This past week we have been looking back on the Celtic v Benfica match at Celtic Park in the European Cup in November 1969 and after the initial article covering that dramatic and joyous night at Paradise, we have enjoyed sharing some memories of Celtic Supporters who were at the game.

Today Neil Doogan, who have been a brilliant contributor to the site in recent months, telling us some remarkable stories about The Shamrock, The John Thomson tribute if the East if Scotland CSC in the late 1940s and more. Well worth a read back folks.

Before handing over to Neil, let’s start by letting those readers who may have missed the opening article on this match to catch up…

Here is some video footage of the game…

CATCH UP HERE…12 Nov, 1969, Celtic 3 Benfica 0 – “Their support was fantastic and it was worth an extra man to the team,” Jock Stein

We asked for supporter feedback and opened with this one…

Reaction to Celtic 3 Benfica 0 – “Tommy Gemmell unleashed his thunderbolt. The noise was tremendous”

AND THIS ONE…Attending Celtic v Benfica 1969 – ‘My first game under the floodlights and I remember being in awe at the scene of 80,000 fans roaring on Celtic”

Now let’s hand over to Neil Doogan for the last word on Celtic 3 Benfica 0….

Since coming to write a few articles for The Celtic Star in recent weeks I have found that I am taking a trip into a memory box all tied up and wrapped in green and white ribbons.

Memories are like a fine malt whisky they mature with age the doubts and fears of our youth have vanished leaving a warm glow of the triumphs carried out by a group of young men reared in a tiny radius in the west of Scotland. Their deeds will never fade for legends never die in Paradise.

Celtic v Benfica was one such occasion on a cold, windswept November night in the East End of Glasgow in 1969. Their opponents were European royalty having broken the strangle hold of Real Madrid in the European Cup winning the cup twice and reaching five finals in this golden era with the finest player in Europe in their ranks Eusebio second only to Pele in world standing.

Celtic at this stage were well used to dining at the top table although we feel that more trophies could have been won what was achieved was quite remarkable given the small group
of players involved.

The English teams of this period with all the huge sums of money they spent could not compare with the level of consistency shown by by Celtic .Indeed the voice of English football Jimmy Hill stated that Celtic’s achievement in Lisbon outshone England winning the world Cup as England had the huge advantage of playing all their games at home.

Against Benfica, Celtic stormed into a lead after just two minutes, pies and Bovril were thrown in the air as a thunderbolt from Tommy Gemmell raged into the Benfica net. Bertie Auld’s head set the goal up with a cheeky piece of chicanery by feigning to shoot before tapping the ball for Tommy. The keeper never moved as the ball flew past him.

Celtic went for the jugular and Willie Wallace added a second, although Benfica still threatened. Their giant striker Torres was a handful, the first couple of times he beat Big Billy in air but very quickly Cesar got the measure of him and that was the end of his game plan. Eusebio had a couple of shots one which was from just inside the Celtic half which flashed past the post.

The second half was a more cagey affair with Celtic protecting their lead and Benfica not wanting to concede any more goals. Fortunately on seventy minutes Harry Hood managed to slip one home to ensure a comprehensive win and so another wonderful night at Celtic Park had come to a climax.

The return leg in Lisbon was played in a monsoon and Benfica turned the screw and pulled two goals back with Eusebio pulling the strings. Celtic looked like weathering the storm only to lose a goal in the last minute thus sending the game into extra time. No further goals ensued and so the drama of all dramas – tossing a coin to decide the outcome.

The coin was to be tossed three times and luckily Billy called heads twice to win the tie. Not for the first time Big Billy’s head had came to the rescue.

Celtic made a plea to UEFA that in future no game should be decided this way, also stating if they had lost they would not have made any complaint.

Thus ended another great European Cup adventure.

Neil Doogan