The 1888–89 season was the first season of football by Celtic, a football club set up the previous year in Glasgow, Scotland, with the purpose of alleviating poverty in the Irish–Scots population in the city's East End area. They competed in the Scottish Cup, Glasgow Exhibition Cup, Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup, Glasgow Cup and Glasgow North Eastern Cup, as well as over forty friendly matches.
Their first ever match was a friendly against fellow Glasgow team Rangers at the original Celtic Park on 27 May 1888 which Celtic won 5-2 in front of almost 2,000 spectators. Their first competitive match was a 1-1 draw with Abercorn in the 1888 Glasgow Exhibition Cup.
Celtic ended their first ever Scottish Cup entry as runners-up, as they lost the final 1-2 to Third Lanark at the original Hampden Park. Celtic lost the original final 3-0, but the SFA voided the result due to the poor conditions and the unplayable nature of the pitch through snow. The match was ordered to be replayed the following week, on 9 February 1889, where Third Lanark won again with a 2–1 victory.
The Glasgow club won their first ever competition that season as they defeated Cowlairs 6-1 in the 1889 Glasgow North Eastern Cup final at Barrowfield Park on 10 May 1889.
Results and fixtures
Pre-season and friendlies
Glasgow Cup
Glasgow Exhibition Cup
Scottish Cup
Glasgow North Eastern Cup
Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup
Squad
Team statistics Overall
See also List of Celtic F.C. seasons
References