On this day in 1970, Celtic hosted Leeds United in the second leg of the European Cup Semi Final. The game had to be moved to Hampden Park to accommodate the 136,505 European record attendance, whilst many more entered by getting a lift over the turnstyle or by other more dubious methods.
Celtic fans queuing ahead of the match
Having defeated the greatest team in English football at Elland Road, Celtic were confident of victory, whilst certain quarters still showed them a lack of respect. That said, Billy Bremner gave the visitors the lead with a stunning strike. Bremner later said of the following scene after his goal “Then it started, ‘Celtic, Celtic, Celtic,’ it got louder and louder, the type of cry that had froze many men!”
Hughes levelled the match in the 47th minute with a beautiful header, before Murdoch gave Celtic a 2-1 lead and 3-1 advantage, four minutes later.
That’s how things stayed as the European record crowd went home delirious at having beaten a superb side home and away, reaching a second European Cup Final in three years to boot!