Celtic in the Eighties – Celtic v Ajax, European Cup, September 1982 | OneFootball

EARLY EIGHTIES CLASSICS – CELTIC v AJAX…

Celtic retained the 1981/82 League title on the last day of the season with a 3-0 home win over St Mirren. In truth, the championship should have been wrapped up much earlier. In the first few months of the season, the team had struck a rich vein of form in the league and looked to have effectively won the title after defeating Aberdeen 3-1 at Pittodrie at the end of January 1982.

However, Celtic then started to drop points at an alarming rate, due in some part to the loss of several key players in the final months of the season. McGrain, Burns, Sullivan, Nicholas and McGarvey were all out at various times.

Johnny Doyle, Celtic FC. Photo The Celtic Wiki

That season also saw the tragic death of Johnny Doyle on 19 October 1981. He was accidentally electrocuted while rewiring the loft of his new home. Signed from Ayr United in March 1976 for a then club record of £90 000, Doyle was noted more for his pace and commitment than for his skill. Like Tommy Burns, Johnny Doyle was “a supporter who got lucky”. Sometimes his passion for Celtic boiled over, most notably when he was sent off in the 4-2 game against Rangers in 1979.

Johnny Doyle scores against Real Madrid in the European Cup quarter final at Celtic Park on 5 March 1980. Photo The Celtic Wiki.

His finest moment came when he scored the second goal against Real Madrid in the European Cup in 1980. In the same season, when Celtic had again been reduced to 10 men, he dribbled over 50 yards and scored a remarkable goal which clinched victory over St Mirren in a Scottish Cup replay at Love Street.

He was no longer a first choice for the team at the time of his death, but he was much loved by the other players and the fans. His passion for Celtic was such that he turned down moves to Motherwell and Hearts, either of which would have given him first-team football.

Celtic 3-0 St Mirren, Scottish Premier League, Celtic Park, 15 May 1982.Celtic captain Danny McGrain collects the championship trophy as Roy Aitken looks on. Photo The Celtic Wiki

When Celtic clinched the title in May 1982, chants of “We’ve won the League for Doyle” resounded around the stadium. That may sound morbid, but in fact it was very moving and reflected the high esteem in which the supporters held Doyle. Thankfully, despite the tragic loss of Doyle, the loss of form in the last three months of the season and the horrendous injury list, the players rallied and qualified for the European Cup for the second year running.

Celtic were drawn at home to Ajax in the First Round. One of the great names of European football, Ajax had won the European Cup three times in succession in 1971, 1972 and 1973. Indeed, in 1971, Ajax comfortably eliminated Celtic 3-1 at the Quarter Final stage.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Since then, like Celtic, their European fortunes had been on the wane. By September 1982, also like Celtic, they had a squad of exciting young players looking to re-establish the club’s glory days in Europe. This exceptional group included the Danish internationals Soren Lerby, Jesper Olsen and Jan Molby, who would all play in the first leg at Celtic Park. Marco van Basten was an unused substitute, whilst Frank Rijkaard was unavailable.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The quality of these players is best shown by what they went on to achieve. Both Rijkaard and van Basten won the European Cup with AC Milan in 1989 and 1990, and the European Championship with the Netherlands in 1988. Rijkaard would later return to Ajax and also win the Champions League in 1995.

Lerby won the European Cup with PSV Eindhoven in 1988, and Molby won three league titles and two FA Cups with Liverpool. Olsen won the FA Cup with Manchester United and took part in the 1984 Euros and the 1986 World Cup with Denmark. This remarkable group of outstandingly talented youngsters would be further bolstered by the presence and influence of the all-time Dutch great, Johan Cruyff.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

By 1982, Cruyff was 35 and now operating as a playmaker operating from a deep position. In his prime, he had been the inspiration behind Ajax’s three European Cup Wins. He was the outstanding player of the 1974 World Cup, when his Netherlands side was the most skillful and entertaining team of the tournament. While he no longer had the speed of the 1970s, he still retained a fantastic football brain, superb individual skill and an uncanny positional sense.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Cruyff was also not averse to using his status to question referees during games thereby putting them under pressure. He was now making his money by dint of “appearance bonuses” averaging £20 000 per match. In addition, his contract earned him 40% of the takings after each home match.

All the ingredients were there for a classic. Two former winners of the European Cup, two young teams looking to make their mark in European competition, and the presence of one of the greatest players of all time. Thankfully, it did not disappoint the 56000 who turned up at Celtic Park.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The first leg on 15 September was simply a breathtaking display of attacking football from both sides. The first half in particular saw some of the fastest, most skillful and most exciting football ever seen in a European Cup tie. From the first whistle, Celtic went straight into attack.

Twice, in the opening minutes, Frank McGarvey found himself on-on-one with the goalkeeper and shot straight at him. Then, after only 4 minutes, Ajax took the lead when Olsen used his lightning pace to leave both Provan and Moyes in his wake before shooting past Bonner.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Celtic responded at once, Provan forcing a magnificent save from his free kick. Then, in 14 minutes, Nicholas equalised from a penalty awarded after Burns had been fouled by Cruyff. Four minutes later, Ajax took the lead again when Lerby finished off a move involving Olsen and Cruyff.

Back came Celtic, with McGarvey equalising (and atoning for his earlier misses) after a long clearance was flicked on to him by Nicholas. This time, through on the goalkeeper, McGarvey calmly slotted the ball home. Incredibly, both teams continued to attack at a frantic and breathless pace, with both Schoenaker and MacLeod both coming close before half time.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

“Probably it was the most exciting 45 minutes played in a European tie at Celtic Park” is how Tom Campbell and Pat Woods described it in their classic book, Rhapsody in Green. Few, if any, who were there that night over 40 years ago would disagree with that description. It is hard to think of any European match since where the first 45 minutes were played with such levels of speed, skill and energy.

It was impossible that the pace could be sustained for another 45 minutes, but the second half still produced several chances for each side. MacLeod and Paul McStay both came close, and Celtic should probably have been awarded another penalty after Burns was tackled crudely in the penalty area.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

The second half took on the more normal appearance of the home side chasing the game against a well-organised and disciplined away team. Cruyff continued as he had done in the first half, orchestrating the movement of his younger teammates whilst also regularly trying to influence the decisions of the referee.

No further goals came, but at the end of the match the Ajax players gathered in the centre circle and took a bow in front of the Celtic fans, who gave them a very sporting and sustained ovation for their part in what had been an incredibly entertaining match.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Almost all observers, fans and media alike, agreed on two things. The first was that they had witnessed an absolute classic. Words like “exciting”, “explosive” and “breathtaking” were used to describe the match.

The second was that Celtic’s European season was effectively over for yet another year: “Celtic will go to the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam in two weeks’ time chasing what appears to be a lost cause”, said Ken Gallacher in the Daily Record. The Daily Express was even more pessimistic, saying Celtic’s chances of a win in Amsterdam belonged in the realm of “fairy-tales and miracles”.

Celtic v Ajax, European Cup first round, first leg. Celtic Park, 15 September 1982. Photo The Celtic Wiki

As we know, a few years later Billy McNeill would say “There’s a fairy-tale about Celtic”. And, as so many Celtic fans are Catholics, they believe that miracles can happen. Whether fairy-tale or miracle, or a combination of both, what was about to unfold in the second leg in Amsterdam was gloriously, wonderfully and beautifully unexpected…

To be continued…

James McDevitt

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