David Potter tells the story of all 41 of Celtic’s Scottish Cup Final Triumphs | OneFootball

Celtic Historian David Potter takes us through a remarkable journey on this Beautiful Sunday as he updates his history of Celtic’s now 41 Scottish Cup Final wins after yesterday’s 3-1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Hampden in the Sun. The Green Brigade will be Celtic’s Red Army this morning after having the hot Scottish sun beat down on them all afternoon in what’s called ‘Taps Aff’ weather in Glasgow. Hope they had the sense to apply some Factor 67 to help cope with the conditions!

The story of Celtic captains lifting the Scottish Cup starts on 9th April 1892 and goes all they way through to yesterday 3rd June 2023 and these two Celtic triumphs in Scottish Cup Finals and the 39 others in between are all reviewed and highlighted below. Enjoy!

Read all about Celtic’s first Scottish Cup Final win on the next page…

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 1…CELTIC 5-1 QUEEN’S PARK – IBROX, 9th APRIL 1892 – This game was actually a replay because the first game was played on March 12, but abandoned because of crowd problems. It was actually played to a finish and Celtic won 1-0 but the SFA had already decided on a replay.

As the SFA and Queen’s Park were virtually the same thing in 1892, there was no shortage of “conspiracy theorists”, a group which grew when prices were doubled for the game on 9 April, something that looked like sheer greed but also seemed to discriminate against the poverty stricken Irish while the well heeled Queen’s Park supporters were more able to afford 2 shillings. 23,000 appeared for the game including not a few Celtic fans who had clearly saved up for admission.

Sandy McMahon – ‘The Duke’ scored twice

They saw their team one goal down at half time but turning it on in the second half to win 5-1 with two goals from Sandy McMahon, two from Johnny Campbell and one from an own goal. The celebrations in the East End that night were immense and all-pervasive because “Our Bhoys Have Won The Cup”

Johnny Campbell scored twice

The Celtic team was: Cullen, Reynolds and Doyle; Maley, Kelly and Gallagher; McCallum, Brady, Gallagher, McMahon and Campbell.

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Line up (above) Back Row: Friel (trainer), Campbell, Hodge, McMahon, Divers, King, W. Maley (secretary / manager).Middle Row: Bell, Marshall, Storrier, Welford, Battles. Front Left is goalkeeper McArthur. Front Right Patrick Gilhooley. – Scottish Cup Winners 1899

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 2…CELTIC 2-0 RANGERS – HAMPDEN, 22 APRIL 1899 – The game was played at “Second” Hampden (which in later years became Cathkin Park, the home of Third Lanark) and it was a game that Rangers were expected to win because they had won the League with a 100% record, and they looked unbeatable. But on this occasion Celtic stood up to them and beat them before a massive crowd of 25,000 with a glorious headed goal from Sandy McMahon and a late counter from Johnny Hodge who ran through and scored after receiving a pass from the injured Jack Bell.

Johnny Hodge scored

The Celtic team was: McArthur, Welford and Storrier; Battles, Marshall and King; Hodge, Campbell, Divers, McMahon and Bell.

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Sandy McMahon scored

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 3…CELTIC 4-3 QUEEN’S PARK – IBROX, 14th APRIL 1900 – This game was known as the “hurricane final” with a strong wind blowing from the west. Celtic had not had the best of seasons in the League but had defeated Rangers decisively in the replayed semi-final and now faced Queen’s Park in what would turn out to be their last ever Scottish Cup final now the professionalism was taking over.

John Divers scored twice

Celtic played with the wind in the first half and were 3-1 up at half time with goals from Sandy McMahon, John Divers and Jack Bell. Early in the second half Divers scored against the wind to make in 4-1, but Queen’s Park kept pressing and pulled a couple back to enter the last 10 minutes with the score at 4-3. But Celtic held out heroically against the wind (“blasty Boreas” as The Scottish Referee puts it) with Dan McArthur in top form, and the Cup was won for the third time. The full backs Storrier and Battles were outstanding.

The Celtic teams was: McArthur, Storrier and Battles; Russell, Marshall and Orr; Hodge, Campbell, Divers, McMahon and Bell.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 4…CELTIC 3-2 RANGERS – HAMPDEN, 16th APRIL 1904 – This was the first game to be played at New Hampden and is generally seen as the springboard for the great “6 in a row League Championship” side that came next. It was also the occasion of the Jimmy Quinn hat-trick.

Jimmy Quinn scored a hat-trick

Rangers were 2-0 up early on, but then Quinn charged through to score and then hammered home a cross from Bobby Muir to equalise before half time. Then Jimmy charged through to score another goal not dissimilar to his first. He was almost dismembered by his ecstatic team mates, but then shook them off and walked with grim determination “cool as hell” (as an admirer out it) back to the centre line. This is arguably Celtic’s best and most famous Scottish Cup final of them all.

The match ball

Some rare photographs of this famous Scottish Cup Final

The Celtic team was: Adams, McLeod and Orr; Young, Loney and Hay; Muir, McMenemy, Quinn, Somers and Hamilton.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 5…CELTIC 3-0 HEARTS – HAMPDEN, 20th APRIL 1907 –  No team had so far won the Scottish League and the Scottish Cup in the same season, and this Scottish Cup victory was the first step.

It was also significant in that it condemned Hearts, who had won the Cup last year to a trophy famine that lasted nearly 50 years! The weather was not pleasant but there were 50,000 given as attending (one suspects there were more) with the traffic jams around the ground delaying the arrival of Hearts’ goalkeeper Tommy Allan, and therefore the game kicked off about 10 minutes late.

Peter Somers scored twice

Early in the second half, Jimmy Quinn was tripped, and although Hearts disputed the decisions, Willie Orr scored the penalty before Peter Somers scored another two goals, both simple tap ins after Alec Bennett had set the ball up nicely for him. It ended up a rather one-sided Scottish Cup final.

The Celtic team was: Adams, McLeod and Orr; Young, McNair and Hay; Bennett, McMenemy, Quinn, Somers and Templeton.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 6…CELTIC 5-1 ST MIRREN – HAMPDEN, 18th APRIL 1908 – Celtic went one better this year and won the Grand Slam – the Scottish Cup, Scottish League, Glasgow Cup and the Glasgow Charity Cup. Today on a windy day at Hampden, Celtic won their 6th Scottish Cup with a masterly performance over St Mirren.

Alec Bennett scored twice

The forward play of McMenemy in particular was a sight to behold and ironically he was the only member of the forward line who didn’t score, Alec Bennett being the man who scored twice.

The Celtic team was: Adams, McNair and Weir; Young, Loney and Hay; Bennett, McMenemy, Quinn, Somers and Hamilton.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 7…CELTIC 2-0 ST MIRREN – IBROX, 15th APRIL 1911 – Celtic won the Scottish Cup for the 7th time by beating Hamilton in a replay. The first game is generally written off as a dreadful 0-0 draw, and this one was only slightly better.

The weather was not congenial with much wind and rain, and it was only in the latter stages that Celtic, playing with the benefit of the conditions, scored twice with shots from a distance, one from Jimmy Quinn and one from Tommy McAteer. Several interesting things about 1911’s Scottish Cup campaign. One was that they were never out of Glasgow as they were always drawn at home, the other was that they never lost a goal, and the third was that three man from Croy – Jimmy Quinn, Tommy McAteer and Andy McAtee – played in that final.

The Celtic team was: Adams, McNair and Hay; Young, McAteer and Dodds; McAtee, McMenemy, Quinn, Kivlichan and Hamilton.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 8…CELTIC 2-0 CLYDE – IBROX, 6th APRIL 1912 – Yet again an Ibrox Scottish Cup final was bedevilled by wind, but this time it was drier, and Celtic were clearly the better team both with the wind and against it.

Andy McAtee was Celtic’s star man

The star man was Andy McAtee, but the goals came from Jimmy McMenemy with the wind in the first half and the prodigious Patsy Gallacher in the second half against the wind after fine work from McAtee. Both goals owed something to goalkeeping errors but Celtic were totally on top from beginning to end. It was the 8th Scottish Cup triumph.

Patsy Gallacher scored

The Celtic team was: Mulrooney, McNair and Dodds; Young, Loney and Johnstone; McAtee, Gallacher, Quinn, McMenemy and Brown.

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 9…CELTIC 4-1 HIBS – IBROX, 16 APRIL 1914 – The first game in the Scottish Cup final was rich on passion and politics, but short on football, and those who had shouted and sung about Irish Home Rule (which looked as if it might just happen in 1914) saw a very poor game which Hibs might just have sneaked at the end.

But it was a totally different story in the Thursday night replay with Jimmy McMenemy and Patsy Gallacher taking charge from the start, spraying passes all over the field, in particular to Johnny Browning and Jimmy McColl who scored two goals each. It was one of Celtic’s best ever Scottish Cup triumphs, and two days later, against the same opponents, Celtic clinched the Scottish League as well.

The Celtic team was: Shaw, McNair and Dodds; Young, Loney and Johnstone; McAtee, Gallacher, McColl, McMenemy and Browning.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 10…CELTIC 1-0 HIBS – HAMPDEN, 31 MARCH 1923 – The nine years between the last final between these two sides and this one had brought unbelievable changes to the world, to Scotland, Ireland and everywhere else, but the winners stayed the same as Celtic equalled the total of 10 Scottish Cup wins of Queen’s Park. Today on a dull day in front of a poorish crowd of about 82,000 (the weather was uninviting and supporters were short of money in the difficult days after the Great War) Celtic won 1-0 through a Joe Cassidy header when he took advantage of hesitation in the Hibs goal.

Joe Cassidy scored

The Celtic team was: Shaw, McNair and W. McStay; J McStay, Cringan and McFarlane; McAtee, Gallacher, Cassidy, McLean and Connolly.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 11…CELTIC 2-1 DUNDEE – HAMPDEN, 11 APRIL 1925 – One of Celtic’s most famous Scottish Cup finals as Celtic came from behind to beat a strong Dundee side who had scored in the first half through ex-Celtic player Davie McLean. But Celtic inspired by “wonderful Patsy” came back and scored twice in the second half with goals from Gallacher (the famous “somersault” goal with the ball wedged between his legs) and then an equally famous goal, a diving header by Jimmy McGrory from a “Jean” McFarlane free kick. Celtic had now won the Scottish Cup eleven times, once more than Queen’s Park.

The Celtic team was: Shevlin, W McStay and Hilley; Wilson, J McStay and McFarlane; Connolly, Gallacher, McGrory, Thomson McLean.

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Celtic’s Tommy McInally in action against East Fife

in the Scottish Cup Final, 1927

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 12…CELTIC 3-1 EAST FIFE – HAMPDEN, 11 MARCH 1927 – Celtic duly won their 12th Scottish Cup, but in some ways the real heroes were Second Division East Fife who managed to get to Hampden in the aftermath of the General Strike and the Miners’ Strike of last year which devastated all mining areas and the Fife coalfield in particular.

7 minutes gone and Wood opens the scoring for East Fife against Celtic in the 1927 Scottish Cup final

Naturally the country sympathised with the Fifers, and it looked like as if a huge shock was imminent when they scored first, but Celtic equalised soon after with an own goal, and then Paddy Connolly and Adam McLean made sure. The game finished with Tommy McInally clowning and deliberately missing chances so as not to humiliate the part-timers from Fife. This was the first Scottish Cup final to be broadcast on the radio.

The Celtic team was: J Thomson, W McStay and Hilley; Wilson, J McStay and McFarlane; Connolly, McMenemy, McInally, A Thomson and McLean.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 13…CELTIC 4-2 MOTHERWELL – HAMPDEN, 15 APRIL 1931 – Celtic’s 13th Scottish Cup, and in some ways, the first drawn game with its two late goals is more famous than the replay which was played on a Wednesday evening before a crowd which was only just shy of 100,000. (And 1931 was the worst year of the depression!). It was a tight game with Celtic only really feeling secure when McGrory scored his second goal late in the game. Bertie Thomson scored the other two goals, but Motherwell fought all the way.

The Celtic team was: J Thomson, Cook and McGonagle; Wilson, McStay and Geatons; R Thomson, A Thomson, McGrory, Scarff and Napier.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 14…CELTIC 1-0 MOTHERWELL – HAMPDEN, 15 APRIL 1933 – The same two teams met again in 1933, but in 1932 the excellent Motherwell team won the League – and it was as well that they did, otherwise Rangers would have done nine in a row long before we did. This was a very poor game played on a dull day at Hampden, and the only goal of the game was a tap in scored by Jimmy McGrory. Harry Lauder at the time had a record called “the saftest o the familie”. This was what they called McGrory’s goal that day, but it brought Celtic their 14th Scottish Cup. The following day Maley took the Scottish Cup to the Bridge of Weir Sanatorium to show it to TB patient Peter Scarff, who had only a few months left to live.

The Celtic team was: Kennaway, Hogg and McGonagle; Wilson, McStay and Geatons; R Thomson, A Thomson, McGrory, Napier and O’Donnell.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 15…CELTIC 2-1 ABERDEEN – HAMPDEN, 24 APRIL 1937 – This was Aberdeen’s first ever Scottish Cup final as 146,433 (at least, allowing for the wall climbers!) packed Hampden to see this game. It was widely believed that this would be McGrory’s last Cup final and everyone hoped that he would score as he had done in 1925, 1931 and 1933, but in the event it was Willie Buchan and Johnny Crum who scored for Celtic while Matt Armstrong scored for the black and golds of Aberdeen. It was a tense rather than a classy Cup final, but Celtic did just enough to win.

The Celtic team was: Kennaway, Hogg and Morrison; Geatons, Lyon and Paterson; Delaney, Buchan, McGrory, Crum and Murphy.

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John McPhail: Scottish cup final – Celtic v. Mothervell at Hampden. Goal scorer McPhail – Captain of the Celtic team – Holds the Scottish cup Aloft. – Players faces from left: Weir, Boden, Fallon and Peacock. April 1951

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 16…CELTIC 1-0 MOTHERWELL – HAMPDEN, 21 APRIL 1951 – If ever Celtic needed to win a Scottish Cup, it was today. Since the Empire of 1938, thirteen years of war and its aftermath had yielded little to be happy about, but the support had stayed loyal through many disappointments. Hampden was not far short of its 134,000 limit – indeed there seemed to be more than that – to see Motherwell, possibly a slightly better side, re-enact the finals of 1931 and 1933 with Celtic. It was John McPhail who put Celtic ahead in the first half with a deft flick and finish, but most of the rest of the game was grim defending until the referee’s whistle announced that Celtic had returned, and that dancing could return again to the streets of the Gorbals.

The Celtic team was: Hunter, Fallon and Rollo; Evans, Boden and Baillie; Weir, Collins, McPhail, Peacock and Tully.

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 17…CELTIC 2-1 ABERDEEN – HAMPDEN, 24 APRIL 1954 – 40 years and two dreadful World Wars had passed since Celtic last won the Scottish League and Cup double, and this was the day that they did it again in dull Hampden weather against a strong Aberdeen who had earned the respect and affection of the Celtic support by beating Rangers 6-0 in the semi-final.

The game was tight and little was given away with the score 0-0 at half time. Then Celtic got a break with a lucky own goal, Aberdeen pulled one back when Paddy Buckley for once got the better of Jock Stein, before a piece of magic on the right saw Willie Fernie cross to Sean Fallon to tap in the goal that won the 17th Scottish Cup for Celtic.

The Celtic team was: Bonnar, Haughney and Meechan; Evans, Stein and Peacock; Higgins, Fernie, Fallon, Tully and Mochan.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 18…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.

The Celtic team was: Fallon, Young and Gemmell; Murdoch, McNeill and Clark; Chalmers, Gallagher, Hughes, Lennox and Auld.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 19…CELTIC 2-0 ABERDEEN – HAMPDEN, 29 APRIL 1967 – Celtic were on the way to Lisbon, having got the better of Dukla Prague on the Tuesday night! Would this cause them to “take their eye off the ball” as far as the Scottish Cup was concerned? They were up against a good Aberdeen side, who were, as usual well supported on such occasions.

But Willie Wallace, who had joined the club from Hearts last December, scored a goal either side of half time, and without any undue alarms, Celtic saw out Aberdeen to win their 19th Scottish Cup. In fairness to Aberdeen, it must be pointed out that their Manager Eddie Turnbull was absent, having taken ill at the Gleneagles Hotel.

The Celtic team was: Simpson, Craig, Gemmell. Murdoch, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone, Wallace, Chalmers, Auld, Lennox.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 20…CELTIC 4-0 RANGERS – HAMPDEN, 26 APRIL 1969 – One of the more famous Celtic Scottish Cup wins. It was the day that Rangers were meant to fight back against Celtic’s virtually unbroken success, and Ibrox was all set for the victory parade that night.

But Celtic clinched their domestic treble and their 20th Scottish Cup with a 4-0 win in a somewhat ill-tempered final with several players, one in particular who became a legendary manager, lucky not to get “the long walk”, and a crowd break in from the Rangers end when things were not going so well for them.

Billy McNeill scored with a header from a corner kick early in the game, Bobby Lennox and George Connelly scored just before half time, and Steve Chalmers scored in the second half to make it a total rout.

The Celtic team was: Fallon, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Brogan, Connelly, Wallace, Chalmers, Auld, Lennox.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 21…CELTIC 2-1 RANGERS – HAMPDEN, 12 MAY 1971 – This was Celtic’s 21st Scottish Cup and confirmed their rebirth after the Milan disaster against Feyenoord last year, the League having already been won.

This game was a replay, the first game having been a draw which Celtic looked like winning until Rangers scored a late equaliser. For the replay, Stein gave young Lou Macari a game, but kept Willie Wallace for the bench rather than dropping him altogether.

Celtic were two goals up by half time, one from Lou Macari, and the other a penalty scored by Harry Hood after Jimmy Johnstone had been brought down. In the second half, Jim Craig conceded an own goal, but that was as far as the Rangers recovery got because the double centre half combination of Billy McNeill and George Connelly were superb.

The Celtic team was: Williams, Craig, Brogan, McNeill, Connelly, Hay, Johnstone, Hood (Wallace), Macari, Callaghan, Lennox.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 22…CELTIC 6-1 HIBS – HAMPDEN, 6 MAY 1972 – Another of the more famous Celtic Scottish Cup finals in which Dixie Deans emulated the feat of Jimmy Quinn by scoring a hat trick in a Scottish Cup final.

It was a great achievement for Dixie, who only two and a half weeks ago had infamously missed a penalty in the shoot out which deprived Celtic of a chance in another European Cup final.

The opposition were Hibs who had had a good season, and it was often said that Celtic played their best football against Hibs. So it turned out to-day. McNeill scored first, Deans then scored his hat-trick (his second goal and Celtic’s third being a sight to behold) before Lou Macari scored another two to confirm Celtic’s 22nd Scottish Cup victory. Ex Celt Bertie Auld came on as a substitute for Hibs.

The Celtic team was: Williams, Craig, Brogan, McNeill, Connelly, Murdoch, Johnstone, Callaghan, Deans, Macari, Dalglish.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 23…CELTIC 3-0 DUNDEE UTD – HAMPDEN, 4 MAY 1974 – This was one of the more low key Scottish Cup finals as Celtic beat Dundee United 3-0. It was United’s first ever Scottish Cup final and it was the start of a miserable trend of the Tannadice men losing at Hampden. Celtic were 2-0 up at half time through Harry Hood and Steve Murray and simply played out time in the second half scoring another goal near the end through Dixie Deans.

The game was memorable for two separate dogs interrupting the play, and for an outbreak of hooliganism which defied all analysis as it seemed to be Celtic supporters v other Celtic supporters. But then again, you don’t need a brain to become a football hooligan.

The Celtic team was: Connaghan, McGrain, McNeill, Brogan, Murray, McCluskey, Johnstone, Deans, Dalglish, Hood, Hay.

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Airdrie captain Derek Whiteford shakes hands with Celtic captain Billy McNeill before the 1974/75 Scottish Cup final watched by 75, 000 spectators .

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 24…CELTIC 3-1 AIRDRIE – HAMPDEN, 3 MAY 1975 – By the time that Celtic came back for the Scottish Cup final of 1975, they had lost the Scottish League. Admittedly they had won the League Cup, but the Scottish Cup now assumed greater importance.

Their opponents were Airdrie, a team who had not been in the final of the Scottish Cup since their halcyon days of Bob McPhail and Hughie Gallacher in 1924, and they were not really expected to do much against Celtic, however tarnished Celtic had been by their miserable performances in the League.

Paul Wilson had lost his mother at the start of the week, but he and Stein decided he should play, and it was a good decision, for Paul scored two goals while Pat McCluskey scored a penalty. Airdrie put up a good fight and held Celtic for a spell at 2-1. At the end of the game, Billy McNeill announced his retirement from the game. He had won 7 Scottish Cup medals and Celtic had won the Scottish Cup 24 times.

The Celtic team was: Latchford, McGrain, Lynch, Murray, McNeill, McCluskey, Hood, Glavin, Dalglish, Lennox, Wilson.

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 25…CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS – HAMPDEN, 7th MAY 1977 – This was the first Scottish Cup final to be televised live for 20 years, and given that, and the dreadful weather, it was no surprise that only 54,252 turned up at the antiquated and now dilapidated Hampden to see what turned out to be a dreadful game.

Celtic were already League Champions and today they were marginally the better side in a final which did little for the game’s image in Scotland. The game hinged on a penalty kick awarded half way through the first half which hit either Derek Johnstone’s knee or hand, and pictures are still inconclusive. But Mr Valentine said it was a penalty, and Andy Lynch sank it.

Celtic then held out through a painful second half, and won the Scottish Cup for the 25th time.

The Celtic team was: Latchford, McGrain, Lynch, Stanton, MacDonald, Aitken, Dalglish, Edvaldsson, Craig, Wilson, Conn.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 26…CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS (AET)– HAMPDEN, 10 MAY 1980 – This is the final that was made infamous by the riot at the end, but it was a shame that such behaviour took the gloss off what was actually a very even game played in good weather.

Celtic entered this final on a low having (incredibly) thrown away the Scottish League to Aberdeen after being well ahead. They were also missing several players through injury. The game went to extra time, and the only goal of the game was scored when Danny McGrain drove hopefully for goal, George McCluskey stuck out a foot, earned a deflection and Peter McCloy in the Rangers goal was deceived.

It was not a great goal but it was good enough to win the Scottish Cup for Celtic for the 26th time. Mayhem ensued at full time, but the Cup had already been presented to Danny McGrain, and that was what really mattered.

The Celtic team was: Latchford, Sneddon, McGrain, Aitken, Conroy, MacLeod, Provan, Doyle (Lennox), McCluskey, Burns, McGarvey

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 27…CELTIC 2-1 DUNDEE UNITED – HAMPDEN, 18 MAY 1985 – “Up there” with the best of Celtic’s Scottish Cup finals in terms of drama and comebacks, this final hinged on the decision of Manager Davie Hay with 15 minutes to go, to take off the ineffective Paul McStay and replace him with defender Pierce O’Leary while pushing Roy Aitken up the park with instructions to “take a grip” of the game.

Roy did so, and the game was turned round from 0-1 to 2-1 with goals from Davie Provan’s free kick and Frank McGarvey’s header. Earlier Dundee United had looked totally in command, having scored early in the second half.

The 27th Scottish Cup was a reward to the supporters after the Rapid Vienna fiasco and some League form which does not even deserve the word “indifferent”. Paul and Willie McStay had now equalled the feat of their great uncles Willie and Jimmy who had won the Scottish Cup for Celtic in the 1920s.

The Celtic team was: Bonner, W McStay, McGrain, Aitken, McAdam, MacLeod, Provan, Johnston, Burns (McClair), P McStay (O’Leary), McGarvey.

Dundee Utd goalkeeper Hamish McAlpine (left) sits dejected as Celtic’s Tom McAdam swings from the crossbar after Davie Provan (not pictured) goal.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 28…CELTIC 2-1 DUNDEE UNITED – HAMPDEN, 14 MAY 1988 – In some ways a replica of 1985, but there were significant differences as well. Billy McNeill was now back as Manager, it was Centenary Year, Celtic had already won the Scottish League and someone had the crazy idea of inviting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher! Supporters from Glasgow and Dundee, two cities where detestation of the Tories is more or less taken for granted, combined to give her the red card and invite her to go and have sexual intercourse instead.

After an anodyne first half, Dundee United opened the scoring through Kevin Gallacher, grandson of the illustrious Patsy Gallacher, and looked on top for a long time until Frank McAvennie scored twice, once with virtually the last kick of the ball. It was a great way to round off Centenary season.

The Celtic team was: McKnight, Morris, Rogan, Aitken, McCarthy, Whyte (Stark), Miller, McStay, McAvennie, Walker (McGhee), Burns.

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Celtic line up before kick off l to r: Billy Stark, Mick McCarthy, Steve Fulton, Paul McStay, Peter Grant, Mark McGhee, Derek Whyte, Chris Morris, Anton Rogan, Joe Miller, Tommy Burns, Pat Bonner, Roy Aitken

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 29…CELTIC 1-0 RANGERS – HAMPDEN, 20 MAY 1989 – This was Celtic’s 29th Scottish Cup win and it was a vital one to stop Rangers winning a Scottish treble. Celtic had been a major disappointment this season in comparison with last season, but there was always the Scottish Cup, so often Celtic’s favourite trophy.

The day was hot, and Celtic were now fighting back having apparently landed Maurice Johnston for next season! It wasn’t true but it was good propaganda. The game was even but just before half time, Joe Miller pounced on a poor pass back and gave Celtic the lead which they protected until the end. Overall, Celtic were marginally the better side, and we had the last laugh… but the dark days were about to descend.

The Celtic team was: Bonner, Morris, Rogan, Aitken, McCarthy, Whyte, Grant, McStay, Miller, McGhee, Burns

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 30…CELTIC 1-0 AIRDRIE – HAMPDEN, 31 MAY 1995 – There are times like 1951, 1965 and 1995 when Celtic simply have to win a Scottish Cup final. This was one such day for six years of intense trophyless agony had passed since 1989.

But the club was now under new ownership and we had to believe that things were happening. The opponents were Airdrie of the First Division, described usually as “tough but talentless”, and so they proved today in this terrible game of football.

Celtic scored in the first half with a Van Hooijdonk header from a Tosh McKinlay lob, but then Van Hooijdonk went off injured, and the second half was long, tedious and extremely nerve wracking. But Celtic held out and their 30th Scottish Cup was probably their most craved.

The Celtic team was: Bonner, Vata, Boyd, McNally, McKinlay, McLaughlin, Grant, McStay, Collins, Donnelly (O’Donnell), Van Hooijdonk.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 31…CELTIC 3-0 HIBS – HAMPDEN, 26 MAY 2001 – There had been a revolution at Celtic Park in 2000 – not as fundamental as the one in 1994, but significant nevertheless in that a good Manager called Martin O’Neill had been appointed and he had been supported with cash and players.

This game won Celtic’s 31st Scottish Cup and sealed their third treble to join 1967 and 1969. Hibs too had had a reasonable season but today they were well beaten by Celtic for whom Henrik Larsson scored twice and Jackie McNamara once. Celtic wore yellow but changed into green and white to receive the trophy.

The Celtic team was: Douglas, Mjallby, Vega, Valgaeren, Agathe, Lennon, Lambert (Boyd), Moravcik (McNamara), Thompson (Johnson), Larsson, Sutton.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINALS – Number 32…CELTIC 3-1 DUNFERMLINE – HAMPDEN, 22 MAY 2004 – It was nice to see Dunfermline back in a Cup final again, but not so nice to see them go in at half time one goal up.

But Celtic wearing a strange strip with dull green jerseys and silver pants fought back and Henrik Larsson, playing his last competitive game for Celtic, scored two great goals and another from Stiliyan Petrov saw a 3-1 win which was comfortable enough in the end.

It was another League and Cup double for Celtic, and Celtic’s 32nd Scottish Cup. It was a shame that Larsson did not get his hat-trick for he would certainly have been worthy of such an honour.

The Celtic team was: Marshall, Varga, Balde, McNamara, Agathe, Lennon, Petrov, Pearson (Wallace), Thompson, Larsson, Sutton.

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Celtic celebrate winning the Tennants Scottish Cup Final against Dundee United at Hampden Park, Glasgow, Saturday May 28, 2005.Photo: Andrew Milligan/PA.

CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINAL VICTORIES – Number 33…CELTIC 1-0 DUNDEE UNITED – HAMPDEN, 29 MAY 2005 –  Not for the first time, Celtic fans approached Hampden on this dull, depressing, misty day in a state of depression, and needing to win the Scottish Cup to save a trophyless season. Sunday had been “Black Sunday” when the League had been thrown away at Motherwell.

It was Martin O’Neill’s last game as well, for he had resigned to look after his sick wife. But today Alan Thompson scored early in the game, and it stayed that way even though Chris Sutton missed a penalty and Dundee United almost scored with a terrific shot that went just over the bar near the end.

Celtic fans extend best wishes to Martin O’Neill’s wife Geraldine.

The Celtic team was: Douglas, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson (McGeady), Hartson (Valgaeren), Bellamy

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINAL VICTORIES – Number 34…CELTIC 1-0 DUNFERMLINE – HAMPDEN, 26 MAY 2007 –  In what has to be described as a dreadfully poor game against already relegated Dunfermline Athletic, Celtic eventually crept over the line with a scrappy late goal from Cameroon International Jean Joel Perrier-Doumbe. It was Gordon Strachan’s first (and only) Scottish Cup as Manager, and it did complete a League and Cup double, and Celtic had now won the Scottish Cup for the 34th time.

The Celtic team was: Boruc, Perrier-Doumbe, McManus, Pressley, Naylor, Nakamura, Lennon (Caldwell), Hartley, McGeady, Miller (Beattie), Vennegoor of Hesselink.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINAL VICTORIES – Number 35…CELTIC 3-0 MOTHERWELL – HAMPDEN, 21 MAY 2011 –  Celtic had been heading for a League and Cup double, but had blown up inexplicably at Inverness a few weeks ago to throw away the League, and once again we found ourselves looking to the Scottish Cup to redeem a poor season which had also included a defeat to Rangers in the League Cup final.

But this was a fairly easy victory in the perpetual Hampden rain. Ki scored a lovely goal in the first half, then Motherwell conceded what was technically an own goal but had a lot to do with Mark Wilson, before Charlie Mulgrew with a free kick from the edge of the box finished matters. It was a good victory for Celtic’s 35th capture of the Scottish Cup.

The Celtic team was: Forster, Izaguirre, Majstorovic, Wilson, Mulgrew, Loovens, Brown, Ki, Samaras (Stokes), Commons (Forrest), Hooper (McCourt).

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINAL VICTORIES – Number 36…CELTIC 3-0 HIBS – HAMPDEN, 26 MAY 2013 – The authorities in their wisdom decided that this game should be played on a Sunday, and that Celtic should play in black, so in some ways, this was a most unusual Scottish Cup final. It was however a fairly comfortable win in the Hampden sun to complete a League and Cup double.

Gary Hooper had not always been in top form for Celtic that year, but today he scored a couple of fine goals in the first half, and might even had scored a hat-trick but it was Joe Ledley who finished the job to win the Scottish Cup for Celtic for the 36th time. Fortunately Celtic once again changed out of that black rubbish into the green and white hoops to pick up the trophy.

The Celtic team was: Forster, Izaguirre, Wilson, Mulgrew, Lustig, Brown (Ambrose), Commons (Samaras), Ledley, Forrest (McCourt), Stokes, Hooper.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINAL VICTORIES – Number 37…CELTIC 2-1 ABERDEEN – HAMPDEN, 27 MAY 2017 – This was a truly remarkable game in what was a really good season for Brendan Rodgers’ men who were already being referred to as the “Invincibles”. Celtic had already won the other two trophies.

They had already beaten Aberdeen in the League Cup final quite easily, but this time Aberdeen put up a far better fight. The game was played in hot, humid conditions with thunderstorms going on all round the stadium. Aberdeen scored first through Johnny Hayes, then Stuart Armstrong equalised for Celtic before half time.

The second half saw an epic struggle with Celtic gradually gaining the ascendancy until late in the game when Tommy Rogic ran through and scored a great goal which saw the Celtic End at Hampden explode with joy. Kieran Tierney who had been taken off with a broken jaw was back in time to take part in the celebrations!

The Celtic team was: Gordon, Lustig, Simunovic, Boyata, Tierney (Rogic), McGregor, Brown, Armstrong, Roberts (Sviatchenko), Griffiths, Sinclair.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINAL VICTORIES – Number 38…CELTIC 2-0 MOTHERWELL – HAMPDEN, 19 MAY 2018 –  In glorious sunshine, Celtic today completed their second treble in a row with a clinical defeat of a Motherwell side who were, by no means, a poor side.

This was the day of the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the Celtic fans sang a few songs about that which were not featured on the BBC. More respectable praise and acclamation was bestowed on the two fine goals scored by Callum McGregor and Olivier Ntcham, and indeed an accomplished performance by a very good Celtic team.

The Celtic team was: Gordon, Lustig, Boyata, Ajer (Simunovic), Tierney, Ntcham, Brown, Forrest (Sinclair), Rogic (Armstrong), McGregor, Dembele.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINAL VICTORIES – Number 39…CELTIC 2-1 HEARTS – HAMPDEN, 25 MAY 2019 – For reasons that no-one really understood, Brendan Rodgers had suddenly jumped ship to go to Leicester in mid-season, but Neil Lennon had returned and fitted in seamlessly to take the club to its eighth League championship in a row, and now to its treble treble at a rainy Hampden against Hearts.

The first half was poor, but Hearts scored early in the second half before Odsonne Edouard scored with a softish penalty, and then scored the winner as he ran on to a through ball and finished clinically. About an hour later, Neil Lennon who had been doing the job on a temporary basis was given the job full time.

25th May 2019, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland; Scottish Football Cup Final, Heart of Midlothian versus Celtic; Celtic players line up for a team photo

The Celtic team was: Bain, Lustig, Simunovic, Ajer, Hayes (Bitton), Brown, McGregor, Forrest, Rogic (Ntcham), Johnston (Sinclair), Edouard.

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINAL VICTORIES – Number 40…CELTIC 3-3 HEARTS – (Celtic won 4-3 on penalties) HAMPDEN, 20 DECEMBER 2020 –  The strangest Cup final of them all! Played in front of an empty stadium because of the Covid restrictions in mid-winter, Celtic won their quadruple treble in a game from which Hearts emerged with a lot of credit.

Celtic had struggled all season, and were already out of the League Cup (which meant that there could be no quintuple treble). They were 2-0 up at half time with goals from Ryan Christie and a penalty from Odsonne Edouard, then Hearts fought back to make it 2-2. Extra time saw both teams score (Leigh Griffiths scoring for Celtic) and although Celtic came very close near the end, the game went to penalty kicks.

Celtic’s hero was Conor Hazard who saved two penalties, and Griffiths, McGregor, Johnston and Ajer did the job to win the 40th Scottish Cup and to gain the quadruple treble for season 2019/20. It was the first time that Celtic had won the Scottish Cup on a penalty shoot-out.

Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Photo: Andrew Milligan

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The Celtic team was: Hazard, Ajer, Jullien, Duffy (Johnston), Taylor (Frimpong), Brown (Soro), McGregor, Christie, Turnbull (Rogic), Elyounoussi (Laxalt), Edouard (Griffiths).

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CELTIC’S SCOTTISH CUP FINAL VICTORIES – Number 41…CELTIC 3-1 INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE – HAMPDEN, 3rd JUNE 2023 –  This was a strange Cup final in many ways. It was the latest ever in terms of the year (if we exclude 2020 which was actually in December), and it had a controversial kick off time of 5.30 pm so that TV viewers could see the English Cup final at 3.00 pm then the Scottish one at 5.30 pm.

The opponents were Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle and although the Highlanders fought well and scored one good goal, Celtic, without reaching the heights that they had attained at several points of the 2022/23 season, were more than enough for them with a first half Kyogu goal from an O’Riley cross, then a fine strike by Abada which VAR ludicrously tried to say was offside and wasted several minutes, and the final one was a good shot from Jota from an Abada cross.

The third goal effectively won the Cup because Inverness had pulled the score back from 2-0 to 2-1. The game was played in sweltering heat throughout, and was also played with a huge question mark over the future of Ange Postecoglou.

The Celtic team was: Hart, Johnston, Iwata, Starfelt, Taylor, McGregor, Hatate (Haksabanovic), O’Riley (Turnbull), Maeda (Abada), Kyogu (Oh) Jota (Forrest).

David Potter

A PERFECT GIFT FOR FATHER’S DAY!

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