| Match Pictures | Matches:1935 – 1936 | 1935 Pictures |
Trivia
- Possibly the key victory that in retrospect set Celtic up on the road to win the league title for first time in 10years.
- Aberdeen were at the time the league leaders, and had earlier defeated Celtic in the league season.
- Severe frost was responsible for the cancellation of several matches on Saturday but most games were played in the First and Second Divisions. Result of day was the defeat of Aberdeen away to Celtic, their closest rivals in the League. Celtic had to fight hard for their victory, and were indebted to the enterprise of Jimmy McGrory. The centre forward got three goals, and thereby passed the late Hughie Ferguson's record of 364 goals in senior football. McGrory's total is now 366, which probably constitutes a record for the world.
- "Jock" McGrory's feat was reported all over the world (See Montreal Gazette clip below).
- It was in this game at Celtic Park that McGrory scored the famous diving header the famous photograph of which is widely used and appreciated.
- Frost and fog combined to make the English Football League programme eight matches short, on Saturday. In the, First Division, Arsenal v. Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City v Huddersfield Town were postponed; in Division Two, Blackpool v Newcastle United and Bury v Manchester United could not be played.
- Playing all this week in Green’s Playhouse is a “U” Certificate film starring Alice Brady and Douglas Montgomery entitled “Gay Lady”. Supporting feature is “Hop-A-Long Cassidy” with William Boyd and Jimmy Ellison.
Review
"As a football-daft boy in short pants, I stood on the bitterly cold terracing at Parkhead to watch Celtic play Aberdeen. Within seven minutes [McGrory] was on equal terms with Ferguson's [record]. He charged at a Morrison free kick, keeper Smith left his goal and Jimmy crashed it in. Then came the goal I say was his greatest; the one indelibly printed on my mind. Frank Murphy sent over a cross and he was the first to admit it was not one of his best. It seemed impossible to get to for any mortal . . . except the immortal McGrory. In a throwback to a trapeze act, McGrory, a human torpedo in the air, body at full stretch and parallel with the bone-hard ground, headed the ball into the net. There was a silence as though a giant blanket had been thrown over Parkhead. Then came a roar of acclaim to greet the goal that has never been surpassed. [It was] the impossible made possible by a genius." Jim Rodger (Daily Mirror).
Teams
CELTIC:
Kennaway, Hogg, McGonagle, Morrison, Lyon, Paterson, Fagan, Buchan, McGrory, Crum, Murphy.
Scorers:
McGrory, (3); Buchan, Murphy.
ABERDEEN:
Smith, Cooper, McGill, Fraser, Falloon, Thomson, Warnock, McKenzie, Armstrong, Mills, Lang.
Scorers:
Warnock, (2); Armstrong.
Referee: J. Thomson (Hamilton).
Attendance: 40,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
The Scotsman – Monday, 23rd December 1935, page 4
CELTIC DEFEAT LEAGUE LEADERS
ABERDEEN'S PLUCKY FIGHT
Aberdeen lost a chance to consolidate their position at the top of the First, Division table when they fell to Celtic at Parkhead, Glasgow.
Played on a sand-covered pitch, the pace was always hard, and the football was of a remarkably, high standard in the circumstances. Celtic won the valuable points by five goals to three, but that did not represent their superiority, although, it could not be denied that they played well for their victory.
Aberdeen also gave a good display however and at the end of a hard-fought match it would not have been unfair to either side if the honours had been shared.
The Glasgow club were mainly indebted to a sound defence, and to the opportunism and dash of McGrory, their centre-forward. By scoring three goals, McGrory passed Hugh Ferguson's record of 364 goals in senior football, and he also had the satisfaction of knowing that his efforts gave his side the decision.
It was the centre who gave Celtic the lead, regained it after Aberdeen had equalised, and then scored a goal after the interval that might have discouraged a side who did not possess the spirit and determination of Aberdeen.
McGonagle was another man who contributed much towards the win. His coolness and resource at back were a valuable asset, and if he did not always get the better of Warnock and McKenzie, his powers of recovery made any error in positioning seem trifling.
Kennaway, as against Dunfermline Athletic the previous week, made several remarkable saves, but generally there was little between the defenders, who played their part nobly against a fast and clever attack.
Apart from McGrory, Murphy and Crum showed some of their best form among the home forwards, whose skill in the outfield was matched by their ability to take advantage of any opportunity near goal.
The Aberdeen side too delighted the spectators with clever movements, but they were perhaps just a trifle too intricate, and a slight hesitancy in shooting was a common failing.
In the first half the visiting attack appeared rather nervous but, strangely enough, when they were three goals in arrears they played with confidence and dash. Indeed Celtic must have been rather relieved when the final whistle blew for it was in the closing minutes that the Aberdeen men made their most dangerous and spectacular raids.
Although well watched by Lyon, Armstrong gave one of his best displays, his enterprise and enthusiasm giving the home defenders any amount of trouble. Warnock met with no little success against McGonagle, and Lang's speed and craft on the wing more than once transferred play to the Celtic end.
Aberdeen were the first to settle, but it was Celtic who got the opening goal when, after seven minutes the ball rebounded from a defender's legs, and McGrory whipped it into the net. It was rather an easy goal but more skill was seen when Aberdeen secured the equaliser. Warnock neatly caught Lyon and McGonagle on the wrong foot, positioned himself, and shot hard to the net.
Celtic, however, nullified that score a minute or two later when Murphy crossed the ball and McGrory headed beautifully into the net. Then, just before the interval, Buchan sent the ball weakly goalwards, Smith failed to gather it, and the inside man scored from the rebound.
Shortly after the restart, McGrory headed through his third goal, but in a sharp counter Aberdeen reduced the arrears when Armstrong got a well-deserved score.
Ten minutes from the end Murphy drove the ball past Smith, and, although they made desperate attempts in the last few minutes, Aberdeen only got one more goal, Warnock being the scorer.
