Both the first team and the second team were in action on this day in 1965. As might have been expected, it was a full house for the first team version at Fir Park but the reserve team encounter at Parkhead also proved to be popular. Indeed, what a crowd was there to see it!

 

When we arrived at Celtic Park, we could not believe the numbers that had gathered. Much as we would like to have thought that they had turned up to see our fine play, we all realised that it was the Brazilians that were the attraction. In fact, as I walked towards the front door, I can recall thinking that they better pick them for this match, or we could have a riot on our hands.

 

The doorman – Bill Peacock – resplendent in his green and gold coat, was a very pleasant guy, as long as he knew you and you had a ticket for the game. On this particular afternoon, his wry sense of humour rose to the surface as I approached the front door. Waving his hands at the crowd gathered round the door, he muttered at me as I went past “I see they have found out that you’re playing, Jim”. Everyone’s a comedian, eh!

 

Thankfully, the Brazilians were in the side, which was Simpson, Craig, Kennedy, Brogan, Cushley, O’Neill, Johnstone, Inacio, di Sousa, Sweeney and Taylor. And, to be fair to us all, even if I do say so, we all rose to the occasion and won 3-1, the goals coming from Ayrton Inacio (2) and Jimmy Johnstone. NB: Have a look at the size of the crowd in the pic!

 

The following day, the papers went to town;

CELTIC FIND A NEW HERO

BRAZILIAN BOMB IS THE TOAST OF THE FANS

THE SMASH HIT BRAZILIAN

The reference was to Ayrton Inacio, who had a most impressive game, even taking some of the gloss away from wee Jimmy, normally the star of the show. On that afternoon, though, I have to admit –as would most of the 11,000 fans in Parkhead – that Inacio’s performance would have won any Man of the Match award. However, as the cynical old Scots expression goes, I was also wondering what he would be like on a wet night in Kirkcaldy?

 

Incidentally, in one of the newspaper reports, I came across a comment I fully agreed with;

It seemed to me that Celtic have a neat blend of youth and experience. I liked the promise of right back Craig.

 

Over at Fir Park, the first team did well too, as the headlines and report might suggest;

THE SUPER CELTS

THEY’LL TAKE SOME STOPPING!

Not for weeks have I seen so many Celtic players play with such purpose, such teamwork and such shooting skill as this team showed us in the first half-hour,The hero of the heroes was John Hughes, centre-forward for the night and the Terror of Fir Par’.

 

The Celtic team on the day was Fallon, Young, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Chalmers, Divers, Hughes, Lennox, Gallagher. And the goals came as follows;

 

4 minutes:  corner from left, missed by everyone. Ball ran through to Chalmers on the right wing. He crossed it and Lennox scored. 1-0

32 minutes: Delaney equalizes for Motherwell with a shot from 30 yards. 1-1

43 minutes:– Lennox pulled down in the box ; Hughes scores from penalty. 2-1

52 minutes:– Gemmell pulled ball back from bye-line for Lennox. 3-1

87 minutes:– Murray makes it 3-2.

 

The Daft Penalty

That penalty incident in the 32^nd minute got a special mention in the papers. Keeper Peter McCloy was controlling the ball with his feet inside the 18-yard box when right-back Matt Thomson, right out of the blue, tackled Bobby Lennox, who was no position to challenge McCoy.

 

Tragic Death

Sir Harry Hylton-Foster, 6-year-old Speaker of the House of Commons, collapsed and died in a London Street yesterday.

 

Ticket Prices

Celtic announced today that the price of the stand tickets for the forthcoming European Cup-Winners’ Match against ‘Go-Ahead’ Deventer will be £1.10s, £1 and 15s and these will not be increased no matter how glamorous the next opposition will be if they beat the Dutch club.

 

Stein’s Other Team

Jock Stein announced his side to face the Irish League at Ibrox on 8^th September 1965 –

Donaldson (Dundee), Hamilton ( Dundee), Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill (all Celtic), Greig ( Rangers), Henderson ( Rangers), Penman ( Dundee), Wallace ( Hearts), Cooke (Dundee), Hughes (Celtic).

 

Caldow’s Choice

Eric Caldow, the Rangers club captain, who was dropped for the first time after the opening game against Hearts, will give ‘serious consideration’ to a move to Leicester City if the English club make a bid which is acceptable to Rangers.