Cesar and Celtic: Part 8 – A moral victory at Ibrox as Bertie’s future hangs in the balance

Hard to believe it’s already 12 months since we said our final goodbyes to the man who pretty much epitomised Celtic for many of us supporters who grew up in the mid to late-1960s. In this short tribute series, we look back at the early career of the incomparable Billy McNeill.

Part 7 of this series covered the final few months of 1960, as a talented but inconsistent young Hoops side were plodding along in mid-table. We pick up the story there…

Having completed a 3-game winning streak by beating high-flying Kilmarnock on Hogmanay, the calendar year 1961 opened with a double-dose of pain in the Glasgow holiday derbies.

Almost 80,000 fans packed into Ibrox on New Year’s Day to see Jim Baxter’s penchant for a bit of showboating in his own penalty box allow John Divers the opportunity to give Celts the lead just before the half-hour, just reward for a promising opening period from the visitors.

The first of several game-defining moments came along immediately afterwards, as Celts outside-left Alec Byrne sustained a shoulder injury which rendered him a virtual passenger for the remainder of the match. On the hour, there was another bad break for Celtic, a misplaced Ibrox pass deflecting off a hooped jersey to play two Rangers forwards onside, Ralph Brand gleefully beating Frank Haffey to equalise.

We should have known that it would not be our day when Jim Conway outmuscled Bill Paterson, rounded George Niven then knocked the ball home for a superb goal, his celebrations cut short as our old friend Tom ‘Tiny’ Wharton blew up for an alleged offence which apparently only he had seen.

Then Divers beat the Ibrox goalkeeper but also his far post by inches before a second Celtic goal was ruled out, Willie Fernie’s scoring header the latest victim of an eagle-eyed linesman, despite the Celt having overtaken Eric Caldow to reach Divers’ exquisite chipped pass.

As the 10-man Bhoys tired, the inevitable duly happened. Haffey had been immaculate for 80 minutes as a high ball dropped into his six-yard box. Inexplicably, he misjudged the flight completely, allowing an unmarked Davie Wilson the easiest goal of his career. The media were unanimous in that it had been a moral victory for Celtic. Sadly, no points are forthcoming for 1-2 moral victories.

The following Saturday, 7 January 1961, Celtic played host to Third Lanark. They had beaten Celtic in our first-ever Scottish Cup final, the replayed ‘Snow Final’ of 1889, then won their only League Championship at the end of their first season in their new home, Cathkin Park, once the Second Hampden before the relocation of Queen’s Park to their current base in Mount Florida. The Hi Hi’s golden era would then end with a second Scottish Cup triumph the following season, 1904/05, this time Rangers their victims.

The 1961 vintage Thirds would not be aware that the proud old club had entered its last decade of existence as they took the field against Jimmy McGrory’s Celtic, in front of 22,000 at a dark and frozen Parkhead.

Young Charlie Gallagher came into the side for the injured Byrne, with the forward line shuffled to accommodate him on the right wing, whilst the continued absence of Bertie Auld on the left would later be explained by his ongoing transfer discussions.

By half-time, the visitors had twice come from behind to equalise, goals from John Divers and Steve Chalmers countered by a Harley double. There would only be one goal in the second-half as the snow fell on the east end, Third Lanark winger Goodfellow turning Badfellow in the eyes of the Celtic support, beating Billy McNeill then forcing the ball home after Haffey had blocked his first attempt, to consign the Hoops to another disappointing loss.

Billy McNeill in action at Pittodrie in January 1961

Things would look more promising after a 3-1 win at Pittodrie the following Saturday, 14 January 1961. In the absence of the injured Alec Byrne, Jim Conway and Willie Fernie, Bertie Auld and John Hughes came back into the side.

Two goals just before the interval set Celtic up for a much-needed victory, Charlie Gallagher and Steve Chalmers on target. Brownlie’s strike for the Dons just after the hour mark brought some anxiety to Hoops followers before John Divers clinched the points with seven minutes remaining.

There would be two further victories before the end of the month, as speculation continued around the future of Bertie Auld, Everton, Blackpool and Fulham the latest English clubs to be credited with an interest in the Celtic winger.

Airdrieonians made the short trip to Celtic Park seven days later, the Broomfield club returning on the end of a 4-0 hammering after a Stevie Chalmers double and goals from John Divers and Paddy Crerand saw the Bhoys ease home.

The last game of January 1961 was a Scottish Cup-tie at Brockville, a colourful match settled by three penalties following an own goal. Falkirk full-back Thomson was the unfortunate goalscorer, deflecting Bertie Auld’s cross from a short-corner into his own net to give Celts an early lead.

Captain Bertie Peacock, replacing young John Clark in the side following his return from injury, made it 2-0 from the spot 10 minutes later, as the wizardry of Willie Fernie drew the challenge in the Falkirk box.

Referee Bobby Davidson then awarded a penalty to the Bairns with 20 minutes remaining, McMillan giving Frank Haffey no chance to bring the hosts back into the tie. However, Fernie again caused mayhem in the Falkirk defence within five minutes, Davidson pointing to the spot for the third time, Peacock then booking Celts a place in the draw for the next round with a confident conversion.