That Was the Celtic Goal that was - Cathkin Park Farewell

John Hughes 28th November 1964


When Celtic made the short journey across the Clyde to play Third Lanark on the afternoon of Saturday 28th November 1964 it would be their last competitive visit there.    The 2nd Hampden Park or as it was known then Cathkin Park was a ground which had mixed memories for Celtic players & fans over the previous 76 years.


Cathkin Park was the home of Third Lanark from 1903, but before Thirds moved into the old ground it had already hosted a number of Scottish Cup Finals & challenge matches.


In our inaugural season Celtic lost the Scottish Cup Final to Third Lanark 2-1 in a replay, however in the last final played there in 1899 Celtic secured the Scottish Cup for the 2nd time by overcoming city rivals Rangers 2-0.


Those famous names from Celtics history Kelly, McCallum, McMahon & Maley had all performed on that very pitch.     It was here that manager Willie Maley gave a 19 year old striker his debut in 1923.    Celtic would lose the match 1-0, but it would be one of the few times in his career with Celtic that James McGrory would fail to hit the back of the net.


So, perhaps fittingly 41 years after making his Celtic debut there, James McGrory now as manager led Celtic to their final official visit to Cathkin Park.


In the early 60s Celtic had potential, some very talented players but they could never quite find the consistency that would allow them to become challengers for the title, or even 2nd place.


Third Lanark Lanark finished 3rd in the Scottish top flight in season 60/61, but the financial crisis that had surrounded them since then saw their fortunes change.     They began to fall down the top division, their attendances also fell.


In the dugouts for the match were 2 legendary Celtic servants.   McGrory for Celtic & Bobby Evans for Third Lanark.


With neither team particularly fancied for the end of season silverware, a crowd of around 11,000 fans paid to watch Celtic take the game to the hosts in opening minutes.       The early pressure paid off as Celtic took the lead on 6 Minutes through Bobby Murdoch.    A strike from range that Thirds keeper Evan Williams was unable to maintain hold of rolled over the line to give Celtic the advantage.


Celtic continued to control the match, with chances for Maxwell, Murdoch & Hughes, but the young Evan Williams helped keep the score at 1-0 as both teams made their way to the dressing room for half time.


The one way traffic continued into the 2nd half with Jimmy Johnstone pulling the strings, Gallagher missed from 8 yards & both Hughes & Murdoch were denied by Williams.


With 15 minutes remaining, Celtic doubled their lead.     Jimmy Johnstone jinked & weaved his way past 3 Third Lanark defenders & fired in a shot which flashed along the goal-line.    John Hughes was on hand to knock the ball over the line to ensure the points would go back to Celtic Park.


Celtic added a 3rd goal 2 minutes later thanks to an own goal from Doug Baillie.


From the Celtic team that played that day 6 would go on to win the European Cup in Lisbon less than 3 years later under the management of Jock Stein.


The young Thirds keeper Evan Williams would go on to sign for Celtic in 1969 & play in the 1970 European Cup final in Milan against Feyenoord.


Although an own goal is statistically the last goal scored for Celtic at Cathkin Park,  John Hughes was the last Celtic player to score at a ground which had given many great years service to Scottish football.