The Soul of Celtic | About Celtic | Games | Players | Managers | The Board
(by TheHumanTorpedo)
With just nine league games to go the Hoops headed across the city to play Rangers on the back of three successive 1-1 home draws. Those dropped points had seemingly all but ended Celtic’s title aspirations, with surprise package Hearts increasingly looking like champions-elect.
The final Glasgow derby clash of the season then was viewed as no more than a scrap for parochial bragging rights. However, despite dropping yet another point, a frantic 4-4 draw in swamp like conditions would prove the catalyst for a remarkable Celtic revival. A revival which meant the title’s destiny would remain uncertain right until the final minutes of the season.
That late surge saw the Celts pick up a maximum 14 points from seven games. As the season entered it’s final day only leaders Hearts and the Hoops could end the evening as champions of Scotland.
With the Edinburgh club boasting a two point lead and a better goal difference Davie Hay’s Bhoys traveled to St Mirren knowing only a Hearts defeat at Dundee and a Celtic victory – by at least three goals – would take the title to Parkhead. It was an unlikely scenario. But a sense of belief had been building among the Hoops support. As the army of fans made the short trip to Love Street there was real hope that they were about to witness another very special day in the history of their club.
On a rain sodden pitch the opening minutes were naturally tense. But the visitors – wearing their mint green away kit – soon settled. Their play took on a distinct sense of purpose. With Celtic pushing forward the drab and damp Paisley afternoon was suddenly lit up with a display of attacking football which the Buddies had no answer for.
Celtic had gone to Love Street with a job to do but no one expected them to perform the task with such cutting alacrity. A bullet header from Brian McClair and a strike from Mo Johnston had put the visitors firmly in command by the half-hour mark.
Celtic’s third goal was a thing of beauty. Starting from the edge of their own area the Bhoys swept the length of the Love Street pitch with a wonderfully flowing and swift passing move. Danny McGrain, Murdo MacLeod, Paul McStay, Roy Aitken and McClair all combined with devastating efficiency before the ball was expertly dispatched into the St Mirren net from close range by the on rushing Johnston.
A sweetly dispatched McStay drive then made it four before half time. The huge, soaked traveling support, huddled in hope on the Paisley terracing, were now really starting to believe. Just 10 minutes into the second half McClair’s second of the match made it 5-0. It was job done as far as the Celtic players were concerned.
Over on the east coast Hearts were still being held 0-0 at Dundee. Attention now turned almost exclusively to events at Dens Park. A draw was still enough for the Tynecastle team to take the title. But just a single slip could cost them everything. Across the nation transistor radios, and the tension, began to crackle.
While thousands of Celtic supporters pressed their ears to the nearest wireless and willed for a Dundee breakthrough one particular Hoops fan was about to take matters into his own hands. As a long league campaign entered its final minutes the game in Paisley was petering to a close. St Mirren keeper Jim Stewart gathered the ball in his area as Celtic pressed forward once more. As the keeper nonchalantly prepared to launch the ball down field he was startled by a sudden and joyous roar from the terracing. Scenes of delirium swept around him as countless radios relayed the remarkable news -.Dundee had scored.
Albert Kidd, Dundee substitute and Celtic supporter, had come off the bench to deliver a fatal blow to the Jam Tarts. It was, as the TV commentator stated, “Lift off at Love Street”.
That goal shattered Hearts. Fears of an equaliser for the Edinburgh side were quickly extinguished as Kidd netted a second to spark further wild celebrations. The Gorgie Road club had fell with the championship winning line tantalisingly in sight. But it was party time in Paisley.
As the final whistle sounded the Celtic players were swamped by hundreds of ecstatic supporters and a jubilant chorus of You’ll Never Walk Alone boomed into the murky sky. Celtic, remarkably, were champions.