The fallout from the events following Celtic’s Scottish Cup Final victory in May 1980 made for a long, difficult close-season. Everyone who wasn’t anyone had their say on the root cause of the problem and legislation was hurriedly introduced, banning alcohol from the terracings and stands. So it was with some relief that we headed to Parkhead for the first competitive fixture of the new term, a Drybrough Cup Quarter-final tie against second-tier Ayr United.
The pre-season tournament, ironically sponsored by a brewing company, involved the highest-scoring teams from the previous League campaign in the top two divisions and had been resurrected in 1979, following a five-year absence.
In Celtic’s very first Drybrough Cup game, at home to Dumbarton in July 1971, I was privileged to watch the coming-of-age of a certain Kenny Dalglish, who banged in four goals in a 5-2 win, after former-Celt Charlie Gallagher had put the Sons ahead in the opening minutes. In the closing stages of the season just ended, the youngster had scored six at Rugby Park, in Frank Beattie’s benefit match, making it increasingly difficult for Jock to ignore such a precocious talent.
His phenomenal scoring run would continue in midweek at a packed Firhill, in the Semi-final against Willie Ormond’s strong St Johnstone side. Again wearing the iconic number seven shorts, Kenny hit a hat-trick, as Celts came back from a two-goal deficit to win 4-2 and clinch a place in the Pittodrie final.
Strange the things you remember about such games. There was Celtic playing in a home kit but with away socks, green with two white bands at the top. There was a rare appearance for Gordon Marshall senior, father of the 90’s keeper, badly at fault for the first goal and, therefore, becoming even rarer after this match.
We wondered where Jock had been hiding Kenny, who I first saw play at right-half against Raith Rovers in Bobby Murdoch’s slot a couple of years earlier, being memorably described in the sports papers of the day as ‘Dalgleish’.
Nine years on from the initial tournament, the Ayr game was the first real opportunity for another special talent, striker Charlie Nicholas. I had been following Charlie’s goal-laden career since his days with Celtic Boys Club, then more recently in the reserves.
Just as Jock had the dilemma with Kenny, so Billy McNeill now had to find a spot in his team for Nicholas. We in the Cairn CSC had an additional vested interest, I was best pals with his cousin John, so it was genuinely a case of hoping to see one of your own making the grade in ‘our team’. As it turned out, Charlie played well on the day, however, a late goal from Eric Morris proved the decisive moment in the game and Celtic were out. For the only time in the six seasons of the competition, the Bhoys would not take part in the Drybrough Cup Final.
