• Celtic - The Early Years
• Celtic between the wars
• Becalmed before the storm
• The Glory Years
• The end of the Stein era
• A last flourish
• A club divided
• Return to glory
• Moving Forward to the next level

A LAST FLOURISH

Stein's successor Billy McNeill arrived at Celtic Park in August 1978. Dissatisfied with the players he inherited, he quickly began to build a new team, signing Davie Provan from Kilmarnock for a Scottish transfer record of £120,000. Murdo MacLeod was signed a week later and though form continued to fluctuate until Christmas, McNeill's new Celtic began to gel in the New Year. They went into their final game of the season against Rangers needing a win to take the title. In a dramatic game, Celtic emerged 4-2 victors.

As the 80s dawned, Celtic remained a major force in Scottish football. Under new pressure from the emerging 'New Firm' of Aberdeen and Dundee United, they still clinched the title in 1981 and 1982, the League Cup in 1982 and the Scottish Cup in 1980, though their 1-0 victory in that game was overshadowed by the rioting between rival fans after the match.

Despite some notable scalps, including Ajax and, in 1983, Sporting Lisbon, European success remained frustratingly beyond the club, with Celtic's natural desire to play attacking football perhaps a little naive against the best in Europe.

The McNeill era was short-lived compared to his mentor and predecessor Jock Stein. Financial problems were once again instrumental in undermining the squad. Charlie Nicholas scored 46 goals in the 1982-83 season, yet was allowed to move to Arsenal in the close season. The Gunners were prepared to pay him five times what he was getting at Celtic Park. His departure was quickly followed by that of McNeill himself, after a dispute over pay and conditions.

Another former Celtic player David Hay assumed the managerial reins in July 1983, but the team's barren spell continued until 1985 when a 2-1 win over Dundee United in the centenary final of the Scottish Cup gave Hay his first trophy.

He added the League Championship to his tally the following season, after one of the most dramatic finishes in the history of the competition. On the last day of the season Celtic had to win by five goals against Saint Mirren, while league leaders Hearts would have to lose to Dundee. Hearts topped the league before Christmas and remained there for the rest of the season, but astonishingly, they lost that last game 2-0, while Celtic cruised to a 5-0 win, stealing the title.

Hay wanted to strengthen the squad at the start of the next season, but no money was made available, a humbling contrast to the big money signings being made across the city as Graham Souness revitalised Rangers. Celtic's season was a disappointment, losing the League Cup final to Rangers and throwing away a 10 point lead in the league to the same side.

To make matters worse, players were unhappy. Mo Johnston put in a transfer request in the second half of the season, while Brian McClair and Murdo MacLeod were also unsettled. By the start of the next season McClair and Johnston had both left, as had Alan McInally, while Davie Provan had retired.

Hay himself also left the club, sacked by the board, who had asked Billy McNeill to return.