Winning three successive Scottish Cups is a rare thing which Celtic were unable to do until 2019. No one needs reminding that that success was the third leg of our historic quadruple treble. Just six years on and tomorrow we can again win three successive Scottish Cups.
Aberdeen’s years as a top European side also brought them three successive Scottish Cup wins, beating Rangers twice and Celtic in finals between 1982 – 84. That was part of a run of four Scottish Cups in five seasons, their only defeat at Raith Rovers.
Recent decades have not been so kind to Aberdeen. They last won the Cup in 1990, against Celtic, a 0-0 draw which was settled after each side hit 10 penalties. I’ve never been comfortable with a leftie hitting penalties since. They only reached three of the 34 subsequent finals, losing twice to Rangers and to Celtic to finish our Invincible season in 2017.
Despite that derth of recent success, in my lifetime (May 67), Aberdeen have the upper hand against Celtic in Scottish Cup Finals, winning in 1970, 1984 and that 1990 game. The Invincinble Treble game is our only Scottish Cup Final win against Aberdeen since April 1967. The sides are level on the head-to-head in Scottish Cup Finals, with three wins each.
Final fortunes have been incredible for Celtic this century. Martin O’Neill’s side completed our third treble with a Cup Final win against Hibs in 2001, and Since a 3-2 defeat to Rangers in 2002, we have enjoyed an uninterrupted procession of success, winning 11 successive Scottish Cup Finals. 11 Scottish Cup Finals, 11 wins, no defeats!
In Ronny Deila’s first season we won the League Cup and had the League in the bag, with Inverness in the Scottish Cup semi-final (Falkirk faced Hibs in the other semi). Talk was all about winning the treble. I remember writing, “People who talk about winning a treble have a poor grasp of history”.
The second worst refereeing decision in Scottish football history put an end to that (Dundee United’s goal at Firhill remains in top spot). Even when you are a goal up against a weaker team, should get a penalty with an opponent sent off, football can throw up random events which make always winning incredible unlikely.
That semi defeat to Inverness also broke a run of historical quirks. Celtic won the Cup in 1965 (Dunfermline), 75 (Airdrie), 85 (Dundee United), 95 (Airdrie) and 2005 (Dundee United). 2015 is only year ending in a 5 we didn’t win the Cup since Clyde beat us after a replay in 1955. The only other teams who have won the Cup in a year ending in a 5 are:
Queen’s Park (1875)
Renton (1885)
St Bernard’s (1895)
Third Lanark (1905)
Rangers (1935)
Clyde (1955)
Inverness (2015)
Celtic are the only side to have won the Cup in a year ending in a 5 more than once, and of the seven teams who won it once, four are no longer in existence, while Inverness and Clyde are sailing close to the wind! Less a cup, more a poisoned chalice.
Future generations of Celtic fans will look back at the history records and marvel at all these trophies, all these trebles. It is without doubt the second great Celtic era. It might not have a European Cup, but nor can it. Football is no longer a meritocracy, it denies small nations the same opportunity to win European Cup they had in the last century.
We take our history seriously, so I am not arguing equivalence between this era and the Stein teams. Not yet. But good historians interpret history, they don’t document it. They will write about this Celtic era, without the deferred sensitivity you and I have for the Lions. They will write about brave strategy and how success emerged from an era of financial chicanery in our game. Our kids’ kids will marvel at how lucky we were to live through the Second Great Celtic Era. How lucky we are.
Tomorrow is a game of football in which anything can happen (just remember Inverness 2015). We have no God given right to win the Cup, but I really want this one. Have a special day, if we win, mark it.
172 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- »
Good article Paul. I first saw Celtic win the cup in 1965- after many disappointments from 1955 ( Clyde ) and on.
Never take a win for granted.
The Raith Rovers League Cup final loss still hurts.
Hail, Hail!🍀
I don’t normally repost something I put into a previous thread … but having read BSR’s post …….
Liverpool win the League and get a parade through Liverpool.
Newcastle win the League Cup and get a parade through Newcastle
Crystal Palace win the FA Cup and get a parade through South London
Tottenham win the Europa League and get a parade through North London
Celtic win the League … and the Orange Order get a parade through Glasgow !!
“Wee Barry” see what I mean you’re hilarious.
Are you still doing the body double work?
My team choice tomorrow would be
The Ghosy
AJ, CCv Scales Taylor
Engels, Calmac and our second favourite Portugese
Khun, Maeda and Yang
good bench with Jamesie, Idah and our wee dynamite from Dundee
4 0 the good guys
KINGLuBO
Ghost, fingers like coos tits !!!
Michael Wimmer quits Motherwell
Very insightful article, Paul.
It reminded me of how important a part the Scottish Cup has played in Celtic’s history. It was Billy’s goal in the 1965 final which won us our first trophy in eight years. The roar that greeted that header was the starter’s gun for years of European glory.
Given the recent form of both teams Celtic are surely the bookie’s favourites. That said, there is plenty of scope for the unexpected in football. A ‘mistake’ by officials, injuries inflicted on players or even a ‘mysterious’ dismissal – any one of these could, and have, changed a game’s outcome. So, no chickens yet hatched CSC.
BIGBHOY on 23RD MAY 2025 12:42 PM
Should that not be 3rd greatest era? Willie Maleys 1904- 1910 won 6 consecutive titles and I think this was the record until Jock Steins team beat it.
………………….
Exactly what I was thinking.
BACK TO BASICS ( thumbs up )
FWIW We’re showing the game on the specially erected Big Screen on Celtic Way.
The Dixie Final
Big screen on The Celtic Way showing game tomorrow
I had a very good day oot with some of the CQN Bhoys today.
The Beer and the banter and jokes were flying aboot.
God Bless those SHIPBANK SHIPWRECKS…
HH also, to the several CQN Bhoys who couldnt make it today due to other commitments like Holidays etc.
Make mine a TREBLE CELTIC !
Its GREAT having such good friends.
HH Bhoys.
Back to Basics – Glass Half Full on 23rd May 2025 3:21 pm
I don’t normally repost something I put into a previous thread … but having read BSR’s post …….
Liverpool win the League and get a parade through Liverpool.
Newcastle win the League Cup and get a parade through Newcastle
Crystal Palace win the FA Cup and get a parade through South London
Tottenham win the Europa League and get a parade through North London
Celtic win the League … and the Orange Order get a parade through Glasgow !!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Post of the year?
Big Jimmy on 23rd May 2025 5:50 pm
I had a very good day oot with some of the CQN Bhoys today.
The Beer and the banter and jokes were flying aboot.
God Bless those SHIPBANK SHIPWRECKS…
HH also, to the several CQN Bhoys who couldnt make it today due to other commitments like Holidays etc.
Make mine a TREBLE CELTIC !
Its GREAT having such good friends.
HH Bhoys.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Hail Hail Big Jimmy and the rest of you bhoys!
https://icdn.thecelticstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/GrjRqGxWIAAdhR-.jpeg.webp
https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/q6aRzlH9wth_s5U51Hw_9g–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xODc0O2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/celtic_f_c_articles_983/37b7936c0b5d89fe21db3b580ab559ff
https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/jhJ9qZVbsH7lQ7sap_xxPA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xODAwO2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/celtic_f_c_articles_983/27bffb0679d4f9223f95ed0145b2838e
https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/3oS1ltehzySvpXuolOH3iA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xODc0O2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/celtic_f_c_articles_983/67c43225f480543b674fa4067b09baac
https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/seOgwZqoNDgatq_IhlMfeA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xODc0O2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/celtic_f_c_articles_983/d715cf470e0edcb24f623bb97ed75d35
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/8f309c97892db1b046cd1824417fe2a2
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/9047478871376936e18057dc7c64a1c4
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/7b41e2a5f44769b9a84a00593f4fff62
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fe0.365dm.com%2F24%2F05%2F2048x1152%2Fskysports-scottish-cup-final_6565813.jpg%3F20240525171746&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=d9b08e90205bb3bee0e037654b97720b556857f93e0e7783d08a6c796f96f981
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ficdn.thecelticstar.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F11%2Ffrank-mcavennie-of-celtic.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=312d37b91b9ffb661e47da5524581cb5dd404879824aa9ff6b9e86c86bd21d7c
Youngest son and his pal have tickets for the Aberdeen end..”Be careful” I said
“We won’t cheer when Celtic score” he said…
Wonder how that’ll go…
Wonder if Sir Albert McCoist will be co commentator on the Napoli game……
Had a grat day down at the golf club today…Bertie Auld charity day…my God…those ex footballers can’t half hit the ball a loooooong way…
All set for the Napoli game…hope they win in style…great for Scottish footballs credentials….
When it was clear McTominey was out of favour at Man Yoo I was hoping he’d be within Celtics price range…ah well…excellent footballer…
I’d definitely take a gamble on Evan Ferguson…if the price was right…same as Idah but with a bit more whoomf…
Regards the big hitting golf ex footballers can’t half…must be something to do with hand-eye coordination…they’re all big hitters…
Can’t half hit the ball far….
Wonder if ex golfers are good at football….
Rugby players?…..darts maybe…
Caught a Ewan Murray special in the Guardian today. After a wandering through the various possible culprits within Scotland’s football fans and their misbehaviour, he eventually gets down to naming names – good on you Ewan, no sitting on the fence there.
Here’s the relevant section near the end of his piece.
“Celtic and Rangers give the impression they wish they had not created monsters with the respective indulgence of the Green Brigade and Union Bears, who have become a law unto themselves. Last weekend, a banner at Celtic Park essentially called for the removal of the chief executive, Michael Nicholson, whose crime is to have a social conscience and be protective of the reputation of his club. The Green Brigade’s previous tifos included the heralding of an IRA member who bombed a Belfast bar in 1975. They see nothing wrong with that in a football environment.”
Bad that they are then, with their naughty tifos.
Ave Ave
Scullybhoy @ 5:53pm – kind words, thank you
But for me,
“Winning trebles is papering over the cracks”
…. Wins any post of the year competition by 20 lengths.
Apologies – can’t recall who posted this gem
From the zenith to the nadir … check this out
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20xp874yqro
Scroll down to the 5th picture … if you will
(an image of two Napoli shirts)
Then read the caption under it.
Either BBC Scotland are trolling shamelessly
OR
one of their staff is suffering from severe mental illness and the editor doesn’t give a rat’s
Brendan Presser
https://youtu.be/VAfi5hHaXEY?si=0XYiRD-IczzmIppm
HH
James Forrest Presser
https://youtu.be/JZ9FmH5N_dc?si=CYj65-k72gnJiF_z
HH
A fine day at the Shipbank.
Cathac, An Tearmann, Fred Colon, Thelurkintim, BelmontBrian, Big Jimmy, Magua. Great fellows and great company.
Inter 1 up…getting tasty…
Cup final eve. ( Hope Adam scores)
Memories 1965 cup final
9 o’clock sail. Belfast.
7 o’clock arrival. Glasgow.
National cafe Breakfast.
Tours include Celtic Park,Ibrox and Shaw field.
Then Jimmy Mallan’s (ex Celtic) pub Paisley.
Hampden Park…..rest is history.
St.Peters CSC Belfast and my dear father John