19 October is a big anniversary in Celtic’s history. On that day in 1957, arguably Celtic’s most famous scoreline took place: Celtic 7 Rangers 1…
Here is the full story of that unforgettable day in 1957:
Celtic’s journey to the final began by topping a group that included Hibernian, Airdrieonians, and East Fife. From there, they defeated Third Lanark in the quarter-finals and Clyde in the semi-finals, securing their place in the championship match.
Meanwhile, Rangers navigated their way through the competition by finishing first in a group featuring Raith Rovers, St Mirren, and Partick Thistle. The team from Ibrox then overcame Kilmarnock in the quarter-finals before dispatching Brechin City in the semi-finals to book their spot in the final.
The final took place on 19 October 1957, at Hampden Park. Celtic, managed by the legendary former player Jimmy McGrory, fielded the following lineup: Beattie, Donnelly, Fallon, Fernie, Evans, Peacock, Tully, Collins, McPhail, Wilson, and Mochan.
On the other side, Rangers, under the guidance of Scott Symon, took to the pitch with their starting eleven: Niven, Shearer, Caldow, McColl, Valentine, Davis, Scott, Simpson, Murray, and Baird.
Both teams were sitting mid-table in the league, having played just three matches, while Hearts led the standings with six games under their belt. However, Celtic entered the final with renewed confidence, having secured a victory at Ibrox in September 1957—marking their first win there in 22 years.
The atmosphere at Hampden was electric, with the sun shining brightly on what turned out to be a glorious day. More than 80,000 fans filled the stadium, creating a vibrant backdrop for this highly anticipated clash. As the first Celtic-Rangers final in 30 years, the match was poised to be a classic encounter between two fierce rivals.
Referee J.A. Mowat from Rutherglen blew his whistle to signal the start of the match. Celtic took the kickoff, shooting toward the east terracing, and immediately displayed their attacking intent, looking eager to find the back of the net.
As the game progressed into the 20th minute, the score remained level. Celtic was in control, dominating the early stages of the match and creating multiple opportunities to score. They could have easily been ahead by four goals, with both Collins and Tully coming close, each hitting the woodwork. Despite their dominance and several near misses, the breakthrough that both teams desperately sought still eluded them.
When the opening goal finally arrived, it was Celtic who took the lead! Billy McPhail headed the ball down to Sammy Wilson, who unleashed a perfectly executed volley that sailed past Rangers goalkeeper Niven, sending the Celtic fans into a frenzy.
As half-time approached, the score stood at 1-0 in favor of Celtic. Both teams pressed forward in search of a goal, but neither could find the back of the net. Celtic’s Bobby Collins came closest, firing a powerful 30-yard drive that threatened to extend their lead. Just as the referee was preparing to call half-time, the Celts struck again, doubling their advantage and leaving Rangers with a mountain to climb in the second half!
Celtic now attacked toward the west terracing, and as their forwards surged in that direction, it became increasingly clear that a comeback for Rangers was slipping away. The Bhoys extended their lead to 3-0 when a well-placed cross from the right side of the pitch found Billy McPhail, who headed it home with precision.
However, just as it seemed Celtic was firmly in control, Rangers found a glimmer of hope. Captain Ian McColl delivered a dangerous cross into the box, and Billy Simpson was there to knock it home, reducing the deficit to 3-1. With the scoreline now reading 3-1 in favor of Celtic, the atmosphere at Hampden intensified, and it felt like the match was very much alive.
Rangers’ light blue hopes of a comeback were dashed almost immediately when Celtic struck again, this time with a fourth goal! Billy McPhail was on hand to knock in his second of the day from close range, extending Celtic’s lead to 4-1.
Things quickly deteriorated further for Rangers. Another precise cross from the right found Neilly Mochan, who slammed it home, marking his second goal of the match. Just moments later, Billy McPhail completed his hat trick, adding to Rangers’ misery and sealing a commanding 6-1 scoreline.
It was a complete trouncing for the Ibrox men, and the atmosphere at Hampden was electric—if there had been a roof, it surely would have been raised in celebration by the ecstatic Celtic supporters!
As the match progressed, trouble broke out in the Rangers’ end. Following Celtic’s sixth goal, fighting erupted on the west terracing, prompting numerous police officers to be deployed to manage the situation. The fury of Rangers’ fans was about to intensify.
In a final blow to Rangers’ hopes, Willie Fernie converted a penalty for Celtic, marking the last goal of the day. The scoreline read Celtic 7, Rangers 1—a stunning result that would be etched in history!
Eventually, the final whistle sounded, capping off a remarkable game where Celtic had put seven goals past their great rivals and retained the League Cup. It was a scoreline to be remembered for generations.
After the match, club captain Bertie Peacock led his team up the Hampden steps, where he was handed the League Cup trophy. He proudly waved it to the cheers of the thousands of supporters in green and white, celebrating a monumental victory.
It was a fantastic and historic afternoon of football. Celtic’s 7-1 thrashing of their rivals Rangers set a British Cup Final record that endures to this day. The triumph was not just a victory but a testament to Celtic’s dominance in the game.
As the celebrations echoed through the stadium, fans joined in unison, singing, “Oh Hampden in the sun…”—a fitting tribute to a day that would be remembered for generations.
Matthew Marr
Matthew’s debut Celtic book titled ‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ was published by Celtic Star Books last year and is available to order HERE. This brilliant book is also available on Amazon Kindle for just £3.49 and includes all photo sections that appear in the hardback edition.
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