jags and Scotland number one Alan Rough, which included a 65th minute spot kick save from the usually reliable Murdo MacLeod.

Rough was helpless ten minutes later when Murdo made amends by scoring a superb trademark volley following a corner kick. With just a quarter of the game remaining, Celtic looked assured of the two points, but Jags striker Jim Melrose had other ideas as he scored with a minute of regulation time remaining to earn the home side a share of the spoils. Too main drawn matches would be something the Hoops would end up regretting that season, allowing Aberdeen to claim the title against the odds.

Ultimately Celtic only had themselves to blame but there was some glory for Celtic at Hampden three months  later.

At Firhill on the day I was born the Celtic team at Firhill was as follows:

Celtic XI. Peter Latchford, Allan Sneddon, Danny McGrain, Roy Aitken, Roddy McDonald, Tom McAdam, Davie Provan, Dom Sullivan, (Mike Conroy) Bobby Lennox, Murdo MacLeod and Johnny Doyle. Substitute not used George McCluskey.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr. Click on image to order

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