| Match Pictures | Matches: 1957 – 1958 | 1957-58 Pictures |
Trivia
- And so on to the first game of the 1957-58 season and the opening of Celtic's campaign to retain the Scottish League Cup, won for the first time the previous season.
- During the closed season Celtic had undertaken the tour of America. The most evident new signing was Sammy Wilson on a free from St Mirren. Jock Stein had been appointed Reserve team coach and Bertie Peacock had been appointed first team captain. Stalwart right back Mike Haughney, who had played every game of the previous season had emigrated to the USA.
- John Higgins was absent and out awaiting a consultation with his knee specialist. The knee had flared up again at the time of the first open trial of the season and by the second there was no way that he could play.
- During the closed season Willie Fernie and Eric Smith had both become fathers for the first time.
- The covering of the enclosure at Celtic Park had now been completed and 50,000 people could now watch the game protected from the rain. The ground's full capacity was said to be 100,000.
- Willie Fernie played at right half, a position that had been trialed at the open pre-season trials.
Review
Played in the rain which the supporters getting the chance to utilise the new covered ground. Celtic had to battle against a sharp Airdrie side in which Caven caused Bobby Evans trouble all game. An even first half saw Celtic come out in the second clearly with a flea in their collective ears. Nine minutes elapsed before Celtic's first scored when Collins and McPhail combined. However Airdrie mreplied immediately. Worst still Airdrie went ahead when Duncan beat Meechan twice and crossed for Rankin to head home. That brought out the slow hand claps and jeers from the support. Celtic collectively started to panic and the play degenerated till Collins and Mochan combined for Neil to release a trademark shot. before the end Walker made an error which allowed a bertie Peacock shot to trundle over the line.
| Team | P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts |
| Hibernian | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Celtic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Airdrie | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| East Fife | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Teams
Celtic:
Beattie; Meechan, Fallon; Fernie, Evans, Peacock; Tully, Collins, McPhail, Smith, Mochan .
Scorers: McPhail (54), Mochan (76), Peacock (82)
Airdrieonians:
Walker; Quigley, Shanks; Price, Baillie, Quinn; Rankin, Welsh, Caven, Duncan, McLean.
Scorers: Caven (56), Rankin (62)
Referee: J Mackie (East Kilbride)
Attendance:38,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
