Celtic FC – Scottish Cup Winners for the 20th time – 1971

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·27 maggio 2025

Celtic FC – Scottish Cup Winners for the 20th time – 1971

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.

OneFootball Video

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: Williams, Craig, Brogan, McNeill, Connelly, Hay, Johnstone, Hood (Wallace), Macari, Callaghan, Lennox. Scorers: Macari (24), Hood (pen 25) Rangers: McCloy, Denny, Mathieson, Greig, McKinnon, Jackson, Henderson, Penman (D Johnstone,) Stein, MacDonald, Johnston . Scorer: Craig (OG 58)

Referee:

T Wharton (Glasgow)

Attendance:

103,332

David Potter

There was a strong degree of dissent between the new police convenor and the SFA over the timing of the replay. Making the replay on the Wednesday night meant that the game could not be all ticket. Given the disturbances and numbers of arrests at the original game the police said the SFA were asking for trouble. Glasgow magistrates then got involved asking the SFA to screen the replay live and for a postponement so that the game could be made all-ticket and a crowd limit imposed. The SFA refused to delay the game or televise it.

First cup winners medals for Williams, Hay, Hood, Callaghan and Macari. Macari’s first ever cup game! He scored too… What an occasion. Rangers had not lost a cup final replay since 1905 but Stein said – ‘Anyone who beats us in the cup will have to do it at the first attempt’. Celtic’s 16th trophy under Jock Stein.