1956-12-01: Celtic 1-1 Heart of Midlothian, League Division 1

Match Pictures | Matches: 19561957 | 1956-57 pictures

Trivia

  • An 'slight sprain' to Tully saw him drop out and with John Hiiggins recovered from his knee knock, he came in on the right wing.
  • In goal for Hearts was 17 year old Gordon Marshall (senior) who would go on to be signed by Celtic in 1971.
  • Disciplinary matters dealt with through the SFA Referees Committee (which was not composed of referees) were not to be taken lightly. Albert Murphy the Clyde right back, who was sent off in the Glasgow Cup Final found himself suspended for two months. The opponents were Rangers.
  • The draw for the fifth round of the Scottish Cup was made. Celtic were drawn away to Forres Mechanics, the game to be played on 2nd February.
  • Rangers lost their replayed European Cup tie with Nice in Paris by 3-1.
  • In world affairs, the Olympics were under way in Sydney, Australia. Britain attempted to find a rapprochement with the USA over the Suez crisis. The UK had so far not removed it's troops from the Egypt and a United Nations joint force patrolled the peacekeeping in the canal zone. British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden had been forced to take sick leave and was on leave in Jamaica. The governemet was being run by Rab Butler and negotiations undertaken by Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd. The crisis had provoked a fuel supply problem not just ion britain but throughout Europe and petrol rationing was expected. One result of this in Glasgow was the return to the streets of the trams.

Review

A leisurely and untroubled game with both sides appearing to take it easy. Hearts played some good football but Celtic were more alert in front of goal. The play was not helped by a greasy top surface on the pitch which helped the number of blunders and poor passing seen. Both sides played well defensively. Celtic scored first when Fernie made it to the goal line and swung a cross over which McPhail headed home. The Hearts equaliser came again from a header from a quickly taken free kick after a Fallon infringement.

Teams

Celtic:
Beattie; Haughney, Fallon; Evans, Jack, Peacock; Higgins, Ryan, McPhail, Fernie, Mochan.
Scorers: McPhail (63)

Hearts:
Marshall; Kirk, McKenzie; MacKay, Milne, Cumming; Hamilton, Young, Baukld, Wardhaugh, Crawford.
Scorers: Wardhaugh (75)

Referee: W Davidson (Kirkcaldy)
Attendance: 32,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

Evening Times 1/12/56
Celtic v Hearts; League 1956; Evening Times 1/12/56