New Year’s Day finally ended any hopes of a League revival
New Year’s Day finally ended any hopes of a League revival, but there was still Europe and the Scottish Cup. The Scottish Cup included an epic game at Morton. Morton were in the Second Division but had almost, by the end of January, already won it! Their hopes of beating Celtic that Burns Night of 25 January 1964 were high, but thanks to a brilliant John Hughes goal and another scored direct from a corner kick by Charlie Gallagher, Celtic won through.
But then at the end of February, Celtic missed a big trick. Dunfermline Athletic announced that Jock Stein was leaving them at the end of the season. He would stay with them until then, but he possibly felt that he had gone as far as he was likely to go with the hitherto under-performing provincial club which he had turned into one of the better teams in the country.
Now where do you think Jock was wanting to go?
Shrewd supporters worked that one out, but Mr Kelly (possibly still concerned about Stein’s religion) did not pick up on the mood of the time, and the chance went abegging with Stein moving on to Hibs instead. It was a costly mistake and sentenced us to another unnecessary year of misery.
Slovan Bratislava 0 Celtic 1
In early March we beat Slovan Bratislava in Europe, but lost to Rangers in the Scottish Cup. We would have preferred it the other way round, but we still had the opportunity to became the first Scottish team to win a European trophy.
The events of April 1964 ended tragically, but there were good times as well. Scotland beat England in the rain at Hampden on Saturday 11 April , then on the Wednesday night, MTK of Hungary came to Parkhead for the European Cup Winners Cup semi-final, and Celtic, in a dazzling display of attacking football beat them 3-0. It was arguably, the best result since the 7-1 of 1957 and we couldn’t really lose the second leg 0-4 could we?
But then two things happened. Rangers beat Dundee in the Scottish Cup final on 25 April (and don’t anyone dare try to tell me that what Rangers do “doesn’t matter” as far as Celtic are concerned!) and Celtic went to Hungary determined to attack. The word “naive” did not quite cover that decision, and yes, you’ve guessed it, we went down 0-4!
Celtic on the way to Budapest. European Cup Winners Cup semi-final 29 April 1964. Photo The Celtic Wiki
Now, suppose, just suppose, that Mr Kelly had shown a little more brain at the end of February. Although Stein could not have been in charge of 7 March, the sheer knowledge that Stein was coming back might have lead to a different result at Ibrox on that awful day, and by 29 April when Stein might indeed have been in charge (he was, in fact, in charge at Easter Road by then) Celtic would NOT have lost 4 goals to MTK Budapest.
But that was 1964
Very painful in many respects, but one or two glimpses of what could have been, and indeed what could be yet. Still looking forward to next season, and although now nearly 16, my retarded puberty (what was causing that, I wonder?) meant I could still get in the Boys’ Gate for 2 shillings! Half fare on the railway as well!
David Potter
*Article from The Celtic Star archives from the late, great Celtic Historian David Potter who wanted these stories to be told. This week we’ll publish one a day for you to enjoy! A great Celtic man was David…
Celtic in the Thirties
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