| Matches: 1957 – 1958 | 1957-1958 Pictures | League Table | Statistics |
A Move Forward Which Should Have Been More
- League Position – 3rd
- League Cup – WINNERS
- Scottish Cup – Third Round
- Others: Glasgow Cup – First Round
- Charities Cup – .semi-final
Celtic finished the season 1957-58 with an improvement in their final League position to third in the League with a total of 46 points, better than their previous two seasons finish of fifth, and with 11 more points. The big bonus was the retention of the League Cup – a fact which was slightly forgotten during the season seeing as it occurred so early on, but one which has been forever remembered by Celtic fans everywhere for the 'Hampden in the Sun' game and the thrashing of Rangers 7-1 on the 19th October.
As ever with the recognition and acknowledgement of progress over a particular season, the devil lies within the detail. After so long without any League Cup success, Celtic go and win it twice in succession – and this time emphatically. Celtic were drawn in a qualifying group consisting of Hibernian, Airdrieonians and East Fife. Having won their first two games Celtic were in a strong position to go on and qualify but Hibernian presented tough opposition (and indeed were a team much fancied to do well this season). They duly lost the away game at Easter Road but came back after a hard fought game away to Airdrie and were in pole position with two games to play. They hammered East Fife and, with Hibs also winning, the position in the table meant Celtic only needed a draw to go through in the game at Celtic Park – a game which they duly won 2-0 to go through and meet Third Lanark. In a two-legged round the Hi-Hi's were duly despatched in emphatic style 6-1 at home and 3-0 away. Thus to the semi-final, a game that was keenly anticipated with both Celtic and Clyde showing good form. This game however was affected by the 'flu epidemic which swept Scotland at this time and Clyde were decimated on the day of the game losing four first team players. In a thrilling game Celtic emerged to go to Hampden. So much has been written about the 7-1 game – but never has there been such an annihilation of the auld foe in such an emphatic manner.
Before looking at the League progress, through which we can assess the team, lets quickly review the Scottish Cup of '58. The first round game against Airdrieonians was very nearly thrown away, Airdrie coming back from 4-0 down to very nearly draw the game. The second round was against Stirling Albion, now in the Second Division but heading to promotion this season. Though the Bino's fought well they were overwhelmed by a Celtic team desperate for an emphatic home win. The third round saw a return to Clyde who were looking for revenge for their semi-final league Cup defeat. Despite it being a Clyde home game the game was played at Celtic Park because of crowd fears at the Shawfield ground. Celtic exited to a 2-0 loss to a Clyde side that were better organised and hungry for the win. They would go on to win the Cup defeating Hibernian 1-0 in the final.
It is in the League form that the change, progress or regression in the team and outlook can be seen. Third as opposed to fifth should be definite progress. But this should have been a League winning season. The reason it was not was because of the failure of the one thing that had been a Celtic given – the form at Celtic Park. The team won only 1 home league game in their first 10 home matches. In contrast, the away form was astonishingly good and it took till February '58 – an amazing run – for the team to be held away from home by Killie in a 1-1 draw. Though the home form did pick up towards the end of the season it was this that was the main factor in Celtic not challenging Hearts, who had an exceptional season, and finishing third to a poor Rangers side that were building from younger players.
Saying all that definite progress in outlook was made. With Jock Stein coaching the Reserves a good group of youthful players and decent back-ups to first team regulars was starting to be available. The season saw debuts for John Donnelly, who went on to play a good part of the season as the right-back of choice, Jim Conway, Johnny Divers, Mike Jackson, John Colrain and Frank Haffey. All would go on to have decent careers with the first team. Celtic were beginning to reap the advantage of superior scouting and the selection of young talent from the Junior teams, combined with superior coaching. In Jock Stein they had appointed a young man that had had to retire early from playing, but a guy that thought deeply about football.
Another point worth mentioning is the way injuries played a part in the season. Always unpredictable in their occurrence, these seemed to crop up regularly this season and to key players. Tully was out for all bar 1 game after November with a thigh injury that refused to go away. His magic and artistry were missed. At 34, he must have wondered about his future with the first team given the quality of youngsters coming through. Collins, Fernie and McPhail – all key players – each had periods out of the game with injuries and when it coincided that all three were out at the same time around New Year, Celtic had their worst run of games, losing four games on the trot and five in six.
A number of other individual players are worth mentioning. At 36, Sean Fallon was the oldest of the first team and he played almost continuously only losing out to young Jim Kennedy during injury and then after March losing his place to Neil Mochan, a player that had been converted from an outside left to a left back during a period under Stein's tutelage in the Reserves. Sammy Wilson must go down as one of the best free transfers Celtic had ever acquired. Forever a battler and a trier, he became twice the player he was in partnership with Billy McPhail. Sammy was top scorer for the season and played in every game once he had proved his worth and established his quality. Beattie continued as the No.1 goalkeeper and only missed 2 representative games – one each to Bonnar and Haffey. Frank Haffey was the young pretender coming through. Picked up from Campsie Black Watch he was rapidly promoted in the Reserves to the extent that, after 10 years service, John Bonnar was released at the end of the season. Also rapidly promoted and due to start in the coming season were two outstanding talents in Billy McNeill and Pat Crerand.
Two final points are worth making. This was a season of a disaster associated with Celtic. When the fog-bound game at Shawfield in December came to a halt people on the stand side could not guess that a large section of boundary wall had collapsed on top of youths and boys killing one and injuring 50. The following inquiry exonerated the ground, but ground standards and the comfort of spectators as a necessity for the progression of football was beginning to be appreciated throughout Britain. With many more ways to amuse themselves crowd numbers were down and clubs started to realise this. This was also the year of the Manchester Utd 'Munich Air Disaster' which also sharpened players and people's minds towards the welfare of all. Britain was finally beginning – after long last – to come out of the depression post-war and football needed to change. Celtic Park now had large covered areas but the directors refused to embrace change and introduce floodlighting – or they actually did realise the importance of floodlighting but in true Celtic nature of that time, were too parsimonious to embrace the change willingly.
All in all then, a season which WAS a progression, but with better home form might have become a perfect season.
