The big day arrived – 6 May 1970
By the time the big day arrived – on 6 May 1970 – the Scottish League season was finished. Celtic therefore warmed up for the match with some low-key friendlies, facing Stenhousemuir and Fraserburgh in a charity match. Neither of these would provide suitable preparation for the challenge which was to come.
Celtic supporters at 1970 European Cup Final against Feyenoord in the San Siro, Milan on 6 May 1970. Photo The Celtic Wiki
Celtic – backed by huge numbers of fans – made the Italy trip. They hoped, and perhaps even expected, to return to Scotland victorious. But before the match even began, there were huge problems. Local strikes in Milan meant that the game was in serious jeopardy; this did not just threaten to stop the final, flights and hotels were in chaos too. In the end a compromise was reached and the fixture went ahead.
Tommy Gemmell opened the scoring
The game was played in the famous San Siro stadium. When it began, it quickly became evident that Celtic hopes of a comfortable 90 minutes were not to be; Feyenoord showed from the very start their willingness to attack and their technical proficiency. Despite this, it was the Celts that took the lead. On 29 minutes, Tommy Gemmell added to his Lisbon goal, this time giving his team the advantage.
Tommy Gemmell celebrates his goal at 1970 European Cup Final against Feyenoord in the San Siro, Milan on 6 May 1970. Photo The Celtic Wiki
This goal makes Gemmell part of a small and elite group of players to have scored in more than one European Cup or Champions League Final. He was also the first British player to do so, and since then both Phil Neal and Gareth Bale have repeated this feat.
Continues on the next page…
