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Celtic pose for a team photo with goalscorers Jimmy Walsh (front row, third left) and Neil Mochan (front row, far right) in 1954, a year after winning the Coronation Cup
Celtic probably shouldn’t have been there.
They had finished eighth in the league and were eliminated from the Scottish Cup in the fourth round.
Their qualification on the pitch for being one of Britain’s top eight teams in the summer of 1953 was questionable at best.
But an invitation to join Rangers, Hearts, Hibernian, Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in a tournament celebrating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II landed on Parkhead’s doormat.
The scene outside a Coatbridge pub on May 20 was perhaps a clue to the organizers’ thoughts.
“On the day of the Coronation Cup final, no fewer than 30 buses packed with Celtic fans made their way into Hampden Park,” recalled legendary former commentator Archie Macpherson, who was watching as a teenager.
By this point it was clear that Celtic would no longer be around to even the numbers and fill the stands in the host city of Glasgow.
A few hours later, more than 117,000 fans were ready, crammed into Hampden, eager to see a coronation of a different kind; Her team was crowned Britain’s best.
If it was anyone, it should have been Rangers.
The prevailing opinion prior to the start of the tournament was that no Scottish club would be better placed to take on the challenge of England’s best footballers.
Rangers were the preeminent force in Scottish football, having just won their fourth title in seven seasons and a league and cup double.
Their strength lay in defence; a formidable unit nicknamed the “Iron Curtain” led by the towering George Young.
But their hopes were dashed in the first round of the knockout competition. Drawn against Manchester United, they lost 2-1.
“Back then there wasn’t the divide between English and Scottish football that we have now,” Macpherson recalled.
“There was enough character and quality in Scottish football for Rangers fans in particular to feel they had a chance.
“But I think Rangers may have put a lot of energy into winning the league at that point.”
Instead, it was left to Celtic and Hibernian to represent Scotland in the semi-finals. With an 11-year-old Govan pupil named Alex Ferguson watching from the stands, Celtic followed up their victory over English champions Arsenal by defeating Manchester United. Hibs beat Newcastle on the other side of the draw.
The culmination of a tournament dubbed the Battle of Britain would be an all-Scottish cloud of dust.
“You have to be careful in post-season competitions because the energy has gone into winning cups and leagues, given the quality of leagues is a broad assessment, but it seemed to run out of ammunition for those of us who thought English football was overrated deliver and that Scottish football enjoyed the same status,” Macpherson recalled.
Hibs were the favorites to prevail in the final.
Their “Famous Five” forward line – Gordon Smith, Bobby Johnstone, Lawrie Reilly, Eddie Turnbull and Willie Ormond – was well established.
With a polished mix of performance and attacking skill, they had brought their side within a hair’s breadth of Rangers in the league and missed out on the title on goal average.
But Celtic took the lead in the first half, to the delight of most spectators, through a long-range shot from Neil Mochan. Hibs pressed for the equalizer but goalkeeper Johnny Bonnar hit back with a series of saves before Jimmy Walsh scored a second for Celtic late on.
Celtic’s players, with captain Jock Stein in their midst, huddled around the trophy for a team photo at an elegant post-game celebration.
Little did she or he know that it was a win that paved the way to a bigger prize.
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The Coronation Cup was a one-off competition
Fourteen years later, Stein was in another final with Celtic. This time as a manager and not as a captain. This time the award should be champions of a continent rather than a coronation celebration.
And this time Macpherson left too.
Now in his 30s, and having switched careers from teaching to commentating, he covered a match abroad for the first time.
“I went to Lisbon thinking they wouldn’t win,” he says of Celtic’s 1967 European Cup final against coveted Inter Milan.
“But we didn’t think they would win the Coronation Cup final either.”
Once again Celtic turned the odds and defeated the two-time champions to become the first British team to lift the trophy.
“Lisbon was the kind of challenge they would withstand because of what they had done in 1953. I’m sure it’s crossed their minds, in fact I’m convinced,” concludes Macpherson.
“Victory in the Coronation Cup gave Celtic a certain attitude if you will, that they were fit enough to take on any contender.
“It gave Scottish football a huge boost and was certainly the root of Celtic’s future growth.”
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Celtic and manager Jock Stein celebrate their 1967 European Cup win at Parkhead
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