Or the day we won the league. Having blown the chance to win the title at Tynecastle the previous week, the Celtic players were determined to clinch the league championship in front of their home fans. The official crowd for the match was around 60,000 but in truth there was probably nearer 80,000 crammed onto the terracing that day. Goals from Chris Morris and an Andy Walker brace helped take the roof off the stadium, and the Celtic fans threw in a pitch invasion as well.
Thursday, 11 January 2007
Celtic 2 Hearts 1 - 9th April 1988, Scottish Cup SF
Ask any Celtic fan who was around at the time of their abiding memories of the Centenary Season and the chances are this game will feature highly. Picture the scene. Scottish Cup Semi final against a Hearts team who were second place in the league and who Celtic had struggled to beat all season. Brian Whittaker puts the Jambos ahead and, with only 3 minutes remaining, Celtic's dream of a league and cup double looks to be dead in the water. The rest, as the cliche goes, is history.
This game spawned the popular terrace chant of "Henry! Henry! drop the ball! Henry! drop the ball!", something the unfortunate Henry Smith will probably have ringing in his ears on his death bed.
This game spawned the popular terrace chant of "Henry! Henry! drop the ball! Henry! drop the ball!", something the unfortunate Henry Smith will probably have ringing in his ears on his death bed.
Partick Thistle 0 Celtic 3 - 12th March 1988, Scottish Cup QF
Celtic's reward for their 4th round win over Hibs was this trip to sunny Firhill to face First division relegation candidates Partick Thistle. Thisle, however, gave Celtic a sterner test than most expected. In the end, Celtic ran out 3-0 winner through goals from Andy Walker, Tommy Burns and Billy Stark, with all three goals being created by Frank McAvennie. Burns goal, in particular, was a belter!
The semi final draw saw Celtic paired against Hearts.
The semi final draw saw Celtic paired against Hearts.
Hibs 0 Celtic 2 - 2nd April 1988
Celtic's superb form in the first two months of 1988 was carried through March - conceding only one goal in five games that produced nine points out of ten. As a result, the Hoops enjoyed a 7 point lead over Rangers with only six games remaining. Hearts were a further point behind. Celtic's 1-0 win at Pittodrie three days before this fixture had ended any lingering hopes Aberdeen had of winning the league.
Goals from Peter Grant and Andy Walker gave Celtic yet another two points. A Hearts win at Ibrox would push the Tynecastle club up into second place above Rangers, leaving Celtic just 3 points away from clinching the title.
Goals from Peter Grant and Andy Walker gave Celtic yet another two points. A Hearts win at Ibrox would push the Tynecastle club up into second place above Rangers, leaving Celtic just 3 points away from clinching the title.
Celtic 2 Falkirk 0 - 5th March 1988
The early months of 1998 saw a relentless surge towards the title from Billy McNeill's team. Seven league games produced six victories and a draw - the single blemish being a 1-1 draw against St Mirren at Love Street. When Falkirk arrived at Celtic Park in early March, Celtic had a comfortable six point lead over Rangers in the league (two points for a win back then, for all you youngsters reading!), with Aberdeen and Hearts a further 2 points back.
Celtic saw out a fairly comfortable victory, thanks to goals from Andy Walker and Mark McGhee. The game is most notable for the ordering off of Mick McCarthy - the irishman guilty of landing a right hook on Falkirks Hen Broon impressionist Crawford Baptie. No, that isn't a made up name.
Celtic saw out a fairly comfortable victory, thanks to goals from Andy Walker and Mark McGhee. The game is most notable for the ordering off of Mick McCarthy - the irishman guilty of landing a right hook on Falkirks Hen Broon impressionist Crawford Baptie. No, that isn't a made up name.
Hibs 0 Celtic 1 - 24th February 1988 Scottish Cup 4th Round Replay
After a narrow 1-0 victory over 2nd Division strugglers Stranraer in the 3rd Round, Celtic were drawn against Mid-table Hibs. A goalless draw at Celtic Park led to this Easter Road replay, with Celtic running out 1-0 winners. A Billy Stark header was enough to seperate the sides - a typical Stark goal, ghosting into the box and latching onto a rebound. The Quarter Final draw saw Celtic pulled out of the hat alongside first division Partick Thistle.
Celtic 2 Rangers 0 - 2nd January 1988
By the time Rangers came-a-first-footing on January 2nd, the Ibrox club were still fourth in the league, 5 points behind their Old Firm rivals with one game in hand. Aberdeen had leapfrogged Hearts into second place, just two points back, with Hearts a further point adrift.
Celtic had a chance to put some clear water between themselves and Rangers, and it was a chance they took. A Frank McAvennie double gave Celtic all three points - the first a beautiful sweeping move brilliantly created by Paul McStay's defence splitting pass; the second, a powerful header past a despairing Graham Roberts - finishing his second succesive Glasgow Derby as a makeshift Goalkeeping replacement for Chris Woods, who had been taken off injured earlier in the game. Results elsewhere went Celtic's way, with both Aberdeen and Hearts managing only to draw.
Celtic had a chance to put some clear water between themselves and Rangers, and it was a chance they took. A Frank McAvennie double gave Celtic all three points - the first a beautiful sweeping move brilliantly created by Paul McStay's defence splitting pass; the second, a powerful header past a despairing Graham Roberts - finishing his second succesive Glasgow Derby as a makeshift Goalkeeping replacement for Chris Woods, who had been taken off injured earlier in the game. Results elsewhere went Celtic's way, with both Aberdeen and Hearts managing only to draw.
Celtic 2 Hearts 2 - 12th December 1987
On 28th November, a 1-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road had moved Celtic into top spot on the back of five straight victories. By the time Hearts came visiting in this fixture, they were a single point back in second place, with Aberdeen 3 points back, and Rangers 6 behind. What followed was a performance that epitomised Billy McNeill's Celtic in the Centenary season.
With a first half goal from John Robertson giving the Tynecastle men the lead, it looked like Celtics stay at the top of the league might be short. This was made even more likely when future Celt Mike Galloway double Hearts lead with only 12 minutes remaining. But Celtic had a real fighting spirit about them, and with only 8 minutes left on the clock Andy Walker pulled one back from the Penalty spot (albeit a rather dubious penalty). The comeback was made complete with just seconds to spare - Paul McStay firing in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box to give Celtic a share of the points. Hearts were shocked. Unfortunately for them, they weren't to learn the lesson that you could never write off this Celtic side.
With a first half goal from John Robertson giving the Tynecastle men the lead, it looked like Celtics stay at the top of the league might be short. This was made even more likely when future Celt Mike Galloway double Hearts lead with only 12 minutes remaining. But Celtic had a real fighting spirit about them, and with only 8 minutes left on the clock Andy Walker pulled one back from the Penalty spot (albeit a rather dubious penalty). The comeback was made complete with just seconds to spare - Paul McStay firing in an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box to give Celtic a share of the points. Hearts were shocked. Unfortunately for them, they weren't to learn the lesson that you could never write off this Celtic side.
Aberdeen 0 Celtic 1 - 31st October 1987
The 2-2 draw at Ibrox in the second Old Firm game of the season was followed by a dissappointing 2-1 home defeat to Dundee Utd that left Celtic 3 points behind Hearts at the top of the table. However, it would be the last defeat for Billy McNeill's team for six months - 26 league games, 31 in all competitions, would pass before the Hoops would lose another game.
The first game on that run was a 3-2 home win against Falkirk. The second was this tough fixture at Pittodrie against 3rd placed Aberdeen. This short clip shows Frank McAvennie nipping in to score the only goal of the game, keeping Celtic 3 points behind Hearts and 4 ahead of Rangers.
The first game on that run was a 3-2 home win against Falkirk. The second was this tough fixture at Pittodrie against 3rd placed Aberdeen. This short clip shows Frank McAvennie nipping in to score the only goal of the game, keeping Celtic 3 points behind Hearts and 4 ahead of Rangers.
Rangers 2 Celtic 2 - 17th October 1987
By the time the 2nd Old Firm game of the season came about it was Hearts who were setting the pace at the top of the league - Celtic having won two and drawn two of their 4 games since drawing with Aberdeen at Celtic Park. Going into the game, Rangers were still 4 points behind Celtic, 6 behind Hearts.
The game itself would become notorious due to a bust up between Frank McAvennie, Chris Woods and Terry Butcher, with all three being sent off. The incident would eventually end up in the courts, with McAvennie being cleared of any wrongdoing. Celtics goals that day came from Andy Walker and Peter Grant. The clip contains only these two goals, but does include Peter Grant doing an Artur Boruc 20 years too early.
With Hibs beating Hearts in the Edinburgh derby, Celtic would move to within a point of the top of the league.
The game itself would become notorious due to a bust up between Frank McAvennie, Chris Woods and Terry Butcher, with all three being sent off. The incident would eventually end up in the courts, with McAvennie being cleared of any wrongdoing. Celtics goals that day came from Andy Walker and Peter Grant. The clip contains only these two goals, but does include Peter Grant doing an Artur Boruc 20 years too early.
With Hibs beating Hearts in the Edinburgh derby, Celtic would move to within a point of the top of the league.
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