WHEN IS A TITLE WIN NOT A TITLE WIN?
St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Sunday 20 April 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
On Sunday, Celtic reached the Scottish Cup Final with a 5-0 win over St Johnstone at Hampden Park while this weekend gives the Bhoys the chance to seal this season’s league title up at Tannadice…
Tannadice Park, Dundee, home of Dundee Utd. Photo Celtic FC
Celtic’s record books detail the club’s various league-winning matches. But what if they’re 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 about some of them (technically, at least)? In the past, the Celts have sometimes celebrated when, strictly speaking, they could still have been caught in the title race.
Celtic are close to their 55th title
Cameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic celebrates with team mates after scoring to give Celtic a 3-0 lead. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, Glasgow, 12 April 2025. IMAGO Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock
Celtic are close to their 55th title. They are 15 points clear – with only 15 points left to win – and have a +42 goal advantage. There’s no realistic way the Bhoys can be caught – yet the title’s not officially confirmed. Historically, this approach wasn’t always the case…
Celtic Champions in 1971, proclaims Daily Record.
Not strictly true
Most Celtic history books say the 1970-71 title was won versus Ayr United on 29 April. Newspapers the day after the game proclaimed Celtic as six-in-a-row champions. However, in reality, it wasn’t officially confirmed.
Aberdeen were level on points with Celtic, and the Bhoys had a +11 goal advantage. Celtic had one game still to play, versus Clyde on 1 May. Very unlikely though it was, Celtic could theoretically have lost the title if they’d suffered a massive last day defeat to the Bully Wee.
Instead, the Celts won comfortably by six goals to one, moving them two points clear and confirming their status as champions. But it was only officially after this game that this happened.
Celtic v Clyde, 1971 – the last time that The Lisbon Lions walk out together. Photo The Celtic Wiki
This wasn’t really the Lisbon Lions last game
The Clyde match is better remembered for another reason – and it’s another example of mistaken history. This is often said to be the Lisbon Lions XI’s last game – although in fact Ronnie Simpson only walked onto the pitch and didn’t play.
