6th December 1965 Italy v Scotland Preview #4

Off (1) There did not seem to be any great enthusiasm among the Glasgow football-supporting public anyway, so it was probably no great disappointment for many when the Old Firm Select v Moscow Dynamo match was called off for the second time in 24 hours. Those in charge at Celtic FC had seemed quite confident …

7th December 1965 Italy v Scotland Preview #5 and Report

Jock Stein Sums It Up “I hope tomorrow’s Naples crowd is the noisiest, rowdiest, bottle-throwing crowd we’ve ever come across. If they are rioting, it’ll mean that we’re doing well. But if they are sitting up there enjoying themselves, it will be Italy who are doing well”. The words of Jock Stein in his last …

11th December 1965: Celtic v Hibs – Part One

There might have been some important league matches coming up but Scotland’s defeat in Naples was still tending to dominate the back pages;-   Scotland Out of the World Cup Scots Floored by the Left This Was Too Much – Even for Jock Stein   On the day following the match, the sporting press was …

11th December 1965: Celtic v Hibs – Part Two

‘Who represents Scotland in next season’s European Cup competition – Celtic or Rangers? Right now, the league race seems to be developing into a straight contest between the ‘’Old Firm’ teams. Between now and their meeting on 3rd January, both teams have four games. Celtic meet Hibs and Morton (H), Dunfermline and Clyde (A). Rangers …

18th December 1965: Dunfermline Athletic v Celtic – Part One

Good News!…at Least for Me The week started well…for me at any rate. I noticed in the football reports in the Sunday papers that Ian Young had injured his ankle in the match against Hibs and would possibly be out for a few weeks. Now, don’t get me wrong here. I got on fine with …

18th December 1965: Dunfermline Athletic v Celtic – Part Two

Another Right-Back? On the day of the match, there was a comment in one of the papers that, due to Ian Young’s injury, Billy McNeil might be brought in at right-back. The story was seen by my Dad, who worked on a Saturday, and he phoned the house to tell me. I muttered something suitable …

25th December 1965: Celtic v Morton – Part One

Glasgow at Christmas In my very young days, in the late 40s and early 50s, Christmas in Glasgow was certainly celebrated but it was not as big an event as New Year. By 1965, things were improving and Christmas had become an important occasion, even if, especially in Scotland, the New Year festivities were undertaken …