This weekend’s Scottish Cup match will mark the sixth occasion that Celtic have faced Dunfermline in a national cup final…
So far, Celtic’s record reads four won and one lost. Hopefully by 5pm on Saturday that will be a five-to-one ratio.
The first time that two clubs met a national final was a negative one for the Bhoys; it featured one very famous face in the opposition dugout.
Jock Stein’s first trophy as a manager
In 1961, Celtic reached the Scottish Cup Final for the first time since 1956. Their opponents were Dunfermline, who were contesting their first such final. They were led by an up-and-coming young manager called Jock Stein.
In the end, it took two matches before the result was settled. The first match – played on 22 April 1961 – ended 0-0, despite the Fife men finishing with ten men owing to injury.
Four days later, the two teams returned to Hampden. This time it was an emphatic result as Dunfermline’s two second half goals gave them the cup, and Jock Stein his first senior trophy as manager. It would not be the last.
Four years later, the footballing gods again brought together Celtic and Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup Final. But this time there was one significant change: Jock Stein was again a manager, but this time sat in the Celtic dugout.
The Celtic Rising
Stein had arrived at Celtic just weeks beforehand and now had the chance to win Celtic’s first major trophy since 1957. It proved to be a hugely exciting game, featuring one particularly iconic moment.
At first, it looked like it would be another wonderful day for the Pars. They took the lead on 15 minutes, but Bertie Auld made the scoreline again neutral. It looked this would be the case at half-time – until the black-and-white stripes edged in front just before the break.
,Billy McNeill rose above all others
Celtic had 45 minutes to save their cup final hopes. Within seven minutes of the restart, Auld got his second of the day to again level things. Now came the hunt for a winner. Both sides threatened but with nine minutes remaining, Billy McNeill rose above all others to head home.
The sight of Billy McNeill doing this become a famous Celtic image. In many ways, it was symbolic of the Stein years – Cesar standing out and leading his team to glory. Jock Stein had his first Celtic prize and would soon celebrate even more.
A Four Decade Wait
It was almost four decades until Celtic and Dunfermline again met in a national final. On that occasion – just like this weekend – Martin O’Neill was the Celtic manager.
By May 2004, the Bhoys had bounced back from the disappointment of the previous season when they had reached the UEFA Cup Final but failed to win anything.
Celtic were again the League champions. In fact, Dunfermline had been the visitors to Celtic Park when the Bhoys were handed in the League trophy. Would they witness another Celtic presentation ceremony?
A Celtic Goodbye for the King of Kings
On 22 May 2004, the two teams walked out at Hampden for the Scottish Cup Final. It was an especially poignant day for Henrik Larsson who was playing his last ever competitive game for Celtic.
Once again, it was the Fife men who took the lead. After 40 minutes, they edged in front, leaving their fans dreaming of another day like 1961. This remained the case at half-time.
However, there was simply no way that Larsson would allow himself to lose his final Celtic game. In the second period, he set out changing things.
Another victory for the Celts!
First in the 58th minute and then again in the 71st minute, the Swede’s name was added to the scoresheet, turning around the match. A later strike from Stilian Petrov ensured there would be no fightback from the East End Park side, and it ended 3-1. Another victory for the Celts!
Almost two years after this, Celtic and Dunfermline again came face to face in a national final, but this time it was in the League Cup.
The Jimmy Johnstone Final
On 19 March 2006 – this time with Gordon Strachan as Celtic manager – it was another Hampden excursion for fans wearing green-and-white and black-and-white. This was a poignant day nicknamed the ‘Jimmy Johnstone Final’ following the death of the legendary Celt.
For the first ever time between the sides in a final, it was not Dunfermline who took the lead. It looked like being goalless at half-time until Maciej Zurawski scored just before the interval. Later goals from Shaun Maloney and Dion Dublin ensured a comfortable 3-0 win for the Bhoys.
Before this weekend, the most recent time that Celtic and Dunfermline have played a Scottish Cup Final came in 2007. It was an incredibly tight and hard-fought match, something that Celtic would do well to remember ahead of Saturday.
Jean-Joël Perrier-Doumbé – An unlikely Celtic hero
85 minutes had elapsed without any goals. It was approaching that time when anyone who scored would surely claim victory. This was a positive thought for Dunfermline who had taken the lead against Celtic in the side’s three previous Scottish Cup Finals.
Instead, an unlikely hero stepped forward for the Celts. Jean-Joël Perrier-Doumbé was a French-born full-back for Cameroon and not known for his scoring prowess. But with five minutes remaining, he knocked home what proved to be the decisive goal.
Steven Pressley’s unique record
This 2007 final also sealed a surprising record for one Celtic player. Steven Pressley claimed another winning Scottish Cup medal – but for his third team, having previously also received such a prize as a Rangers and Hearts player.
When Celtic play Dunfermline in cup finals, the quirks of footballing fate are often evident. Jock Stein beat the Celts in 1961 and then reversed this in 1965. Such a strange moment will be true on Saturday too.
In 2007 – the two sides’ last final – the Celtic captain was Neil Lennon, a man who has beaten Dunfermline in three cup finals. This Saturday, Lennon will be at Hampden but in the Fife dugout, hoping to change the usual record when the sides meet.
Celtic have had a strange season
Celtic have had a strange season. For a long time, it looked like there would no silverware to celebrate but now an unlikely double is just 90 minutes away. The Celts traditionally go behind when playing Dunfermline in these games, so need to keep their nerve if that happens.
C’mon you Bhoys in green!
Matthew Marr
Follow Matthew on x @hailhailhistory
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