1977-05-07: Celtic 1-0 Rangers, Scottish Cup Final

Match Pictures | Matches:1976 – 1977

Trivia

Scottish Cup final
Celtic win & seal the league & cup double.
This was Jock Stein’s 25th trophy as Celtic manager and would be his last.
Ronnie Glavin was still recovering from a thigh injury and failed to make the game. Edvaldsson was preferred to Burns and Johnny Doyle left on the bench with Paul Wilson starting.
First Scottish Cup final televised live in modern times. Last one was 1955 Celtic v Clyde.
Over 70,000 tickets sold but rain and TV coverage keeps crowd down to 54,000. Desmond White blames the low attendance on live TV.
Police state 138 arrests inside and outside of stadium.
Paul Wilson started the game in the number 14 shorts and had to replace them at half time with the number 10 shorts.
Kenny Dalglish was designated penalty taker but declined to take the kick when the chance came.

1977-05-07: Celtic 1-0 Rangers, Scottish Cup Final - The Celtic Wiki

Dalglish and Lynch with Scottish Cup 1977 Kenny Dalglish jersey 1977 SCF

Review

Celtic were dealt a blow when high scoring midfielder Ronnie Glavin was ruled out with an injury he had picked up playing for Scotland.

This caused Jock Stein to change his tactics and he employed Stanton as sweeper to play behind centre backs MacDonald and Edvaldsson to nullify Rangers ariel threat of Derek Johnstone and Derek Parlane. This allowed full backs McGrain and Lynch to attack at will down the flanks.

Only 54,000 turn up on a wet and gloomy day less than half the attendance at the 1973 final but the low crowd is attributed to bad weather and live tv as fans chose to stay home or watch in pubs, a novelty at that time in Scotland with very little live coverage.

Celtic won through a disputed penalty when Derek Johnstone is adjudged to have handled on the line. The decision is still unresolved to this day with both sides claiming they are in the right. Lynch scored from the spot in the absence of Glavin and after captain Dalglish had declined the opportunity.

Kenny Dalglish had missed a few penalties in the run up to the Final and Jock Stein had the players practising them at Seamill on the Friday – Andy Lynch did well and he was elected to take any penalties should they arise in the Final. The goal he scored was the first time he had taken a penalty professionally and it ended up being the winning goal in the Scottish Cup Final against our arch rivals.

Celtic created the better chances and Craig missed two snips in the second half, one when Jackson cleared off the line and then Wilson miskicked the rebound, and another when Craig ran clear and slid the ball wide of the post from 15 yards. Celtic almost rued those misses with 3 minutes left when Rangers young substitute Chris Robertson hit the bar with a thunderous header that had Latchford beaten.

Dalglish lifted the trophy and then lost his medal before a Policeman found it in an umbrella. After the game Stein and Dalglish tried to board the Rangers bus in error much to the amusement of the Rangers staff on board. Alfie Conn now had the unique record of winning on Old Firm finals for both sides.

This was Stein’s 25th major trophy as Celtic manager and his 8th Scottish Cup and was the last major trophy he brought to Parkhead.