| Match Pictures | Matches: 1956 – 1957 | 1956-57 pictures |
Trivia
- Snow fell over Scotland on Boxing Day but was all gone by the time this game was played at Easter Road.
- John Higgins, following his four goal exhibition against Airdrie, was absent from the team having taken yet another knock to the knee. Eric Smith came in at outside right.
- Bob Shankly (brother of Bill who would go on to manage Liverpool) resigned as manager of Falkirk stating that he felt he had lost the confidence of the players and the Board.
- The Reserves played Hibs Reserves at Celtic Park losing 2-3; the team was McCreadie; Goldie, Kennedy; MacKay, Donnelly, White; Junior(? – probably Markie who was a trialist from Pumpherston Utd), McPhail, Harper, Sharkey, Tomlinson.
Review
An excellent game by all accounts. Celtic started well with Ryan firing just over and at the other end Beattie had to punch over the bar from a Nicol lob. Beattie made a triple save from Ormond and Fraser and Hibs were looking dangerous whenever they attacked. Celtic's own play was quick but less composed. Celtic were lucky when Meechan knocked the ball back to his goalkeeper and Beattie could only parry the ball onto the post. Fraser headed the first goal for Hibs from a Turnbull corner, and next minute he hit the crossbar. Celtic's reply came from a Ryan free kick which was missed by Wren in the Hibs goal.
The lights were on for the second half. Ryan continued where he left off and made an excellent run and shot which grazed the outside of the post. Hibs also wanted the points and Beattie had to be sharp to save an Ormond shot. Celtic had to defend steadfastly but were also ready to break whenever possible. Hibs second goal came when Beattie muffed a goal kick out and the ball went to Reilly before Thomson headed home. Back came Celtic and Smith and Mochan scored in quick succession to put the Bhoys in the lead. But the away win was not to be, and eight minutes from time Reilly equalised for Hibs.
At the turn of the year the League table looked like this. Celtic had climbed back from 4th from the bottom to seventh following good results through November and December.
| Team | Postn | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
| Hearts | 1 | 17 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 46 | 31 | 28 |
| Motherwell | 2 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 43 | 26 | 23 |
| Rangers | 3 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 44 | 26 | 21 |
| Raith Rovers | 4 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 43 | 28 | 21 |
| Dundee | 5 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 28 | 18 | 19 |
| Kilmarnock | 6 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 23 | 19 |
| Celtic | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 29 | 16 | 18 |
Teams
Hibernian:
Wren; Grant, Paterson; Nicol, Plenderleith, Hughes; Fraser, Turnbull, Reilly, Thomson, Ormond.
Scorers: Fraser (25), Thomson (3), Reilly (81)
Celtic:
Beattie; Haughney, Meechan; Evans, Jack, Peacock; Smith, Ryan, Mochan, Fernie, Tully.
Scorers: Ryan (44), Smith (71), Mochan (72)
Referee: J S Devine (Aberdeen)
Attendance: 31,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Glasgow Herald 31/12/56
