| Season Review | Matches: 1976 – 1977 | 1976-1977 Pictures |
Appearances (Goals in brackets)'
+' sign indicates the number of substitute appearances by that player
* – left Celtic during season 1976/77
† – left Celtic at the end of season 1976/77
| League | League Cup | Scottish Cup | UEFA Cup | Total | |
| Latchford | 31 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 47 |
| Connaghan * |
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Baines | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| McGrain | 36 | 10 (1) | 7 | 2 | 55 (1) |
| Lynch | 30 (2) | 9 | 6 (1) | 2 | 47 (3) |
| P McCluskey † | 4+4 | 5+3 | 1 | 1 | 11+7 |
| Casey | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 |
| Stanton | 36 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 43 |
| MacDonald | 24 (2) | 10 (2) | 5 | 2 (1) | 41 (5) |
| Edvaldsson | 13+4 (5) | 8+1 (1) | 3+1 | 2 | 26+6 (6) |
| Aitken | 33 (5) | 5+1 | 7 (1) | 1 | 46+1 (6) |
| Henderson * | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 |
| Glavin | 34 (19) | 10 (1) | 6 (6) | 2 | 52 (26) |
| Doyle | 33+2 (4) | 9 (5) | 6 (2) | 2 | 50+2 (11) |
| Craig | 34 (16) | 0 | 7 (7) | 0 | 41 (23) |
| Dalglish | 35 (14) | 9 (10) | 7 (1) | 2 (1) | 53 (26) |
| G McCluskey | 0+1 (1) | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 3+2 (1) |
| Burns | 13+9 (1) | 6 | 1+2 | 1 | 21+11 (1) |
| Gibson | 1+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+3 |
| Wilson | 19+5 (5) | 8+1 (3) | 5 | 2 | 34+6 (8) |
| Conn | 13+1 (2) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15+1 (2) |
| Lennox | 2+3 (2) | 3+3 | 0 | 1+1 | 6+7 (2) |
| Callaghan * | 0+1 | 4 (1) | 0 | 0 | 4+1 (1) |
| own goals | (1) | (1) |
Most Appearances – Danny McGrain with 55 – he played in every game.
Top Scorer – a tie between Kenny Daglish and Ronnie Glavin with 26 each
Highest Attendance: Scottish League Cup 6th November 1976 -v- Aberdeen ; 69,707
New Arrivals, Debuts and Departures.
Perhaps the most important arrivals and departures for this season occurred at the end of the last season. This was the return of Jock Stein to the driving seat as manager of the club. Accompanying this was the decision by the Board, probably with the complicity of Jock Stein, to move Sean Fallon into the role effectively as, in terms that were not yet realised, Head of Youth Development – or Chief Scout in terms that were at that time understood. Into his place as Assistant Manager came Dave McParland who would take over day-to-day physical activities such as team training. This no doubt changed the way the season was approached.
At the end of the previous season Atholl Henderson had been snapped up on a free from in July 76 when he was seen working out at Celtic Park. Unfortunately he never fitted in and with strikers coming through the Reserves he was released in April '77 having made 2 appearances in the first team, one as substitute.
The first new arrival in September was Pat Stanton, known and long admired by Stein who had signed him when he was manager at Hibernian. His signing sorted out a tactical problem, with Stanton at 32 becoming a master sweeper and defender knowing where to be and what to do with the minimum of effort. This extra security at the back allowed the release of Ronnie Glavin from the role that he had been used in which was as a defensive midfielder to become again the scoring forward he always was. The deal was done with Hibernian, who had him languishing in the Reserves, with a straight swap with Jackie McNamara moving to Hibernian.
Stein realised that an out-and-out centre forward able to steal and make goals as Dixie Dean had been, was needed in the first team. When Joe Craig of Partick Thistle became available the deal was quickly done and and Craig was signed on the 17th September 1976 making his debut the next day against Hearts. He would re-establish a partnership with his former captain at Thistle and now fellow Celtic striker Ronnie Glavin and would also strike up a partnership with Kenny Dalglish that would shortly be curtailed to Joe's detriment.
In October '76 Roy Baines was signed from Morton in a deal which involved Andy Ritchie plus £10,000 heading to Cappielow. He was signed to be back up to Peter Latchford who by now had established himself as the No. 1 choice goalkeeper. This meant Denis Connaghan was now surplus to requirements and he was put on the transfer list and left for Clydebank on the 11th March 1977.
Connaghan had been preceded to Clydebank by a Celtic stalwart, Tommy Callaghan. Callaghan had started this season late after playing the closed season in the States with San Antonio Thunder. He needed to get fit on his return but he eventually started in the League Cup. It was clear that with Stanton in place and a new looking front line Tommy could be moved on and he left for Clydebank on the 4th November 1976 for £6,000. At Clydebank he was the old head in a young team and was instrumental in Clydebank achieving promotion to the Premier League this season.
In December 1976 whilst watching a Reserve game against St Mirren Jock Stein became aware of Johnny Gibson. He had been a fast winger at Partick Thistle but been transferred to Ayr Utd over disciplinary matters. Ayr released him to St Mirrn where he was spotted. Stein took a chance taking on a player with a poor disciplinary record but obvious talent.
The last and most controversial signing was ex-Ranger Alfie Conn, signed from Tottenham Hotspur in March 1977. Conn had troubled Celtic as a Rangers player and had made a big money move to Tottenham Hotspur. He had fallen out of first team selection there and was looking for a move. Rangers supporters wanted him back at Ibrox but Stein stole in and sold him on the move. This was at the time when Rangers had come out with a statement that they would now sign Catholics, as shocking as that might now seem, and to have one of their own stolen from under their noses was a slap in the face to Ibrox punters.
It should also be noted that Stevie Murray officially left the club this season after failing to overcome a toe injury.
Of the Youths, Reserves and others, Graham Barclay was released in April, Tommy McGrain, Danny's brother and provisional was released, Bobby Hannah was released also in April and would find a home with Ayr Utd. Brian McLaughlin, who had never really recovered from a bad knee injury was also released in April. It's likely that the following youths were released as there is no record of their appearance with either the reserves of their farmed out clubs; Henry Creaney, John Cunningham, Ian Fairlie (DF), Iain Gourlay (FB), Billy Gray (FW), Kenny Innes (IF), Jackie Keay (CH), Douglas Keast, Sam Lynch (DF), Willie McDonald (OL), Tony McIlwham (WH), Jim McMahon (CH), Tommy McWilliam, Hamish Morrison (GK), Allan Pearson (FW), Andy Robertson (CH.