* CELTIC picked up their 100th trophy in their history when they beat Aberdeen 3-0 in the Betfred League Cup Final at Hampden on November 27, 2016. Tom Rogic, James Forrest and Moussa Dembele (pen) were the marksmen. It was also Brendan Rodgers’ first piece of silverware as Hoops boss.
* THE Celtic Centurians line-up against the Dons last year was: Craig Gordon; Mikael Lustig, Jozo Simunovic, Erik Sviatchenko, Emilio Izaguirre; Scott Brown, Tom Rogic (sub: Callum McGregor); Patrick Roberts (sub: Nir Bitton), Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest (sub: Leigh Griffiths); Moussa Dembele.
* CELTIC have won the trophy 16 times. They are bidding to retain it for the first time since 2000/01. They won it five years in a row under Jock Stein in the sixties.
* THIS will be the first League Cup Final meeting between Celtic and Motherwell. There have been 17 previous encounters in other rounds in the competition, including the 1986/87 semi-final when the Hoops won on penalty-kicks after a 2-2 draw. The Parkhead side also triumphed 2-1 in the last-four clash in 2005/06. Brendan Rodgers’ men won 5-0 in the second round of last season’s tournament with goals from Moussa Dembele (2), Tom Rogic (2) and Scott Sinclair.
* MOTHERWELL’S solitary League Cup triumph was in 1950/51 when George Stevenson’s side upset the odds to beat Hibs 3-0. Well were runners-up to Hearts a few years later and their only other Final appearance was in 2004/05 – David Partridge scored their goal in a 5-1 loss to Rangers.
* CELTIC kicked off the competition with a 5-0 win over Kilmarnock at Parkhead where captain-for-the-night Kieran Tierney walloped in a memorable 40-yard effort past Jamie MacDonald. Dundee were dumped 4-0 in the quarter-final at Dens Park, with James Forrest claiming a double. Mikael Lustig and Moussa Dembele both scored twice in the 4-2 semi-final triumph over Neil Lennon’s Hibs.
* MOTHERWELL’S Group F campaign began at Hampden with a 5-1 win over Queen’s Park. They then overcame Morton (4-0), Edinburgh City (2-1) and Berwick Rangers (1-0) to top Group F. Stephen Robinson’s side knocked out Ross County 3-2 after extra-time in Dingwall in the last 16 then hammered Aberdeen 3-0 at Fir Park in the quarter-final. A Louis Moult double earned them a 2-0 victory over Sevco Rangers in the semi-final at Hampden on October 22.
* CELTIC have not lost to Scottish opposition in a UK record of 64 games.
* THIS will be the first meeting of the teams this season and will be the first of a triple bill. The sides clash again in the Premiership at Fir Park on Wednesday then meet again at Parkhead on Saturday.
LISBON LION Jim Craig is the very special guest on the new CQN Podcast – out now!
Jim releases his new book, Right Back to 67, The Lisbon Lion Diary next week and we are pretty confident that this will be regarded as one of the classic Celtic books of all time.
There has been so much written about 1967 in some very fine books to-date but nothing like this. Jim kept a diary of his time at Celtic and in Right Back to 67 he is able to provide the authentic, inside story. It really is too good to miss.
SIGNED COPY!
You can order the book now from CQNBookstore.com and you will receive a signed copy. You can also add a personal dedication which is ideal for a Christmas gift. Simply email david@cqnpublishing.co.uk with your dedication after you have ordered and Jim will sort this for you next week.
Jim is on fine form in the Podcast too, you’ll love it.
A Celtic State of Mind presents its 25th instalment of insightful discussion around the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.
Jim Craig joined Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham in the Tolbooth Studios in Stirling to discuss the Lisbon Lions’ 50th anniversary celebrations in a year which also saw Celtic winning an invincible treble, a prestigious award from FIFA naming their fans as the best in the world, and even a BAFTA!
In this emotional interview, Jim reminisces about Jock Stein, Billy McNeill, Neilly Mochan, Bertie Auld, Tommy Gemmell, Joe McBride and George Connelly.
He also discusses his latest book, his magnificent Lisbon Lion Diary: Right Back to ’67. This memoir is a real fly-on-the-wall recollection of events from 50 years ago, brought to life by Jim Craig’s intelligent and humorous brand of storytelling. Order HERE.
The CQN Podcast has gone from strength-to-strength over the last few months, and there are many more guests lined up in the months ahead from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature and politics.
Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes, @anorthernprose and @CQNMagazine and subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or through your podcast player.
ORDER YOUR SIGNED COPY OF JIM CRAIG – RIGHT BACK TO 67, A LISBON LION DIARY TODAY!
SIGNED COPY!
