Celtic Debuts – A story of incredible dramas and occasional misfortunes

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The Celtic Star

·26 de junio de 2025

Celtic Debuts – A story of incredible dramas and occasional misfortunes

Last season saw the return to Scottish football of former Celt Victor Wanyama, who joined Neil Lennon at Dunfermline. To say the least, he had a disastrous debut for the Fifers, being sent off for handball as his team lost.

Match referee Iain Snedden tells Victor Wanyama to leave the field of play after being red carded Ayr United v Dunfermline, Scottishl Championship, Somerset Park, Ayr, 29 March 2025. Photo Garry McHarg, Shutterstock

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Over the years, many Celtic players have had memorable debuts. Sometimes this is for positive reasons, but other times these moments are best forgotten. Let’s tells some of these stories…

When it comes to disastrous debuts in the Hoops, there are no shortage of examples. For some of these players, the debut was an event from which they never recovered. Others went on to earn forgiveness.

Days to forget for Willie Garner and Frank Munro

Perhaps the most infamous Celtic debut came in 1981. Willie Garner was a defender who was recruited from Aberdeen in July of that year.

Willie Garner, Celtic Fc 1981.

Garner made his Celtic bow versus St Mirren in the League Cup in August. The Celts went on to lose 3-1 in this match, which is one reason for it to be a poor debut. However, the main problem for Garner was that he scored two own-goals as part of this!

In the end, he played very few games for the club, and moved on a year later. However, despite this, Garner was a Celtic fan and still says he loved getting the chance to pull on the Hoops.

Another player whose debut was similar to Garner’s experience was Frank Munro. In 1977, the Dundonian defender arrived from Wolves as one of Jock Stein’s final signings.

Like Garner, his debut also came versus St Mirren at Celtic Park. This time however it was a League game in October 1977. Once more, the Celts fell to defeat.

Frank Munro

And again, it was an own-goal from Munro that helped stop Celtic claiming any points. He scored the first of the game, and eventually future Celt Billy Stark made it 2-1, which was the final score.

A day to forget for Munro, although at least he only scored one own-goal!

Continued on the next page…

Bertie Auld sees red for Scotland and Jinky’s nightmare at Kilmarnock

One of Celtic’s most celebrated sons was Bertie Auld. However, his record in debut matches left something to be desired, both at Celtic and elsewhere.

Auld’s first Celtic debut was in October 1957. This involved a trip to Ibrox for a Charity Cup game, with Celtic losing 1-0 to Rangers. Bertie left Parkhead and returned in 1965, and his second Celtic ‘debut’ game was a 2-1 defeat to Hearts.

However, his most notable introduction came not in Celtic’s green but the dark blue of Scotland. In 1959, he made three appearances for Scotland, the only time he played for the national team.

In his first match, the Scots beat the Netherlands 2-1. However, at the end of the match, Bertie was sent off for retaliation. This made him the first ever player to be sent off for Scotland.

This experience of losing debut matches extended to other Lisbon Lions too. Jimmy Johnstone’s Celtic bow came in 1963 in a League match at Rugby Park. Unfortunately for Jinky, his team lost 6-0 to Kilmarnock, a sign of the club’s troubled times. Still, better days lay ahead for him.

Willie Goldie in Goals for Airdrie against Laurie Reilly Hibs Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 05 October 1957.

Willie Goldie’s unique debut for Celtic

One of the more unusual – and unfortunate debuts – involved Willie Goldie in 1960. A goalkeeper, Goldie travelled to watch Celtic play in Airdrie in October 1960.

Although he was a Celtic player, Goldie was not playing and instead went with fans to watch the team. Celtic chairman Bob Kelly – who effectively picked the teams – was impressed at his dedication and asked him to play!

Unfortunately for Goldie, this was not a great day for the Celts. They lost 2-0 and many people blamed the ‘keeper for the Airdrie goals. This ended up being his only first team match for the Celts.

Continued on the next page…

In more recent times, other players have suffered terrible first games. And sometimes it is more than one player who does so.

Celtic’s Roy Keane (C) is seen during the Scottish Cup 3rd round match against Clyde in Glasgow, 08 January 2006. Clyde won 2-1. (Photos GLENN CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images)

Superstar Roy Keane’s falls in the Clyde

In 2006, Roy Keane moved to Celtic Park. Keane was renowned as one of the best midfielders in Europe, having dominated with Manchester United for many years.

His first game was surely a simple matter for the Bhoys, an away tie versus Clyde in the Scottish Cup. Also making his first Celtic appearance that day was Chinese defender Du Wei. Despite expectations of a comfortable win, it proved to be the exact opposite. Celtic lost 2-1 to the lower league Bully Wee, exiting the Scottish Cup and suffering a hugely embarrassing result.

Keane at least was given the chance to again play for the Bhoys. However, this proved to be the one Celtic memory for the Chinese internationalist.

It’s not just players that have often had terrible Celtic baptisms, some managers have suffered this experience too.

Artmedia Bratislava – Gordon Strachan

In 2005, Gordon Strachan was appointed as Celtic boss. He was replacing the hugely popular Martin O’Neill, who was especially renowned for European achievement. Strachan had a lot to live up to – and instead his first competitive match was a crushing 5-0 loss to Artmedia Bratislava.

Despite a second leg fightback, Celtic still exited the Champions League at the qualifying stage. Strachan did at least go to improve in future and twice took the Bhoys to the Last 16 of the Champions League.

Lincoln Red Imps – Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers is another man whose success at Celtic is significant, not least delivering an Invincibles domestic season in 2016-17. However, that campaign started with a shocking loss.

Playing in another Champions League qualifier, Celtic faced Gibraltar side Lincoln Red Imps, a team which included a taxi driver and fireman. Despite this, the Bhoys fell to a 1-0 defeat, dubbed the ‘Shock of Gibraltar’ by some. At least the Celts overturned this in the second leg with a 3-0 win.

Continued on the next page…

Bad debuts can sometimes prove fatal to a player’s hope of long-term Celtic success. However, one man who disproves this idea is one of the finest players in the club’s history.

Henrik Larsson’s dodgy debut

Henrik Larsson arrived at Celtic Park in 1997. Although he had a reasonable reputation, fans were unsure what to expect and had been used to a series of foreign signings that lacked impact. After his first game, hopes were not raised.

Celtic went to Easter Road for a League game in August 1997. Late in the match, with the scores tied at 1-1, Larsson had the ball and gave it away straight to Hibs’ Chic Charnley. His shot from distance made it 2-1 and gave the Edinburgh side the points.

Things didn’t get better when later that month, Larsson scored an own goal against Celtic during a European tie with Tirol Innsbruck. Still, the Bhoys won that game 6-3 and also went on to win the title. And, of course, Henrik’s amazing contribution to Celtic meant all was very much forgiven by the fans.

Just as many Celtic figures have had debuts to forget, other Bhoys can look back with great fondness on their first time as a Celt. There have been numerous entrances that have seen the player becoming an instant hero to the fans.

Continued on the next page…

Arguably the most obvious of these was not just a debut for one player, but in fact the entire team and club.

Celtic’s first game, first goal and first hat-trick

Celtic’s first ever match took place in May 1888, against the side that would become their greatest rivals, Rangers. By full-time, there were numerous reasons to celebrate, and some special memories created for individual players.

Missing Attachment

A 5-2 victory for Celtic over any Rangers is always to be cheered. Furthermore, Neil McCallum wrote his name into Celtic folklore when he scored the first ever goal for the club. And not only that, but Tom Maley – brother of legendary manager Willie Maley – also got the Bhoys’ first hat-trick.

Scoring a hat-trick in your first game for the Bhoys is a great moment – and it’s been done more often than you might think.

David McLean did so in 1907 as Celtic eased past Port Glasgow Athletic in a league match. Tommy McInally emulated this in 1919 when the Bhoys beat Clydebank.

Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi Photo: Jane Barlow

Kyogo Furahashi started with a hat-trick

Five years later, there was another hat-trick as Willie Fleming did the same in a comfortable win over Kilmarnock. And in more recent times, Kyogo Furahashi took home the match ball against Dundee in 2021.

Many other players have found the net on their first Celtic bow, and some of these moments particularly stand out. Just as hat-tricks have happened, so too have double goal celebrations for debutants.

Phil O’Donnell arrived at Celtic Park in 1994 as the club’s then record transfer signing. In his first game in the Hoops, his two goals had given the Celts victory over Partick Thistle at Firhill.

Continued on the next page…

Debut doubles for Ramon Vega and Tony Watt

Despite being a defender, Ramon Vega also managed a first game double as Celtic beat Aberdeen 6-0 in December 2000, and Tony Watt did the same in at Motherwell in 2012.

Even scoring once for the Celtic is a great achievement, and some single debut goals are especially celebrated.

Jorge Cadete debut goal knocked Radio 5 Live commentary off-air

Jorge Cadete’s 1996 introduction was as part of a fantastic 5-0 victory over Aberdeen. Cadete came on as a substitute and scored the fifth goal. So loud was the Celtic Park roar that greeted this that the Radio 5 Live commentary went off-air for a period.

Cadete’s first goal came two minutes after he came onto the park. One Celt took even less time to add his name to the Bhoys’ scoresheet.

Barry Robson’s first touch

Barry Robson signed for the Hoops in 2008. He went on to play a crucial role in that season’s remarkable league comeback which culminated in last day celebrations at Tannadice.

His first game was a League game at Pittodrie in February 2008. In the second half, with Celtic already 4-1 up, he came onto the park and Celtic were awarded a free-kick at the edge of the Aberdeen box. Having been on the park for only seconds – and with his first Celtic touch – he got his first goal.

Jack Aitchison’s ‘youngest player’ debut

For Jack Aitchison, May 2016 was a time never to be forgotten. He became Celtic’s youngest ever player when he came on against Motherwell in the final game of the season.

This was a day of celebration as it was trophy day at Celtic Park. And in a comprehensive 7-0 victory for the Bhoys, Aitchison capped the entire day by scoring when he had only been on the park for a minute.

Double debuts for Bhoys from Dundee Utd

Sometimes it is more than one player that gets to celebrate his debut with a goal. In February 2015, Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven both arrived from Dundee United.

Both men made their Celtic bow in an away game versus Partick Thistle. Mackay-Steven scored after only 43 seconds and Armstrong later got one too in a 3-0 victory.

It’s not just outfield players that can have a memorable debut, so can some goalkeepers too.

Bernard McCreadie played only one game for Celtic, which was a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen in 1957. This gives him a fairly unique claim to fame as surely the only ‘keeper to play competitively for Celtic and never concede a goal.

Stewart Kerr also had a Celtic baptism to remember. In October 1996, he came on for red-carded David Marshall as the Bhoys struggled against Motherwell. In the end, Kerr kept a clean sheet and the Bhoys scored in an injury-time winner to seal victory.

Scott Bain’s Beautiful Sunday debut

Scott Bain may have conceded on his Celtic debut, but he did help the Celts to a memorable victory at Ibrox. He was part of a renowned fixture in March 2018 when ten-man Celtic won 3-2 thanks to an Odsonne Edouard goal. So momentous was this game that Rangers then decided to reduce Celtic’s supporter allocation.

Debuts can often be misleading. Some players perform well before going on to ultimately disappear. Others can start poorly and eventually become huge successes, the case of Henrik Larsson being the prime example.

Still, whether the debut goes well or not, and even if it’s the only appearance a player ever makes in the Hoops, most fans would love to just be able to say they once played for their team.

Although if the match didn’t involve own goals or red cards, then that would be even better!

Matthew Marr

If you want to learn more about Celtic history, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X. You can also take part in a FREE Celtic history walking tour. Visit celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.

Click on cover to order a hardback copy

Matthew’s debut Celtic book titled ‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ was published by Celtic Star Books last year and is available to order HERE. This brilliant book is also available on Amazon Kindle for just £3.49 and includes all photo sections that appear in the hardback edition.

Matthew Marr with his debut Celtic book, Glory to their name, which tells the story of Celtic’s first ever title win. Photo The Celtic Star

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books.