1957-09-16: Celtic 5-2 Hapoel, Friendly

Match Pictures | Matches: 19571958 | 1957-58 Pictures

Trivia

  • This game was originally planned for the 17th September but was brought forward one day at Celtic's request as the internationalist would have been away on duty.
  • Celtic had played Hapoel on the American tour before the start of the season defeating them 2-1 in New York. Hapoel were now on a European tiour playing matches in France and Belgium. Following this game they moved on to London for a floodlit game against Arsenal.
  • Hapoel used Third Lanark's Cathkin Park to train and limber up before the game.
  • Celtic played virtually the same team that had played the second leg of the League Cup quarter final against Third Lanark and took the game very seriously. The only change was Jim Sharkey repacing Bertie Auld with Tully moving to the left and Sharkey coming in at outside right.
  • Outside of football, a 'flu epidemic was starting to sweep the British Isles and it's effects were being felt with shortages of staff reporrted from many plsaces as people took time off from their work on sick leave. In some Glasgow Primary schools there were up to 30 of a class of 37 away sick. The Navy on NATO exercise in the North Sea had to withdraw two destroyers when their effective crew was reduced by 'flu.

  • Celtic Hapoel ticket 1957

Review

The Hapoel goalkeeper was described pre-match as terrific by McGrory.
Hapopel's game was somewhat dampened down by the Glasgow rain to which they did not appear to take. Celtic were repeatedly foiled by Chodorov in goal. Despite his work Celtic went in 4-0 up at the interval thanks to a hatrick from Billy McPhail and a Willie Fernie penalty. The second half was much more lively with Hapoel scoring twice, more through the loose play of Celtic than a better attitude from Hapoel, before Bobby Collins got Celtic's fifth goal. In all Hapoel made 4 substitutions – 2 at the start of the second half and two others during the second half which completely confused referee Jack Mowat.

Teams

Celtic:
Beattie; Donnelly, Fallon; Fernie, Evans, Peacock; Sharkey, Collins, McPhail, Wilson, Tully.
Scorers: McPhail 3 (7, ?, ? ), Fernie pen (38), Collins (69)

Hapoel:
Chodorov; Levcovitc, Fieman; Bluth, Mordkovitz, Tich, Menacham, Mentzel, K Glazer, Rosenbaum, Y Glazer.
Scorers: Bluth (pen, 57), Rosenbaum(61).

Referee: J A Mowat (Burnside)
Attendance: 20,000

Articles

  • Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Articles

Celtic v Hapoel, Friendly, 1957