No 1: Celebrating 150 years of Falkirk Football Club in 150 games
Here is match number one in our new ‘150 years in 150 games’ feature.
FALKIRK 6 CELTIC 2
Wednesday, April 14, 1965 at Brockville Park.
Ten days later, this Celtic team, with only two changes, won the Scottish Cup by defeating Dunfermline 3-2 at Hampden. There were members of the Celtic line-up at Brockville that night who were to become Lisbon Lions and yet Falkirk were convincing and deserved winners. Celtic had won the corresponding game at Parkhead 3-0, and Falkirk’s indifferent league form had given little indication of their ability to win with such ease.
Jock Stein’s side opened in whirlwind fashion, and many in the Falkirk crowd feared another defeat. Big defeats were commonplace that season and six goals had already been conceded against Hibs, Clyde, and Rangers with five goals going past Willie Whigham from Dunfermline, Rangers, and Hearts. Amazingly, Falkirk were 2-0 ahead after only eight minutes of play, as they decided to go at Celtic and not sit back as many teams did.
Keeper Fallon fumbled a cross and Dougie Moran, in his second spell at the club, scored. Johnny Graham headed for goal and young Jim Halliday prodded the ball over the line. Celtic with their customary vocal support were shell-shocked, but worse was to come as Falkirk went in 4-1 up. Northern Irish international Sammy Wilson headed a great third goal and danger man Johnny Graham added a fourth. Celtic’s goal came from Bertie Auld.
The expected Celtic backlash materialised, but Falkirk held their nerve and came back into the game. Billy Fulton sent the home supporters wild with one of the best goals ever seen at Brockville. He hit a rising volley from all of 30 yards out which gave keeper Jim Fallon no chance. It was fitting that Billy donated the left boot that scored the goal as an auction item at the Hall of Fame dinner. Falkirk were playing some great football and when Dougie Moran made it 6-1 with nine minutes left for play it seemed to partly make up for all those heavy defeats Falkirk had suffered at the hands of Celtic teams.
The green and white clad supporters were leaving long before Bertie Auld converted a last-minute penalty kick. Celtic were beaten 6-2 by a team struggling at the foot of the table. They had been played off the park. Whether they had been too confident or were holding something back for the cup final we will never know. They too had an indifferent league season, finishing eighth and Jock Stein was clearly building a new team. It would be interesting to know what lessons he learned from that rainy night in Brockville.
THE STARTING TEAMS
FALKIRK: Whigham, Lambie, Hunter, Houston, Baillie, Fulton,Graham, Gourlay, Wilson, Moran, Halliday.
CELTIC: Fallon, Young, Gemmell, Murdoch, Cushley, O’Neill,Chalmers, Gallagher, Hughes, Lennox, Auld.
SEASON AT A GLANCE
FALKIRK FINAL LEAGUE POSITION – 16th
FALKIRK LEAGUE TOP SCORER – Hugh Maxwell 7
SCOTTISH DIVISION 1 WINNERS – Kilmarnock
SCOTTISH DIVISION 2 WINNERS – Stirling Albion
SCOTTISH CUP WINNERS - Celtic
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP WINNERS - Rangers
1965 AT A GLANCE
UK Number One TICKET TO RIDE - THE BEATLES
USA Number One I'M TELLING YOU NOW - FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS
Top Film - THE SOUND OF MUSIC
Top TV Show - CORONATION STREET