6th May 1970 – The Day Celtic Lost The Greatest Prize

The event seems to occupy the same place in Celtic’s story as does the Korean War in world history. This lasted for years, involved troops from around the world and played a role in causing the Cold War. Yet it is seldom remembered, and has been referred to as the ‘Forgotten War’.

‘Celtic’s ‘Forgotten Final’

When it comes to Celtic’s history, the same might be said of the 1970 European Cup Final. Coming only three years after the Bhoys’ greatest day in Lisbon, this match in Milan might be styled as Celtic’s ‘Forgotten Final’.

This is the story of Celtic’s second European Cup Final, a tale of big wins, disappointments, complacency – and even a coin toss.

After success in Lisbon in 1967, the Bhoys enjoyed a mixed European record. In the following season, their hopes of defending their title fell at the first hurdle with defeat from Dynamo Kiev. This was the last time that the Lisbon Lions XI started a game together, and the only time they ever lost.

The next season showed improvement as the Bhoys got to the quarter-finals, although this time lost out to AC Milan. This particular campaign had started under unusual and political circumstances. Celtic had been drawn to face Hungarian champions Ferencvaros; club chairman Robert Kelly refused to do so in protest at the Soviet Union’s military action in Czechoslovakia, which forced UEFA to redo the draw.

By the start of the 1969-70 season, Celtic’s domestic record was one of total dominance. The Bhoys were already four-in-a-row League champions and within five years they would have celebrated nine successive titles.

They enjoyed similar domestic cup success. The Celts had won four consecutive League Cups, and their 1969 Scottish Cup win was part of the Bhoys’ second Treble-winning campaign.

These achievements continued in 1969-70. Celtic won their fifth successive League Cup, thanks to a narrow 1-0 victory over St Johnstone in October 1969. In fact, this was the second time in 1969 that the Bhoys had won the League Cup; a fire at Hampden Park in 1968 had forced the date of the previous season’s final to be moved.

Although the Bhoys were defeated in the 1970 Scottish Cup Final – losing 3-1 to Aberdeen in a very controversial match – they also claimed the Glasgow Cup, albeit that the final was not actually played until the start of the 1970-71 season.

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