| Match Pictures | Matches: 1958 – 1959 | 1958–1959 Pictures |
Trivia
- Celtic were invited to provide the opposition in this benefit match for the Lanarkshire Association Fund for Spastic Children on 1st November. Manchester United had been pencilled in to provide the opposition but their schedule proved too hectic and they had to withdraw. Celtic stepped in as they were wont to do for most charitable causes. The game was a floodlit game and the charity benefited to the tune of £2100. Eric Smith in the absence of Bertie Peacock was captain on the night.
- With an average age of the team at 20 this was a young side, something that the management stated they intended to play throughout the season in what they saw as a transition period.
- A silver trophy was presented at the end of the game which both sides held for six months each.
- Malcolm Slater, Celtic's outside right had just been signed on amateur forms. He had previously been training at Ibrox whilst in the Army. Celtic also signed Tommy Mackle, an outside left, from Johnstone Burgh – both Everton and Newcastle Utd were hoping to sign him.
- Charlie Tully's book 'Passed to You' was published.
- The announcement was made that the government had decided to build a new strip steel mill at Ravenscraig.
- The Berlin airlift began.
Review
A great game of skill and enthusiasm from the report played in an excellent spirit for a worthy cause.
Celtic took the lead early Colrain scoring from a cut back from Slater.
In the second half Motherwell pressurised Celtic and this led to Kennedy giving a loose pass back which Ian St John latched onto to score.
Only four players out of both teams were over 23 – a mark of the change in Scottish football with many teams going for new youth.
Teams
Motherwell:
H Weir; McSeveney, Stewart; Aitken, Martis, Forrest; A Weir, Reid, St John, Quinn, Hunter.
Scorers: St John
Celtic:
Beattie; MacKay, Kennedy; Crerand, McNeill, Smith; Slater, McVittie, Conway, Colrain, Auld.
Scorers: Colrain
Referee: R Rodger (Stonehouse)
Attendance: 17,400
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
- Match Pictures
