It’s hard to imagine, but there was a time when football was played on Christmas Day in Scotland
(Image: SNS Group)
To contemporary eyes, it may seem strange, but Christmas is a relatively ‘new’ festivity in Scotland. The impact of the Reformation extended well into the 20th century, with most people forgoing Christmas celebrations in favour of New Year’s festivities.
It wasn’t until 1958 that Christmas Day was declared a holiday in Scotland, and it took until the 1970s and even the ’80s for it to overtake Hogmanay as the primary winter celebration.
In fact, not too long ago, football matches were held on Christmas Day in Scotland. This tradition continued until 1976. Billy Stark holds the distinction of scoring the last goal in Scotland on Christmas Day, a late equaliser for St Mirren against Clydebank.
On the same day, Alloa’s Gordon Forrest scored the final ever Christmas winner with his goal against Cowdenbeath. While these two matches are the last fixtures on Christmas Day, it had already been five years since there was a full card.
And December 25, 1971, marked the last time Rangers and Celtic played on Christmas Day, reports the Scottish Daily Express. It was a day filled with inter-city rivalry as Rangers journeyed to Edinburgh to face Hibs, while Hearts made the opposite trip to Parkhead.
The Hibs team that Rangers encountered that day was one of the finest in the club’s history. Under the management of Eddie Turnbull, the squad, known as ‘Turnbull’s Tornadoes’, would go on to finish level on points with Rangers in the league that season and reach the Scottish Cup final.
However, on this Christmas Day, they were unable to break through the formidable defence of legendary Ibrox goalkeeper Peter McCloy, who had an exceptional game. In the final minute, Rangers clinched all three points when Colin Stein headed a goal from a Tommy McLean corner, sending the 25,145 Light Blues supporters in the crowd into a frenzy.
Stein, who joined from Hibs in 1968, netted 97 goals for Rangers across two stints, including one in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final victory over Dinamo Moscow later that season.
Colin Stein scored 97 goals for Rangers after joining from Hibs in 1968(Image: Daily Record/Mirrorpix via Getty Images)
After a period at Coventry City, he returned to Ibrox in 1975. His header against Hibs at Easter Road secured the title that year, marking Rangers’ first in 11 years.
He also holds the unique record of being the last Rangers player to score on Christmas Day, likely setting an ‘unbreakable’ record in the process.
Meanwhile, in Glasgow, Celtic and Hearts were engaged in a thrilling match as goals from Harry Hood and Jimmy Johnstone put the Hoops in the lead. Hood then assisted the third goal, with his cross being converted by Dixie Deans.
This goal was one of 124 for the Hoops during a period that saw Deans, who passed away earlier this month, win three league trophies, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup.
He is the last Celtic player to score on Christmas Day, although Jim Brown’s late consolation goal means he holds the distinction of being the last person to score against Celtic on Christmas Day. The Parkhead team would go on to secure the league and cup double that season.
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