Berte Audun always maintained that Celtic’s historic victory in the European Cup Final in Lisbon on May 25, 1967, was not nearly as significant as a Cup victory.
The cunning midfield strategist thought this day would be a victory. The game on April 24, 1965, set the stage for everything positive that transpired throughout the all-conquering era with Jock Stein serving as the creative and motivating manager.
Auld, who tragically died on November 14, 2021, at the age of 83, revealed everything in his best-selling autobiography, “A Bhoy Called Bertie,” which was released in 2008. Auld confided everything to his buddy and Celtic book author Alex Gordon.
Wee Bertie remembers the silverware accomplishment he rated above all of them in another CQN EXCLUSIVE.
“I have always been adamant that the Scottish Cup Final between Celtic and Dunfermline in 1965 was the most significant victory of that era.”Indeed, it’s even more significant than the Cup of Europe. One preceded the other, and our victory over the Fifers at Hampden that day demonstrated that we were a team capable of winning trophies once more.
“Keep in mind that Celtic had not won in eight years.” It was a lengthy, gloomy period. I was only unable to participate in our most recent victory, a 7-1 League Cup thumping of the Rangers.
I had been in England with Birmingham City for four years before to that success and the Scottish Cup victory.
“I returned in January 1965 and, happily, was able to contribute to the Dunfermline match three months later by scoring two goals prior to Billy McNeill’s fantastic winning header.
“That victory represented a significant advancement. During those eight years, Celtic had been in Cup Finals but had lost.
They were defeated in the 1961 replay by Dunfermline, which was, you guessed it, managed by Jock Stein. The East End Park team was complete outsiders.
“Rangers defeated us in a League Cup Final around the same time that they defeated us in a Scottish Cup Final replay two years later.
Celtic had lost their way of winning. The Dunfermline triumph was enormous. It emphasized to the players that they could win and gave them confidence. It was a major turning point for all those involved.
For the first time since 1954, we won the league the following year, and the following year, well, you can see what happened. We won the European Cup on that historic May 25 in Lisbon, not only becoming the first side from the United Kingdom to do so, but also sweeping the Scottish Cup.
But for me, it was all related to our victory over Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup.
“The launch pad was that.”
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