Celtic celebrate the title win at Falkirk in 1974. Photo The Celtic Wiki
In 1974 title was seemingly impossible to lose
This same confusion can be linked to the Bhoys’ 1974 title, the one that secured nine-in-a-row. Again, most Celtic history books will say this happened versus Falkirk at Brockville on 27 April 1974. But the reality is more complex.
In 1974, Celtic’s win v Falkirk put them four points clear of Hibs. With that and the Hoops massive goal difference advantage, it was seemingly impossible to lose the title so fans and journalists crowned Celtic as record breaking Champions.
Celtic celebrate the title win at Falkirk in 1974. Photo The Celtic Wiki
Hibs could technically have caught Celtic
Despite this, Hibs could technically have caught Celtic. The Edinburgh men still had two games to play whilst the Celts had three; heavy defeats for the Celts and big wins for the Easter Road side could have turned around this situation.
Again, this was highly unlikely, but it does mean that the title was not formally sealed. It wasn’t until Celtic drew with Aberdeen on 29 April 1974 that the ninth title was actually secured, despite what most history books record.
All of this is perhaps logical. If the title is effectively done – based on it being almost impossible for the second team to overhaul the points and goal difference – why wait to confirm it?
Yet this isn’t always the case, this season and on different occasions in the past.
Celtic celebrates the 1966 title win at Fir Park. Press cutting via The Celtic Wiki
The Celtic Rising continues
The first title in Celtic’s nine-in-a-row run – and the one that helped take the Bhoys to Lisbon – was won in 1966. It is noted that 1-0 win for Celtic at Fir Park gave them the championship.
Yet before the game, Celtic were level on points with nearest rivals Rangers (who had no more games to play), and well ahead on goal average, the metric used to separate tied teams in those days. In effect, short of a catastrophic and record-breaking defeat, Celtic could not be caught.
Despite this, it was not until the Celts won that day that the title was formally theirs. Although given that the Bhoys’ record defeat was at Fir Park (an 8-0 hiding in 1937), maybe that was just as well!
