The Opposition
Airdrie were doing well this particular season. They were sitting second in the league and would be up against Celtic twice in a few days, on this Saturday –in the league – and again on the Monday evening in the League Cup semi-final. Manager Archie Wright had put together a good squad – in spite of the players having reverted to part-time status – and they would have been fired up to face the league leaders.
The Teams
I was a bit disappointed when I saw the team sheet. Bobby Murdoch had dropped out and the Boss had re-shuffled things by giving Ian Young a run out at right-back, with Tam moving to left-back and Willie O’Neill in midfield. It was a sign that I had dropped down the pecking order a bit and was also a kick up the backside that I would need to get my fitness back again and push for a place.
Celtic: Simpson, Young, Gemmell, Clark, McNeill, O’Neill, Chalmers, Lennox, McBride, Gallagher, Hughes. Sub: Johnstone
Airdrie: McKenzie, Jonquin, Keenan, Goodwin, Black, Ramsay, Ferguson, McPheat, Marshall, Murray, Phillips. Sub: Irvine
The Play
A crowd of 41,000 had turned up for the match and they gave Mrs Kelly – wife of Celtic Chairman Bob Kelly – a rousing reception when she unfurled the League Championship flag before the kick-off. It was Celtic’s first since season 1953/54.
Like many another side which came to Celtic Park at that period, the Diamonds decided that they would play a defensive pattern and the guys were faced with a phalanx of white jerseys whenever they came forward, which was most of the time.
Right from the start, our guys went on to the attack and Roddy McKenzie, in the Airdire goal, made good saves early on from Charlie Gallagher, Tam Gemmell and Stevie Chalmers.
Play was held up when first what looked like a four or five-year-old child wandered on to the pitch and then a few minutes later, a dog did the same. Her Majesty’s Constabulary dealt with both situations most comfortably.
As the half wore on, Celtic maintained their dominance although Airdrie made a couple of chances in breakaways. Joe did get the ball in the net just before the interval but was given offside, a decision he certainly did not agree with and eventually referee Mr Small from Selkirk had to advise him to tone down his protestations. At the interval, though, in spite of a great deal of effort from both sides, the game was still goalless.
The stalemate continued in the second half but should have been broken in 57 minutes. A cross by Yogi was grabbed by McKenzie but almost immediately the ball was knocked out of his hands on to the deck. Joe and Stevie each had a shot and both efforts hit the crossbar and came down again before the ball was cleared by the Diamonds’ defence.
It was Joe who broke the deadlock, well into the second half;-
65 mins:
Stevie laid on the pass and Joe made no mistake, sweeping the ball into the net from 8 yards. 1-0 Celtic
68 mins:
a cross by Tam Gemmell was knocked home neatly by Bobby Lennox. 2-0 Celtic
87 mins:
Bobby made the points secure with another shot. 3-0 Celtic
Final Score Celtic 3 Airdrie 0
Other Results
| Aberdeen | 2 | – | 0 | Ayr United |
| Dundee United | 4 | – | 3 | Clyde |
| Falkirk | 3 | – | 2 | Dundee |
| Hearts | 1 | – | 1 | Rangers |
| Kilmarnock | 2 | – | 1 | Hibs |
| Motherwell | 3 | – | 3 | St. Johnstone |
| Partick Thistle | 2 | – | 0 | Stirling Albion |
| St. Mirren | 0 | – | 5 | Dunfermline |
Nae Spaces!
Traffic congestion in Glasgow is so great that the Corporation may introduce a widespread ban on car parking after 1pm. At present the parking restrictions in place during the week do not operate after 1pm on Saturdays.
Disaster!
An earthquake which rocked Peru has shattered houses and villages and left a death toll mounting into the hundreds.
You Would Look Good in This!
Out this week is the new, up to the minute, Ford Cortina, completely re-designed from the ground up.
The cost ranges from £668 13s 4d for the 2-door version to £824 12s 1d for the GT 4-door.