1985–86 Celtic F.C. season: Difference between revisions

 

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The [[1985–86 in Scottish football|1985–86 Scottish football season]] was to be [[David Hay|Davie Hay’s]] 3rd season in charge after winning his first trophy, the [[Scottish Cup]] the previous season, Celtic were looking to compete for the [[Scottish Premier Division]] league title<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Alan |date=23 July 1985 |title=Hay’s top priority |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A9JAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1KYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3532%2C4002452 |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=32}}</ref> that [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]] had won the two previous seasons under Manager [[Alex Ferguson]].

The [[1985–86 in Scottish football|1985–86 Scottish football season]] was to be [[David Hay|Davie Hay’s]] 3rd season in charge after winning his first trophy, the [[Scottish Cup]] the previous season, Celtic were looking to compete for the [[Scottish Premier Division]] league title<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Alan |date=23 July 1985 |title=Hay’s top priority |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A9JAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1KYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3532%2C4002452 |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=32}}</ref> that [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]] had won the two previous seasons under Manager [[Alex Ferguson]].

The club would begin the season with a new Chairman, Thomas Devlin who had been a director since 1949 took over the job from [[Desmond White (footballer)|Desmond White]] who died suddenly while on holiday in Greece during the summer. Desmond White a important figure in the clubs history, had been Chairman since 1971, when he took over from [[Robert Kelly (football chairman)|Sir Robert Kelly]], he had been a director since 1947 when he succeeded his father Thomas White on the board of directors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Alan |date=22 June 1985 |title=Celtic dynasty may go on |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TdJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2KYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3680%2C4698217 |url-status=live |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=24}}</ref>

The club would begin the season with a new Chairman, Thomas Devlin who had been a director since 1949 took over the job from [[Desmond White (footballer)|Desmond White]] who died suddenly while on holiday in Greece during the summer. Desmond White a important figure in the clubs history, had been Chairman since 1971, when he took over from [[Robert Kelly (football chairman)|Sir Robert Kelly]], he had been a director since 1947 when he succeeded his father Thomas White on the board of directors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Alan |date=22 June 1985 |title=Celtic dynasty may go on |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TdJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2KYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3680%2C4698217 |url-status=live |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=24}}</ref>

Celtic were linked with several players during the summer, especially strikers to replace cup winning hero [[Frank McGarvey]] who was surprisingly sold to [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] just after scoring the winning goal in the [[1985 Scottish Cup final|1985 Scottish Cup Final]]. Full backs [[Graeme Sinclair]] and [[Mark Reid]] had already departed in May. The club was linked with various players during the pre-season, speculation included players such as [[Pat Nevin]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Chick |date=2 July 1985 |title=Celtic and me |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8dFAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1KYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5424%2C309130 |url-status=live |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=28}}</ref> and [[Frank Gray]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Chick |date=13 July 1985 |title=Celts could bid |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-9FAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1KYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2373%2C2426539 |url-status=live |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=24}}</ref> It would take until November for Celtic to make a signing when they brought in ex Aberdeen hero [[Mark McGhee]] from German Bundesliga team [[Hamburger SV|Hamburg]].

Celtic were linked with several players during the summer, especially strikers to replace cup winning hero [[Frank McGarvey]] who was surprisingly sold to [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] just after scoring the winning goal in the [[1985 Scottish Cup final|1985 Scottish Cup Final]]. Full backs [[Graeme Sinclair]] and [[Mark Reid]] had already departed in May. The club was linked with various players during the pre-season, speculation included players such as [[Pat Nevin]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Chick |date=2 July 1985 |title=Celtic and me |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8dFAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1KYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5424%2C309130 |url-status=live |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=28}}</ref> and [[Frank Gray]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Chick |date=13 July 1985 |title=Celts could bid |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-9FAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1KYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2373%2C2426539 |url-status=live |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=24}}</ref> It would take until November for Celtic to make a signing when they brought in ex Aberdeen hero [[Mark McGhee]] from German Bundesliga team [[Hamburger SV|Hamburg]].

The domestic season began with a draw away to Hearts at Tynecastle, followed by consecutive league victories. Celtic’s League Cup campaign opened with two comfortable wins against lower-league opposition, defeating Queen of the South and Brechin City. August concluded with a strong performance at Celtic Park against Rangers, with the Old Firm encounter ending in a draw after a closely contested match.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dthAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0qYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4209%2C6077230|title=Macs are goal boys|last=Davidson|first=Alan|date=31 August 1985|pages=1|url-status=live|work=[[The Glasgow Times]]}}</ref>

The domestic season began with a draw away to Hearts at Tynecastle, followed by consecutive league victories. Celtic’s League Cup campaign opened with two comfortable wins against lower-league opposition, defeating Queen of the South and Brechin City. August concluded with a strong performance at Celtic Park against Rangers, with the Old Firm encounter ending in a draw after a closely contested match.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dthAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0qYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4209%2C6077230|title=Macs are goal boys|last=Davidson|first=Alan|date=31 August 1985|pages=1|url-status=live|work=[[The Glasgow Times]]}}</ref>

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September began with disappointment in the League Cup. Celtic were eliminated following a dramatic 4–4 draw after extra time away to Hibernian, before losing the subsequent penalty shoot-out. The team responded positively in league competition, recording three wins from three matches to maintain momentum in the early stages of the season. Celtic’s European campaign in the European Cup Winners’ Cup also began during the month, with a challenging first-round draw against Atlético Madrid. Celtic achieved a creditable 1–1 draw in the first leg away in Madrid. September 1985 was also marked by tragedy with the death of former Celtic and Scotland manager Jock Stein. Stein collapsed and died while attending Scotland’s World Cup qualifying match, in which the national team secured the point required to reach the play-offs for the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

September began with disappointment in the League Cup. Celtic were eliminated following a dramatic 4–4 draw after extra time away to Hibernian, before losing the subsequent penalty shoot-out. The team responded positively in league competition, recording three wins from three matches to maintain momentum in the early stages of the season. Celtic’s European campaign in the European Cup Winners’ Cup also began during the month, with a challenging first-round draw against Atlético Madrid. Celtic achieved a creditable 1–1 draw in the first leg away in Madrid. September 1985 was also marked by tragedy with the death of former Celtic and Scotland manager Jock Stein. Stein collapsed and died while attending Scotland’s World Cup qualifying match, in which the national team secured the point required to reach the play-offs for the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

Celtic’s European campaign came to an end in October following a poor second-leg performance against Atlético Madrid, played behind closed doors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Alan |date=3 October 1985 |title=Celtic’s horror repeat |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sNdAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tKYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6093%2C719558 |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=39}}</ref> The sanction had been imposed by UEFA as a result of crowd disturbances during the previous season’s fixture against Rapid Wien in the UEFA Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDevitt |first=James |date=8 December 2025 |title=Celtic’s Mid-Eighties Watershed – Celtic v Atletico Madrid, 1985 |url=https://thecelticstar.com/celtics-mid-eighties-watershed-celtic-v-atletico-madrid-1985/ |website=The Celtic Star}}</ref> Domestically, Celtic began the month at the top of the league table<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Chick |date=4 October 1985 |title=Paradise again |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sddAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tKYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3792%2C1069182 |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=29}}</ref> but experienced inconsistent form. Victories over St Mirren and Clydebank were offset by home defeats to Hearts and Dundee United<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Chick |date=26 October 1985 |title=Celts hit the skids |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w9dAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tKYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3544%2C6359561 |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=1}}</ref>. These results caused Celtic to relinquish first place, and they finished the month second in the table behind Aberdeen on goal difference.

October saw a mixed bag of results in the league with two wins and two defeats

November saw Celtic continue their fragile league form with two important defeats against league leaders Aberdeen at Pittodrie<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Chick |date=2 November 1985 |title=Frank the destroyer |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zOJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xaYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2880%2C499824 |work=[[The Glasgow Times]] |pages=1}}</ref>, and a home defeat against Old Firm rivals Rangers both games

== Pre-season and friendlies ==

== Pre-season and friendlies ==

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|team1 = Celtic

|team1 = Celtic

|score = 2–0

|score = 2–0

|report =https://www.thecelticwiki.com/1985-10-05-celtic-2-0-st-mirren-premier-division/

|report =https://..com/

|team2 = [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]]

|team2 = [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]]

|goals1 =[[Brian McClair|McClair]] {{goal|25}}, [[Paul McGugan|McGugan]] {{goal|39}}

|goals1 =[[Brian McClair|McClair]] {{goal|25}}, [[Paul McGugan|McGugan]] {{goal|39}}

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|location = [[Glasgow]]

|location = [[Glasgow]]

|attendance = 25,651

|attendance = 25,651

|referee =

|referee =

|result = W

|result = W

}}

}}

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|location = [[Glasgow]]

|location = [[Glasgow]]

|attendance = 26,683

|attendance = 26,683

|referee =

|referee =

|result = L

|result = L

}}

}}

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|team1 = [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]

|team1 = [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]

|score = 4–1

|score = 4–1

|report =https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zOJAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xaYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6068%2C646573

|report =

|team2 = Celtic

|team2 = Celtic

|goals1 =

|goals1 =

|goals2 =[[Frank McDougall| McDougall]] {{goal|27}} {{goal|48}} {{goal|55}} {{goal|64}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = [[Pittodrie Stadium]]

|stadium = [[Pittodrie Stadium]]

|location = [[Aberdeen]]

|location = [[Aberdeen]]

|attendance = 22,097

|attendance = 22,097

|referee =

|referee =

|result = L

|result = L

}}

}}

Celtic 1985–86 football season

The 1985–86 Scottish football season was to be Davie Hay’s 3rd season in charge after winning his first trophy, the Scottish Cup the previous season, Celtic were looking to compete for the Scottish Premier Division league title^[2] that Aberdeen had won the two previous seasons under Manager Alex Ferguson.

The club would begin the season with a new Chairman, Thomas Devlin^[3] who had been a director since 1949 took over the job from Desmond White who died suddenly while on holiday in Greece during the summer.^[4] Desmond White a important figure in the clubs history, had been Chairman since 1971, when he took over from Sir Robert Kelly, he had been a director since 1947 when he succeeded his father Thomas White on the board of directors.^[5]

Celtic were linked with several players during the summer, especially strikers to replace cup winning hero Frank McGarvey who was surprisingly sold to St Mirren just after scoring the winning goal in the 1985 Scottish Cup Final.^[6] Full backs Graeme Sinclair and Mark Reid had already departed in May. The club was linked with various players during the pre-season, speculation included players such as Pat Nevin^[7] and Frank Gray.^[8] It would take until November for Celtic to make a signing when they brought in ex Aberdeen hero Mark McGhee from German Bundesliga team Hamburg.

The domestic season began with a draw away to Hearts at Tynecastle, followed by consecutive league victories. Celtic’s League Cup campaign opened with two comfortable wins against lower-league opposition, defeating Queen of the South and Brechin City. August concluded with a strong performance at Celtic Park against Rangers, with the Old Firm encounter ending in a draw after a closely contested match.^[9]

September began with disappointment in the League Cup. Celtic were eliminated following a dramatic 4–4 draw after extra time away to Hibernian, before losing the subsequent penalty shoot-out. The team responded positively in league competition, recording three wins from three matches to maintain momentum in the early stages of the season. Celtic’s European campaign in the European Cup Winners’ Cup also began during the month, with a challenging first-round draw against Atlético Madrid. Celtic achieved a creditable 1–1 draw in the first leg away in Madrid. September 1985 was also marked by tragedy with the death of former Celtic and Scotland manager Jock Stein. Stein collapsed and died while attending Scotland’s World Cup qualifying match, in which the national team secured the point required to reach the play-offs for the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico.

Celtic’s European campaign came to an end in October following a poor second-leg performance against Atlético Madrid, played behind closed doors.^[10] The sanction had been imposed by UEFA as a result of crowd disturbances during the previous season’s fixture against Rapid Wien in the UEFA Cup.^[11] Domestically, Celtic began the month at the top of the league table^[12] but experienced inconsistent form. Victories over St Mirren and Clydebank were offset by home defeats to Hearts and Dundee United^[13]. These results caused Celtic to relinquish first place, and they finished the month second in the table behind Aberdeen on goal difference.

November saw Celtic continue their fragile league form with two important defeats against league leaders Aberdeen at Pittodrie^[14], and a home defeat against Old Firm rivals Rangers both games

Celtic prepared for the 1985–86 season with a summer tour Sweden during late July and early August, playing 4 games during a weeks trip.

^[15][16]

Board of Directors^[17]

Position	Name
Chairman	Thomas L. Devlin
Vice-Chairman	John C. McGinn
Secretary	Christopher D. White
Directors	James M. Farrell Thomas J. Grant Kevin Kelly Christopher D. White