JOHN ‘YOGI’ HUGHES was a massive personality at Celtic in more ways than one.
The giant winger was a firm favourite with the club’s followers and had the pulverising ability to dominate games – and he performed that feat in a crucial Old Firm encounter at a frostbound Parkhead on January 3 1966.
The Hoops were attempting to win their first title since 1954 and the match against their oldest foes was absolutely vital as Jock Stein’s side tried to make up for years in the silverware wilderness.
The Celtic fans in the packed stadium were silenced inside two minutes as the visitors took a shock lead as a low drive from winger Davie Wilson skidded past the sprawling Ronnie Simpson into the far corner of the net.
That was the cue for Big Yogi to take centre stage.
HIGH JINKS…John Hughes puts the pressure on Rangers keeper Billy Ritchie.
Hughes takes up the story: “The man known to us all as ‘Faither’ was blameless. It was a blow, no argument, but I doubt if there was a single team-mate on the park that day who didn’t believe we could turn it around.
“Although it must be admitted it’s never clever to give a good Rangers team a goal of a start.
“We began to turn the screw and pummelled their defence for just about the entire remainder of the first-half. They were defending frantically and I must admit I wasn’t getting too much joy out of my immediate opponent Kai Johansen.
“I was pushing the ball past him and chasing after it, but he was doing a very reasonable job of getting back to put in tackles. It was frustrating, to say the least.
“The scoreline remained the same at the interval and we knew we had 45 minutes to turn things around. I spotted a pair of discarded white training shoes lying in the corner. They had suction pads and were used for training indoors.
“I think they were Billy McNeill’s gear, I’m not sure. I had been wearing rubber studs in the first-half and they were as useful as a chocolate fireguard. I decided to give them a try and, thankfully, they fitted.
HAPPY HAT-TRICK…Stevie Chalmers (right) fires in one of his trio past helpless Billy Ritchie as Jimmy Johnstone gets a close-up view.
“What had I to lose? Johansen, I realised, would have been more than delighted with his performance up to that point. I had to give him something else to think about. I discarded my normal boots and put on the shoes. Could they make a difference? We would find out soon enough.
“The game was merely four minutes into the second-half when I combined with Tommy Gemmell and our left-back whipped a dangerous low cross into the Rangers penalty area. Joe McBride dummied the ball and that was just perfect for someone of the speed and courage of Stevie Chalmers.
“He darted into the danger area and turned the ball past Billy Ritchie. Game on!
“I was beginning to get into my stride on the left wing. The shoes were doing their job and definitely helped me maintain my poise and balance when I was running with the ball. Suddenly I was leaving Johansen in my slipstream. My pace was beginning to tell and he was mistiming his tackles.
HAPPY NEW YEAR…Stevie Chalmers and Bobby Lennox celebrate as Rangers keeper Billy Ritchie and defender Ronnie McKinnon wonder what has hit them.
“Thirteen minutes after the equaliser, we were ahead. It was Stevie again with a header from a left-wing corner-kick. Rangers were on the ropes and we knew it. So, too, did they. Time to go for the jugular and finish them off.
“Seven minutes later, I got away from Johansen again and saw Charlie Gallagher taking up a great position about 25 yards out. Charlie could strike a beautiful ball, that was undoubtedly his forte.
“He simply lashed an unstoppable drive in the direction of Ritchie’s goal. The ball exploded against the underside of the crossbar before bouncing down over the line. The Rangers keeper didn’t move a muscle.
PICK IT OUT…Billy Ritchie is helpless as Bobby Murdoch’s thunderous drive whips into the Rangers net for No.4.
“The fourth goal in the 79th minute from Bobby Murdoch was a collector’s item. Not because of the awesome power and flawless accuracy from our midfielder; he displayed both of those qualities often enough in his exceptional career.
“No, it was the role referee Tiny Wharton played in it. Jimmy Johnstone and Gallagher combined on the right before Charlie sent the ball across the Rangers defence about 25 yards out.
“The pass was actually heading for Tiny when he suddenly opened his legs and let the ball go through them. It was a consummate dummy any pro footballer would have been proud to claim.
“Bobby read it perfectly and hit a devastating left-foot drive that almost took the net away.
“It was all over for the Ibrox side when I moved the ball over from the left, Wee Jimmy Johnstone got involved and the ball dropped perfectly for Stevie to launch a low drive past Ritchie.
“It was the end of a perfect day played in conditions hardly conducive for attractive football.
“No-one at Celtic was complaining, though. We had a long-overdue title to win.”
* 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.
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