The performance against Partick Thistle would prove costly for Jim Kennedy and Jimmy Johnstone, both players missing as Jock Stein made two changes to the line-up for Hampden announced at Celtic’s Largs headquarters at 11am on the Wednesday morning. The Celtic boss decided to go with the team which had comprehensively beaten Motherwell in the semi-final at Hampden then Hibernian at Easter Road. Back into defence came Tommy Gemmell, whilst Stevie Chalmers would move from the centre to the right wing in a revamped attack which also featured the return of Charlie Gallagher. What an important decision that would turn out to be.
The return of Charlie Gallagher…
Dunfermline Athletic manager Willie Cunningham was playing his cards closer to his chest, naming only a 16-man squad.
“I may announce a team [on Friday]or I may not. I may stick to my usual procedure and announce the team when we reach Hampden. The players all know the position. They know my tactics in that respect. I do not think it is necessary to name a team to instil confidence. The boys are confident enough.”
Cunningham’s apparent confidence seemed to be shared by The Evening Times’ chief football correspondent Gair Henderson, who confidently predicted “Dunfermline’s cup, Hearts’ flag” on the day before the vital matches. If Jock Stein was looking for a clipping for the dressing-room wall, then he needed to look no further. Willie Waddell too, for that matter.
The Dunfermline cloak-and-dagger approach continued even after the team bus arrived at Hampden, the Fifers ushered into the away dressing-room with no further updates provided. It was only when the Pars took the field a few minutes before 3pm that the shock exclusion of their top goalscorer Alex Ferguson was revealed, former Clyde and Morton striker John McLaughlin wearing the number nine jersey instead, despite a vastly inferior goals total.
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Great memories Matt. Shows how much the Scottish Football world has changed. On reading that it reminded me how much I took it for granted at that time that Celtic were not a team who would be challenging for the title. I was engrossed in getting that Scottish Cup win. That was enough for me, although I was sure Big Jock would be succesful in improving us.
By the way I recall that in the Daily Record on Cup Final Saturday morning there were 4 pages devoted to the 2 big games that day. One page each for Celtic, Dunfermline, Killie, Hearts telling gving the reason why each of these teams would be a winner. Then in Monday’s edition the Record was able to review both results with a “as we predicted” headline!