“We’ve won the League again, fly the flag” – The story of Celtic’s title triumphs | OneFootball

Today, the Bhoys will celebrate another Trophy Day. But although this is title 55 for Celtic, that’s not the number of times that they have received the trophy, nor the amount of official Trophy Days held at Celtic Park.

Celtic title celebrations 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

When the Scottish League first began in 1890, there was no trophy given to the winners of the competition. Instead, the title holders received a flag, a tradition which remains to this day. Thus, when Celtic won their first championship in 1893, their rewards were ‘badges’ (medals) for the players, and a flag for the club to be flown at Celtic Park.

Flag days in that era were very different from now. For one thing, they took place without fireworks and other displays, and sometimes they were not even held at Celtic games. For example, when the Bhoys won the 1896 title, the League flag was officially unveiled at a Scotland versus England game held at Celtic Park.

This practice of only flags and medals for the title winners continued until after World War Two. Then in October 1947, William MacAndrew – the long-term secretary of Scottish Football League – retired. Given his long-lasting role – he had held this position for just short of 50 years – there were notable tributes paid to him.

As a parting gift, MacAndrew decided to leave two mementos: specifically, trophies to be presented to the winners of League Division A and League Division B. The new cups were engraved with all the names of previous winners going back to the start of the two Leagues.

These gifts meant that the winners of Scotland’s football leagues would receive not simply a flag but also a trophy. As winners of the top league in 1948, Hibernian became the first team to receive the ‘A’ cup, whilst East Fife got the ‘B’ trophy.

It is fair to say that Celtic were nowhere near getting a trophy or a flag in that season’s title race. In fact, 1947-48 almost saw the Bhoys getting relegated, and they needed a last day win at Dens Park – with a hat-trick from Jock Weir – to guarantee their safety.

As a strange coincidence, when the Scottish Premier League was set up in 1998, the original Scottish League trophy became the prize given to winners of Scotland’s second tier. This change took place in the 1998-99 season. When this happened, the maiden First Division champions to get the trophy were again Hibernian!

1954 was title number 20 for the Bhoys. It was also the first of what today will become 36 occasions they have won the title and then received a trophy.

Celtic had won the 1938 league but it was 16 years before they were again Scottish champions. In season 1953-54, the Bhoys completed a League and Scottish Cup double, meaning they had two cups to mark their achievements.

However, it is fair to say that the League trophy was not something which yet ignited any real fan or club interest. Celtic won the title on 17 April, with a 3-0 win at Easter Road. A week later, they completed the double by beating Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup Final.

This was in the days this cup final did not bring the season to a close. So two days after this, the Bhoys welcomed Hamilton to Celtic Park for a league match. Before the game there were celebrations as the Scottish Cup was displayed, but not the League trophy.

In September of that year, there was a gala event held at St Andrew’s Halls in Glasgow, near the Mitchell Library. This allowed fans to come and cheer their heroes and see the prizes, but again did not involve any events on the pitch at Celtic Park.

In fact, in the following decades, the idea of a League Trophy Day simply does not exist, in terms of an on-field presentation. A trawl of the Celtic Wiki and other sources for league-winning games – or the next home match after this – does not show a trophy handover on the Parkhead turf.

Champions Again – 1967. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Champions Again – 1967. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Champions Again – 1967. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The closest that this came to happening was in the Lisbon season. On 15 May 1967, the final domestic game of the season brought Kilmarnock to Celtic Park. The Bhoys had already won five trophies that year – League, League Cup, Scottish Cup, Glasgow Cup and the Reserve League Cup. At half-time, there were cheers as a car drove around the pitch’s perimeter displaying the prizes.

Ten Men Won The League – 1979. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Even on notable final day celebrations – such as when Ten Men Won the League in 1979 – there was no on-field handover of the trophy. Instead, the first time that it definitely happened was in the 1980s.

Danny McGrain lifts the trophy in 1981. Photo The Celtic Wiki

On 22 April 1981, the Celts beat Dundee United 3-2 to claim the title. The following week, Kilmarnock came to Glasgow’s east end, gaining a 1-1 draw. Before the match – and on the pitch in front of the fans – the League trophy was presented to captain Danny McGrain.

This had similarities with modern events because it was designed to be a day of festivities. As well as the trophy presentation, there was a pre-match five-a-sides game involving former players such as Jimmy Johnstone, Tommy Gemmell and Dixie Deans. Surprisingly to modern eyes, there were 23,000 fans at Celtic Park, unlike attendances nowadays.

The following year, Celtic again were given the trophy on the park, but in different circumstances. On the final day, the League trophy could not be given to the Celts beforehand for the simple reason that they were not yet champions!

Only after beating St Mirren 3-0 were the Bhoys assured of top status, and McGrain again received the trophy and the acclaim of the Celtic support.

Now the practice was established that fans would see their team receive the cup. However, doing this at the start or end of the game was determined by whether or not the title had been sealed before kick-off.

Celtic Champions 1988. Roy Aitken and Billy McNeill with the trophy. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Thus, in 1988, Celtic beat Dundee at home to win the title. However, it was two weeks later – the last league game of the season – that Celtic received the trophy. On this day, manager Billy McNeill handed the cup to Roy Aitken before Celtic beat Dunfermline. In fact, this was the last time that Celtic got the League trophy before the match.

Since that day, all Celtic trophy presentations have happened after full-time. That change has happened for different reasons.

In some cases, it is because Celtic have needed a last-day win to secure the title. However, more important has been the rise of TV coverage. Showing the presentation after the game adds to the sense of drama and celebration. It also makes for better TV to do it when a fuller crowd is assured of staying to see the handover.

The Team that Stopped the Ten. Celtic Champions 1998. Photo The Celtic Wiki

In 1998, Celtic received the trophy on the pitch, although it was after full-time. That was because the Celts were not yet Champions at the start of the 90 minutes; they needed to beat St Johnstone to secure their place at the League’s pinnacle, and stop Rangers’ pursuit of Ten in a Row.

Celtic Champions 2001. Photo The Celtic Wiki

2001 was a small piece of Celtic history. It was the first that the Bhoys got the League trophy on the pitch after full-time when the title had been won before the final day of the season.

On 7 April, Celtic became champions after beating St Mirren, but it was two weeks later that they got the trophy. With the Celts having just beaten Hearts 1-0, captain Tom Boyd received the cup in front of 60,000 cheering fans, whose mood was not dampened by the day’s torrential rain.

The other change in Trophy Days has been to try and ensure that they take place at home. Again, this is largely a TV demand to ensure a better backdrop for the presentation.

In fact, since the introduction of the League split, and given Celtic’s recent dominance, often the fixtures are deliberately arranged to ensure that Celtic are at home on the final day, as is the case today.

Celtic Champions 2008. Celtic collected the trophy at Tannadice. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Of course, if it is a final day title triumph – such as at Tannadice in 2008 – then the presentation has to happen at whatever stadium the Celts happen to be in.

Sometimes efforts have been made to add to Trophy Day’s excitement. This includes having notable figures from Celtic history handing over the prize, or unusual events such as 2017 when Celtic legends Tom Boyd and Jim Craig brought the cup to the ground via a speedboat on the River Clyde!

Whatever happens, since Trophy Day started to become a major part of the title winning-team’s calendar, it is always an event to be welcomed by Celtic fans.

Celtic title celebrations 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

In recent years, these celebrations have spilled onto the streets of Glasgow city centre, an action which increasingly divides the support. Such arguments though are for another time; with the sun shining and a chance of another Treble next week, today will be another fine day in Celtic’s history.

For years, the fans have sang “We’ve won the League again, fly the flag.” That remains as true now as it was going back to 1893. But since 1954, the Celts have also collected a trophy to mark their league success.

Perhaps that song needs a new line to reflect this!

Matthew Marr

VISIT – https://celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com/

If you want to learn more about Celtic history, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X. You can also take part in a FREE Celtic history walking tour. Visit celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.

Click on cover to order a hardback copy

Matthew’s debut Celtic book titled ‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ was published by Celtic Star Books last year and is available to order HERE. This brilliant book is also available on Amazon Kindle for just £3.49 and includes all photo sections that appear in the hardback edition.

Matthew Marr with his debut Celtic book, Glory to their name, which tells the story of Celtic’s first ever title win. Photo The Celtic Star

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books.

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