Here ye go Fifty, Larry will like this too, him being a newspaper man.
" Celtic wrote the most glittering chapter in Scottish football history at Hampden last nigh with a spellbinding display of bewildering Soccer.
They gave proud Leeds United a lesson and worthily earned the distinction of being the first British team to reach the the final of the EC for the second time.
Every Scot must praise Celtic, Celtic the bold, Celtic the wonderful,Celtic the masters. The vast crowd of 130,000 went wild with delight as the Celts, some wearing the white shirts of United, did a lap of honour at the end.
And the vast crowd just wouldn't leave, wanting to stay in the fairyland that was Hampden last night, a fairyland of a Scottish football dream come true. And Celtic won against the odds, beating the English champions in memorable fashion home and away. Leeds were a battered, beaten team at the finish, baffled and outclassed, made to look pedestrian against class, imagination and artistry of the magnificent Scots. Yet it might all have been do different. Celtic were without Willie Wallace, hurt at training. And they lost an early goal. What a tragedy this migh have been. Only 14 mins had gone but Celtic were taking command, playing fantastic, attractive football, with John Hughes worrying the Leeds defence in the middle and Jimmy Johnstone again an ace on the wing. But suddenly Billy Bremner showed why he is Scotland's skipper. This fiery little bundle- ten stones of barbed wire is his description in Leeds- saw a chance. He edged forward deep into Celtic territory and before Billy McNeil and company even scented danger the ball was in the net. From 25 yards the Leeds captain thundered a shot. With the wind behind it , the ball swerved giving poor Evan Williams no chance.
So all Celtics advantage had gone. But we're they dismayed? Not a bit of it. Celtic merely proceeded to play even better football, football that thrilled every Scottish heart and even English heads were nodding in admiration. For a long time though it looked like it wasn't to be Celtics night. As Williams was practically a spectator, the Leeds goal bore a charmed life. Celtic might have had a penalty when a Hay shot hit Hunter in the arm. But the German ref who was firm and efficient said no. And twice a white clad defender whipped the ball of the goal line with Sprake beaten. Now and again United looked dangerous although they lacked ideas and were slow in the build up. Celtic, however, were biding their time. They continued to play enhancingly with everyone a hero.
And two minutes after the interval they had their reward. A corner. Davie Hay took a short one. Bertie Auld whipped the ball across goal and there was John Hughes to head snappily into the net. They might have heard the roar in Leeds- and it certainly was Uniteds death knell.
Everyone at Hampden knew they would never come back, not against Celtic playing with the enthusiasm of schoolboys and the skill of Real Madrid at their greatest.
Sprake was injured, and on came David Harvey. He will never forget his Hampden baptism. For hardly had he handled the ball than Celtic had the ball in his net. It was another gem, a beauty out of the text book. Murdoch to Johnstone, back to Murdoch- and Bobby had lashed the ball past Harvey and Celtic had taken a well deserved lead. That's how it ended. Leeds brought on Mick Bates for Peter Lorimer. It made no difference. Celtic were superb, in a class of their own. They might have scored more goals. Indeed, almost on the whistle Hughes missed a golden chance. Who cares? Leeds were well beaten. Scottish football had achieved its finest triumph ( surely that was Lisbon?), it's greatest moment. The Celts continued to play with magnificent prowess to reveal Leeds limitations in a way few clubs could match.
So it was a never to be forgotten night, a night of joy, tears and emotion. For it was a night Scottish soccer exploded back to the top.
The top Celts? Hail them all, though with perhaps a special word of praise to the terrific David Hay, Jim Brogan, Bertie Auld and Jimmy Johnstone. But it was teamwork that won- and Celtics teamwork was on a different plane to that of Leeds, whose Eddie Gray was subdued because Celtic never gave him a chance to showcase his skills. Bremner was their star, but towards the end he was at centre forward without much opportunity of showing what he could do. For it was Celtics night.
Celtic seldom put a foot wrong and were so much on top that Leeds must have been glad they don't play in the English first division.
What a night to be a Scot at Hampden, what a comeback from Celtic after the disaster of the Cup Final.
Now they are the team all Europe fear- and not without cause, if last night is the criterion"
CELTIC- Williams, Hay, Gemmel, Murdoch, McNeil, Brogan, Johnstone, Connelly, Hughes, Auld, Lennox.
LEEDS- Sprake, Madely, Cooper, Bremner,Charlton, Hunter, Lorimer, Clarke, Jones, Giles, Gray.
Hugh Taylor Thursday April 16th 1970.
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Pair a bawbags ...was their pal professor Leech naw on joining in
