Hot Balls semis, Farry, Cadete, robbing Celtic fans and players

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98 years. That’s was the last time Celtic beat old Rangers in a Scottish Cup semi-final. Our 1925 5-0 win was after a replay in front of Scotland’s first six-figure crowd – 101,700.

Scottish football then entered its notorious hot balls era. The SFA was not always ethically sound, as we’ll touch on in a moment. In 67 years Celtic and Rangers were only drawn together in the Scottish Cup semi-final once, 1960, when we lost after a replay. The legend is that two of the four balls in the bag for the draw were hot, one with Celtic’s number and one with Rangers’. One hot ball would be drawn against a cold ball.

The SFA had a confidence about them in the 1990s. Celtic were poor, if you were inclined to favour Rangers, there was little to be gained from hot balls. Perhaps as a consequence, the teams met in the semis three times that decade. We lost each; who needs hot balls when you can enjoy beating Celtic?

Before you suggest a lack of balance in the above assertion, that was the era we had the Jim Farry/Jorge Cadete fiasco, which eventually saw Farry sacked in disgrace, after he delayed Cadete’s registration until the player was no longer eligible to play in the 1996 Scottish Cup semi – against Rangers.

We have met Newco three times at this stage, losing on penalties in 2016 (we will always have Hibs), beating them 4-0 in 2018 and losing in extra time last season (never rely on Hearts). Apart from that 1925 win, our only earlier Scottish Cup semi win over Rangers was in 1892, the season the trophy came home with us for the first time.

We live in an era when a great number of historic wrongs are being put right. Win the Cup, and we move clear at the top of the Treble Winners’ table, while we inch ever closer to forcing an opponent to paint over a ‘most successful club’ mural. Imagine the indignity.

Win this one for Jorge, Fergus, Paul McStay, Tom Boyd and Big Pierre. An era of Celtic players and fans were robbed on a level which is difficult to imagine now. Let’s get it done.

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  1. St.Stivs

     

     

    Re 1892 double

     

    I think it was then Ned McGinn complained to the committee.that his letter to the Pope,highlighting the the achievements of the first double at Celtic had not been answered.

     

    Pat Welsh talks of it in his book the glory and the dream 1887-88.

     

    :-)

     

    HH

  2. ST Stivs. Cannot give you any ideas about press before Big CUP Game. However I think the Inter lot were of the opinion that they would win. My experience at the stadium may bear that out. When we arrived six of us from Greenock were seated together. As the game started to Inter fans blanked themselves down beside me and told me we were in their seats. Of course, I pointed out that it was they who were wrong and the the INter fans were on the other side of the stadium. But they refused to leave.

     

     

    At half time, one of them turned to me and mocking said “Herrera not lose now”. I was so annoyed that I told in no uncertain terms where to go and well maybe I was more forceful than that as I swung my fist round at him. Lord forgive me. Well, he did not take long to go find his seat.

     

     

    But point is those two guys certainly thought the Big Cup was going to be theirs. Also the lot who were in our hotel in Estoril had a big banner that was there for their “crowning as champs”.

     

     

    Sadly for them, we were superior on the day.

  3. SCULLYBHOY on 28TH APRIL 2023 9:56 AM

     

     

    28 APRIL 1973: Celtic won their 8th consecutive League title under Jock Stein by beating Hibs 3-0 at Easter Road in front of an incredible 48,000 crowd.

     

     

    ++++++++++

     

     

    Another one from the memory bank…one of my happiest and longest days following the Hoops.

     

    I think it was one of those days when the fans arriving at Waverley were escorted out of the station onto Leith Walk via Calton Road to avoid upsetting the douce shoppers on Princes Street. The queues at the turnstiles were massive but eventually we managed to get on to the huge terrace opposite the stand where the bulk of the 48,000 seemed to be. Three unspectacular goals later and it was 8 in a row and time to celebrate…

     

    Our favourite place in Embra at that time was Nicky Tam’s at the top of Victoria Street (now Espionage, I think) and it was packed with celebrating tims, as you can imagine. The highlight of the night was when someone persuaded the DJ to play Fearless by Pink Floyd. As the song fades out YNWA fades in, sparking a memory that lives to this day, 50 years on.

     

    Things went downhill from then, since we missed the last train and had to wander the streets for 7-8 hours until the first train on the Sunday…Happy Days, though.

     

     

    https://youtu.be/IkgaMFjo_lI

  4. CONNAIRE12 on 28TH APRIL 2023 6:01 PM

     

     

    that is a brilliant share ta for that.

     

     

    daft italians going against a priest from greenock.

  5. The Scotsman – Monday, 23rd March 1925, page 11

     

     

    RANGERS ROUTED AT HAMPDEN.

     

     

    One of the Scottish cup semi-finals was decided on Saturday, the other resulted in a draw. The tie that was concluded provided a great surprise, not so much that the Celtic defeated the Rangers, though even that was unexpected, but that they should beat them by a score of five goals to nothing, It was a case of a Rangers’ collapse once more in the Scottish cup competition, and another example of the favourites falling in this particular match. For the Rangers to secure the cup seems a hopeless quest.

     

     

    TAKEN FROM CELTIC WIKI (A FABULOUS RESOURCE!)

  6. I wouldn’t play Jota due to his double denim faux pas at Brazen. Hope Tony Donnelly put him straight

     

     

    I recently was admonished for attempting a ‘blavy’ ensemble, but DD has been uncool since the 70s

  7. If You Know The History – 11th April 1925 Celtic 2 Dundee 1 Scottish Cup Final

     

    Posted on April 11, 2013 by Jim Craig Celtic Supporters Club Standard

     

     

    After a fine 5-0 demolition of Rangers in the semi-final, when the attendance at Hampden of 101,714 was the first-ever six-figure crowd for a game between two Scottish clubs, Celtic were confident going into the 1925 Scottish Cup final to face Dundee. By contrast, the Dark Blues had needed a replay in the other semi-final before disposing of Hamilton, so for most punters, the money was on Celtic, who fielded a team of Shevlin, W McStay, Hilley, Wilson, J McStay, McFarlane, Connolly, Gallagher, McGrory, Thomson and Mclean.

     

     

    On the afternoon at Hampden, though, in front of a crowd of 73,317, it was Dundee who dominated the first half, taking the lead with a goal from Davie Mclean- ironically an ex-Celt who left Parkhead in 1909 partly because he could not get on with Willie Maley – on the half-hour mark. The fans from the city of ‘jute, jam and journalism’ were delighted and were even more happy with their side as the half-time whistle blew with Dundee still ahead, Celtic having had little chance to equalise.

     

     

    As you might imagine, Willie Maley must have said a few things at the interval, since Celtic started the second period brightly and assumed some form of control but it was a ‘quiet-ish’ hold on the game and Dundee soon were making life difficult for the Celtic players again and the fans’ enthusiasm became more muted. Then came the breakthrough.

     

     

    A poor free-kick by Paddy Connolly was controlled by Peter Wilson and he slipped the ball along the edge of the penalty area towards Patsy Gallacher, who somehow managed to evade some challenges from the Dundee defence and get the ball over the line for the equaliser (see NB). That gave Celtic hope and near the end, a John McFarlane cross was met with a full-length diving header by Jimmy McGrory to score the winner and give Celtic its 11th Scottish Cup success.

  8. Circa 20 years ago we had Beachball Sunday. I remember it well, brilliant.

     

     

    The past is past and it is the now and the future we need to contemplate.

     

     

    When we have our title party it would be good to have a current Beachball theme.

     

     

    After all it is summer and we will be going straight into the CL.

     

    Our young team need to make their own memorable experiences.

     

     

    HH.

  9. 18 yard man on 28th April 2023 6:09 pm

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

     

    Cheers Big Mhan!

     

     

    Imagine if Celtic win 5 – 0 on Sunday.

  10. ah would have brought back alex mcleish, he won two trebles wae nae money to spend

     

     

    lest they forget

     

     

    ————-

     

     

    Alan Hutton, £364,000: Made debut in 2002 and played 94 games, before £9million move to Spurs.

     

     

    Alex McLeish, £1.7million: Managed Rangers from 2001-06.

     

     

    Alex Rae, £569,000: Midfielder arrived at Ibrox in 2004 and spent two years there. Played 34 games.

     

     

    Andrei Kanchelskis, £145,000: Russian winger arrived from Fiorentina in 1998 for £5.5million.

     

     

    Andrew Dickson, £33,000: Head of football administration since 2003. Previously financial controller at Ibrox.

     

     

    RELATED STORIES:

     

     

    Rangers ‘Big Tax Case’ Timeline

     

     

    Rangers Big Tax Case: Twitter goes into meltdown as HMRC rack up win over David Murray’s EBTs

     

     

    Arthur Numan, £510,000: Dutch full-back arrived at Rangers from PSV Eindhoven in 1998 for £4.5million. Played 118 times.

     

     

    Barry Ferguson, £2.5million: Former youth player who became Rangers captain. Played at Ibrox from 1996-2003 and 2005-09.

     

     

    Bert Konterman, £300,000: Dutch defender signed by Dick Advocaat for £4.5million in 2000.

     

     

    Bert Van Lingen, £65,000: Assistant manager under Dick Advocaat from 1998 to 2002.

     

     

    Billy Dodds, £190,000: Arrived in a £1.5million deal from Dundee United in 1999.

     

     

    Bob Malcolm, £125,000: Central defender started his career with Rangers in 1997. Played 88 games. Left for Derby County in 2006.

     

     

    Midfielder Christian Nerlinger was at Ibrox between 2001 and 2004

     

    Midfielder Christian Nerlinger was at Ibrox between 2001 and 2004 and picked up £1.8m in payments

     

    138405386249

     

    Carlos Cuellar, £448,255: Spanish centre-half arrived from Osasuna in £2.37million deal in 2007. Moved to Aston Villa in 2008.

     

     

    Chris Burke, £55,000: Started career at Rangers, playing 96 games from 2002 to 2009. Left for Cardiff City.

     

     

    Christian Nerlinger, £1.8million: German midfielder signed from Borrusia Dortmund in 2001 and left in 2004.

     

     

    Claudio Caniggia, £1million: Argentinian signed from Dundee for £1million in 2001.

     

     

    Craig Moore, £1.1million: Australian centre-half played more than 90 games from 1994-98. Returned in 1999 and stayed until 2005.

     

     

    Dutchman Dick Advocaat was the manager who gave him a real chance in the team, building his midfield around him.

     

    Dutchman Dick Advocaat (right) spent almost £74m as manager (Image: Rob Casey)

     

    138375190586

     

    Dado Prso, £1.9million: Croatian striker was free transfer in 2004. Left for Dinamo Zagreb in 2007.

     

     

    Dan Eggen, £68,000: Norwegian central defender signed in 2003 from Spanish club Alaves.

     

     

    Sir David Murray, £6.3million: Owned club from 1988-2011, during which Rangers lifted 15 titles and 26 cups. Sold shares to Craig Whyte for £1.

     

     

    Dick Advocaat, £1.5million: Rangers manager from 1998-2002. Spent almost £74million to win five trophies, including two titles.

     

     

    Douglas Odam, £119,000: Finance director for 15 years. Left in 2003 to take up a role within 
Sir David Murray’s business empire.

     

     

    Egil Ostenstad, £370,000: Norwegian forward signed from Blackburn on free transfer in 2003.

     

     

     

    Jean-Alain Boumsong joined the Ibrox club on a free transfer before moving to Newcastle United in a £8m deal six months later (Image: Daily Record)

     

    138254547945

     

    Fernando Ricksen, £684,225: Dutch right-back signed in 2000 from AZ Alkmaar for £3.75million.

     

     

    Federico Nieto, £24,500: Argentine striker joined on loan deal in 2005 from Almagro. Scored once in three matches.

     

     

    Gavin Rae, £376,000: Midfielder signed from Dundee in 2004 for a fee of £250,000. Moved to Cardiff in 2007.

     

     

    George Adams, £30,000: Head of youth development between 2003-05.

     

     

    Graeme Souness, £30,000: Player-manager from 1986-91.

     

     

    Gregory Vignal, £173,000: French defender joined on loan from Liverpool in 2004. Moved to Portsmouth in 2005.

     

     

    Ian McGuinness, £25,400: Club doctor sacked after Paul Le Guen left.

     

     

    Ian Murray, £95,000: Midfielder was free transfer from Hibernian in 2006. Left in 2007.

     

     

    Jan Wouters, £285,000: Former Dutch midfielder joined as a coach under Dick Advocaat, then Alex McLeish. Left in 2006.

     

     

    Jean-Alain Boumsong, £630,000: French centre-half joined in 2004 on free transfer. Moved to for Newcastle for £8million.

     

     

    Jerome Bonnissel, £48,000: French left-back arrived in 2003 from Bordeaux.

     

     

     

    A cool million: Kevin Muscat received EBT payments (Image: Daily Record)

     

    138266811004

     

    Jesper Christiansen, £320,000: Danish goalkeeper signed in 2000 as injury cover.

     

     

    Joel Le Hir, £28,275: Paul Le Guen-appointed physiotherapist from 2006 to 2007.

     

     

    John Greig £40,000: Played for club from 1961-78. Managed Rangers from 1978 to 1983. Later became a director.

     

     

    John McClelland, £225,000: Appointed a director in 2000. Chairman from 2002 to 2004. Resigned last year.

     

     

    Julien Rodriguez, £638,000: French centre-half signed from Monaco in 2005 for £1million. Left for Marseille in 2007.

     

     

    Kevin Muscat, £1million: Australian defender joined from Wolves in 2002 on free transfer. Joined Millwall in 2003.

     

     

    Kris Boyd, £215,000: Signed from Kilmarnock in 2006 for £500,000. Left in 2010.

     

     

    Libor Sionko, £178,000: Czech midfielder signed from Austria Vienna in 2006. Played 18 matches before signing Copenhagen in 2007.

     

     

    Lorenzo Amoruso, £639,000: Italian defender signed from Fiorentina for £4million in 1997. Moved to Blackburn Rovers for £1.4million in 2003.

     

     

    Martin Bain, £249,000: Chief executive of Rangers from 2005 to 2011. Resigned after Murray sold club to Whyte.

     

     

    Marvin Andrews, £316,025: Centre-half from Trinidad and Tobago joined from Livingston in 2004.

     

     

     

    Michael Ball and Dick Advocaat clash

     

    138266811001

     

    Maurice Ross, £120,000: Played 78 games for Rangers from 2000 to 2005, before moving to Sheffield Wednesday.

     

     

    Michael Ball, £1.4million: Left-back signed from Everton in 2001 for £6.5million. Moved to PSV Eindhoven in 2005.

     

     

    Michael Mols, £260,000: Dutch striker joined Rangers under Dick Advocaat. He arrived in 1999 and spent five years at Ibrox.

     

     

    Mikel Arteta, £674,603: Spanish midfielder joined in 2002 and played 50 matches, scoring 12 goals. Moved to Everton.

     

     

    Nacho Novo, £1.2million: Spanish striker joined in 2004 from Dundee for £450,000.

     

     

    Neil McCann, £500,000: Winger joined from Hearts in 1998 for £2million.

     

     

    Nuno Capucho, £970,000: Portuguese winger who arrived in 2003 for £700,000.

     

     

    Olivier Bernard, £224,000: French defender arrived on a free transfer in 2005.

     

     

    Paolo Vanoli, £592,000: Italian left-back joined from Bologna in 2003 and played in 28 matches.

     

     

    Paul Le Guen, £201,250: French manager replaced Alex McLeish in 2006. Left in January 2007 after a string of poor results.

     

     

    Pedro Mendes, £1million: Portuguese midfielder joined in 2008 for £3million. Joined Vituria Guimares in 2010.

     

     

    Stefan Klos spent eight years between the sticks at Ibrox from 1998-2006

     

    Stefan Klos spent eight years between the sticks at Ibrox from 1998-2006

     

    138254547945

     

    Peter Lovenkrands, £902,000: Danish winger arrived in 2000 from Akademisk Boldklub for £1.3million.

     

     

    Ronald De Boer, £1.2million: Dutch midfielder joined in 2000 under Advocaat.

     

     

    Ronald Waterreus, £510,000: Dutch goalkeeper joined Rangers in 2004 from Manchester City.

     

     

    Sasa Papac, £319,000: Bosnian left-back arrived in 2006 from Austria Vienna for £450,000.

     

     

    Sotirios Kyrgiakos £532,200: Greek centre-half signed from Panathinaikos in 2005.

     

     

    Stefan Klos, £2million: German international keeper signed in 1999 for £800,000. Join Bayer Leverkusen in 2007.

     

     

    Stephane Wiertelak, £28,275: French fitness-physiotherapy coach joined Rangers in 2006 under Le Guen.

     

     

    730566

     

    Scottish football’s most expensive signing Tore Andre Flo (Image: SNS Group)

     

    138266811586

     

    Steven Davis, £600,000: Northern Ireland midfielder. Left for Southampton in the summer.

     

     

    Steven Smith, £7500: Defender came through youth ranks and made debut in 2004.

     

     

    Steven Thompson, £485,000: Joined from Dundee United in 2003 for £200,000. Went to Cardiff City in 2006.

     

     

     

    Tero Penttila, £140,000: Finnish defender joined in 1999 for £300,000 from Haka Valkeakoski. Left in 2002 to join HJK Helsinki.

     

     

    Thomas Buffel, £1.2million: Belgian midfielder joined in 2005 for £2.3million from Feyenoord.

  11. “There is a lot of harmony behind the scenes,” Beale insisted.

     

     

    trunpesque bealeship from beale

  12. GP

     

     

    I’d bring back chucking bog rolls if we are going for a more local seaside theme

     

     

    #billyconnelly

  13. bigrailroadblues on

    Good evening all from the Victoria Bar. Victoria Road looking……aye like erm, well, Victoria Road. 🙄

  14. JACKIEMAC on 28TH APRIL 2023 6:43 PM

     

     

    “There is a lot of harmony behind the scenes,” Beale insisted.

     

     

    and “we are head and shoulders above the opposition”

     

     

    and ,,,,,,,,,,,,

  15. JACKIEMAC on 28TH APRIL 2023 5:14 PM

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIFS6k6sMF8

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Happy german pop with a bit of lorelei cocteau twins in the bridge

     

     

     

     

     

     

    rip ’em einen utter vun bhoys

     

    ====================================================

     

     

    Thanks for that, never heard it before, a bit of a Kings of Leon melody going on IMHO.

     

     

    Brian

  16. Harmony

     

    Head n shoulders

     

    Wash n go

     

     

    Surely our go to is

     

     

    TIMotei :-)

     

     

    BRRB

     

     

    Blackpool to Shettleston … that bus pas is getting a hammering …

     

     

    Sunday … am always confident of the better football team beating the inferior football team, they will try and stay in the game but hopefully our bhoys will give themselves a wee 3rd June day oot to look forward too

  17. Greenpinata from earlier:

     

     

    “While we are discussing ” historic ” I am a wee bit uncomfortable about an ” All Catholic ” team quoted in the last article. Why would we even document or discuss that. ?”

     

     

    My feelings as well.

  18. i would document it because it is factual history.

     

     

    why would you be uncomfortable with it, particulalry when the scottish press of the time are calling “the celtic combination glasgow irish roman catholics ?

  19. lets all do the huddle on

    yet another live friday night scottish championship game is 0-0 at half time

     

     

    its about time the bbc stopped wasting license payers cash and started showing only the 2nd half of these games the same as the radio used to only do 2nd half commentary years ago

     

     

    and before anyone looks back to see how many of these games have been goalless at half time since bbc scotland started showing them, i have already done it. its 99.99%

     

     

    FACT

  20. Connaire

     

     

    Great posting of your experiences in Lisbon.i never tire of reading them, it makes history live.:-) thanks.

     

    💚👏👏👏

     

     

    Did you manage any of the prior rounds Basle,Nantes,vodjvodina,dukla?

     

     

    HH

  21. bigrailroadblues on

    Good evening all from the Queens Park Cafe. I really should get out more. Most enjoyable.

  22. SS you mentioned the all Catholic Celtic side in the SC final of 1963 where our terracing was emptied after their 3rd in the 71st minute while the huns chanted easy easy easy, at the AGM that followed Bob Kelly was accused of trying to turn us into a Catholic side by the angry shareholders, his response seemingly was not so it was just that the Catholic schools were turning out some really good players but we had also signed some promising non Catholic lads including Tommy Gemmell who we had a lot of hope for, looks as if Sir Bob was a bit of a physic .

  23. Lisbon67,what was the rate of the Escudos ?,centre of Lisbon ordered two glasses of port ?,I think it was 80 esc., to the pound ,they tried to charge us about 160,an argument assured ,we were then charged about 40 esc.

     

    Didn’t spoil my trip but learned me about opportunism..HH

  24. SCULLYBHOY on 28TH APRIL 2023 9:56 AM

     

     

    28 APRIL 1973: Celtic won their 8th consecutive League title under Jock Stein by beating Hibs 3-0 at Easter Road in front of an incredible 48,000 crowd.

     

     

    *That day my da had managed tae obtain tickets fae a pal who was a salesman and the east coast was part of his remit, so he picked both of us up then another carolina up the Peoples Republic of Brucehill where he cum out with a ginger bottle full of Dumbarton’s favourite export which we sipped on all the way tae the nations capital.

     

     

    Now I’m burstin for a single fish as we are driving along Princes Street and there’s nae place tae stop, so I just jump out and run intae either a Woolies or Marks and Spencers, enquire where the toilet is, doon stairs son and jump on the escalator, on the way back up I spot my da going down so we arrange tae meet at the top and I’m delighted he cum looking for me until he explained that I had the tickets in my pocket, oul bugger.

     

     

    Anyway we find a pub close tae the ground and as soon as we are in it the doors are locked, when it was time tae leave he is elected tae pick up the beers, so we are now seated behind one of the goals when he pulls out the beer, Norseman, fkn Norseman lager, the only pint I have ever left behind, it was billy cotton, we still drunk it though as we were hoarse that afternoon.

     

     

    After we left when the celebrations had finished the roads were mobbed, saw a smiling John Blackley driving away tae, so our driver took us an alternative route which took us through Dunfermline who had just been promoted that afternoon, they were as happy as we were, we eventually crossed Loch Lomond where it was a burn, a happy happy day.

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