BECALMED BEFORE THE STORM

After an undistinguished five years in a regional league during
the war, Celtic emerged into peacetime with a new manager Jimmy
McGrory and a team largely unrecognisable from the side of the
late 30s.

There followed a mediocre seven seasons in which the best league
position the club could manage was fifth. There was even a flirtation
with relegation in 1948.

But in 1951 they finally regained their winning ways with a victory
in the Scottish Cup, followed, 2 years later, by success in
the 1953 Final played 20th May 1953, a British tourney to celebrate
the Queen's coronation. The Celts recorded victories over Arsenal
and Manchester United, before beating Hibs in the final.

In Charlie Tully, Bertie Peacock and Jock Stein, signed in 1951
, Celtic were not short of good players, but the club lacked
organisation. Training solely consisted of running around the
park. From Saturday to Saturday a football was never seen. Nor
was McGrory for that matter. Tactics were also conspicuous by
their absence.

In the light of this, the club's double success in 1954 was a
huge surprise. The club also ended its League Cup hoodoo with
victories in 1956 and 1957, the latter a notable 7-1 victory
over Rangers.

But the club's success remained erratic, though McGrory may
not have been the man to blame. Chairman Robert Kelly is thought
to have made most of the team selections and, to his credit,
his policy of pursuing youth in the late 50s threw up some future
stars in the shape of Jimmy Johnstone, Tommy Gemmell and Billy
McNeill.

But defeats in the 1961 and 1963 Scottish Cup finals, the 1964
League Cup final and in the European Cup Winners' Cup semi-final
in 1965 proved that good players were not enough at the top
level.

In 1957 Jock Stein took over Celtic's reserve team, when he had
to retire after an ankle injury. He quickly placed an emphasis
on tactics and ball control, before departing to coach Dunfermline
. It was this modern approach to football management that Celtic
desperately needed when they turned to Stein in 1965. The appointment
proved a masterstroke.

  


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