David Potter on Celtic’s Scottish Cup Final wins from 1977 to 2004

David Potter takes us on a journey through all of Celtic Scottish Cup Final triumphs as we gear up for Saturday’s 2023 Scottish Cup Final against Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Hampden. The story of Celtic’s glory in our favourite competition begins at Ibrox of all places, on 9 April 1892 and David has over the past few days taken us through all of Celtic’s triumphs in Scottish Cup Finals up to the 1975 final.

This morning the eminent Celtic historian covers eight more Scottish Cup finals from 1977 through to 2004 with many more to follow later today only on The Celtic Star…

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 25…CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS – HAMPDEN, 7th MAY 1977 – This was the first Scottish Cup final to be televised live for 20 years, and given that, and the dreadful weather, it was no surprise that only 54,252 turned up at the antiquated and now dilapidated Hampden to see what turned out to be a dreadful game.

Celtic were already League Champions and today they were marginally the better side in a final which did little for the game’s image in Scotland. The game hinged on a penalty kick awarded half way through the first half which hit either Derek Johnstone’s knee or hand, and pictures are still inconclusive. But Mr Valentine said it was a penalty, and Andy Lynch sank it.

Celtic then held out through a painful second half, and won the Scottish Cup for the 25th time.

The Celtic team was: Latchford, McGrain, Lynch, Stanton, MacDonald, Aitken, Dalglish, Edvaldsson, Craig, Wilson, Conn.

Read all about Celtic ‘s next Scottish Cup Final win on the next page…

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 26…CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS (AET)– HAMPDEN, 10 MAY 1980 – This is the final that was made infamous by the riot at the end, but it was a shame that such behaviour took the gloss off what was actually a very even game played in good weather.

Celtic entered this final on a low having (incredibly) thrown away the Scottish League to Aberdeen after being well ahead. They were also missing several players through injury. The game went to extra time, and the only goal of the game was scored when Danny McGrain drove hopefully for goal, George McCluskey stuck out a foot, earned a deflection and Peter McCloy in the Rangers goal was deceived.

It was not a great goal but it was good enough to win the Scottish Cup for Celtic for the 26th time. Mayhem ensued at full time, but the Cup had already been presented to Danny McGrain, and that was what really mattered.

The Celtic team was: Latchford, Sneddon, McGrain, Aitken, Conroy, MacLeod, Provan, Doyle (Lennox), McCluskey, Burns, McGarvey

Read all about Celtic ‘s next Scottish Cup Final win on the next page…

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 27…CELTIC 2-1 DUNDEE UNITED – HAMPDEN, 18 MAY 1985 – “Up there” with the best of Celtic’s Scottish Cup finals in terms of drama and comebacks, this final hinged on the decision of Manager Davie Hay with 15 minutes to go, to take off the ineffective Paul McStay and replace him with defender Pierce O’Leary while pushing Roy Aitken up the park with instructions to “take a grip” of the game.

Roy did so, and the game was turned round from 0-1 to 2-1 with goals from Davie Provan’s free kick and Frank McGarvey’s header. Earlier Dundee United had looked totally in command, having scored early in the second half.

The 27th Scottish Cup was a reward to the supporters after the Rapid Vienna fiasco and some League form which does not even deserve the word “indifferent”. Paul and Willie McStay had now equalled the feat of their great uncles Willie and Jimmy who had won the Scottish Cup for Celtic in the 1920s.

The Celtic team was: Bonner, W McStay, McGrain, Aitken, McAdam, MacLeod, Provan, Johnston, Burns (McClair), P McStay (O’Leary), McGarvey.

Read all about Celtic ‘s next Scottish Cup Final win on the next page…

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 28…CELTIC 2-1 DUNDEE UNITED – HAMPDEN, 14 MAY 1988 – In some ways a replica of 1985, but there were significant differences as well. Billy McNeill was now back as Manager, it was Centenary Year, Celtic had already won the Scottish League and someone had the crazy idea of inviting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher! Supporters from Glasgow and Dundee, two cities where detestation of the Tories is more or less taken for granted, combined to give her the red card and invite her to go and have sexual intercourse instead.

After an anodyne first half, Dundee United opened the scoring through Kevin Gallacher, grandson of the illustrious Patsy Gallacher, and looked on top for a long time until Frank McAvennie scored twice, once with virtually the last kick of the ball. It was a great way to round off Centenary season.

The Celtic team was: McKnight, Morris, Rogan, Aitken, McCarthy, Whyte (Stark), Miller, McStay, McAvennie, Walker (McGhee), Burns.

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 29…CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS – HAMPDEN, 20 MAY 1989 – This was Celtic’s 29th Scottish Cup win and it was a vital one to stop Rangers winning a Scottish treble. Celtic had been a major disappointment this season in comparison with last season, but there was always the Scottish Cup, so often Celtic’s favourite trophy.

The day was hot, and Celtic were now fighting back having apparently landed Maurice Johnston for next season! It wasn’t true but it was good propaganda. The game was even but just before half time, Joe Miller pounced on a poor pass back and gave Celtic the lead which they protected until the end. Overall, Celtic were marginally the better side, and we had the last laugh… but the dark days were about to descend.

The Celtic team was: Bonner, Morris, Rogan, Aitken, McCarthy, Whyte, Grant, McStay, Miller, McGhee, Burns

Read all about Celtic ‘s next Scottish Cup Final win on the next page…

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 30…CELTIC 1-0 AIRDRIE – HAMPDEN, 31 MAY 1995 – There are times like 1951, 1965 and 1995 when Celtic simply have to win a Scottish Cup final. This was one such day for six years of intense trophyless agony had passed since 1989.

But the club was now under new ownership and we had to believe that things were happening. The opponents were Airdrie of the First Division, described usually as “tough but talentless”, and so they proved today in this terrible game of football.

Celtic scored in the first half with a Van Hooijdonk header from a Tosh McKinlay lob, but then Van Hooijdonk went off injured, and the second half was long, tedious and extremely nerve wracking. But Celtic held out and their 30th Scottish Cup was probably their most craved.

The Celtic team was: Bonner, Vata, Boyd, McNally, McKinlay, McLaughlin, Grant, McStay, Collins, Donnelly (O’Donnell), Van Hooijdonk.

Read all about Celtic ‘s next Scottish Cup Final win on the next page…

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 31…CELTIC 3-0 HIBS – HAMPDEN, 26 MAY 2001 – There had been a revolution at Celtic Park in 2000 – not as fundamental as the one in 1994, but significant nevertheless in that a good Manager called Martin O’Neill had been appointed and he had been supported with cash and players.

This game won Celtic’s 31st Scottish Cup and sealed their third treble to join 1967 and 1969. Hibs too had had a reasonable season but today they were well beaten by Celtic for whom Henrik Larsson scored twice and Jackie McNamara once. Celtic wore yellow but changed into green and white to receive the trophy.

The Celtic team was: Douglas, Mjallby, Vega, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lennon, Lambert (Boyd), Moravcik (McNamara), Thompson (Johnson), Larsson, Sutton.

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 32…CELTIC 3-1 DUNFERMLINE – HAMPDEN, 22 MAY 2004 – It was nice to see Dunfermline back in a Cup final again, but not so nice to see them go in at half time one goal up.

But Celtic wearing a strange strip with dull green jerseys and silver pants fought back and Henrik Larsson, playing his last competitive game for Celtic, scored two great goals and another from Stiliyan Petrov saw a 3-1 win which was comfortable enough in the end.

It was another League and Cup double for Celtic, and Celtic’s 32nd Scottish Cup. It was a shame that Larsson did not get his hat-trick for he would certainly have been worthy of such an honour.

The Celtic team was: Marshall, Varga, Balde, McNamara, Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Pearson (Wallace), Thompson, Larsson, Sutton.

Many more Scottish Cup triumphs still to come later today and hopefully at Hampden tomorrow afternoon!

David Potter