When over 100,000 fans went to Hampden to see a Peacock and Haddock

YOU could study this picture for ages, there is so much to take in.

It is the Celtic v Clyde Scottish Cup final at Hampden in April 1955. Note the bus conductor still in uniform who must have come straight from doing his shift. Look at the schoolboys still wearing their school caps on a Saturday.

Spot the women, sorry woman, as clearly football spectating was still very much a male preserve in the mid-fifties. She seems cheery enough though.

See how many are wearing ties all neatly done up. And look how low down they are in this terracing – I can’t imagine how poor the view must have been from there.

And the scarves are free from any writing printed on them, which is now the style. There are still a few rosettes being worn, which is again not so common. Looks a great day out though.

As for the result, it was a 1-1 draw, with The Herald’s football correspondent blaming the gusting wind for the poor football on display.

There was a crowd of 102,000 that day, with more than 68,000 turning up for the replay on Wednesday, which Clyde won 1-0.

Incidentally, the referee’s surname was Faultless – surely the best name ever for that job.

The Celtic team included the great Jock Stein, Bertie Peacock, Charlie Tully and Bobby Collins. Clyde’s star was Harry Haddock.

What also vexed The Herald reporter, apart from the poor play, was the waving of so many Irish tricolours during the playing of the National Anthem. He fulminated the final was “tarnished by the minority who continue to flaunt the flag of Eire as they did at Hampden.

“It is additionally distressing to know some of those who behaved despicably are visitors from Belfast whose regular appearance at Celtic’s important games should be summarily stopped.”

Strong stuff for the sports pages.

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