The clocks are back and it’s Halloween on Tuesday, a time we’ve come to associate with ghosts and goblins, witches and monsters, and a host of other scary things including of course zombies.
But what’s been the Celtic match which most gives our supporters nightmares? What has been the worst game in Celtic’s history? Here’s a selection of ten infamous Celts’ moments. Is one of these the worst, or do you have your own Celtic terror?
Long before ‘Super Caley went ballistic’, the early Celts suffered their own Scottish Cup horror show. By the late-1890s, Celtic were a dominant side in Scotland, having won everything there was to win. When they were drawn to play Junior side Arthurlie in the Scottish Cup, it was expected to be a routine victory.
But before the match, problems arose. A players’ strike left Celtic with only seven first team players, and so reserves had to be drafted in. When the match – played at Dunterlie Park in Barrhead – started, the home men had some hopes of causing an upset.
Henry McIlveney scored for Celtic
They took the lead and even a Celtic equaliser couldn’t hurt them. By half-time, the score read 2-1 to Arthurlie. It would soon be a lot worse. Twenty minutes into the second half, it was 4-1, and a late Celtic goal did nothing to change the overall result of 4-2. The outcome caused a seismic shock in Scottish football. Indeed, some historians have described it as Celtic’s worst ever result. The only blessing for Celtic fans is that no-one old enough to have witnessed it is still alive!
Continued on the next page…
Continue reading...
But what’s been the Celtic match which most gives our supporters nightmares? What has been the worst game in Celtic’s history? Here’s a selection of ten infamous Celts’ moments. Is one of these the worst, or do you have your own Celtic terror?
1. ARTHURLIE 4-2 CELTIC – 9 January 1897
Long before ‘Super Caley went ballistic’, the early Celts suffered their own Scottish Cup horror show. By the late-1890s, Celtic were a dominant side in Scotland, having won everything there was to win. When they were drawn to play Junior side Arthurlie in the Scottish Cup, it was expected to be a routine victory.
But before the match, problems arose. A players’ strike left Celtic with only seven first team players, and so reserves had to be drafted in. When the match – played at Dunterlie Park in Barrhead – started, the home men had some hopes of causing an upset.
Henry McIlveney scored for Celtic
They took the lead and even a Celtic equaliser couldn’t hurt them. By half-time, the score read 2-1 to Arthurlie. It would soon be a lot worse. Twenty minutes into the second half, it was 4-1, and a late Celtic goal did nothing to change the overall result of 4-2. The outcome caused a seismic shock in Scottish football. Indeed, some historians have described it as Celtic’s worst ever result. The only blessing for Celtic fans is that no-one old enough to have witnessed it is still alive!
Continued on the next page…
Continue reading...
