| Match Pictures | Matches: 1959 – 1960 | 1959-60 Pictures |
Trivia
- This was Celtic’s youngest ever side with an average age of 21 years and 113 days.
- There were no fewer than SIX teenagers in the side, with the youngest being John Clark who was 18-years-old. The five 19-year-olds were Fallon, Curran, McNeill, Divers and Conway. The older Lisbon Lions in the side, Auld and Chalmers were 21 and 24 respectively. The Daddy of the team was Mochan who was 32
- MacKay was back fit again having recovered from ‘flu. The same situation applied to Matt McVittie. Bertie Auld was also back in training following his ankle injury. Frank Haffey had still not recovered from his work related injury and was deemed not fit enough for either the first or reserve team.
- Bobby Evans was away with Scotland allowing Billy McNeill to take over at centre half. Likewise Bertie Peacock was playing for Ireland and in came John Clark for his debut.
- John Clark & Billy McNeill played together for the first team together for the first time, a great portent of things to come.
- The Reserves therefore continued with ‘Newman (a John Millar of Ashfield who was on trial)’ in goal against Arbroath Reserves. The rest of the team was Lynch, Kennedy, MacKay, Kurila, crerand, Paton, Colrain, Byrne, McVittie and Mackle. The third team was also in action against Queen’s Park Strollers with a team of Traynor, Thomson, McGonigle, Smith, Connolly, Conroy, McDonach, Henderson, Finlay, Byrne, Kilfirther
- Arbroath had been promoted from the Second Division at the start of the season. Their big success this season was getting to the semi-final of the League Cup.
- Turned out to be Celtic’s biggest win of the 1959/60 season
Review
Celtic went ahead in the sixth minute when Chalmers tucked away a ball. The defense was able to control the Red Lichties attack with ease. Jackson got the second on 35 minutes from a corner. Easson had to retire for Arbroath in the second half but he returned with his head bandaged.
Teams
Arbroath:
Williamson; McLevy, Young; Wright, Fraser, Davidson; Shireffs, Brown, Easson, Hay, Quinn.
Scorers:
Celtic:
Fallon; Curran, Mochan; Smith, McNeill, Clark; Chalmers, Jackson, Conway, Divers, Auld .
Scorers: Chalmers 2 (6, 63), Jackson 2 (35, 83), Conway (53)
Referee: A Crossman (Edinburgh)
Attendance: 9,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
From Celtic FC site Jun 2019
FIRST GAME
October 3, 1959, League, Arbroath 0-5 Celtic, Gayfield Park
This was Celtic’s youngest ever side with an average age of 21 years and 113 days. The team was: John Fallon, John Curran, Neilly Mochan, Eric Smith, Billy McNeill, John Clark, Stevie Chalmers, Mike Jackson, Jim Conway, John Divers and Bertie Auld. It turned out to be Celtic’s biggest win of the 1959/60 season thanks to goals from Chalmers 2, Jackson 2 and Conway. There were no fewer than SIX teenagers in the side, with the youngest being John Clark who was 18-years-old. The five 19-year-olds were Fallon, Curran, McNeill, Divers and Conway. The older Lisbon Lions in the side, Auld and Chalmers were 21 and 24 respectively. The Daddy of the team was Mochan who was 32 while the second oldest was Smith at 26. With Bobby Evans and Bertie Peacock facing each other on international duty that day, the replacement pairing of McNeill and Clark for the first time ever was a portent of things to come.
October 3, 1959, League, Arbroath 0-5 Celtic, Gayfield Park
This was Celtic’s youngest ever side with an average age of 21 years and 113 days. The team was: John Fallon, John Curran, Neilly Mochan, Eric Smith, Billy McNeill, John Clark, Stevie Chalmers, Mike Jackson, Jim Conway, John Divers and Bertie Auld. It turned out to be Celtic’s biggest win of the 1959/60 season thanks to goals from Chalmers 2, Jackson 2 and Conway. There were no fewer than SIX teenagers in the side, with the youngest being John Clark who was 18-years-old. The five 19-year-olds were Fallon, Curran, McNeill, Divers and Conway. The older Lisbon Lions in the side, Auld and Chalmers were 21 and 24 respectively. The Daddy of the team was Mochan who was 32 while the second oldest was Smith at 26. With Bobby Evans and Bertie Peacock facing each other on international duty that day, the replacement pairing of McNeill and Clark for the first time ever was a portent of things to come.