| Match Pictures | Matches: 1972 – 1973 | 1972-73 Pictures |
Trivia
- The opening game of the 1972-73 League Cup and the first game of the season for real. Celtic were drawn in Section 8, the other two teams being East Fife and Arbroath. For the first time, this season the League Cup was seeded with two Division 1 clubs drawn with 2 Division 2 clubs per section with the first and second teams in each group going through to a play off Second Round. Arrangements for Group 9 – the five team group – were also changed.
- Davie Has was still unfit and in any case carrying a one match suspension over from the end of the previous season. Also not appearing so far was Bobby Lennox. Dixie Deans was controversially dropped and played for the Reserves with Kenny Dalglish starting having recovered from a thigh strain.
- The start of the game was delayed by 15 minutes.
- This game had the famous incident when Jock Stein took to the terraces at half time to demand an end to some of the chants. He was wildly applauded as he vaulted the barrier back on to the pitch.
- At Ibrox Willie Waddell addressed his hordes by microphone before the match after their ‘misbehaviour’ & hooliganism in Barcelona at the end of the previous season and their riotous behaviour at Easter Rd in the Drybrough Cup semi final this season. The club had already been barred from participation in Europe following their supporters behaviour in Barcelona.
- On the same day Celtic drew 1-1 with Airdrie in a Reserve League Cup tie at Celtic Park. The Celtic team was Williams, Davidson, Welsh, McNamara, McDonald, McCluskey, McLaughlin, Hood, Deans, Hancock, White. Sub Franchetti. The Celtic scorer was Hood.
Review
Both teams went at it from the off with Celtic gradually becoming dominant. Macari got the first goal for Celtic after a mix up in the Binos defense. Jimmy Johnstone was given a roving brief. Kenny Dalglish added a second on the half hour with a powerful drive from 20 yards which dipped wickedly.
Macari added a third goal early in the second half and at 3-0 up Celtic took the foot off the gas in the second half.
East Fife 2 – 1 Arbroath
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| Celtic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| East Fife | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Arbroath | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Stirling Albion | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Teams
Celtic:
Connaghan, Brogan, Quinn, Murdoch, McNeill, Connelly, Johnstone, Dalglish, Macari, Callaghan, Wilson (Davidson 58).
Goals: Macari 2 (19, 47), Dalglish (33)
Stirling Albion:
Young; McAleer, Jones; Henderson, McCarry, Carr, McPhee, Duffin, Steele, MacMillan, Lawson. Sub: Stevenson
Referee: T. Kellock (East Kilbride)
Attendance: 17,000
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
- Jock Stein – Tackles the sectarian chanting (1972)
Pictures
Articles
Sunday Mail, August 13, 1972
Magic moments – by wee Lou
By Don Morrison
STIRLING ALBION………………………….0 CELTIC………………………….3
(H.T. 0-2) Scorers: Macari (19, 47 mins), Dalglish (33).
SNAPPY little Lou Macari was the man who sent Celtic off on a successful start in their bid to recapture the League Cup.
It took two delightful moments of sheer opportunism from the wee striker —albeit helped by Stirling keeper George Young—to set the Celts up for a comfortable start to the season.
Young looked as if he might be a hard man to beat when he touched over an early drive from attacking left-back Jimmy Quinn.
Yet in 19 minutes he unaccountably failed to hold a hard Murdoch drive and Macari dashed in to size up the opportunity, make space for himself and drive the ball into the net.
Bobby’s day
When Celtic did get the measure of the tight pitch and curbed the progressive ideas of Albion schemer Sam Henderson, they had the game well under control.
And without ever moving with their customary assurance, it was for all that a satisfactory start—particularly from Bobby Murdoch the man who supplied the ammunition to make it hot for the Stirling defence.
Macari snatched his second goal when Young again boobed.
This time Connelly sent in a drifting lob and when the keeper dropped the ball over his head. Lou was on the spot to angle the ball between the posts.
Between the two Macari crackers we had a great goal from Dalglish straight from a Connaghan clearance when he picked up the ball some 20 yards out.
Celtic power
Stirling had their best chance to get back in business when Henderson sent McPhee clear in 20 minutes but Connaghan came to the rescue.
With the slope in their favour in the second-half, Celtic really powered in on the Albion goal, Billy McNeill trotted miles as he came up front to meet the corner-kicks.
Paul Wilson, who had played mainly as a winger, was replaced by young Vic Davidson in 58 minutes.
Stirling must take credit for trying to play attractive football. In addition to Henderson, inside-left MacMillan brought a touch of class to Bob Shankley’s side.
Stirling certainly will be a Second Division force this season.
For Celtic Billy McNeill was the dominant defender and I also liked the speedy Jimmy Quinn and the normally cultured Connelly. Jimmy Johnstone, in a midfield role, worked hard but really did not get much scope.
STIRLING ALBION: Young; McAleer, Jones; Henderson, McCarry, Carr, McPhee, Duffin, Steele, MacMillan, Lawson. Sub: Stevenson—not used.
CELTIC: Connaghan; Brogan, Quinn; Murdoch, McNeill, Connelly: Johnstone, Dalglish, Macari, Callaghan, Wilson. Sub: Davidson for Wilson—58 mins.
Referee: T. Kellock, East Kilbride
Attendance—18,000.
Sunday Mail, August 13, 1972
Front page headline: BATTLING BOSSES
By Mail Reporter
Football managers tackle the hoodlums
Two football managers went into action yesterday in dramatic moves to stop football violence . . . and it worked wonders.
AT ANNFIELD PARK, where Stirling Albion were at home to Celtic, Jock Stein leapt into a crowd of Celtic fans as trouble threatened to break out.
A section of the crowd had been chanting “ I R A “ and waving an Irish tricolour.
As a small band of police were hemmed in by the chanting fans the situation looked ugly.
Then manager Stein went into action.
Along with trainer Bob Rooney he made a bee-line for the trouble spot. And the Celtic boss gave the troublemakers a tongue lashing.
Manager Stein got the biggest cheer of the day as he nipped the trouble in the bud.
AT IBROX STADIUM there were cheers too for manager Willie Waddell as he gave the fans a lecture before the start of the first game of the season.
In no uncertain terms he put the club’s case from the middle of the field in a loudspeaker address.
He said it was to “the tikes, hooligans, louts and drunkards who have no respect for society” that he pinpointed his message.
The Rangers boss went on “The name of Rangers has been smeared all over the world by an unruly mob who spread destruction and terror
“Unfortunately the stains stick on every Rangers fan.
SAVAGES
“Rangers want no part of you who cause destruction to public property, throw bottles and fight and spread viciousness with party songs and foul, obscene language.
“Wearing red, white and blue…..
Continued on Page Two
….colours give you no right to act as savages.”
Mr Waddell warned the fans not to bring alcohol to games.
Police later made four arrests.
Trouble
After the Celtic game police Superintendent Bob Bell said: “I am very grateful to Mr Stein.
“The crowd had about a dozen of my men boxed in and things were getting pretty ugly.
“I don’t know what Jock said but it certainly worked wonders.”
Afterwards manager Stein told the Mail: “I just told the fans what they were.
“It’s only the start of the season and look at the trouble we’ve had already. We’ll have to do something.”
At Boghead Park, Dumbarton – where First Division football returned after 50 years – nine fans were arrested.
