A few month back while on a Celtic fan's forum, in the middle of a thread about old match reports or something (can't quite recall) the topic somehow got round to the subject of Third Lanark. A few of the posters mentioned a game between Celtic and Thirds around the early to mid 1960s which finished four all at Celtic Park. The general feeling was this was brilliant game. If any of the Thirds fans on this site were at that match I'd like to know what the Third Lanark take was on the game.
Wasn't at the game but without cheating (ie me looking it up in Bert/Bobs book!!) the game was at Celtic Park and Thirds were 4-0 early doors.Pulled it back to 4-3 by half time and grabbed the equiliser in the 2nd half 4-4 final score.
No kidding in this game. Duie to a late train service myself & four pals, arrived 20 minutes late.
It took thew fourth person to convince us on arrival of the score 4-0 Celtic. Divers, Lennox, Turner, and a Brogan penalty doing that damage.
Before the break a patchwork Thirds side, reduced the leeway with three crackers. An Anderson double, and teenager Paddy Buckley, made it close at the interval.
In the 57 minute Johnny Graham equalised and only two glaring misses late on prevented a total Celtic collapse.
I remain convinced by the way that in a Scottish league game, Thirds are the only club to have granbbed a draw, from a four goal deficit at Parkhead.
This game took place on Saturday 14th September, 1963.
I was interested to read abut a 4-4 draw at Parkhead in the League. I can't remember that match at all but I left Glasgow for Melbourne in 1964. I attended a Scottish Cup match at Parkhead with a 4-4 scoreline some time in the early 60s. Thirds were up 3-1 at half-time after a blinding first half. They fell for the old trick of trying to defend what they had and guess what! - it didn't work. The Celts stormed back with 4 straight goals before Thirds got the equaliser at the death. I can't remember the goalscorers. I remember this game quite well because it was the only time I ever went to Parkhead. Yes once was enough. Probably on a par with Ibrox for religious abuse - just as well all HiHi fans were agnostics. From memory Thirds lost the replay 0-3 at Cathkin.
This scoreline of course is famous in HiHi lore from another Cup debacle involvoing St Mirren. After a brave 4-4 game at Love St Thirds lost the replay 0-8 at Cathkin. Apparently St Mirren players were on a bonus that the Thirds directors wouldn't match and the HiHi players played accordingly. The joys of following Thirds. And then there was the 7-4 game against Clyde..etc
Don't know why I haven't found this website before!
I was at school in Glasgow from 1960 to 1964 and saw many Thirds' games, I even invested in a season ticket in 61-62 (15 shillings I think). I saw several of the "classic" games including the 4-4 at Parkhead in the 4th round of the Cup in 1962. A better performance than the previous season when I was at Love Street for the 3-3 (steam hauled from Central in non-non corridor coaches) and Cathkin for the 0-8. I was there for the 6-1 against Hibs but my most vivid memory is of a 1-1 draw against Celtic one evening in January '62.
Cathkin was packed with Celtic fans and the ground erupted in the last minute when they breached Thirds' defence. The cheering had barely subsidised as Thirds went straight up the park, the ball came in from the right and Matt Gray, six inches out got some part of his anatomy to the ball. My school friends and I whipped our red and white scarves (which we had kept well hidden) out, whirled them round our heads once and disappeared down the steps very quickly to get a trolleybus home.
Have been back to Cathkin a couple of times, it's a very strange experience. Pity the trolleybuses no longer run.
