1st October 1966
The papers were still going on about the European tie in midweek and particularly the rough stuff dished out by the Swiss champions. One headline and comment rather summed the whole situation up for many fans ;-
Shameful Swiss
‘Now Celtic will be up against it in Zurich’
However, there was a league match to consider before the trip to Switzerland and Jock Stein had been quite emphatic with one piece of news when he gave a vote of thanks to his European Cup 
heroes by announcing that the team to play St Johnstone at Celtic Park would come from the same 12 players listed for the Zurich game.
As I have already mentioned, at this point of the season, most of my thoughts were on my final examinations, due the following week. So, the fact that I was not being included in any of the squads was perhaps a blessing. It saved me trying to juggle two options. However, I had been in the crowd for the Zurich match and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. So, I made a mental note to work hard after the finals and make sure that the Boss would have to include me for any future matches.
However, in the meantime, I pulled out of the reserve match for that afternoon which was due to be played –in those days – at Muirton Park (now an Asda Supermarket).
The team chosen for the trip was;
John Fallon, Davie Cattenach, Frank McCarron, Sonny Henderson, John Cushley, Davie Hay, John Taggart, George Connelly, Jimmy Quinn, Charlie Gallagher and Lou Macari.
Instead of playing in Perth, I made a late trip to Parkhead just in time to see the guys in splendid form, raining goals in against poor Saints.
The Teams
Celtic: Simpson, Gemmell, O’Neill, Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone, Lennox, McBride, Auld, Hughes. Sub….Chalmers
St Johnstone: Donaldson, McCarry, Coburn, Townsend, Ryden, McPhee, O’Donnell, Whitelaw, Kilgannon, Duffy, Kemp. Sub…..Renton
The Play
Frankly, this match, or probably the major part of it, was one-way traffic…and all towards the St Johnstone goalkeeper.
11 minutes…a great run by wee Jimmy put him clear of everyone and he hit a great shot on the drop. 1-0 Celtic
37 minutes…Bobby Lennox, unmarked in the penalty area, hooked home a Joe McBride cross. 2-0 Celtic
50 minutes….A fine attacking move which Jinky got on the end of. 3-0 Celtic
52 minutes….Long-range effort by Kilgannon pulled one back. 3-1 Celtic
59 minutes….Bobby L from close range after good work by Jimmy. 4-1 Celtic
60 minutes….Fine save by Donaldson, from a Joe penalty after Jimmy had been fouled.
62 minutes……Joe made amends for the miss by scoring almost from the by-line. 5-1 Celtic
75 minutes……good pass from Yogi, fine shot by Joe. 6-1 Celtic
Other Results
| Aberdeen | 1 | – | 1 | Clyde |
| Dundee United | 2 | – | 3 | Rangers |
| Dunfermline | 0 | – | 1 | Airdrie |
| Falkirk | 5 | – | 3 | Ayr United |
| Hearts | 3 | – | 1 | Dundee |
| Kilmarnock | 2 | – | 1 | Stirling Albion |
| Motherwell | 1 | – | 2 | Hibs |
| Partick Thistle | 2 | – | 2 | St. Mirren |
The Reserve Match
The reserve match also went Celtic’s way, the guys winning 4-3, the goals coming from Jimmy Quinn with a hat-trick and one from Charlie Gallagher.
No is the Answer
Hearts have told Newcastle United that there is no hope of landing either Willie Wallace or Alan Gordon from Tynecastle. And the Hearts Board is going all out to encourage the dissatisfied players to change their minds and help bring a ‘new deal’ to Gorgie.
Cancerous!
Although a keen football fan, Canon Sydney McEwan ( the ‘Singing Priest’) has not attended a Celtic/Rangers match for 25 years.
He describes the ‘terrible bitterness’ Old Firm clashes provoke. In an STV programme to be broadcast this week, Canon McEwan admits : “It is wrong to say that only a small minority of supporters are to blame. There are thousands on both sides who are bullied and the whole cancerous thing goes right through Scotland”.
Less Work
More men at Linwood are to go on a three –day working week – because of a worsening of the order-book situation.
Rootes ( Scotland) Ltd is to introduce the 3-day week, starting next week, for the 1000 men on the Hillman Imp assembly line. They are at present working a 4-day week.