In the race for the league flag, this is as exciting as it gets…
On a bitterly cold 2nd of January, 1968, Celtic lined up against Rangers at Celtic Park. Rangers were 2 points ahead in the league before the game.
I met my cousin at the game. I am Gerard Patrick Mckendry. He’s called Patrick Gerard Mckendry. The feeling in the family was that he was a closet Thistle fan. Guess which team we supported?
Alcohol was banned at the game, the first time ever. He had a quarter bottle of vodka in his inside pocket, which we shared. Rangers equalised twice with the final goal scored by Kai Johnson 3 minutes from the end. The two goals were blamed on Celtic goalkeeper John Fallon who had replaced an injured Ronnie Simpson.
The race was on. Celtic were brilliant for the rest of the season. Winning away at Hibs 0-2, Kilmarnock 0-6 (watch below), Dundee Utd 0-5 and good home wins. The goal difference was vast between us and Rangers.
Although they kept winning Hearts, Clyde, Dunfermilne and Airdrie were all beaten by single goals. Then a breakthrough 0-0 against East Fife, (i think). Now there was only 1 point in it.
Three games to go Rangers played Morton away on a Wednesday night. The strapline on Scotssport was a 6 goal thriller at Morton. When Morton scored their third goal we went wild. Now it was equal points!
As luck would have we played Morton at Celtic park on the Saturday. The Morton lads were cheered on the to the park and as the game started they were dogged and scored to equalise Celtic’s goal. As the game dragged on Celtic were frantic, hitting the bar, plus some good goalkeeping and bad misses.
I was a printer and used to wear my union badge. It was very like a Rangers badge so in the final minute I slipped it into my pocket.
In the 90th minute Celtic got a free kick on the left of the Morton penalty area. There was no added time then. Bobby Murdoch took it and launched the ball to the far side of the goal where Willie Wallace and Bobby Lennox were waiting unmarked. Lennox scored and Celtic Park went mad.
Seldom have there been scenes like that at Celtic Park. It was euphoric! Rangers had scored late at Kilmarnock to win 2-1. Radio Scotland had said that the Celtic game had finished 1-1. Rangers supporters invaded the pitch thinking we had drawn!
Midweek we played away to Dunfermline. Forty thousand thousand Celtic supporters turned up. The police drew their batons and opened the gates. Supporters were everywhere. On the touchline, on the roof of the stands. Celtic won 2-1. Rangers were beaten 3-2 at Pittodrie. What a season! In terms of the league, for me it was a season like no other.
Gerard Patrick Mckendry
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