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If you know the History Origins It was Walfrid's own suggestion of the name Celtic, a reflection of both its Irish and Scottish roots, that was adopted at a meeting to form the club in November 1887.
Within
four years the club had taken the Scottish Cup at only their fourth
attempt and, a year later, Celtic recorded their first victory in
the Scottish League. These early triumphs proved a benchmark as the
club quickly established itself as Scotland's most successful side.
Between 1892 and the outbreak of World War One, Celtic claimed eleven
league titles, including six titles in a row between 1905 and 1910,
and nine victories in the Scottish Cup. Celtic continued to be successful until after the war when the went through 7 barren seasons from 1944 to 1951. In 1951 Celtic won the Scottish Cup, followed by success in the same tournament in 1953 and then in an all-british tournament in 1954, Celtic won the Coronation Cup. In 1957
Celtic enjoyed their biggest ever Old Firm victory when they demolished
Rangers 7-1 in the final of the league Cup. Jock Stein took over the reins at Celtic in March 1965, and led the club to Scottish Cup success in April, their first victory in the Cup for 11 years and their first trophy since 1958. Over the next couple of seasons he began to develop a side that was the equal of any in Europe. Harnessing the players' undoubted individual talents into a superb team unit, Stein introduced tactical nous and professionalism to create a tough, fluent side committed to attacking football. For the rest of the 60s and well into the 70s Celtic dominated the Scottish game, eclipsing even the success of the pre-World War One side. In 1966 Celtic ended a 12-year barren spell in the league when they won the first of nine league titles in a row and also picked up the League Cup for good measure. The following season they completed a domestic treble, before facing perhaps their greatest test - the European Cup final. Celtic's
brilliant 2-1 victory over Inter Milan in the National Stadium near
Lisbon, proved a decisive European nights at Celtic Park became an integral part of each season in the late 60s, with fans enjoying memorable games against the likes of St Etienne, Red Star Belgrade, Benfica and in the 1970 European Cup semi-final, Leeds. Celtic won the battle of Britain, silencing their English critics, by beating Don Revie's uncompromising side in both legs. Unfortunately, that year they fell at the final hurdle, in an under-par performance against Dutch side Feyenoord. A year later the Lisbon Lions played their final game together as Stein prepared to build a new team for a new decade. Success and Celtic continued to be synonymous throughout the early 70s as Jock Stein brought in new faces to freshen up the Celtic Park side. Kenny Dalglish, Lou Macari, David Hay and George Connelly came to the fore as Celtic continued their league-winning run until 1974, claiming the double in 1971, 1972, when Dixie Deans scored the first hat trick in a Cup final since 1904 as Celtic demolished Hibs 6-1, and 74. There was also a League Cup victory in 1970. Their record-breaking dominance of the league title finally came to an end in 1975 when they only finished third and rivals Rangers clinched the championship, but even then the Celts managed to nab both Cups that season. European competition remained a great attraction for the fans, with a visit to Budapest in 1972 dwelling in the memory. Celtic beat Ujpset Dozsa 2-1 in what Mr Stein described as the best European display by the club since Lisbon. Celebrating afterwards, fans at a hotel in the city were entertained by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton who threw a post-match champagne and caviar party. But the period also saw growing dissatisfaction among some of the players over pay. Celtic had always paid modestly, though throughout the 60s and early 70s players could always count on win bonuses. But younger members of the side, aware of what international team mates were earning in England, began to seek new opportunities offering more lucrative rewards. Lou Macari moved on to Manchester United in January 1973, and David Hay left for Chelsea the following year. A lengthy spell out due to injury left him struggling financially without the win bonuses. Even Kenny Dalglish submitted a transfer request in 1975, though he was later persuaded to resign for another two years. These problems were exacerbated by the car crash which nearly killed Stein and kept him out of the game for a year. His return
to the club in 1976 - was marked by another double winning season,
but it was to prove the last success of the Stein era. In the summer
of 1977 Dalglish departed, heading south to Liverpool, while Pat Stanton
was seriously injured on the opening day of the 1977-78 season. He
never played again for Celtic. An ankle injury in the seventh match
of the season deprived Celtic of Danny McGrain and a depleted squad
could only finish fifth in the league. At the end of the season Stein
stepped down as manager and a glorious era came to the end. By the beginning of the 1990's Celtic was being attacked by supporters' groups, angry at the running of the club by the 'family dynasty' in the boardroom and the club's slowness to react to the Taylor Report of 1990 that demanded all-seater stadiums by the start of the 1994-95 season. The board itself was divided. Brian Dempsey, appointed to the board in 1990, alongside Michael Kelly, proposed a new complex for the club in the Robroyston district of Glasgow, but he was opposed by Kelly and Chris White, the largest shareholder in the club. Forced off the board, Dempsey was to prove a thorn in the club's side, culminating in a takeover bid in 1992 which split the board. The same year the club announced plans for another new ground, this time at Cambuslang, to be completed by 1994. Yet two years later work still had not been started and it became apparent that the club was in severe financial trouble. The fans' anger at events off and on the field continued, with "Sack the Board" a constant chant on the terraces, especially after it had turned down an indemnity group, led by businessman Fergus McCann, offering to invest £13.8m in the club in return for new shares. Brady resigned in October 1993 as Celtic continued to struggle and his replacement Lou Macari quickly alienated many of the players with his heavy-handed approach. The club's woeful situation came to a head when the Bank of Scotland informed the club they had exceeded their £5m overdraft and it was ready to call in the receivers on Thursday 3rd March 1994. A
New Dawn? The early years of the 1990s had been a miserable time for the club, jolted by poor performances on the field and major disruption in the boardroom. But when Fergus McCann assumed overall control of the club in 1994, the club began to move in the right direction again. Lou Macari was an early casualty of the new regime. McCann had never hidden his disapproval for the manager and Macari was sacked in June 1994. In his place the club turned to a man who could genuinely be said to have Celtic in his blood. Tommy Burns returned (at a cost of a £100,000 fine imposed by the Scottish Football League for alledged inducement) and began to build a new team worthy of the club's famous history. A scouting network was set up to attract the best young players, while money was provided to strengthen the current squad. Burns quickly showed his eye for talent, adding Pierre van Hooijdonk and Andreas Thom to the team, while blooding young players with great prospects for the future, including Phil O'Donnell and Simon Donnelly. Burns also emphasised the importance of the club's fans and encouraged players to attend functions organised by supporters. Off the field the new regime set out to make Celtic Park a stadium to match the team. In August 1995 the new North Stand was opened. This did mean the club had to play at Hampden for a season, but the improved facilities certainly seemed worth the sacrifice. In January 1995 fans were able to buy shares in the club and they responded by buying nearly £14m worth, the most successful football flotation in Britain. The feeling that the club was returning to its proper place in Scottish football was cemented by victory in the Scottish Cup final in 1995. Pierre van Hooijdonk scored the only goal of the game against Airdrie to clinch Celtic's 30th Scottish Cup victory and, perhaps more importantly, the club's first trophy in six years. It was a much needed win, easing the previous season's League Cup final defeat by Raith Rovers. In season 1995/96 Celtic continued to improve and although no trophies were won the progress of the Club was considerable. The season ticket base rose to 29,500 and the team finished just 4 points below Rangers to end the season in second place. For the first time since 1988 Celtic were credible contestants in the league, developing an attractive flowing style football which attracted crowds in excess of 30,000 to every home match in season 1995/96. As the 1996/97 season began, Tommy Burns further strengthened his squad with new signings Paulo Di Canio and Alan Stubbs and there was a growing expectation that the new Celtic would become as notable team as any who have graced Celtic Park in the last 108 years. Despite finishing second in the league, only one victory against the eventual winners Rangers would have seen Celtic champs. As well as qualifying for the Europe, reaching the quarter finals of the Coca-Cola Cup and the Semi-finals of the Scottish Cup major rebuilding work on the football pitch was also underway. The East Stand was opened, costing around £6m, taking the stadium capacity to 50,170 seating a record 40,000 season book holders. The season
will probably be more remembered for the off-field events which saw
considerable changes. Including Manager Tommy Burns, Assistant Manager
Billy Stark, Directors, Willie Haughey and Dominic Keane, Paul McStay,
Peter Grant, Pat Bonner, Pierre van Hooijdonk, Brian O'Neill and Chris
Hay all departing the club for various reasons.
The first trophy success of the season came on 30th November '97, when Celtic defeated Dundee United 3-0 at Ibrox to lift the Coca-Cola Cup. The season culminated in Celtic winning the Premier League Championship on 9th May 1998 on the final day of the league. In front of a capacity crowd at Celtic Park, the team defeated St Johnstone 2-0 to bring the Championship Trophy back to Celtic Park for the first time in 10 years. The end of the season however saw the departure of Wim Jansen and later in the year Jock Brown. The summer of 1998 brought the completion of the new Celtic Park. Following committed expenditure by Celtic of around £40m, the UK's largest club stadium has been created. Celtic Park now has some of the most modern facilities available with a capacity of over 60,000. Season 1998/99 brought the appointment of Jozef Venglos as Head Coach. Four new players joined the team and some excellent football throughout the season, including the 5-1 defeat of Rangers on 5th November '98. Although the success of the previous year was not repeated, the team finished second in the league and made it to the final of the Scottish Cup in the new Hampden Park. April '99 also saw the end of a Celtic era as Fergus McCann departed the club after a tremendous five years as Managing Director, and hand over the reigns to Allan MacDonald from 1st July '99. No sooner was the season finished fans saw the return to Celtic Park of Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish, as Director of Football Operations. Jozef Venglos became European technical advisor - with ex-England internationalist John Barnes taking over as Head Coach. After a great start to the season, no less than ten new players joined the first team squad for what looked to be a bright season. However after a run of bad results and being unable to beat rivals Rangers, John Barnes parted company in February. Kenny Dalglish took over the reigns as interim Head Coach. The departure of John Barnes also saw the return of Celtic hero Tommy Burns, who returned to assist Kenny Dalglish in coaching the first team. Season
1999/00 culminated in the team winning the CIS Insurance Cup in March
against Aberdeen, finishing second in the league and qualifying for
European competition next season. Martin O'Neill took over in 2000 and won the treble in his first year. The league was retained the following season. In 2002/03 Celtic finally got back to a European final when they went to Seville, beating Liverpool abd Blackburn along the way. Although Celtic lost to a Porto side who would go to be European Champions the following season, they did themselves proud as 80,000 fans revelled in the Spanish sunshine. Celtic lost the league this season on goals scored in the closest finish to a league season ever. However there was not going to be a repeat of this as Celtic reclaimed the league in 2004 by 17 points. Celtic also reached the quarter final of the UEFA cup beating Barcelona along the way. At the
end of the season, the incredible Henrik Larsson left Celtic to join
Barcelona. Many players have come and gone over the years but none
have touched the Celtic fans in the way "The Magnificent 7"
did. He scored 242 goals in 331 games and left after helping the club
to a league and cup double. Henrik is regarded as the greatest foreign
player to have ever played in Scotland.
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Celtic
played their first fixture, beating Rangers in a friendly 5 -2, the
first of many notable clashes between the two Glasgow teams. 
blow against the stiflingly defensive catenaccio system which had
been so influential in European football. Celtic's willingness and
ability to attack continuously graced that final in a match even Inter's
coach, Helenio Herrera, described as a "victory for sport".
Season
1997/98 saw a continental approach being adopted by Celtic Football
Club with the appointment of Football General Manager, Jock Brown
and Head Coach, Wim Jansen. An array of nine players joined the squad
from both home and abroad for the start of the most exciting season
in a decade. Henrik Larsson, one of those players would eventually
become Celtic's third highest goal scorer of all time.Martin Smith
E-Mail: martceltic@hotmail.com