| Match Pictures | Matches: 1939 – 1940 | 1939-40 Pictures |
Trivia
- On the outbreak of the war Celtic player Jimmy Birrel had returned to Fife to be a miner, and was on loan to East Fife. He soon went on to score five goals for East Fife v Stenhousemuir on this same day as Celtic lost to Third Lanark at home. Possibly a tough one to stomach for the management who had to watch this game.
- There are detailed match reports of the home games of Queen’s Park, Rangers, St. Bernard’s, Hearts, of a Glasgow Schoolboy match, rugby matches and even a friendly rugby match, a women’s hockey match, a charity snooker game, horse riding, etc., but not unusually there is no Celtic match report in Monday’s Glasgow Herald and only the briefest and scathing mention of the bhoys in the “round-up”, which wonders when the “long delayed Celtic revival” will come, as the team goes from “bad to worse”.[below]
- Leaders of one million native South African’s swear allegiance to King George and support for the war against Germany.
- The German pocket battleship Graf Spee was scuttled on Hitler’s orders off the Uruguayan coast after it sought refuge in Montevideo following naval engagement with ships of the Royal Navy.
Review
Teams
CELTIC:
Scorers:
Divers.
THIRD LANARK:
Scorers:
Blair, Dewar.
Referee:
Attendance:
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Links
Articles
The Glasgow Herald – December 18, 1939
AN INTRIGUING FOOTBALL PROSPECT
Rangers May Take Unbeaten Record to Parkhead on New Year’s Day
VARIABLE FORM IN THE WEST
Albion Rovers have fallen by the way; Hamilton Academicals and Morton, in that order, remain with the chance to win fame by being the first club to defeat Rangers in Regional football before the League Champions engage Celtic in the time-honoured New Year’s Day match.
There is the keenest speculation as to whether the long-delayed Celtic revival will materialise then.
Meanwhile, Rangers continue triumphant at the top of the West section, and Celtic go from bad to worse. The latter’s latest conquerors, Third Lanark, led by goals from Blair and Dewar until close on time, when Divers brought his side a crumb of comfort.
The Scotsman, Monday 18 December.
Western Regional League.
Clubs away from home did well in this section. Third Lanark were amongst those successful – at the expense of luckless Celtic.
The Parkhead team of to-day, although apparently still strong, are far removed from tradition.
Once again their feckless forward play was responsible for defeat by a very ordinary side.