Half a century ago Celtic were in another European Cup semi-final.
I was twelve years old, and that was my normal.
This time the opponents standing in our way to the final wasn’t an unknown quantity from Czechoslovakia.
It was England’s best managed by Don Revie.
The press pack in London were confident that Leeds United would easily brush aside the Hoops.
Despite falling to a George Connelly goal on their own turf, the English media were still confident that the single goal advantage could be overturned.
On 14 minutes a tenacious little Scot levelled the tie.
I can still hear the silence as the white-clad Subbuteo man shook his fists in triumph.
It was a brilliant strike, and I had a great view up the top of the uncovered end.
However, after that setback, Celtic battered the English side.
I have a fragment of a video in my long-term memory of George Connelly causally filleting their defence is a curved pass from a central area.
Still, Leeds held onto their narrow lead, and it was 1-1- on aggregate at the break.
In the second half, the Hoops turned up the temperature.
Revie’s men were famous for their gruelling level of fitness.
On the domestic front, they wore teams down.
That night at Hampden, they were out on their feet.
Wee Jinky had one of the games of his stellar career.
The man tasked to stop him was Terry Cooper.
Half a century on, it is still a cruel spectacle.
As Mr Stein wisely observed, “football without fans is nothing”, and there were 136,505 of us there to prove the point.
When I had first been taken to see the Hoops, the eight-year-old me loved it when all these big men would shout, “feed the bear!”
This meant shuttling the ball out to the left-wing, were John Hughes was waiting.
Unlike the diminutive genius on the other wing, he was a big unit with deceptively quick feet.
His nickname was “Yogi”.
That didn’t mean he practised transcendental meditation at Barrowfield.
He was a big bear of a man.
The strategist from Burnbank decided to play Hughes through the middle as a centre forward that night.
Years later, Jack Charlton would tell his Irish charges that it was one of the worst experiences of his career.
Bertie Auld’s impudent cross from a short corner was pure honey for big Yogi.
It was 1-1- on the night, and Celtic were ahead on aggregate.
Jack Charlton was bullied at the near post and dumped on his backside.
Mount Florida erupted, and the place went certifiably mental.
My grandfather did his best to keep me on the crush barrier.
I understand that there were complaints about the noise from an old lady in Belgium.
It was fitting that Wee Jinky would have a major role in the winner on the night that put the tie beyond Revie’s men.
The first time shot from Bobby Murdoch was pure, beautiful, inventive football.
Celtic’s ginger tormentor in chief, with his socks at his ankles, joyfully slaloming into the opposition penalty area is an image that gave me so much childhood joy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsDPlK2qpEw
In 1970 Celtic had domestic rivals.
Even as the Hoops battled their way to Nine In A Row, across the city there was still an adversary to be reckoned with.
Today, Celtic have no domestic equal.
The Parkhead club are now in such an unassailable position that Big Jock would have thought it to be simply impossible.
So, no matter what decisions are reached on Planet Fitba in the post-COVID world, that reality will remain extant.
Fifty years on, the club that beat Leeds on that volcanic might in Hampden is still alive and looking down on the rest.
When the beautiful game resumes, expect the Hoops to establish social distancing from all and sundry in Scotland.
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Actually Null and Void might be a good shout, James Thomas. A “Tainted Title” will always be a “Tainted” Title. It will be 9IAR with an asterix. Like it or not, that will be the way that 9IAR will be remembered and consequently 10IAR as well.
That game LIverpool 3-0 down at half time – A.C. Milan? CL Final. if it had been abandoned and God forbid been unreplayable, then no-one act Liverpool would have argued it maybes…But the game was played and the outcome, oh, so different! So how can you say that Celtic are Champions when the season is not completed. Can you? Truthfully? Make up your own mind. I’m with JT. Good call.
We should be careful because this could be a trap we sleepwalk right into. Better to play the whole season again from a Celtic perspective. What have we got to lose? Nothing, cause we aint won anything yet except that League Cup. It must be as rare as Hen’s Teeth in a season such as this. Maybe only senior trophy in European competition this season?
Can we claim a title which is “Gifted” to us by Scottish Fitba? Not that I care.
It’s just been announced that Norman Hunter has died of the virus. RIP big man.
The performances against Leeds in both legs and against Red Star Belgrade also in the Di stefano testimonial in Madrid were exceptional performances by a exception group of players playing at their best however Jinky was beyond exceptional if thats possible to be, no one when he played like that could stop him without foul play, there is one other game were Celtic were exceptional that I remember and Jinky in particular, who a number of times left his opponents on their backsides as he memorized them as he left them wondering what happened there, Jim Craig, who was a superb full back and one of the most unselfish players,
scoring after linking up with Jimmy who would return the ball to him to score the equalizer on aggregate with a blistering shot after that there was only one outcome, The energy in the team that night was unbelievable, and as a side note Celtic played in a complete white strip which was the only time as far as I know that they did.Never understood why but it looked good.
Yep when that team was on song, no team then or now could live with them.
Beekeeper, check out Celtic V Morton SC Semi Final at Hampden
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3He1odIH78
Fond memories for you older guys but only disappointment for me. 😊 I was merely nine at the time, my brother and father absconded without trace that night, my mother (Sligo / Carlow mix) soothing questions from me about there whereabouts as only she could. I was told some tall tales that night. With a suspicion of doubt and disappointment soothed I soon moved on and the desire in me to support the hoops was aided, with what else, a bottle of Solripe limeade and a box of Terry’s all gold. Not one to hold a grudge I finally forgave them, about 25 years ago. I remember the Leeds team as much as I do the Celtic team. Later in life I met a massive Leeds fan and he was amazed I could rhyme the Leeds team that night. Two great teams of the past locking antlers in front of that crowd, mesmerising.
My, dad, brother and I were all at the Fiorentina game, shoe horned into the corner of the Celtic end, Janfield entrance, just about under the cover of the roof. From memory it was one of those European nights in the east end of Glasgow with the smell of the near bye distillery in the air. My abiding memory of that night was my dad had my brother in one hand and me in the other and my feet did not touch the ground for the entire time I was in that stadium. It was very much fluid, I guess a bit like watching the Kop back in the day. Thank god for all seated stadium.
Thanks for the memories.
I was in the schoolboys enclosure, I defy anyone to say that they believe the attendance figure that night. The true figure was probably well in excess of the official one. The memory is definitely one of the enduring ones of those wonderful days. Just a pity that we lost the final, to this day it saddens me to remember that Celtic established themselves as a European giant during that era and are still revered by real students of the game everywhere.
Hail Hail
13 points.
Phil . is 13 points LUCKY OR NOT.
ONLY ASKING CAUSE. HH
I had 6 tickets four for my brother’s and a friend. Day of the match my father (64) decided he was going so being the youngest it was me who had to jump the turnstile. We had been brought up on tales of Patsy Gallagher,my dads hero. Walking outside Hampden he commented “that wee mans the best I’ve ever seen. Fantastic night, only thing worse than Milan was the LC final against Thisle
The Leeds game was right up there with the Vojvodina game in 1967. I was twelve and my dad took me on the supporters bus. The bus picked us up from the top of Kilsyth Main Street and the driver (obviously a hun) refused to let a load of supporters on as all the seats were taken. A whip-round then ensued to give him twenty quid to let everyone on. As we got to Glasgow a van came out of a side street and clipped the back of the bus. The driver refused to go on and so we had a two mile run past Shawfield to get to Hampden. As we approached we heard the groan as Leeds had just scored. There were thousands of fans trying to get in and eventually the police ordered the gates to be opened and we were marched round the track and had to jump down into the terracing. We then watched a masterclass as we humbled the “best team in the world” These memories make us what we are – A Club like no other….
Aye Phil, what a night at Hampden, like a few on here I was in the Hun end, my ears were still ringing next morning from the noise. Went to Milan, very disappointing. RH Davidson of Airdrie, only time I saw Big Jock remonstrate with a ref after Aberdeen final, disgraceful performance by Hun referee.
A great night and a great win, Unlike this season’s title. Awarded with bribery and corruption. How any entity can proceed after a vote was changed, due ONE club had an advantage the rest did not have, is nothing short of criminal. Charges should be brought against all those involved.
Dundee being offered the carrot of lucrative friendlies to change an already submitted vote is absolutely absurd.
You go on about Sevco’s tainted tiles won during the EBT years, but are happy to accept this and claim you WON it? Nothing can change the fact that this season is a total rip off and any GIVEN title will forever be derided.
Utter bollocks James Thomas. You sound like one of the many so called “experts” and ex-blue noses in the media, who peddled Null and Void just to suit their own team. All this false indignation and hidden agenda makes me sick and is proof of the shear desperation to try and delay the 9. Where is any evidence of bribery and corruption ? Celtic have won 9 iar on merit and all this sanctimonious crap from people like yourself, won’t wash. To even try to compare this year to the 10 years of cheating by the manky mob is laughable. The EBT years were a lesson in cheating, beyond compare and something like 14 titles/ cups were TAINTED. Stop reading the hun press / Radio Rangers and get a life.
HEAR!HEAR! As they say in the good ole US of A,that’s a crock of 💩Another deluded currant…
Sour grapes, don’t you just love them? Had the shoe been on the other foot we all know that sevco would be rejoicing their first ever League win. Let’s see how any of this makes a difference to the fact that sevco are on their uppers and no investor will touch them with a barge-pole after their embarrassing behaviour in all this. Let’s go 10iar. HH
Are you really looking down on the rest of Scottish football?
Nobody likes that sort of superiority talk. It’s not Celtic talk.
Wonderfully written, however you were inspired this must surely be one of your finest pieces. I applaud you sir and thank you.
Great memories !
Listened to the 1st leg on the radio ( no live coverage on the TV in those days )- if I remember correctly Connelly scored very early ( 1st minute ? ) . Was in the Ranger’s end for the 2nd leg – immense crowd , magic atmosphere , feet barely touched the ground after the Celtic goals .
I remember reading the Daily Record ( Bless me Father for I have sinned …) report next day – Alec Cameron ( noted Bluenose columnist ) inferred that the singing which urged Celtic on in the second half started in the Ranger’s end- as if this somehow reflected well on Rangers !!! FFS !
I was lucky enough to get to Milan for the Final – after the numbing disappointment of the game , we had to endure the chaos of Malpensa Airport , where the organisation was as effective as the Tory response to Covid-19 !
I was there. And how anyone can put a precise figure on the attendance is beyond me. I had been to many big games at Hamden ( not now) and have never seen anything like the crowd that night. To my eternal shame when the draw came out I thought ‘ Super Leeds’ and they were ‘ Super’ would prevail. My shame was complete when, after the game Big Billy said he couldn’t understand why some Celtic fans had written us off. But what I do believe is this: had Leeds won that tie they would have went on to win the European Cup. I was in Milan and to this day can’t understand what was wrong with us that night. That said we should forever remind the world of our record in the European Cup, which consists of so much more than Lisbon. My God, how many quarter and semis were we in, and how many times were we unlucky not to progress? And all with a group of players who cost next to nothing—but then they were managed by very special person. If I’m granted a last thought before I snuff it will be of my family, and of how lucky I was to have seen that team. Oh, and being greedy, I would like Lionel Messi to be able to watch a re-run of the Red Star game and comment on the Wee Man’s performance that night. That was the most complete footballing performance I have ever seen and and am ever likely to see.
Possibly the only thing that equalled his performance against Red Star was his jig of delight at the end of the match when he knew he wouldn’t have to fly to Belgrade.
To this day I don’t think I’ve seen a performance to equal that. Although, and to be fair I’ve only seen highlights, his performance against Real Madrid in Di Stefano’s testimonial looked very special as well. It was the first time I’d ever heard the “Ole!”, the Madrid fans shouted it every time the wee man left one of their OWN players looking silly. The only time I’ve ever heard the fans of ANY team chant it in appreciation of an opposition player. It was actually spine tingling to hear.
Unfortunately there was a rift in the camp over bonuses.
I travelled down to Leeds by train which had the old style compartments with a max of 8 seats and 2 luggage racks. there must have been more than 20 fans in our compartment, the train was stopped by a cow on the line and someone set fire to the train at Carlisle trying to cook food. When we arrived in Leeds we were met by hordes of police linked together to force us onto buses to take us sraight to Elland Road despite being 7 hours before kick off. I had to collect my match tickets from a Club in Leeds and (without any uncivil behaviour) broke through the cordon and the rest of the fans followed. The town of Leeds was completely closed as our Glasgow cousins had previously ran riot in places like Birmingham and Newcastle and they were scared that Celtic fans were of similar ilk. Needless to say there was no trouble. On the field we were very confident Celtic would beat the”best club side in the world”indeed I and a lot of us had bets at 4/1 on Celtic winning at Leeds which covered the cost of travel and match ticket. I will never forge tte fans singing ( 4/1 yor money). Great days thanks to the great man.
Betting even in those formative years John Brady?!
I hope retirement is treating you well my friend. Many happy memories of the football trips to Croydon that you organised back in the 80s and 90s!
I was also at the game.Fifteen years old and still carried over the turnstile, as was my brother. We were late in getting in as the crowds were unbelievable. During the game you could not lift your hands up to your face as we were so tightly packed. I think the attendance is a European club match record but those who were there believe the attendance was nearer to 150 000.
At that time Leeds were considered to be unstoppable but they were comprehensively defeated both home and away. Terry Cooper, who was a quality player admitted years later that he still had nightmares about wee Jimmy running at him. Great memories
Apart from the game against Red Star Belgrade a couple of years previously I think that the match against Leeds was Jinky’s finest European performance in the Hoops.
Unplayable.
Not a competitive match Phil but wee Jimmy against Real Madrid in Alfredo Di Stefano’s testimonial in front of a sellout in the Bernabeu after winning the big cup was breathtaking. They couldn’t get the ball off him and at one point the full back turned away from Jimmy and chucked it. Watched it last week and it beggars belief. Real wanted to prove they were the best on Europe and this was no friendly. Lasting memory is the Spanish fans chanting “Ole” every time Jimmy skinned an opponent.
What fantastic posts. I was late on the scene first game 1978.
Ah, George Connolly – the great enigma. A superb player who could play in any position but chose to retire aged 27. He could have been the best, the very best. We should have been talking about him along with the likes of Beckenbauer but sadly, and for a reason that was never clearly explained, it was not to be.
I too was at Hampden for the game against Leeds Utd. As you say, the arrogant English press had written Celtic off, even before a ball was kicked and when Bremner scored that cracking first goal to even the tie, I was a little worried. Celtic, however, played them off the park and my namesake Yogi scored a beauty, followed by Bobby Murdoch’s clincher. The crowd was and remains the largest ever for a club game in Europe and the crush was frightening ! It was the final before the final and we fell at the last hurdle against Feyenoord in Milan – my most disappointing moment in football.
Great history and especially so with beating the superstars from England. Wee bit before my time but great viewing. Nothing finer than a triumph agin’ the auld enemy’s ‘bigheids’. Liverpool and Blackburn were good wins.
Kiddybhoy
Great memories Phil, I was there that night too. Like you I was aged twelve and utterly enthralled. The momentary silence when Bremner equalised on away goals, and then the eruption of ‘Celtic, Celtic, Celtic…!’ wIll stay with me forever. The Leeds players looked around and were utterly stunned; they could not believe what they were hearing. And then they fed the Bear!! Yogi was immense. Fifty years on this is how it feels to be Celtic!!!
Great to see you talking about the hoops again. What memories that game brings back. Those where the days.eh.
I was there that wonderful night along with my oldest brother ( may he Rest In Peace) and his best pal…big Tony…and I was 15 years older than you Phil.
The first thing I need to tell you is…We had to talk Tony out of ” streaking” at the game…We were in the Pub the previous Saturday…and he came up with the idea.
His logic was simple…and sound.
He’d get arrested and fined…but we’d have already put a bet on wi’ various Bookies…who were offering generous odds for a streaker to appear…and despite the fine…we’d make a killing.
We managed to talk him out of it.
We also knew where we would stand…and that would be at the Celtic end…three quarters of the way down and over towards the side of the North Stand.
This is where we had stood the previous May …and watched the lads pump Rangers (IL) 4-0.
When we got up to the top of the terracing we couldn’t believe the number of supporters in the ground…it was unbelievable.
Initially we thought we didn’t have a hope in Hell of getting to our ” sacred ” spot…but as it turned out …we did and there was space to move…We were chuffed.
When wee Billy scored we were naturally nervous…but as usual the lads stepped up their game and in the end we won comfortably…against the best side in England and favourites to win the Big Cup.
For over 60 years I have been blessed with having countless memories of celebrations thanks to the lads…who range from Bobby Evans all the way through to Broony.!!
And that night is up there with the best of them.
Thanks for the memory Phil.
PS: 136,000..??….I’d bet money there was a lot more than that.
Jock Stein underestimated Feyenoord when he said he would rather have drawn them when the semi-final draw was made.
Mind you, I think Celtic would have beaten them in the semis. Their mind set would probably have been different.
Hi Phil,
Probably a few years older than you and still at school. Was devastated when Leeds went one up (radio commentary). Can only describe Yogi and Bobby’s winner as ‘orgasmic’. Me and my dad will NEVER forget that that ultimate feeling of euphoria. I think big JH started off life as a centre forward before big Jock moved him to the left wing with devastating effect over the years. Stay fit and healthy.
My original memory of Yogi is him on the LW getting the ball and teasing the fullback before cutting inside.
An inverted winger.
Big Jock was years ahead of his time.
Many happy memories indeed Phil. I was on the terracing at the Celtic end of Hampden, 136,505 official paying customers,a record for a European match that will never be beaten.
After the first leg it was obvious their fans didn’t fancy a trip to Glasgow. Leeds had around 10,000 tickets and returned many to Celtic on the eve of the match.
Even then the trains coming into Central Station from Leeds were being mobbed by Celtic fans looking for spares.
Lets not kid ourselves, that Leeds team was fabulous yet over the two games we proved ourselves to be better, individually and as a collective.
Our service bus driver wasn’t in the best of moods as we returned home from Glasgow that night as we sang the night away and even threatened to stop the bus and eject our happy group.
Perhaps he was a St Mirren fan?
One of the great European nights in Glasgow without a doubt.
As Neil Lennon succinctly put it the first time he was in charge….. ‘They are not on our radar’
Is it Statement O’ Clock yet?
Somebody must have mislaid the crayon 🖍
Oh dear it looks like the stationary cupboard had half crayon 🖍 in it after all.
Apparently it was found situated between the Ayebroke’s Calculator and a pile of IOU’s./Interim Results
It was only because Connelly had a goal wrongly disallowed that it was even worth Leeds turning up. He was a player decades ahead of his time, the equal of Baresi or Maldini.
A deep lying play maker.
Sublime touch.
Amazing vision.
Aye. I always ( and still do ) refer to him as the incomparable George Connelly. And I will never understand why Jock didn’t play him against Feyenoord, which might go some way to explaining why we lost that final.
My favourite game featuring the Fife Maestro was his masterclass performance and goal against the huns in the 4-0 Scottish Cup Final victory.
Jim Baxter at his best couldn’t have laced George’s boots.
Re the attendance at the Hampden semi against Leeds, I could only get a ticket for the huns end which was packed, but my brother
and many others I knew jumped the tunstiles.
I reckon there were at least 145,00 at that match.
I was there as a 9 year old and I lost my father after Murdochs goal, he was trying to get on the pitch. Regarding the huge crowd, I ended up working with a guy who was on the turnstiles that night and he and his colleagues all made a fortune Guys doubling up, and a right few quid changing hands.. He reckons AT LEAST 150,000 were in Hampden that night. As someone said in another post those were the days
I was not allowed to attend The Wednesday night game as my father was working back shift. But I was allowed to stay up for the highlights after listening to the game on the Radio.
I had attended the cup Final on the Saturday and witnessed the biggest Piece of cheating on the planet, by a Mr R Davidson who was dressed in Black. He set out to make sure there would be no Green and White Ribbons on the cup that day.
The Bobby Lennox goal still sticks in my mind fresh to this day. The rest they say is history.
The season did not finish well on the domestic front that season. But even more major disappointment was to come after the high of the Leeds result.
To this day it remains a mystery why we never showed up. We’re the Dutch really too good for us? Or did big Jock get his tactics wrong on the night? It still a sore one to take.
Especially when the Dutch were crowned World club champions. Another accolade we were cheated out by Argentina’s Thugs.
Anyway, I was but a child then but knew then, following Celtic was following a side who were not allowed to play with a full deck.
This virus may destroy 9 in a row through under hand tactics, but it will never destroy Celtic Football Club.
Stay safe what ever God you follow, or for that matter whatever team you support.
Take care folks
I am 67 years old and have never got over the 1970 Cup Final not because we lost but because Mr R H Davidson’s performance confirmed to a naive !7 year old that official bias existed against Celtic. The same referee had in the 1st round of the Cup in 1968 disallowed a 25 yard Jim Brogan goal ( a very rare occurence) for offside despite previously waiving play on and indicating to the linesman to put down his flag down. I can also remember Jock walking from the dug out to the centre circle to confront Davidson just before extra time in another cup game v Dundee. In Tommy G’s book he wrote that although Jock’s last word before every game was to be aware of the referee, he was particularly worried about the 1970 final referee.
Ah Phil! You had me Aw goose-bumped-up… FANFUQNTASTIQUE.
I was too young to go but,reading your summation I WAS there!!
At first I thought there had been movement on the Richter scale re.final lge positions but,no such luck.
Or,pishful thinking here;that Hampdump Park/Mount Florida was dormant no longer.(if it was volcano)
I feel that’ll rumble on for a while yet,even though there’s a meeting planned for this evening.
Thanks for the thrill Phil🍀It was a rare treat in these uncertain times☮️
STAY WELL AND KEEP SAFE EVERYONE🇮🇪
Was the nickname “Yogi” because the rangers could never catch him, this is what I was told fifty years ago.
This was the first European tie where I attended both legs and will never forget the home win.
Feed the bear, he’s here he’s there he’s everywhere f****n where feed the bear.
I was also at Hampden on that evening. When Bobby Murdoch scored the winning goal the guy behind me’s scarf somehow hooked under my glasses and sent them flying into the air. Despite being jostled by those around me I kept my hazy eye on my specs and managed to grab them before they were crushed under hundreds of stamping feet. I’ll never forget that moment as I don’t know how I would have found my way home without my glasses.
PS
I hitch-hiked over to the San Siro for the final but, unfortunately, returned home disappointed.
John, I also mind of him sending Jimmy off at Celtic Park v Aberdeen I think. Jimmy got booted up and down park but Davidson let play go on. Jinky had enough and lashed out.
That’s all he needed sent him off and that made sure he missed a cup game Or a game against Rangers.
Big Jock was furious at end game
I had no time for him as a referee. Your spot on about him