On This Day in 1968, Celtic sealed the league title with a win over Dunfermline. In reality, the league was already over as Celtic held a vastly superior goal difference over Rangers, who had been beaten by Aberdeen.
The 1968 triumph was Celtic’s 3rd league title in a row for Jock Stein’s team. Technically, Celtic back in 1968 COULD still be caught as they still had a game in hand to play as the scheduled opponents were busy winning the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden as Rangers lost to Aberdeen.
At the end of the game at Ibrox, the two Glasgow teams were level on points at the top of the league but Rangers had now completed their fixture list while Celtic, with a goal difference of 15 better that the Ibrox side, simply had to avoid losing 16-0 at East End Park in the next midweek.
That would be a gala occasion with Dunfermline bringing the Scottish Cup out and Celtic making sure of the title in front of a packed stadium including many Celtic supporters on the roof (as had also happened at Fir Park in 1966!).
The Pars had beaten Hearts 3-1 in the Scottish Cup Final with the Celtic players watching on and no doubt paying particular attention to the events unfolding in Govan.
In some ways, this could be described as Celtic’s best League championship of Jock Stein era because they we were so far behind at New Year, but won through by playing good football and piling the psychological pressure on Rangers.
Celtic won 2-1 at East End Park, with both goals coming from Bobby Lennox. The Buzz Bomb had scored in each of the last 11 league games of the season to drive Celtic towards the title.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JIM
And a special mention to Jim Craig who played for Celtic on his birthday at Dunfermline and is 77 years young today. Jim is currently a very fine Celtic Ambassador and we’re eternally grateful to him on The Celtic Star for his commitment in helping us establish this site as the one of the most popular among the Celtic support worldwide.
Jim took us on a year long Celtic journey with his outstanding diary which you can catch up on using the search or archive functions on our homepage. Happy Birthday Jim!
INVINCIBLE by Matt Corr
The Celtic Star’s very own Matt Corr – who you may also know as a Tour Guide at Celtic Park – publishes his first Celtic book, titled INVINCIBLE – early next month. This beautiful hardback book will be the definitive story of Celtic’s magical2016-17 season – it truly is wonderful, a real joy to read, and brilliantly written by Matt.
If you have been reading Matt’s regular contributions on The Celtic Star or indeed in the Matchday Programme or in the Celtic View you will know just how talented a Celtic writer he is. The book is published by The Celtic Star and you can pre-order below.
Support Celtic Youth Development
Help raise money for Celtic Youth Development by joining the £1 weekly lottery and you could win up to £25,000 – just click the photograph below to join. Lots of our readers have already done so and they’re now doing their bit to help fund Celtic Youth Development that can deliver the stars of tomorrow and beyond. And you might even win a few bob too! And a special thank you to all The Celtic Star readers who have already signed up and are now supporting youth development to give us the Celtic Stars of the future…
