| Match Pictures | Matches: 1960 – 1961 | 1960-1961 Pictures |
Trivia
- This match is (in)famous for one of the most bizarre player selections in Celtic's history.
- Willie Goldie had not originally been selected for the side but was spotted by his team-mates walking to the ground as a spectator with his Celtic scarf wrapped around his neck. He was picked up by the team coach, and so impressed was chairman Robert Kelly with Willie’s keenness in following the team that he bizarrely decided to play him in the first team.
- Willie was said to be at fault for Airdrie's two first half goals and never played for the Bhoys again.
- Apparently: "Goldie gave away the goals like free soap coupons".
- Apart from the goalkeeping change above Celtic played the same side that had lost the Glasgow Cup final with Divers and Chalmers swapping sides. Airdrie were unbeaten at home. Celtic had yet to record a win home or away.
- Bertie Peacock was selected for the Ireland team to face England at Windsor Park, Belfast on October 8th.
- Outside of football, go ahead was finally given for the building of a £22million car production plant at Linwood. This would bring 5,500 jobs to the area. the plant run by Rootes would go on to build the Hillman Imp.
Review
The game started well with Goldie making saves and Celtic having chances at the other end. But on the quarter hour Jim Sharkey took a short corner and Duncan fired over the cross which rebounded from the post and Caven headed home.
On 20 minutes the referee collapsed but after attention was able to continue. Goldie just clasped a shot from a position on his knees.
Celtic were still getting chances but were unable to score. Just on the interval Storrie scored with a header that Goldie mishandled. 2-0 at half time.
The loss dropped Celtic to third from bottom of the table
Teams
Airdrie:
Leslie; Shanks, Keenan; Stewart, Johnstone, McNeill; Sharkey, Storrie, Caven, Rankin, Duncan.
Scorers: Caven (14), Storrie (44)
Celtic:
Goldie; MacKay, Kennedy; Crerand, McNeill, Peacock; Carroll, Divers, Mochan, Chalmers, Byrne.
Scorers:
Referee: W D Massie (Dundee)
Attendance: 12,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
(from Bertie Auld biog via CQN)
Bob Kelly’s influence on team selection was emphasised one afternoon on 1 October, 1960, as our team bus was wending its merry way to Broomfield, the quaint home of Airdrie Football Club. The chairman recognised one of the Celtic supporters, bedecked in a huge woolly green-and-white scarf, walking towards the same destination. ‘That’s one of our reserve goalies, isn’t it?’ asked Kelly. It was, indeed, an individual called Willie Goldie, and Kelly ordered the bus to be stopped. Goldie was invited on board and he didn’t only get a lift to Broomfield, he also played! Kelly was so impressed with his commitment to Celtic that Goldie suddenly found himself in goal. John Fallon, who had been in position for the previous four league games, was dropped. Just like that. Celtic duly lost 2-0. By the way, Goldie got plenty of opportunities after that to support the club from the terracings – he never played in the first team again! Actually, I owe him a big thank-you for helping restore me to the first team. I missed the game against Airdrie with Alec Byrne playing outside-left, but I returned for the next match and scored two goals in a 4-2 victory over St.Mirren.