Celtic FC – Scottish Cup Winners for the 18th time – 1965

CELTIC 3-2 DUNFERMLINE – HAMPDEN, 24 APRIL 1965 – Celtic were born again today as the Stein era of almost unbroken success was launched. Stein had arrived in March, and although it would be fanciful to say that things changed immediately, there was definitely something in the air at Celtic Park.

But they had to win today against the very impressive Dunfermline. The Pars scored first and then after Bertie Auld had headed Celtic level, scored again before half time. But Celtic equalised, again through Bertie Auld, and with possibly the most famous goal in Celtic’s history, Billy McNeill headed home Charlie Gallagher’s corner kick to propel Celtic to glory, and won Celtic’s 18th Scottish Cup.

Tom Campbell and Pat Woods in The Glory and The Dream

“For two seconds Hampden’s vast bowl was still, stunned with the sudden shock of decision, and then erupted into bedlam; the roar continued, minute after minute, and it’s prevailing note changed; it was not merely the burst of joy that a goal produces, rather it was a tumultuous welcome to the future and the instinctive realisation by all Celtic’s support that the young men had grown up and that nothing, now, nor in the years to come would withstand their collective spirit.”

The Celtic team: Fallon, Young and Gemmell; Murdoch, McNeill and Clark; Chalmers, Gallagher, Hughes, Lennox and Auld. Scorers:- Auld 31′, 52′, McNeill 81′.

Dunfermline Athletic: Herriot, W. Callaghan, Lunn, Thomson, MacLean, T. Callaghan, Edwards, Smith, McLaughlin, Melrose, Sinclair. Scorers:- Melrose 15′, McLaughlin 43′.

Referee – Hugh Phillips (Wishaw). Attendance – 108,800.

The Celtic Rising by David Potter 

David Potter’s best seller The Celtic Rising sold out in two print runs and is now a collector’s item. It is however available via Amazon Kindle, see link below.

*Celtic’s first senior trophy win since the League Cup final in 1957.

*Jock Stein’s first trophy as Celtic manager

*The first side in Scottish cup history to win the Scottish cup coming back from being behind twice in the game.

*The launch pad to the Golden Era under Jock Stein that David Potter later called The Celtic Rising.

*Celtic actually lost their next game against Dunfermline only four days later 5-1 in the league.

*Some say it was really Celtic’s first major trophy victory since 1954, as it’s really the Scottish Cup and League that are most pivotal. The League Cup (even back then) was not thought of to be as significant.

*Celtic paraded the trophy to huge crowd at Glasgow’s Central hotel.