Penarol were champions of Uruguay when they arrived in Glasgow on the evening of 31 July and after breakfast the following morning, the players and staff were all out at Barrowfield for a work-out.
The match against Celtic – held on this day, a Thursday in 1973 – was the first of eleven which the South Americans would play on their tour of Europe, taking in Greece, Spain and Portugal.
A crowd of 35,000 was there for the occasion and the Celtic team on the night was Hunter, McGrain, Brogan, Murdoch, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Dalglish, Deans, Hay and Lennox.
Before the match, Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, a guest of Celtic, was presented with a gift to commemorate his 15th anniversary as Boss at Anfield.
Other English managers attending were Tommy Docherty (Manchester United), Bob Stokoe (Sunderland), Don Revie (Leeds United), Joe Mercer ( Coventry) and Jack Charlton (Middlesbrough).
The South Americans appeared classy on the ball but Celtic outplayed them on the night, scoring three goals in the process.
The first in 30 minutes – from the penalty spot after Dixie Deans had been impeded by the goalkeeper – was neatly tucked away by Bobby Lennox; the second arrived twelve minutes into the second half and came from a nice chip by Kenny Dalglish; while the third was set up by a fine run and pass from Bobby Lennox to Dixie Deans, who slotted the ball home.
The sole reply by Penarol came two minutes from time.
It was a very happy Celtic crowd which made their way home afterwards, quite convinced that another good season lay ahead.
Many Happy Returns to Jim Casey, born on this day in 1957.
Jim Craig
