Celtic on this Day – Dramatic European nights in Paradise, Birthday Bhoy Jackie McNamara

The Celtic Star

·24 October 2024

Celtic on this Day – Dramatic European nights in Paradise, Birthday Bhoy Jackie McNamara

Celtic on this Day enjoyed a European win over Lazio but lost out to Valencia, big Greenock Morten was the Celtic hero in Perth and its former Celtic captain Jackie McNamara’s birthday…

Christopher Jullien celebrates after scoring Celtic’s second goal during the UEFA Europa League match between Celtic FC and Lazio at Celtic Park on October 24, 2019. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Celtic 2-1 Lazio, 24 October 2019

On this day 5 years ago, Celtic 2-1 Lazio. Rory Hamilton’s poetic commentary of “the Glaswegian Coliseum erupting,” as Christopher Jullien rose highest above every player in the box to bullet home a last-minute winner against Lazio was spine-tingling.

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Neil Lennon’s side became the first Scottish club since Gordon Strachan’s team back in 2007 versus Champions League holders AC Milan to beat an Italian opponent. Ryan Christie, the scorer of Celtic’s equaliser, became the first Celt to both score and assist in a European game since Paul McGowan versus Rapid Vienna in December 2009.

UEFA Europa League group E match between Celtic FC and Lazio Roma at Celtic Park on October 24, 2019 . (Photo by Marco Rosi/Getty Images)

Famously, after the Lazio home encounter, Italian fascist politician Alessandra Mussolini, granddaughter of Benito Mussolini, laughably called on UEFA to prosecute the Green Brigade and Celtic following various anti-fascist messaging from Hoops supporters that night. Memorably, Celtic would go onto top a European group stage table for the first ever time. Back-to-back victories against Biancocelesti went a long way ensuring Lennon’s side creating history.

Celtic 2-2 Valencia – 24 October 1962

Celtic v Valencia 24 October 1962. Verdu, on the ground, has just put into his own net to put Celtic into the lead. Photo The Celtic Wiki

62 years to the day, Celtic featured in their first ever European game at home. 45,000 spectators curiously turned out to watch the Hoops face Valencia in Glasgow’s East End in the Inter Fairs Cup first round 2nd leg.

The Spaniards had run out 4-2 winners the week prior at the Mestalla and were looking to finish the job in Scotland. When Jimmy McGrory’s side were awarded a penalty after 17 minutes, the Hoops had the chance to pile on the pressure. Disappointingly, John Clark missed from the spot.

Bobby Craig, former Third Lanark, Sheffield Wednesday, and Blackburn Rovers inside forward made his competitive debut after signing on the day of the match for £15,000. Absent though, were duo Billy McNeill and Jim Kennedy who had picked up injuries.

An own goal put Celtic ahead just after half-time, but Valencia recovered. They led 2-1 in the game until Pat Crerand consolation with five minutes remaining levelled the scoreline on the night.

Pat Crerand makes it Celtic 2 Valencia 2 on 24 October 1962. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Valenica went onto win the Inter Fairs Cup beating Dinamo Zagreb 4-1 on aggregate in the final of the 1962/1963 competition. On their way to winning it, they had also knocked out Dunfermline, and Hibs. Effectively, Valencia’s second European trophy triumph was a Scottish Cup win.

St Johnstone 1-2 Celtic – 24 October 1999

Morten Wieghorst scores the late winner against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on 24 October 1999. Photo The Celtic Wiki

24 October 1999, St Johnstone 1-2 Celtic. Three days prior to this league fixture 25 years ago, Henrik Larsson had broken his leg in the Hoops 1-0 defeat against Lyon in the UEFA Cup. It was revealed Henrik would miss the rest of the season.

Furthermore, a debate arose around who would be Celtic’s starting striker following the Swede’s prolonged absence. John Barnes opted to start both Mark Burchill and Mark Viduka as a pair.

However, it would be Morten Wieghorst who would be the hero at McDiarmid Park after a controversial last minute winner. Linesman Bob Gunn deemed the ball to be over the line, much to the frustration of St Johnstone’s players who angrily surrounded referee Hugh Dallas following the conclusion of the match.

Happy birthday to former Celtic captain Jackie McNamara

Jackie McNamara and Henrik Larsson celebrates with the trophy after winning the 119th Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Dunfermline on May 22, 2004. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Happy birthday to former Celtic captain Jackie McNamara. Featuring 253 times in the green and white hoops over 10 successful years, McNamara became a cult hero during his time at Parkhead. Arriving from Dunfermline in 1995, Celtic were in a transition period, but McNamara settled into life seamlessly and quickly became a fans favourite.

He finished on 10 major honours with the Hoops which included four league titles, three Scottish Cup’s and three Scottish League Cup’s. Notably, despite no silverware in the famous 2002/2003 campaign, McNamara featured heavily throughout Martin O’Neill’s sides run to Seville.

Conor Spence

Celtic FC team line up during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League match between Atalanta BC and Celtic FC at Stadio di Bergamo on October 23, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)