The Celtic team of 1987 / 1988 will always hold a special
place in the history of the club & the fans.
Celtic had gone through a massive re-building process over the summer months of 1987, Davie Hay had been sacked as manager after his failure to secure the league title at the end of the 86 / 87 season & a host of quality players had decided to move on to clubs across Europe & the club was in need of a spark & some new faces to propel the club into its Centenary year.
Billy McNeill was brought back as Manager & given the
task of wrestling the league title back from our city rivals Rangers. He began to make signings across the team,
Andy Walker from Motherwell; Billy Stark from Aberdeen & Chris Morris arrived
from Sheffield Wednesday. As the new
season approached the fans hoped these players could gel & get results
quickly.
A new commemorative strip was released replacing our
traditional four-leaf clover badge with a Celtic cross. Other events would be planned over the
course of the season including an exhibit at the Peoples Palace & stage
show at the Pavilion theatre in Glasgow
In the August of that year my Dad took me on a surprise
visit to Celtic Park, I was recovering from open-heart surgery & he had
arranged for me to get a personal tour of the stadium.
Walking through the front doors of the stadium under the
famous Celtic frosted glass window was a dream. There to meet me was Stevie Chalmers, the scorer of the winning
goal from the 1967 European Cup Final.
Also there was Neil Mochan, another Celtic stalwart, who also scored big
goals from our history – he had scored 2 goals the day Celtic beat Rangers 7-1
in the 1957 League Cup Final. They were
telling me stories of the matches they had played in from the 50s, 60s &
70s as if they had happened yesterday & I loved every minute of it.
After a positive start to the league campaign, spirits were
high around the club. A strike from
Billy Stark gave us a 1-0 victory over Rangers in the first derby match of the
season.
As the season moved into October, Frank McAvennie signed for
Celtic from West Ham. His attacking
qualities gave clear intention that Celtic were out to win & score goals.
In the 2nd derby clash of the season at Ibrox Celtic drew 2
each with Rangers. Although the
biggest talking point was the 3 players sent off for their involvement in an
on-field fracas. New boy McAvennie was
sent off along with 2 Rangers players Butcher & Woods. Celtic lost a goal in the dying moments of
the match in what felt like a defeat.
November saw another new arrival when Joe Miller signed from
Aberdeen. Moving into December the new
players were beginning to make their mark in the team, just in time for the
visit of Hearts to Celtic park. In a
pulsating match Celtic were 2 goals down late in the 2nd half.
With less than 10 minutes remaining Andy Walker scored from a penalty to make the score 2-1 to Hearts, Celtic continued to pile on the pressure & with 4 minutes left Paul McStay fired a low volley into the bottom corner of the Hearts net. The fans around the stadium went wild, McStay showing what it meant to him ran to the famous Jungle enclosure arms out wide & his face beaming with delight. From certain defeat Celtic had salvaged a draw & kept their unbeaten run in the league in tact.
A late goal from Joe Miller against Dundee United at
Tannadice on Boxing Day ensured Celtic would end the year in first place &
looking forward to welcoming their city rivals in the traditional New Year
derby match.
The weather conditions for the derby match were awful, but
Celtic mastered the conditions & powered over Rangers for the majority of
the match. The opening goal was
created by our midfield Maestro in Paul McStay. Picking up the ball near the centre spot, he made room for
himself & released a 40-yard pass across the ground to Chris Morris. The pass from McStay simply ripped the
Rangers defence wide open, Morris crossed for Frank McAvannie to finish the
free flowing move & give Celtic a 1 nil lead at half time.
Celtics dominance continued into the 2nd half, but the fans
had to wait until 8 minutes from time before McAvennie headed his &
Celtic’s 2 goal. The goal was met with a roar from the
jungle & then a chorus of “Happy Birthday dear Celtic”. The players & fans were beginning to
believe this could be a big year. With
the match finished the Celtic fans could continue with the New Year
celebrations.
The unbeaten run continued through January finishing the
month with a poor 1-0 win against Stranraer in the Scottish Cup. February saw more drama, with late winners
coming against Dundee & Morton in the League & Hibs in the Scottish
Cup.
Two huge matches in March would tighten our grip on the
title. Paul McStay again produced an
outstanding performance capping his display with a stunning volley to give
Celtic the lead in the 2nd half.
Rangers hit back to level, but with 11 minutes remaining Andy Walker
used his chest to turn the ball into the Rangers net & send the Celtic fans
in the stadium delirious.
A 1 nil win a Pittodrie all but confirmed Celtic as Scottish
champions, fans stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle refusing to
leave until the Celtic team came back out to join their celebrations.
Hearts ended our 31 match unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory in
a league match at Tyncastle on 16th April.
However, 7 days earlier in the Scottish Cup Semi-Final Celtic had
defeated Hearts 2-1 thanks to two very late goals. Hearts had taken the lead after an hour of the match. Celtic struck an equaliser on the 88th minute & then took the lead in the final minute of the match in one of the most dramatic finishes witnessed at Hampden park.
The teams ability to pull out late goals to secure victory
was astonishing, matches that seemed lost were turned on their heads in the
dying minutes, a fighting spirit & never say die attitude that enthralled
the fans up & down the country.
Celtic were crowned champions of Scotland on the 23rd April after a 3-0 vicory over Dundee at Celtic Park. I travelled to the stadium early that day with my sister Helen & brother Stephen, but the crowds around the stadium meant it was difficult to get to our usual place in the Celtic end. We made our way to the opposite end where it was a little quitter at the time.
The match kicked off at 3pm & Celtic had the lead within
2 minutes thanks to a goal from Chris Morris, the roar around the stadium was
incredible. Fans still streamed into
the ground & spilled over onto the running track to watch the match. Two more goals in the 2nd from Andy Walker ensured the title. The Celtic fans sang you'll never walk alone in one of the most amazing sights I've seen at a football stadium. The celebrations went on long after the final whistle blew.
Celtic were presented with the championship trophy 2 weeks later in
1-0 win over Dunfermline. The stage
was now set for the Scottish Cup Final against Dundee United at Hampden as we
looked to secure the League & Cup double in our centenary season.
On a beautiful sunny day on 14th May fans made their way to Hampden stadium hoping to see the club secure their first double since 1977. 74,000 fans watched on as the 1st half passed off without any goals. Dundee United then took the lead early in the 2nd half.
Celtic pushed to find a goal to get them back into the match
& looked to be running out of time & ideas when Anton Rogan crossed the
ball to Frank McAvennie to head in the equaliser on the 76th Minute.
With the match heading towards 90 minutes, Celtic made one
final push towards the united goal.
A low driven corner from Joe Miller was met by Billy Stark who shot
towards goal, the ball bounced off a Dundee united defender to the feet of
Frank McAvennie who hit the ball into the united net. The scenes around Hampden were incredible.
With almost the last kick of the match in the last match of
the season, McAvennie had won Celtic the Scottish Cup & sparked wild
celebrations amongst Celtic fans in the stadium & in pubs, clubs &
homes all over the country.
I met Frank McAvennie earlier this year & we spoke about
that season & how after all these years the centenary year of 1987/1988
will always be remembered as one of the great times to be Celtic fan.
