| Match Pictures | Matches: 1962 – 1963 | 1962-63 Pictures |
Trivia
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This game was the idea of Glasgow businessman and Celtic supporter Max Benjamin who wanted to raise money for the Jewish National Fund Charitable Trust and the rehabilitation of refugee woman and children from Europe and north Africa.
- 72,000 come out to watch the greats like Di Stefano, Puskas and Gento.
- “That Celtic support, it amazed me. Never anywhere in the world have I seen such enthusiasm or heard such encouragement. I wish I could take them back to support my club in Spain.”
The legendary Ferenc Puskas in an interview, see below (Sep 1962)
- After the game thousands of Celtic fans stood outside the Central Hotel in Glasgow and the players had to wave to them from a balcony before they would disperse.
Review
A young and inexperienced Celtic side faced the might of the great Real Madrid in this fund-raising challenge match at Celtic Park on Monday September 10th 1962.
The game was the idea of Glasgow businessman and Celtic supporter Max Benjamin who wanted to raise money for the Jewish National Fund Charitable Trust and the rehabilitation of refugee woman and children from Europe and north Africa. It was a major coup to attract Madrid and all their stars to Glasgow and a crowd of 72,000 packed Parkhead to see the likes of Puskas, di Stefano and Gento.
In contrast to their superstar opponents Celtic were a mostly youthful side and the Bhoys team that lined up against the European giants was: Haffey, MacKay, Kennedy, Crerand, McNeill, Price, Lennox (Chalmers), Gallagher, Hughes (Carroll), Jackson, Brogan (Byrne).
Puskas and Amancio netted in the first-half to give Madrid a comfortable lead at the interval but despite the gulf in class Celtic had impressed. In the second-half the Bhoys grew in confidence and were unlucky to go further behind on the hour mark through a Gento counter. Stevie Chalmers hit a quick reply and was then unlucky to have another goal chalked off late on as the Hoops put their illustrious visitors under pressure.
The 3-1 defeat was greeted like a victory by a support not used to such spirit and invention from Celtic. Indeed the young Hoops were called out for a lap of honour on a night which would raise £10,000 for charity and give the Celtic fans a taste of European nights to come.
After the match the great Ferenc Puskas sang the praises of Celtic duo Pat Crerand and Billy McNeill.
Teams
Celtic:
Haffey; MacKay, Kennedy; Crerand, McNeill, Price; Lennox (Carroll, 45), Gallacher, Hughes (Chalmers, 45), Jackson, Brogan ( Byrne, 45).
Scorer: Chalmers (62)
Real Madrid:
Ariquistain; Casado, Miera; Muller, Santamaria, Pachin; Bueno, Amancio, Di Stefano, Puskas, Gento.
Scorers: Puskas (10), Amancio (30), Gento (61).
Referee: L Horn (Holland)
Attendance: 72,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
Evening Times 11th September 1962
