Celtic in the Eighties – Celtic v Sporting Lisbon, UEFA Cup, November 1983

[Winning Captains]

EARLY EIGHTIES CLASSICS – CELTIC v SPORTING LISBON…​

Summer 1983 was a depressing time for Celtic fans. The agony of losing the league title on the last day of the season was compounded by the departure (albeit long expected) of Charlie Nicholas to Arsenal for a reported fee of £650 000. This was followed by a further shock of truly seismic proportions- the resignation of manager Billy “Caesar” McNeill.

New Arsenal players Charlie Nicholas (r) and goalkeeper John Lukic pictured with manager Terry Neill on the Highbury pitch after their summer moves from Glasgow Celtic and Leeds in July, 1983. (Photo by Murrell/Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive)


Caesar’s departure was completely unexpected. Whilst he had always experienced a somewhat fractious relationship with the Board, no one could have predicted how events would unfold in the summer of 1983. The loss of a much-loved club legend, and the incredibly acrimonious circumstances which surrounded it, cast a long, dark shadow over the following season.

David Hay (Celtic Glasgow Manager) Photo IMAGO / Ferdi Hartung. 27.07.1983


His successor was Davie Hay, who had been an outstanding player for Celtic a decade earlier. Hay’s apparently laid-back manner was in stark contrast to McNeill’s charismatic and passionate demeanour.

It was Hay’s misfortune to be offered the job at a time when a general air of disillusionment and depression hung over the club. Celtic would go on to finish season 1983/84 as runners up in all three domestic competitions and it would be fair to say that, at the end of his first season, the jury was still out regarding Hay’s suitability for the job.

Season 1983/84 would, however, provide one truly memorable European result – the 5-0 thrashing of Sporting Lisbon at Celtic Park in the second round of the UEFA Cup…

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[TartanTim]

What a wonderful wee trip down memory lane,

 

[Bridie Bhoy]

I love these types of articles that the Celtic Star publish. Thanks.

 

[Magnificent 7]

It was a time when I was a member of the Greenock Shammy ...I was 21 at the time.
I moved to Glesga when I was 30.

A great night that night in what would be a season of disappointment.
If memory serves me right we lost the League cup final to the Auld huns with two penalties awarded to them with McCoist diving for the 2nd to give them an extra - time win...same auld cheating....and skeekit Sally was a serial offender.

We finished runners up in the League to Fergusons all conquering European cup winners cup class of 83....and to top it off we were 2nd best in the Scottish cup final losing 2-1 to the Dandy's yet again.

So aye a great European night but reminded me of a season when Aberdeen and even Dundee Utd were tougher opponents than the Huns at the time.

 

[Winter]

OK so its 3 a.m but here's one of my all time favourite Celtic match ups not just European but cup ties I'll be back to read this the morra.
One of my first Celtic in Europe ties id need to check others around that time but few hit the heights like this tie.
I'd have been 9or10yrs old got a lift from my brother and this game along with many of my first ones shaped the glass half full Tim I became, we had luckily a few comebacks in matches and ties that instilled in me early that giving up in a Celtic jersey or failing to play in the Celtic style is a crime that carries the instant ire of the Celtic supporters. Play to the final whistle in tbe Green and white hoops like you believe in them and anything as?we've seen countless times before csn and frequently does happen, failure to display this mindset and ability gets the treatment Schluup got for playing it back to the keeper against rangers at CP from the half way line, utter derision from all quarters and moments like that can seal a seasons contract or two, Schluup wasn't bad but bar the odd game never recovered from that " wtfuu??" moment arguably lol.
This was a game like do many we were written off by so many only to produce a beautiful display of the type synonymous with Celtic sides who are written off by home and foreign pundits that forget our European pedigree goes much further than first club from these shores to win it.

 

[Sean Tbl Tbl]

Bodo Glimt SKUDDING the Current Sporting 3-0 despite no being able tae COMPETE EH Nicholson ya SMUG BASTARD! ..Boy we were supposed tae be in fur (like Fuk we were) Hoch scored the 3rd, he'll go fur £50M + noo! If only we had ANY Fukin Ambition we cd be in last 8 ae CL..If ONLY eh!