Here is the fifth part of my story for The Celtic Star: “Supporting Celtic from Near and Far.”
1967-68
How does a football club follow a season like 1966-67? I suppose the only answer is to try to do it all again. Certainly we were up for it!
On paper the League Cup section comprising Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United and Rangers was possibly the most competitive ever. A draw at Ibrox in the second sectional match put on a little pressure but five victories in the other ties sealed our place in the quarter finals.
The return fixture against Rangers was vital. A win would guarantee qualification, a draw would leave our fate in our own hands at Aberdeen but a defeat meant that we would be relying on Dundee United doing us a favour in their match at Tannadice Park against Rangers.
The events that unfolded were truly remarkable. Rangers scored early through Willie Henderson. Well into the second half we were still a goal down with Rangers happy to soak up pressure and hit us on the break. Nothing changes really! Unusually we were defending the Celtic end in the second half. On one of their sorties Willie Henderson broke clear and seemed certain to put the match beyond us. Suddenly John Clark appeared from nowhere to challenge Wee Willie as we all held our breath. Unfortunately John upended the Wee Man and the Rangers supporters howled for a penalty then sat back to enjoy the victory when the inevitable decision was given.
Kai Johansen thundered the ball against the underside of the bar. It slammed onto the turf and from where I stood in The Jungle it was clearly over the line but the spin brought it back into the field of play. Referee Tiny Wharton seemed unmoved. By this time pandemonium had broken out. Showing all of his experience the coolest man in Celtic Park was Ronnie Simpson. He was up off the grass quickly and into position as unbelievably Johansen possibly not realising that no one else has played the ball tried to put in the net. Did the Dane suddenly appreciate what he was about to do? Who knows?
There was little power in the header and grabbing the ball Ronnie punted it up to the other end of the pitch. Presumably on the basis of acting first and asking questions afterwards! Did I mention pandemonium? Of course the upshot was no goal for Rangers and an indirect free kick for Celtic due to Johansen’s having played the ball twice.
That seemed to galvanise Celtic even more. The attacks rained down now. Willie Wallace equalised and Bobby Murdoch fired in a thunderbolt. In the last minute Bobby Lennox scored the clincher which while it did not trickle into the net did not scream in either.
I rushed home to watch the highlights on TV and relive the fun. Wonderful! I sat my dad down to watch with me. He was Celtic daft but family constraints then give him little time to enjoy The Bhoys. He was thrilled with the first two goals. When he saw the third from Wee Bobby it was with great delight my dad said, “He peed it in.” The fact that it just rolled in somewhat gently made it all the sweeter for him.
Ayr United, over two legs, and then Morton were swept aside. In the final Dundee provided sterner opposition on a day when we were not at our best despite a win 5-3. Perhaps the players’ minds were drifting to Buenos Aires and the second leg of the World Club Championship.
Racing Club were a total disgrace. Many of the events are too painful even now. We deserved more than our single goal victory at Hampden (played there to accommodate the anticipated huge attendance) and having taken the lead in Buenos Aires perhaps we should have clinched matters but those Argentinians were more than masters of the dark football arts. Nothing would stop them winning this title. Suffice to say that they scored two goals to win the match and achieved a 1-0 victory in the play off in Montevideo a few days later.
We say, “It never rains but it pours.” Our French cousins prefer, “Never two without three.” At the end of January 1968 the third catastrophe arrived in the guise of a totally off day at home to Dunfermline who despatched us 0-2. No Scottish Cup! They rubbed salt in the wound by announcing that they had been so confident of not losing that they had brought with them tickets for the replay.
The battle for the League had been nip and tuck all the way.
Rangers had grabbed a single goal victory at Ibrox in mid-September. We drew 1-1 at home with St. Johnstone the following Saturday and then only dropped one point in a fine run before our main rivals for the flag arrived at Celtic Park on 2 January. Things were so tight that this looked like a must win game. Bertie Auld opened the scoring early on and ten minutes into the second half Willie Johnston equalised. Twelve minutes from time Bobby Murdoch put us back in front but a shot from Johansen squirmed under John Fallon’s body to deny us.
In the Glasgow Cup Final at Hampden Park on Wednesday 17 April 1968 we thrashed Clyde 8-1. At half time there was talk of Rangers losing at Cappielow in the league. After the game I rushed home to catch those league highlights on TV hoping anxiously for a good result. I revelled in a 3-3 draw. No one could have predicted that, surely!
Following the Scottish Cup exit against Dunfermline we had had a run of 13 consecutive league victories including seven in March scoring 43 goals for the loss of only 5. That “disaster” for Rangers against Morton meant that they were on the same number of points as Celtic but that our vastly superior goal average put us on top of the table with our destiny in our own hands at last. Ironically our next league match was on 20 April 1968 against (whom else?) Morton. Time to play our trump card!
I have three younger brothers. Like all kids in that situation (well nearly all) Eddie, next in line, wanted to do the same as his brother which meant coming with me to the matches very occasionally (although he was never hugely interested). Laurie has no interest in football whatsoever although Stephen is a fan and Celtic first and foremost. My mate John and I agonised about the result. Morton could not do it again could they? Suddenly he had the solution! He recalled that when Eddie came with us we always won. Eddie was coming even if we had to drag him.
Willie Wallace scored early on but on the stroke of half time Morton equalised with an absolute beauty thundered in from around 25 yards. All to play for in the second half! With the news that Rangers were leading at Kilmarnock the situation was becoming desperate. We were missing chances. From where would the winner come because it must with Eddie being at the game? Time is almost up as we mount yet another attack. The ball is played forward and breaks to Bobby Lennox who instinctively scores the winner with what was possibly the last kick.
Celtic Park went absolutely crazy. A win in the final match at Dunfermline sealed the title. Unbelievable! A glorious end to a thrilling season! The double of League Cup and League Championship was not a bad return. Roll on 1968-69!
DidsburyCelt
05/06/2018
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