| Match Pictures | Matches: 1962 – 1963 | 1962-63 Pictures |
Trivia
- Once the draw for the semi-final had been made it was realised that there could be an 'old firm' final to the Scottish Cup – the first since 1928 (I think!). Following the results of the semi-finals. the game was automatically declared an all-ticket game with the attendance limit set at 134,500. This was the first Celtic – Rangers Scottish Cup Final for 35 years.
- Celtic were gradually recovering players back to fitness. After the Hearts game on the precedeing Monday night in which Haffey had damaged his back, he was gradually brought back to full fitness, as was Billy McNeill who had been absent with an ankle injury. By Thursday all the players that had missed the Hearts game were fit again and Haffey was back in training.
- Celtic named 15 players for the final with selection to be made on the day. Willie O'Neill, Bobby Lennox, Steve Chalmers and John Fallon were all taken. The only surprise when the line-up was called was the inclusion of Jimmy Johnstone. Jinky had had a great game on the Monday night against Hearts and it was probably this that swayed the management towards his place in the starting eleven.
- The game was played in difficult conditions with heavy rain showers and the notorious swirling and gusting Hampden wind.
- The replay was set for May 15th with a 7:30pm kick off and would not be all-ticket so fans would be able to pay at the turnstiles.
Review
Generally considered to be not a great or satisfying game with neither side deserving to win. This was a game more about defences rather than attacking skills and without doubt Frank Haffey was man of the match.
The match report and time breakdown give the to-and-fro of the play. In a general sense Rangers had more of the play but Celtic had the better half backs and McNeill was superb. Jimmy Johnstone had a good game but most of the forwards were pretty ineffective.
Teams
Rangers:
Ritchie; Shearer, Provan; Greig, McKinnon, Baxter; Henderson, McLean, Millar, Brand, Wilson.
Scorers: Brand (43)
Celtic:
Haffey; MacKay, Kennedy; McNamee, McNeill, Price; Johnstone, Murdoch, Hughes, Divers, Brogan.
Scorers: Murdoch (45)
Referee: T Wharton (Clarkston)
Attendance: 129,527
Articles
- Match Report (see end of page below)
Pictures
Articles
- Time Breakdown
3:00 Millar Kicks Off
3:01 McKinnon passes back to Ritchie to foil Hughes
3:02 McNeill beats Wilson in the penalty box and passes back to Haffey
3:03 First foul – Brand for elbowing
3:07 Celtic force two corners within a minute after Provan fouls Johnstone
3:09 Ritchie fists a McNamee free kick from Hughes' head. Rain now falling steadily
3:11 Greig almost hit the corner flag with a first time shot. A great deal of slack play so far.
3:13 Ritchie sprints out to take the ball away from Johnstone's feet
3:16 McLean splits the Celtic defense with a superb pass to Wilson who is tumbled by MacKay. Rangers penalty claim turned down
3:17 McNeill heads past his own post in a hot Rangers attack
3:18 Haffey makes a great save from a Greig's 20 yard drive
3:20 Haffey pushes a Mclean shot over. Game speeding up now
3:21 MacKay clears on the line from a Brand flick
3:22 Haffey makes a brilliant save from a Brand header
3:25 Brand injured as he jumps with McNamee for a high ball. Brand resumes at outside left after attention with Wilson inside
3:28 Millar pops up in the Rangers penalty area to clear a cross from Johnstone
3:30 Brogan robs Shearer in midfield and sprints through to shoot just over
3:31 Johnstone misses a chance by crossing instead of shooting from a good position. Celtic now more than holding their own.
3:32 Brand and Wilson take up their original positions
3:33 Millar heads a great cross from Henderson yards wide – a great chance missed
3:42 BRAND opens the score by placing the ball neatly past Haffey from a Henderson cross
3:45 MURDOCH equalises for Celtic – and that makes it 1-1 at half-time
3:55 Play restarts
3:56 Haffey dives on a McLean drive. McLean injures ankle but is soon on his feet
4:00 McLean, limping badly, goes to outside right, with Henderson at inside right
4:04 Divers shoots against Ritchie's legs from 6 yards – another chance missed
4:06 McLean and Henderson revert to original positions. Still anything but a great final
4:11 Ritchie punches Murdoch shot out to Divers; Shearer clears on the line
4:13 Haffey makes brilliant point blank save from Brand
4:14 Haffey makes another good save this time from Millar
4:26 Wilson scoops ball past from a Henderson cross
4:37 Wilson misses a great chance from two yards by shooting weakly and Haffey saves
4:42 Its a draw. Celtic have done well against the odds
Glasgow Herald 6th May 1963
