the start of an era
part 2

In part 2 of our Jock Stein commemoration NTV takes a stroll down Amnesia Lane with a look back at the 1965-66 season. Manfred Lurker continues the story from Big Jock's appointment.

Big Jock was to take up his post in an official capacity on March 10th 1965. It had been over a month since the announcement of his imminent takeover from Jimmy McGrory but he had to wait for Hibs to appoint Bill Shankley as his successor before leaving for Parkhead. His parting shot as he left Easter Road was to ensure that the huns would be taking no further part in that season's Scottish Cup as his team administered a gubbing to the Ibrox side, something he was to make quite a habit of on the coming years.

Almost immediately following his takeover at Celtic Park the papers tried to fuel controversy over the fact that Stein was Celtic's first non-Catholic manager. Perhaps they had convinced themselves that Celtic supporters would rush round to the main stand entrance burning season tickets and effigies of Bob Kelly.

It wasn't to be. The appointment of Stein was greeted with widespread approval. The only thing that was heating up rapidly was Scot Symon's manager's chair at Ibrox.

Stein's first match in charge of Celtic was at Broomfield against Airdrie. His first selection was: Fallon, Young, Gemmell; Clark, McNeill, Brogan; Chalmers, Murdoch, Hughes, Lennox, Auld.

John Hughes and Bertie Auld (who netted five - two from the spot) were the scorers in a 6:0 romp. Other than a 4:0 thrashing of his old side Hibs and a single goal victory courtesy of an o.g. against Third Lanark it was to be a rare opportunity to celebrate two league points as Stein tried out most of the players in the first team pool before the end of the season. Some of these line-ups were less than succesful, as maulings at Falkirk (2:6) and Dunfermline (1:5) would tend to suggest, but the new manager wanted everyone to get the opportunity to show what they could do - even if it was Hugh Maxwell.

Meanwhile, in the Scottish Cup the Celts had progressed to the semi-final of that season's competition prior to the arrival of Stein, thanks to victories over St. Mirren (3:0), Queens Park (1:0) and Kilmarnock (3:2). Motherwell were the opponents and at Hampden on March 27th the Fir Park side played to an extremely defensive plan, relying almost entirely on their lone striker to upset the Celtic defence. This he did to such effect that he almost caused our season to come to a shuddering halt. Motherwell twice took the lead but both times were pegged back, the goals coming from Lennox and Auld. The match finished 2:2 and a a replay was necessary.

In the second game Celtic tore Motherwell apart in a display full of aggression, power and speed, eventually running out comfortable winners by 3:0.

We hadn't seen the last of the Motherwell striker, however. Joe Mcbride was to become Jock's first signing the following July.

Celtic's opposition in the 1965 Scottish Cup Final was to be provided by one of Stein's former charges, Dunfermline. The Pars had finished third in the championship, some 12 points and five places above Celtic. They could field what was widely regarded as the best side in their history and had every right to believe that the cup would be heading back to Fife for the second time in five years.

The fans weren't aware of it yet, but the best ever ride in the theme park was about to start rolling.

part one
part three
part four
part five
part six
season stats