Trending
Celtic News Now
Celtic Quick News on News Now
Celtic Quick News
You are at:»»The Second Great Celtic Era

The Second Great Celtic Era

172
By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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.

Click Here for Comments >
Share.

About Author

172 Comments
  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5

  1. Turkeybhoy on

    By the way,Don Robertson,is a Tim.Might not be a great referee, but,who is.I include,England as well.

     

    Aberdeen really are a poor team.Only danger if they can get their flying machine on the ball.,Not always consistent,nor a first pick.

     

    3 or 4 for me tomorrow.Dons may score.

  4. 31003 on

    TURKEYBHOY on 23RD MAY 2025 8:32 PM

     

     

    Biggest danger I think is how much (fouls and time wasting) the ref will let them off with..

  5. quantum on

    Winning trebles is just papering over the cracks I seem to remember was 31003 who posted it.

     

     

    I remember commenting at the time it was quite funny.

     

     

    Apologies 31003 if not you!

  7. 31003 on

    The leniency the refs allow for fouling against Celtic has grown to epic proportions….it wouldn’t surprise me if we lose at least one player at some point to injury tomorrow…you kinda get to expect it now…

  10. 31003 on

    Big Scottie started eagle, birdie yesterday…..give him the trophy I thought…he’s not doing too well since…

  18. Celtic Mac on

    leftclicktic

     

     

    I will second that! Scott has been instrumental in helping Napoli to the Scudetto.

     

    Nevers shy of declaring his love for the Celts and no doubt will be looking out for the result tomorrow.

     

    Manchesters loss Napoli’s gain!

  19. Kelvinbhoy on

    Sad that in 2025 and with what’s going on in the rest of the world, we also have this on our own doorstep…….

     

     

    From BBC NI –

     

     

    A number of families whose homes were targeted in a sectarian-motivated attack in north Belfast plan to leave their properties after a further threat was issued, a local councillor has said.

     

     

    Houses were damaged in the Annalee Street and Alloa Street areas on Wednesday by a group of masked individuals, who are believed to have thrown masonry at the properties.

     

     

    Independent councillor Paul McCusker, who attended a meeting about the situation on Friday, said information was received “that those involved were planning on coming back to attack the same houses”.

     

     

    A resident told BBC News NI said she was leaving and that she believed she had been targeted because she is a Catholic.

     

     

    The resident, who spoke anonymously to protect her identity, said: “Me and my kids love this home and I’ve put so much money and time into this home and we’re obviously left with no home now.

     

     

    “I waited eight years for here, how long is it going to take me to get another house?”

     

     

    Paul McCusker, who attended the meeting with residents, police and Clanmil Housing Assocition, said the new threat “was an escalation in terms of the current situation that we’re very worried about”.

     

     

    “We did inform police immediately,” he added.

     

     

    “There was a lot of people, quite emotional, not knowing what’s going to happen next, [that] is the big frightening thing.”

     

     

    McCusker said the group involved in this attack, and their reasoning, is unknown.

     

     

    “The big question for a lot of the families is, why is this happening?

     

     

    “I think it’s a disgrace, I think it’s disgusting. Politically I think there is a responsibility, Stormont has a responsibility to call this out.”

  20. 31003 on

    God help them…and if that’s allowed to escalate then there’s an agenda afoot….

  21. lets all do the huddle on

    mad scenes from Napoli.

     

     

    Wonder if the local papers, politicians and coppers will be all over the media for the next week complaining about the litter that will be left on the streets?

  22. Stephenbhoyboy on

    Broadsheet newspapers hate working people, thier target audience is the middle and upper middle classes and establishment folk. We have all met them, they love rugby, golf, cricket and athletics and generally don’t like football clubs, supporters or culture. Some of them used to follow football but not now, not now they have become professionals, I have met many of these charlatans.

     

     

    They find the worst aspects of football to moan about but always focus on the best elements of all the others sports. I.e., green brigade sign ira, so bad, green brigade raising money for foodbanks, handing out east eggs to underprivileged children etc not a peep or minimised. Broadsheets rarely bring up the elitist nature of the middle class sports I.e., poor accessible for the working classes, minorities etc.

     

     

    They will tell you the rugby lads drink excessive anounts of alcohol but their behaviours is never antisocial, it’s all good spirited piss ups and boys being boys. Swap the rugby lads with football lads and it’s criminal antisocial behaviour.

     

     

    The broadsheets and their readers beleive they have some sort of moral authority, greater than the next man, they generally have an inflated sense of themselves and often feel and push the narrative their views have more validity than others. Basically they see the world through a narrow lense and find examples to consolidate their existing views rather than exploring and questionimg those views.

  23. 31003 on

    They will tell you the rugby lads drink excessive anounts of alcohol but their behaviours is never antisocial, it’s all good spirited piss ups and boys being boys. Swap the rugby lads with football lads and it’s criminal antisocial behaviour.

     

     

    The rugby club I used to have a pint or two in would often be wrecked by the first teasers after a victory…all jolly japes and nothing to see here stuff…

  26. Tontine Tim on

    CELTIC MAC on 23RD MAY 2025 10:07 PM

     

     

    leftclicktic I will second that! Scott has been instrumental in helping Napoli to the Scudetto. Nevers shy of declaring his love for the Celts and no doubt will be looking out for the result tomorrow.

     

     

    *I believe that his da is Helensburgh Tim

  27. Celtic Mac on

    tontine tim

     

     

    Knew there was a Scottish connection somewhere down the line, and Steve Clarke is lucky to have that, and knew also there was some kind of Celtic connection into the bargain. Terrific achievement to do what he has done down in Napoli, and to edge out Inter Milan in the process, another great team. Well done Scott!

  30. lets all do the huddle on

    i hope those who were complaining about the lack of rain in Scotland over the last few weeks are happy now.

     

     

    After the overnnight monsoon in the west of scotland whole villages have been swept away to the sea.

     

     

    I can see livestock floating down the streets which are dozens of feet under water.

     

     

    And now the looting has started, though the electricity networks are down so no idea what folk are going to do with those tellys they have taken from Currys.

     

     

    Apocalyptic scenes.

  32. joes11 on

    Gene – congratulations!

     

     

    Hoople – ty

     

     

    Got it in 4 (knew it in three, but spelling error).

  33. TexasTim on

    Gene @ 7:11

     

     

    Congrats big guy- thought I was doing well making silver! Marriage is not a word, it’s a sentence 😉

  36. An Tearmann on

    Good cup final morning Cqn

     

     

    Hope all well,wet old mornin in Glasgow

     

     

    C’mon the Celfs

     

     

    HH

  1. Pages:
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5