‘Who represents Scotland in next season’s European Cup competition – Celtic or Rangers?
Right now, the league race seems to be developing into a straight contest between the ‘’Old Firm’ teams.
Between now and their meeting on 3rd January, both teams have four games.
Celtic meet Hibs and Morton (H), Dunfermline and Clyde (A).
Rangers face Morton, Dunfermline and Partick Thistle (H) and Clyde (A)’.
That was the lead story in the press on the morning of the Celtic/Hibs clash and no one could argue with the accuracy of the wording. Celtic’s fans were very confident about the outcome but this meeting came only 9 months after Celtic’s manager had left Easter Road to come to Parkhead and Jock Stein was well aware that his former side had talent, if an infuriating penchant for inconsistency. So, presumably, that was praying on his mind as he was making his decision about the side, when he dropped me to bring back Ian Young; left John Cushley at centre-half to allow Billy McNeill’s knee to recover; brought back Joe McBride in place of Stevie Chalmers; and restored Charlie Gallagher to the side.
It was a close match all the way through, with Celtic’s goals – very easily described -coming one in each half ;-
Joe McBride – scored second goal –
© Daily Record
John Hughes – on target
© Daily Record
34 minutes….John Hughes smashed home a drive from a Jimmy Johnstone corner.
85 minutes….Joe McBride scored from a Johnstone cross after a dazzling run by the winger.
The ensuing report expanded on the play and how it developed ;-
Directness Pays Off
‘Celtic scored both the goals which gave them victory on Saturday at a time when the tide of play had been running against them quite strongly. That was indicative of their strength and the weakness of Hibernian in a game which had its moments of dullness but which at least made attack the stronger virtue.
There was too a simplicity in Celtic’s play which contrasted noticeably with the more complicated patterns of Hibs’ advances.
The goals were equally straight-forward if unexpected leaving one to reflect that the same directness grafted on to Hibs’ movements would surely have produced a healthier outcome.
While all this was taking place in front of a crowd of 23,000 at Celtic Park, only several hundred were at Easter Road to see the home side win 1-0. It was an unexpected result, as the Celtic reserve side usually contained a number of players who had first-team experience, even a few with many outings in the top side. On that day, though, Hibs were just the better team, took just about the only chance they got while we missed quite a few chances.
I took the opportunity of having a chat with Sean Fallon on the bus on the way to Edinburgh about my situation. He explained that, as far as he was concerned, I was playing well and he was pleased with my form but the major decisions were taken by the Boss and that I should have a word with him.
I made up my mind to do so but when the bus eventually got back to Celtic Park from Easter Road, he was gone!
Black and White No More!
Britain, West Germany and Holland plan to introduce colour television in the autumn of 1967, according to sources at a meeting of European broadcasting authorities in Rome yesterday.
Tossing and Turning
The Top of the Pops came to St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalger Square, London, last night.
The Ivy League pop group, whose record of ‘Tossing and Turning’ reached number one in the charts, gave a carol concert in the church which is famous for its mid-day concerts of serious music.
Bad Decision
Walter McGowan, the British and Empire Fly-Weight Champion, will fight Salvatore Burruni, the holder, for the World title at Wembley on 18th March.
Last week, McGowan fought a draw in Rome with Tommasso Galli for the European Bantam-Weight Championship – a verdict which confused many. Most spectators thought that McGowan had won convincingly.
A Game from the Past….and a moment to Remember
Sponsored by the Jim Craig CSC
A game from the Past…..on 26th August 1922, centre-forward ‘Wee Willie’ Crilly made his Celtic debut in the 2-1 victory over Hamilton in a league match at Celtic Park. Willie might have only been 5 feet 3 inches and 9 stone but he had performed heroically for Alloa the season before, his prolific goal-scoring helping the Wasps to the Second Division title.
And a Moment to Remember…..Willie signed for Celtic in the spring of 1922, just in time to go with the club party which journeyed to Prague and Berlin in the summer tour of 1922. Unfortunately, when the new season started in Scotland, Willie’s lack of height and build made him a target for the bigger centre-halves in the First Division and he only made three appearances for Celtic, that debut match plus the following two league matches against Raith Rovers and Hibs before heading back to Alloa.
Later, Willie emigrated to the USA, where he played for a number of teams, like New York Hispanos, Brooklyn Wanderers, New York Americans, Brooklyn Hispanos, St Mary’s Celtic. By the time he retired from the game in 1935, Willie Crilly was reputed to have scored more than 1000 goals in his career.