On this day in 1975, before a crowd of 37,000, Celtic ran out at Parkhead to face Boavista in a Cup-Winners’ Cup 2nd Round 2nd leg tie, having drawn 0-0 in Portugal in the first leg.
Peter Latchford was in goal; Danny McGrain was at right-back and converted winger Andy Lynch on the left; Pat McCluskey and Roddy McDonald were paired up at centre-back.
The midfield was made up of Johannes Edvaldsson, Jackie McNamara and Tommy Callaghan, with George McCluskey, Dixie Deans and Kenny Dalglish up front.
Kenny Dalglish got Celtic off to a good start, with a goal in 35 seconds. ‘Big Shuggy’ Edvaldsson made it 2-0 on the 20-minute mark and although Boavista pulled one back in 36 minutes, Dixie Deans raced through to score the goal which eased the fans fears.
So, Celtic won 3-1 on the night, a match which went down in Celtic’s history as the first time numbers had been worn on the back of the players’ jerseys.
Many Happy Returns to Pierce O’Leary, born in Dublin on this day in 1959.
Jim Craig
