MOTHERWELL’S trim, little ground of Fir Park was bathed in sunshine on the Saturday afternoon of May 7 1966 when something special was about to happen and leave an indelible print on Scottish football.
The story is told by author Alex Gordon, a former Sports Editor of the Sunday Mail and a lifelong Celtic fan, who recalls that marvellous afternoon.
Here is an edited extract of the chapter devoted to the breakthrough title triumph. Alex recollects: “I was in the old enclosure at Fir Park that day.
“I was 14 years old and had absolutely no idea that so many Celtic players who performed that historic day would become personal friends. That would have been a dream too far.
READ ALL ABOUT IT…how the leagues were won.
“All I was concerned about that afternoon was watching Celtic win to clinch the title. I didn’t remember too much about the previous triumph – I was two at the time!
“Celtic were already as good as champions even before the kick-off. They had beaten Dunfermline 2-1 in midweek which just about made certain, but, as ever, there was the most outrageous mathematical possibility they could be caught.
“On the same night Celtic beat the Fifers, Rangers played their last league game of the season and beat Clyde 4-0. That put them on 55 points – the same total as Jock Stein’s men.
“Goal average and not goal difference counted back then and Celtic had scored 105 goals and conceded 30. The Ibrox side had scored 91 and lost 29. So, Motherwell would have to beat Celtic by an avalanche to prevent that flag from flying over Celtic Park.
GRANDSTANDING…Celtic fans take to high road to cheer theri heroes’ 1966 title victory while veteran keeper Ronnie Simpson is carried shoulder-high by team-mates Bobby Murdoch and Billy McNeill.
“On the day of the game, no-one could have guessed that the same Celtic backline of Jim Craig, Billy McNeill, John Clark and my big mate Tommy Gemmell would form the rock that would help the club win the European Cup in Lisbon a year and eight days later.
“There was only a minute to go when Celtic claimed the only goal of the game. Remember, at this stage, the flag was in the bag and there was no possibility of a mathematical comeback.
“And, yet, Jim Craig stormed down the right wing and got to just about the corner-flag before whipping over a low cross. As ever, Bobby Lennox was in his favourite position around the six-yard box.
“The Buzzbomb first-timed it, keeper Peter McCloy was caught off-guard and the trophy was about to be bedecked in green-and-white ribbons for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.”
* READ the full inside story of Celtic’s extraordinary 1965/66 championship triumph – and FIFTY other title successes – in ‘CELTIC: 50 Flags Plus One’ on sale now in CQN’s special Christmas sale. Just click below.
