Harry sets up an iconic Celtic moment for the one and only Jim Brogan…
Celtic’s wonderful form in the closing weeks of 1971 carried over into the new year, the ‘first-footers’ at Shawfield ripping Clyde apart with a 7-0 victory. Harry began the slaughter of his old side by hooking home the opening goal in 15 minutes, the first of his double. His second was also a cracker, Kenny Dalglish’s defence-splitting pass hammered passed keeper Phil Cairney on 74 minutes.
Dixie Deans also grabbed a brace to continue his perfect scoring record, before making way for Danny McGrain seven minutes into the second half, the Celt joining his cousin – Danny McGrain of Clyde – on the pitch. Vic Davidson, Dalglish and an Eddie Mulheron own goal made it a magnificent seven on the day and an incredible 16 in two League games against the struggling Bully Wee that season. There was a lovely touch as the players left the field at the interval, captured by reporter William Hunter in the following Monday’s Glasgow Herald, which perhaps summed up the type of man Harry was.
“Clyde did well. Five down at half-time, they came off in a condition of utter dejection. Their despair was so obviously total it was embarrassing. Entering the pavilion, Hood was moved to nudge Mulheron in the ribs in a gesture of unobtrusive sportsmanship that was part encouragement, part apology and most moving.”
The mood on our car journey home was lifted further as word came through that Aberdeen had only drawn at Dens Park, Stein’s Celts now two points clear at the top. It was a perfect start to the year.
Two days later, Monday, 3 January 1972, Willie Waddell’s Rangers crossed the city looking to avenge those three defeats on their own turf back in August. Not since New Year’s Day 1913 had Celtic managed to win both League fixtures against their traditional rivals in the same season, a quite incredible statistic for those of us brought up in the decades of success.
A goal early in the second half by Jimmy Quinn had been enough to win at Ibrox back then, the Bould Bhoy from Croy having scored the winner in a five-goal Celtic Park thriller the previous October. These were the days of Alec ‘The Icicle’ McNair, ‘Sunny Jim’ Young, Andy McAtee, Jimmy ‘Napoleon’ McMenemy and, of course, the incomparable ‘Mighty Atom’ Patsy Gallacher, early heroes whose names still roll off Celtic tongues with such love and respect over a century later.
The Mighty Quinn’s grandson and namesake had recovered from an injury sustained in a friendly against Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy the previous week, however, fatefully as it transpired, Jim Brogan would be selected by Jock Stein to wear the number three shorts, as the following teams lined up.
Celtic: Denis Connaghan; Davie Hay & Jim Brogan, Kenny Dalglish, Billy McNeill & George Connelly; Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Lennox, Dixie Deans, Tommy Callaghan & Harry Hood. Substitute; Danny McGrain.
Rangers: Peter McCloy; Sandy Jardine & Willie Mathieson; John Greig Colin Jackson & Dave Smith; Tommy McLean, Derek Johnstone, Colin Stein, Alex MacDonald & Willie Johnston. Substitute; Alfie Conn.
The afternoon commenced on a sombre note, the players from both teams wearing black armbands and flags above the Jungle flying at half-mast in tribute to those who had lost their lives in the terrible crush which followed the corresponding fixture 12 months earlier. Rest in peace.
Having scored twice against Clyde, Harry would turn provider in this latest derby clash, played before almost 78,000 spectators. Ten minutes before the interval, he slung over a cross from his left wing beat beside the Jungle, picking out Jimmy Johnstone, lurking on the far side of the box.
Jinky had been a major doubt for the match beforehand, however, there was no doubt in his mind as he powered yet another header past Peter McCloy to give the Hoops the lead. With 10 minutes remaining, Colin Stein forced his way through to score a late equaliser, negating Johnstone’s goal, just as he had done in the match last January, however, on this occasion the last word would go to the most unlikely of heroes.
Jim Brogan was a tremendous Celtic player, powerful, consistent and capable of playing in a number of roles equally well. A fantastic man to have in your team. Like another great Celt to whom those attributes were often labelled – Danny McGrain – if there was ever a criticism of Brogan it could only be around the number of goals he scored for the club, just six in over 200 League games.
But on this day, Jim would score his most famous goal for Celtic. Two days earlier, Rangers had snatched victory over Partick Thistle at Ibrox with a Derek Johnstone strike in stoppage time. Today, they would be on the receiving end of a late winner, and a fourth defeat of the campaign at the hands of Celtic, Harry’s cute chipped pass finding the left-back running clear at the far post to steer a header past McCloy and win the match. To this day, the image of Jim Brogan against the backdrop of the illuminated main stand roof as he scores a late, winning goal against Rangers is right up there with the best of them.
Matt Corr
*An extract from Harry Hood: Twice As Good, the official biography by Matt Corr. £1 from every sale goes directly to support the wonderful work of Marie Curie.
