Roy Keane and Ramon Vega sign, Anthony Ralston Celtic hero in Dingwall

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The Celtic Star

·15 December 2024

Roy Keane and Ramon Vega sign, Anthony Ralston Celtic hero in Dingwall

Celtic on this Day – Roy Keane and Ramon Vega sign, Anthony Ralston is the hero up in Dingwall with his 95th minute winner! The scenes…

Roy Keane attends a press conference to announce his signing for Glasgow Celtic on December 15, 2005. (Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)

15 December 2005

Roy Keane, manager Gordon Strachan and Chief Executive Peter Lawwell attend a press conference to announce Keane’s signing for Glasgow Celtic on December 15, 2005.(Photo by Alan Peebles/Getty Images)

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19 years ago today, Roy Keane signed for Celtic. Lasting six months at his self-proclaimed boyhood club, Keane picked up a Scottish Premier League title and a Scottish League Cup which would be his last ever honour in his career as he announced his retirement from professional football in June 2006.

Keane’s highlight for the Hoops undoubtedly came at Ibrox in his first Old Firm derby in February 2006 where he completely bossed it in the middle of the pitch. Gordon Strachan’s men won the match 1-0 courtesy of Macej Zurawski’s early strike.

Dado Prso of Rangers tackles Roy Keane of Celtic during the Scottish Premier League match between Rangers and Celtic at Ibrox Stadium on February 12, 2006 . (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

However, Keane’s debut for Celtic was a memorable one – but for all the wrong reasons. Scottish First Division side Clyde defeated Celtic 2-1 in the third round of the Scottish Cup, a loss that is still brought up many years on. In his autobiography published in 2014, Keane recollected the embarrassing scoreline against Clyde, “my first game was Clyde, away, in the third round of the Scottish Cup. We were beaten 2-1. It was a nightmare. I wasn’t happy with my own game. I did OK, but OK wasn’t good enough.

Roy Keane of Celtic during his debut match in the Scotish Cup third round against Clyde (Photo GLENN CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images)

“After the game – the disappointment. As I was taking my jersey off, I noticed the Nike tag was still on it. When I got on the bus John Hartson, a really good guy, was already sitting there and he was eating a packet of crisps – with a fizzy drink.

I said to myself: ‘Welcome to Hell.”

15 December 2011

13 years ago today, Udinese 1-1 Celtic. Despite exiting the Europa League group stages in an incredibly tough section consisting of Atletico Madrid, Udinese and Rennes, Celtic went out with a spirited display in Italy.

Gary Hooper scored for Celtic in the Europa League game in Italy that ended Udinese 1-1 Celtic on 15 December 2011. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Neil Lennon’s men had given a good account of themselves finishing third in the group, just three points behind their opponents of their final outing in the traditional six-game format. Udinese had been joint top of Serie A at the time of playing Celtic with frontman Antonio Di Natale dominating headlines in Italy as a new golden boy.

At the other end of the pitch, Udinese had conceded only two goals in the Italian fop-flight therefore it was going to be a tough ask for Celtic on the night. Fraser Forster produced another outstanding display in goals.

Celtic celebrations after Gary Hooper scored in the Europa League game in Italy that ended Udinese 1-1 Celtic on 15 December 2011. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The game gathered no attraction in Italy, and the Europa League seemed to accumulate little interest from spectators. The same can be said for attendances at Celtic Park during this period. Celtic had taken a surprising lead through Gary Hooper, but Di Natale’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time was a hammer blow. Full focus shifted on the league, and catching a vulnerable Rangers side.

15 December 1984

Hibs 0-1 Celtic. This was Davie Hay’s side’s third away match on the trot having travelled to Aberdeen in a 4-2 defeat at Pittodrie, then down to Manchester for the rearranged European Cup Winners Cup tie with Rapid Vienna at Old Trafford, followed by Hibs at Easter Road.

Frank McGarvey in action at Easter Road in Celtic’s 1-0 win against Hibs on 15 December 1984. Photo The Celtic Wiki (Hibs played in their traditional first team kit and so did Celtic with the Hoops wearing YELLOW socks)

Hay was under pressure due to a few sore losses. It was a moment of magic from Judas late on which finally beat a resilient Alan Rough sealing a much-needed victory for the Hoops. Celtic supporters at Easter Road seemed to take more interest in news coming from the radio that Rangers’ Cammy Fraser was giving his own fans the ‘V’ sign after scoring at Ibrox.

15 December 2000

Ramon Vega signs for Celtic on loan from Spurs. The late David Potter in his Player of the Day feature on The Celtic Star had this to say about Ramon.

Ramon Vega was a Swiss internationalist who had a very short stay at Celtic Park, but it was an eventful one. He arrived in mid-winter 2000/01, Martin O’Neill’s first season, impressed in his debut against Aberdeen on 16 December when the team won 6-0 and Vega scored twice! It was all the more surprising because he was a defender!

18 March 2001: Henrik Larsson (left) and Ramon Vega (celebrate victory after the League Cup Final win over Kilmarnock Celtic won the match 3-0. Photo: Jamie McDonald /Allsport

From then on, he never lost his place as Celtic finished off a truly great season winning a treble and playing some remarkably good football. The main focus was of course Henrik Larsson, but Vega was a solid defender, and played well in the League Cup final against Kilmarnock and the Scottish Cup final against Hibs.

Vega lost only two games, and both of these were meaningless games after the League was won.

26 May 2001: Celtic duo Ramon Vega (left) and Paul Lambert celebrate their Tennents Scottish cup final win against Hibernian at Hampden Park, Celtic won the game 3 – 0. Photo Michael Steele /Allsport

And then with three medals in his pocket and playing in front of a capacity crowd of 60,000 every week, Vega, who had only been a loan player, was offered an extra season by Celtic, but suddenly announced that he would prefer to join Watford!

It was a decision that defied any sort of logical explanation, and remains a mystery to this day. What on earth got into him? Tell us, Ramon!

7 Apr 2001: Celtic players Henrik Larsson (left) and Ramon Vega celebrate winning the league after the Scottish Premier League game against St Mirren at Celtic Park Celtic won the game 1 – 0. Photo: Tom Shaw /Allsport

15 December 2021

15 December 2021; Victoria Park, Dingwall, Ross County versus Celtic; Anthony Ralston celebrates after he heads the winner for Celtic in the 97th minute making it 2-1 to Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou

Tony Ralston heads home a winner in the 96th minute at Dingwall to beat Ross County in a thrilling encounter, and to send Celtic’s fans home happy. Earlier, Liel Abada had put Celtic ahead, but Ross County had equalised. Celtic are still behind in the League race, but as a commentator tellingly put it, “these moments make Champions”.

Hopefully this time next year we’re looking back on another fine Celtic victory on 15 December 2024!

COYBIG

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Thirties

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

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