| Match Pictures | Matches: 1956 – 1957 | 1956-57 pictures |
Trivia
- Following an X-ray it was clear that Bobby Collins had cracked an ankle bone. He was in plaster and would be out for some time to come. Vince Ryan came in for him. It also emerged that Sean Fallon had broken his nose in the Dundee game. Jim Kennedy came in for him. Eric Smith was also fit despite receiving a leg knock. McPhail was out too with a leg knock, so Neil Mochan took over at centre forward.
- John Higgins, who had been plagued by knee injuries for the best part of two seasons, announced that he was giving up his job as a draughtsman to devote himself full time to football.
- The story broke that Jimmy Walsh was wanted by Leicester City where Alec Dowdells, ex-Celtic and Scotland trainer was now trainer and coach. Leicester City refused to confirm their interest.
- Willie Fernie played for Scotland against Ireland on the 7th November at Hampden in a 1-0 win.
- In world affairs the Suez Crisis continued to dominate all thoughts. It was becoming clear that the Israeli invasion of Sinai had taken place with the collusion of French and British powers. The Soviet fleet began to move in the Mediterranean and the Soviet ambassador in London began to deliver threats against British soil as well as staging their own intervention. All British bases in the Mediterranean and Middle East were reinforced.
Review
Early pressure from East Fife saw the Celtic goal peppered at the start and Beattie had to be alert and agile. Despite some decent attacks the Celtic front line were failing to gel in the early stages, not surprising given the wholesale changes to the team due to injuries, particularly the new right side partnership of Smith and Higgins. Despite this Celtic opened the scoring when Ryan played a neat ball through to Mochan who proceeded to beat the onrushing keeper (picture). The left side of Tully and Fernie were beginning to get the better of the Fifers and both players displayed their mercurial talents. East Fife played an offside trap but were liable to the good ball played through (precisely how the first goal had arrived). One minute before the interval Fernie was brought down in the penalty area and Huaghney made no mistake with the penalty.
On the restart Ryan scored with a cross come shot which drifted over the Fifers goalkeeper and into the net. Celtic were surging forward and east Fife looked as though they might cave at any moment. Higgins scored a fourth from a goal mouth melee. East Fife claimed a penalty when Bonthrone was brought down by Jack. In the following debate with the referee Christie was booked.
Teams
Celtic:
Beattie; Haughney, Kennedy; Smith, Jack, Peacock; Higgins, Ryan, Mochan, Fernie, Tully.
Scorers: Mochan (21), Haughney (pen 44), Ryan (50), Higgins (54)
East Fife:
McCluskey; Wilkie, S Stewart; Fox, Christie, Cox; J Stewart, Leishman, Plumb, Bonthrone, Matthew.
Scorers:
Referee: A Crossman (Edinburgh)
Attendance: 17,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times, 10/11/56.
