Celtic 2 Rangers 1 - 4th December 1982, League Cup Final

Going into this League Cup Final, Celtic sat proudly atop the Premier Division, 3 points clear of Dundee United in 2nd place and a massive 9 points clear of Rangers who were back in 4th. It was to be the highlight of the season. United would take the league championship by a single point, and Aberdeen the Scottish Cup - knocking Celtic out in the semi final.

Celtic won the final 2-1 - the goals coming from an inspired Charlie Nicholas and a rocket of a shot from Murdo MacLeod. Danny McGrain lifts another trophy as Celtic captain.

Dundee United 2 Celtic 3 - 22nd April 1981

By the time they arrived at Tannadice with just 3 league games remaining, Celtic were in top form. The previous 8 games had produced 7 wins and a draw, scoring 25 goals and conceding just 3. This run had left them 6 clear of Aberdeen, and a massive 13 ahead of Rangers (19 points in today's currency).

A single point against Dundee United was all that was needed to clinch the league title. Goals from Murdo MacLeod, Frank McGarvey and Tommy Burns gave the Hoops a 3-2 win, and Danny McGrain lifted the league trophy.

Celtic 3 Rangers 1 - 21st February 1981

Going into this match, Celtic sat at the top of the Premier Division, 1 point clear of Aberdeen, 6 clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers, who had a game in hand. With Rangers a goal up at half time, it looked like the gap at the top could be reduced. But two second half goals from Charlie Nicholas and one from Roy Aitken gave Celtic the two points, stretching their lead over Rangers to 8 points. With Aberdeen only drawing, Celtic moved two clear of the dons.

Pre-Centenary 1980's Index

This Index holds games from the 1980-81 season through to season 1986-87.


Season 1980-81

21/02/81 SPL Celtic 3 Rangers 1
22/04/81 SPL Dundee United 2 Celtic 3 (League clincher)

Season 1981-82

Season 1982-83

30/10/82 SPL Celtic 3 Rangers 2
04/12/81 LC Celtic 2 Rangers 1 (Final)

Season 1983-84

Season 1984-85

18/05/85 SC Celtic 2 Dundee United 1 (Final)

Season 1985-86

Season 1986-87

Celtic 2 Dundee United 1 - 14th May 1988, Scottish Cup Final

Another of those games that will feature highly on any list of the most memorable Celtic games - and not just because it was a cup final. Like so many games from season 1987-88, this game was won at the death by a team that didn't know when to stop running.

Kevin Gallacher, grandson of legendary Celt Patsy Gallacher, put United ahead early in the second half. Celtic surged forward, looking for the equaliser. With 15 minutes remaining, their ceaseless attacking paid off. Anton Rogan skipped to the byeline and delivered a delightful cross right onto the head of Frank McAvennie - who makes no mistake in sending the ball into the back of the net. Still Celtic flooded forward, and, just with just seconds remaining, up popped McAvennie again, this time latching onto a deflection in the box and firing past the helpless Billy Thompson in the United goal.

When the final whistle sounded, the noise was incredible. Celtic had won the double in their Centenary year. The clip includes after match interviews with Billy McNeil, Frank McAvennie. It also shows the cup presentation. Listen to the noise! What a day that was. What a season!

Celtic 3 Dundee 0 - 23rd April 1988

Or the day we won the league. Having blown the chance to win the title at Tynecastle the previous week, the Celtic players were determined to clinch the league championship in front of their home fans. The official crowd for the match was around 60,000 but in truth there was probably nearer 80,000 crammed onto the terracing that day. Goals from Chris Morris and an Andy Walker brace helped take the roof off the stadium, and the Celtic fans threw in a pitch invasion as well.

Celtic 2 Hearts 1 - 9th April 1988, Scottish Cup SF

Ask any Celtic fan who was around at the time of their abiding memories of the Centenary Season and the chances are this game will feature highly. Picture the scene. Scottish Cup Semi final against a Hearts team who were second place in the league and who Celtic had struggled to beat all season. Brian Whittaker puts the Jambos ahead and, with only 3 minutes remaining, Celtic's dream of a league and cup double looks to be dead in the water. The rest, as the cliche goes, is history.

This game spawned the popular terrace chant of "Henry! Henry! drop the ball! Henry! drop the ball!", something the unfortunate Henry Smith will probably have ringing in his ears on his death bed.

Partick Thistle 0 Celtic 3 - 12th March 1988, Scottish Cup QF

Celtic's reward for their 4th round win over Hibs was this trip to sunny Firhill to face First division relegation candidates Partick Thistle. Thisle, however, gave Celtic a sterner test than most expected. In the end, Celtic ran out 3-0 winner through goals from Andy Walker, Tommy Burns and Billy Stark, with all three goals being created by Frank McAvennie. Burns goal, in particular, was a belter!

The semi final draw saw Celtic paired against Hearts.

Hibs 0 Celtic 2 - 2nd April 1988

Celtic's superb form in the first two months of 1988 was carried through March - conceding only one goal in five games that produced nine points out of ten. As a result, the Hoops enjoyed a 7 point lead over Rangers with only six games remaining. Hearts were a further point behind. Celtic's 1-0 win at Pittodrie three days before this fixture had ended any lingering hopes Aberdeen had of winning the league.

Goals from Peter Grant and Andy Walker gave Celtic yet another two points. A Hearts win at Ibrox would push the Tynecastle club up into second place above Rangers, leaving Celtic just 3 points away from clinching the title.

Celtic 2 Falkirk 0 - 5th March 1988

The early months of 1998 saw a relentless surge towards the title from Billy McNeill's team. Seven league games produced six victories and a draw - the single blemish being a 1-1 draw against St Mirren at Love Street. When Falkirk arrived at Celtic Park in early March, Celtic had a comfortable six point lead over Rangers in the league (two points for a win back then, for all you youngsters reading!), with Aberdeen and Hearts a further 2 points back.

Celtic saw out a fairly comfortable victory, thanks to goals from Andy Walker and Mark McGhee. The game is most notable for the ordering off of Mick McCarthy - the irishman guilty of landing a right hook on Falkirks Hen Broon impressionist Crawford Baptie. No, that isn't a made up name.