| Matches: 1976 – 1977 | 1976-1977 Pictures | League Table | Statistics |
The Boss is back – A Double Season
- League Position – Champions. Finished 9 points ahead of Rangers
- League Cup – Losing Finalist
- Scottish Cup – Winners
- UEFA Cup – First Round
- Glasgow Cup – Final was never played.
Probably the most important event of this season happened at the end of the last season! That was the return of Jock Stein as manager after his year out recuperating from the car crash that very nearly claimed his life. Accompanying this was the installation of Davie McParland as Assistant to Stein and the move of Sean Fallon to Head of Youth Development / Chief Scout.
Stein had noit washed his hands of the team during the previous season and he clearly saw that something was needed,. He brought in important players to the team this season. These additions are detailed in the Stats section. The arrival of Pat Stanton freed Ronnie Glavin to get forward. The arrival of Joe Craig took the pressure off Dalglish and allowed him a more creative role. The final icing on the cake was the stealing of Alfie Conn from under Rangers noses.
The season began with a short series of Friendly games, Celtic choosing to play these in the Highlands, before games against Penarol from Uruguay and losing the Glasgow Cup final against Rangers. With the pre-season Friendlies out of the way it was straight into the first competition of the season with the League Cup. Celtic were drawn in a group with Dundee Utd, Dumbarton and Arbroath. They duly qualified for the next stage with four wins and two draws. Their quarter final opponents were Albion Rovers. A tense 1-0 win at Cliftonhill was an underperformance but the second leg at Celtic Park saw a resurgent 5-0 win. The semi was against Hearts. Two fine goals from Kenny Dalglish saw them through to the final against Aberdeen who had trounced Rangers 5-1 in their semi. The semi proved to be Tommy Callaghan‘s last game as a Celtic player and he was transferred to Clydebank where he helped them to promotion to the Premier League. Their thirteenth successive final however was not to be a successful outcome despite dominating and playing some fine football. Poor finishing let them down and a 1-1 at 90 minutes saw extra time. Aberdeen scored early against the run of play and Celtic could not find a goal. Aberdeen took the League Cup to Pittodrie for the first time in 21 years.
The Scottish Cup began in January 1977 with a 1-1 against Airdrie draw in icy conditions. Celtic hit the bar three times but Airdrie held out for the replay. At Celtic Park they were duly crushed 5-0. The fourth Round saw Ayr Utd play for a draw with Celtic winning a tighter replay game than the scoreline suggested at 3-1. The Quarter final brought ex-Celt Mike Jackson‘s Queen of the South to Celtic Park and Celtic delivered another 5-1 win to take them to the semis at Hampden to face Dundee, now out of the Premier League and fighting for promotion. The Taysiders offered little resistance and once the key to their defensive wall was found Celtic ran out 2-0 victors. The final brought the old foe and Jock Stein’s 25th trophy with a 1-0 through a disputed penalty given away by Derek Johnstone. This was the second part of the Double
The first part came from the League title which was attained by careful strategy and the carefully identified new arrivals. The eventual size of the Championship win was a reflection of the superior preparation and tactics which were a feature of Jock Stein’s management ably helped by Davie McParland. By January they were at the top of the table level on points with Aberdeen with two games in hand. They never gave up their advantage and whilst other teams wavered the Bhoys saw out the games making sure of the title with four games to go. They eventually finished 9 points ahead of second placed Rangers. The team were unbeaten at home and lost only four away games.
In the reorganised and expanded UEFA Cup Celtic never got out of the First Round losing out to a well organised and competitive Wisla Kracow from Poland, drawing 2-2 at home and losing 2-0 away – a result which could have been a far heavier defeat than that.
So the return of Jock Stein, the identification of needed team replacements and the will to win instilled by the return of the master technician were the crucial elements of the season.
In Danny McGrain they had a player of true international calibre recognised as perhaps THE greatest right back of his time in that position. In Dalglish they had a star performer and proud captain. Joe Craig at £65,00, Alfie Conn at £60,000 and Pat Stanton on a swap deal proved to be superb acquisitions.
Football was going through a change and to keep ahead of that Celtic had to prepare for those changes. The increasing level of football violence throughout the home nations was impacting on the public and grounds now needed all to obtain safety certificates. Celtic still amintained an old and outdated wage structure in which players final wages were made up to a large extent by bonuses. If the loss of Macari and Hay had not prepared Celtic for the fact that they were falling behind in their views on what players would accept they were about to receive a seriouys wake uo call that would change the club.
Scottish Cup and Double Winners
L to R – Johnny Doyle, Andy Lynch, Roy Aitken, Danny McGrain, Paul Wilson, Joe Craig, Alfie Conn, Tommy Burns (partly hidden), Pat Stanton.
Kneeling in front – Roddie MacDonald, Johannes (Shuggie) Edvaldsson.
** Missing from the picture – Kenny Dalglish and Peter Latchford.