The day Celtic won twice to become Scottish Champions

The day Celtic won twice to become Scottish Champions

Celtic have had many dramatic days to win the league, including the Love Street drama of 1986 and the triumph of Ten Men in 1979…

Ten Men Won the League, 21 May 1979. Celtic 4 Rangers 2. Celtic Champions 1979! Photo The Celtic Wiki

But 110 years ago today (15 April 1916), the Bhoys became champions in very unusual circumstances. They had to play twice in one day to claim this title!

Celtic’s 1916 team. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The 1915–16 league campaign took place during a period of global upheaval. The First World War deeply affected everyday life, and football was no exception. Many players joined the armed forces, and their football earnings were reduced as a result.

Andy McAtee, Celtic FC – Photo The Celtic Wiki

Several Celtic players served in the conflict, including Andy McAtee and Joe Dodds. There were also tragic stories involving some who wore the green-and-white jersey, the most well-known being Peter Johnstone, who lost his life during the war.

Joe Dodds, Celtic FC, Image by Celtic Curio

Other members of the Celtic squad contributed to the war effort at home. Many footballers took on roles in wartime industries; for example, Patsy Gallacher worked in a shipyard, while Alec McNair and Jimmy McMenemy found employment in munitions production.

Celtic’s Napoleon Jimmy McMenemy, image by Celtic Curio for Celtic in the Thirties, available at Celticstarbooks.com

Football competitions also had to adapt. The Scottish Cup was suspended, although league fixtures continued under strict guidelines. This decision was made despite pressure from influential voices who argued that all sporting activity should pause for the duration of the conflict.

Supporters were affected as well. Many fans, including those who followed Celtic, enlisted to serve, sometimes motivated by recruitment displays and military advertisements shown at their home grounds — Celtic Park among them.

Celtic’s Holy Trinity. 1914. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic had secured the 1914 league championship, the final title won in entirely peaceful conditions for six years, and they successfully defended it in 1915. Heading into the 1915–16 season, the team was optimistic about claiming a third consecutive title.

Following an inconsistent opening, Celtic’s form improved, allowing them to rise to the top of the table. By the spring, they held a strong lead, though they still had an outstanding match against Motherwell to complete.

This created a logistical challenge. Regulations limited league fixtures to Saturdays or public holidays, and the available time to complete the schedule was running short.

At one point, Celtic and Motherwell officials did suggest that they could play an evening game during a midweek, but this received a negative response; there w ere concerns that thousands of people would leave work early to go to the game, hurting war efforts.

The eventual solution adopted was surprising: Celtic and Motherwell would both play two league matches each on the same Saturday, something that would not be permitted in modern professional football.

For the Bhoys, the arrangement required home and away fixtures to be fulfilled on that day, whereas the Steelmen were at home for both games.

On 15 April 1916, the first of these games took place at Celtic Park. A large crowd gathered to support the team in a 3.15pm kick-off. Celtic faced Raith Rovers in what was expected to be a comfortable contest, not least given that some of the Raith players were unavailable due to military duty.

Patsy Gallacher, Celtic legend. Image by Celtic Curio

Rovers began playing into a stiff wind, although they acquitted themselves well in the early stages. However, soon the Celts took control. Patsy Gallacher delivered a standout display, scoring three goals and playing a central role in the attack. Joe O’Kane added a brace, and Dodds contributed another goal, sealing a 6–0 victory.

The win was valuable not only for the two league points but also because it pushed Celtic’s season goal total past the Scottish League record set by Falkirk in 1907–08. The team had now scored 104 goals in 34 games — a remarkable tally. And they were not finished yet.

There was minimal time to focus on the first game. After a short break, the players had to make their way from Glasgow to Fir Park in Motherwell. Wartime transport relied on hired vehicles and trains, both of which faced restrictions.

Despite this, the squad completed their journey and prepared for their second match of the day with little opportunity for rest. The Motherwell players also got some rest following their 3-0 loss against Ayr United.

Despite their victory, the Ayr men had reason to be upset. Their officials complained that the crowd for the first fixture was lower than would have usually been the case. This was because fans preferred to attend only one match and so waited for the arrival of Celtic.

The second of the day’s games was an evening fixture with a 6.30pm kick-off time. One poetic post-match report described events thus: “Motherwell’s game with Celtic commenced amid the slanting rays of the setting sun and concluded under pale moonlight.”

Joe Cassidy, Celtic FC. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Although the Celts had played earlier, they approached the fixture at Fir Park with real intent. Joe Cassidy, who was serving in the military, replaced O’Kane in the lineup. Motherwell defended well, but Celtic steadily gained the upper hand.

Johnny Browning scored for Celtic. Scottish Champions winners 1916. Photo The Celtic Wiki

McMenemy struck first, Browning added another goal, and Dodds scored from the penalty spot. The 3–1 victory gave Celtic their second win of the day — and secured something even greater than this.

This meant Dodds has the fairly unique claim to fame of scoring for Celtic in two games in one day.

With four points from the two matches, Celtic ensured they could not be overtaken in the title race. Even though Rangers still had more fixtures remaining, the gap was now insurmountable.mAchieving two league victories on the same day to win the league was unprecedented and remains unmatched at the highest level of British football.

The players who featured in both games occupy a notable place in the club’s history. Gallacher’s hat trick strengthened his legendary status, while McMenemy and Dodds once again showed their value through consistent performances.

The events of 15 April 1916 were part of a wider sequence of strong results. Between November 1915 and April 1917, Celtic went 62 league matches without defeat — a British record that stood for a century until Celtic themselves surpassed it in the 2010s.

The club maintained its impressive form in subsequent seasons, capturing the 1916–17 league title. Celtic also enjoyed wartime success in the Glasgow Cup, Charity Cup, and the 1918 Army and Navy War Fund tournament.

Champions Celtic face a Scottish League XI for the Belgian Relief fund at Hampden in May 1916. Will Quinn is kneeling, front right. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Due to their regular success, Celtic took part in several charity matches intended to raise money for war-related causes. Each year during the conflict, Scotland’s league champions played a Scottish League Select team at Hampden Park in a special fundraising fixture.

Today, the events of that notable day in 1916 remain an important part of Celtic’s heritage. As well as being another league triumph, it shows the club’s ability to deal with challenges beyond those typically found on the football field.

Matthew Marr

Follow Matthew on x @hailhailhistory

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