Jim Craig – Dick Beattie, Celtic’s goalie, Hampden in the Sun

The European Cup win over Inter Milan at Lisbon must surely rank as the best-ever victory in the whole history of Celtic Football Club.

Many fans would rank in second place that wonderful day in the sun at Hampden on 19 October 1957, when Rangers were thrashed 7-1 in the final of the League Cup.

In goal that afternoon for Celtic was Dick Beattie, who had joined the club from Duntocher Hibs in 1954 and took over from the hero of the Coronation Cup Final, Johnny Bonnar.

Dick Beattie was brave and athletic, qualities needed to be Celtic’s keeper at the time, when form was so uncertain. He was in the team which picked up the first-ever League Cup for the club, against Partick Thistle in October 1956, and collected a Glasgow Cup medal later that year when Celtic beat Rangers 5-3 in a replay. Then, in the Scottish Cup final only six months later, Celtic gave an awful display against Hearts and went down 1-3.

The 7-1 final win gave the club a great boost but, unfortunately, it proved to be the final trophy for Celtic in the 1950s. Dick Beattie played on until the summer of 1959, when he joined Portsmouth in England’s Division Two, then moved to Peterborough for a season before coming back up to Scotland and a campaign with St Mirren.

On this day in 1990, at the age of 54, Dick Beattie died at Old Kilpatrick, on the banks of the Clyde.

Many Happy Returns to Paul Shields, born on this day in 1981. Paul made one appearance for the Hoops in his Celtic career between 2000 and 2003 before moving on to Clyde.

Jim Craig

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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