| Match Pictures | Matches: 1956 – 1957 | 1956-57 pictures |
Trivia
- An unchanged side for Celtic. The game was played with floodlights on. This was Celtic's first floodlit League game.
- Bobby Collins had resumed light training on his ankle. Sean Fallon was still recuperating after his knee surgery. Billy McPhail was still recovering from a muscle strain. There was still no news on Jock Stein. In the Celtic reserves John Bonnar started to make waves about a move as he had been without a game for several weeks with Benny McCreadie getting the Reserves goalkeeper gig. John was assured by Mr McGrory that he was still a valued player at Celtic Park. Elsewhere ex-Celtic player John McGrory decided to retire.
- The death of ex-Celt Willie McGonagle was announced on the 20th December. Willie was a left back who played for Celtic between 1926 – 36.
Review
Airdrie were ahead after three minutes when a clever pass from Price was met by McMillan who shot past Beattie. Celtic pulled level after a combined move was finished by Higgins for his first. Airdrie got the jump with a second goal just after when a Baird shot rebounded from an upright and Rankin put away the rebound. All was far from finished as Higgins collected another three goals interspersed with a reply from Ryan to leave it at 4-3 to Celtic at half time. In the 57th minute a Baird shot rebounded from the upright and rolled along the line before being cleared by Haughney. Vince Ryan scored a 30 yard powerhouse – 'mochanesque' . Fernie beat four men before shooting for his first and Celtic's sixth and he finished it two minutes later with a further goal.
Teams
Airdrie:
Goldie; Kilmarnock, Shanks; Price, Quigley, Slingsby; Rankin, McMillan, Baird, McNeil, McCulloch.
Scorers: McMillan (4), Rankin (14), McNeil (30)
Celtic:
Beattie; Haughney, Meechan; Evans, Jack, Peacock; Higgins, Ryan, Mochan, Fernie, Tully.
Scorers: Higgins 4 (11, 17, 29, 42), Ryan (71), Fernie 2 (75, 77)
Referee: T Wharton (Glasgow)
Attendance: 16,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
"John Higgins is improving every game. What a wonderful sense of position he has."
Manager Jimmy McGrory to the Evening Times correspondent after the game.
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times 22/12/56
