THE FAN ON THE PITCH

Imagine setting off for the game, Celtic scarf around your neck and then you end up on the pitch making your debut for your team! Be careful what you wish for, though, as that’s what happened to Willie Goldie on October 1, 1960 but it didn’t end well. With Celtic on the team bus travelling to a game at Airdrie, the reserve keeper was spotted by his team-mates as he made his way to the game. He was invited on to the bus and chairman, Bob Kelly was so taken with this reserve keeper in his Celtic scarf that he immediately dropped John Fallon and put Goldie in goal. The board were known for their interference in team matters and some really abstract decisions, but this one took the biscuit. Goldie was at fault for both goals in the 2-0 defeat to his former club and Celtic went third bottom of the table – he never played for the first team again.

MAN AND BHOY

There have been many instances of members of the same family playing for Celtic from famous ones such as the McStays to some not so well-known and included in that there have been a number of fathers and sons such as the McNamaras and the Gallachers among others. There is only one father and son goalkeeping connection and that distinction goes to the Marshalls. Gordon Marshall Snr (below) was already a well-experienced keeper when he arrived at Celtic in 1971, having played for Hearts, Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Hibernian. However, aside from a Drybrough Cup outing, he only played one game, a 2-1 defeat to B1903 Copenhagen in the European Cup in Denmark. Gordon Jnr, however, made 136 appearances between the sticks for Celtic after signing from Falkirk in 1991. Defender, Scott Marshall, also a son of Gordon Snr, similarly played for Celtic in 1999

Jeepers Keepers: A look at the history of Celtic goalies – Part One