10. MILLER TIME
CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS
SCOTTISH CUP FINAL, 20 MAY 1989
Rangers, under the arrogance of Souness, funded by Dodgy David Murray’s chequebook, were heading for a Treble and Celtic set out to stop it. At this time you could feel the tide changing in Scottish football as Celtic, Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hearts were all weakening sides as a financially doped Rangers bought and bought big. We all know now how this was funded but at the time things were starting to look grim for Celtic.
We were about to enter the 90s and after this match, there wouldn’t be another Celtic/Rangers Scottish Cup Final for a decade. The great thing about this game on reflection is the fact that Celtic took a quick throw in that should have gone to Rangers and this eventually led to Joe Miller’s goal.
This is often used as the one and only example of a refereeing decision going Celtic’s way in these matches. Maybe Bob Valentine felt sorry for us (yeah, right!) Maybe he knew what was to come. But just like in 1988, the Celtic fans partied hard that May night in 1989. It would be a while before we could do it again.
