LISBON LION Bertie Auld was the astute midfield mastermind who combined with Bobby Murdoch to propel Celtic towards glory in the sixties.
CQN are celebrating the life and incredible times of the club legend in an EXCLUSIVE series with extracts from his best-selling autobiography, ‘A Bhoy Called Bertie’, co-authored by his friend and writer Alex Gordon.
The remarkable life story continues with Bertie reminiscing about the silverware victory he rated as crucial to kick off the spectacular Jock Stein era.
“I have always been adamant about the fact I believe Celtic’s 1965 win over Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup Final was the most important victory of that era.
“Yes, even more important than the European Cup. One came before the other and the triumph over the Fifers that day at Hampden showed we were a team that could once again win trophies.
ONE…Bertie Auld heads in the first equaliser in the Scottish Cup Final in 1965.
TWO…Bertie Auld makes it 2-2 with a right-foot drive past the helpless Jim Herriot.
THREE…Billy McNeill outjumps team-mate Bobby Lennox to thump in a header for the Scottish Cup winner.
“Remember, Celtic hadn’t won anything for eight years. It was a long time in the doldrums. I just missed out playing in the famous 7-1 League Cup walloping of Rangers which had been our last success.
“In between that win and the Scottish Cup victory, I had spent four years in England with Birmingham City.
“I came back in January 1965 and, thankfully, managed to play my part three months later in the Dunfermline game with two goals before Billy McNeill headed in that wondeful winner.
“That win was a massive breakthrough. Celtic had played in Cup Finals over that eight-year period, but had finished up as losers.
“They were beaten by Dunfermline, then managed by Jock Stein, would you believe, in the 1961 replay when the East End Park side were rank outsiders.
IN CONTROL…Bertie Auld on the ball, as usual.
“Rangers beat us in a Scottish Cup Final replay two years later and the also turned us over in a League Cup Final around that time.
“Celtic had forgotten how to become winners. The Dunfermline victory was massive. It gave the players confidence, it emphasised they could be winners. It was a real breakthrough for everyone around the place.
“We won the league the following year for the first time since 1954 and look what happened the year after that. We did the clean sweep in Scotland and also became the first UK team to win the European Cup that extraordinary day in Lisbon on May 25.
“For me, though, that all stemmed from the Scottish Cup victory over Dunfermline. That was the launch pad.”
TOMORROW: DON’T MISS THE UNFORGETTABLE BERTIE AULD: PART ELEVEN
