| Match Pictures | Matches: 1963 – 1964 | Pictures: 1963-64 Pictures |
Trivia
- This was an all-ticket game with a maximum crowd set at 22,000. Also the game was to kick off at 2:30pm so that the game would start and finish in daylight. The game was a sell-out.
- Despite a physically hard game on Monday night in the replayed Glasgow Cup semi final against Third Lanark, everyone came thru OK and a full strength team was expected.On the Friday before the game John Divers reported with a damaged ankle which apparently was picked up in the Third Lanark game and he failed to pass a fitness test. Charlie Gallacher stood in for him.
- Morton were the dominant team in the second Division, top of that league and pushing for promotion as well as losing finalisats in this season's League Cup. They played a full strength side with the son of an ex-Celt at right back.
- Away from Celtic, ex-Celt Bertie Auld was suspended by the English FA for a month after getting sent off for Birmingham City in their match against Fulham. Johnny Haynes and Bertie had been involved in an altercation. Haynes struck Auld after provocation then Bertie stuck the heid on Haynes and then struck Cook of Fulham. Haynes was suspended for a week. Another ex-Celt Pat Crerand was also suspended for 7 days following a separate sending off in the Manchester Utd – Burnley Boxing Day game.
- Frank Haffey was back in action playing for the A Reserves away to Arbroath A Reserves in a team of Haffey; Halpin, Parkes; Cattenach, Cushley, O'Neill; Curley, Turner, McCallum, Gnaulati, Brady.
Review
Billed as a thriller from the start this game lived up to it's expectations. Three players were booked – Chalmers and Hughes of Celtic and Wilson of Morton. Murdoch missed a penalty shortly before half time. Celtic were under the cosh for a great proportion of the first half. McGraw, who was carried off with a leg injury just before the end, got the first goal for Morton on 22 minutes. Celtic settled and equalised through Hughes with a brilliant goal beating three defenders, to make the half-time score even.
In the second half Charlie Gallacher scored direct from a corner and Jinky added the insurance three minutes later. McGraw had the ball in the back of the Celtic net but was offside. Hughes had a great game for Celtic.
Teams
Morton:
Miller; Boyd, Mallan; Reilly, Kiernan, Strachan; Stevenson, Campbell, Caven, McGraw, Wilson.
Scorers: McGraw (22)
Celtic:
Fallon; Young, Gemmell; Clark, McNeill, Kennedy; Johnstone, Murdoch, Chalmers, Gallacher, Hughes.
Scorers: Hughes (35), Gallacher (52), Johnstone (55)
Referee: T Wharton (Clarkston)
Attendance: 21,000
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
