MOTHERWELL 0 CELTIC 1 May 7 1966
AN EXCRUCIATING 12-year wait came to an end at a sunbathed Fir Park on a Saturday afternoon in May 1966.
Celtic were already as good as champions after beating Dunfermline 2-1 in midweek, but it was still mathematically possible for them to be caught on goal average.
Jock Stein took his players to face Motherwell with his team level on top of the First Division with 55 points alongside Rangers, who had completed their programme.
FLAG HAPPY…Bobby Lennox celebrates the 1966 title winner with Stevie Chalmers about to congratulate his team-mate at Fir Park.
Celtic had scored 105 goals and conceded 30. The Ibrox side had netted 91 and lost 29. It would take a seismic defeat in Lanarkshire to prevent the flag from flying over Celtic Park.
With a minute to go, the game was scoreless and the title was in the bag, but Jim Craig still found the energy and desire to hurtle down the flank and whip in a low cross. Bobby Lennox emerged to sidefoot the winner.
A year and eight days later, Celtic won the European Cup in Lisbon.
*TOMORROW: Don’t miss CLASSIC CELTIC: Part Seven – only in your champion CQN.
