Many different ways to win nine-in-a-row
Whichever way you look at it, the manner of Celtic being confirmed SPFL Premiership champions this season was different.
Picking up the title during a global pandemic, 72 days after they last kicked a ball and following a vote amongst the Premiership clubs to award them the crown, is not the way Neil Lennon or his players wanted it.
They’d have far sooner won it on the pitch, in front of their fans and with the opportunity to extend their lead over Rangers at the top of the table.
So cyberspace can be added to the list of venues where the Hoops have secured titles on their way to twice winning nine-in-a-row.
Remarkably, only four of those 18 titles were clinched at Celtic Park – all of them in the modern era.
When Jock Stein’s side swept all before them between 1966 and 1974, not once did they secure the flag in their own back garden.
The closest they came was in 1971, but their success came at Hampden, three miles from their spiritual home.
Celtic Park was out of commission due to the Main Stand being renovated, so the match with Ayr United was switched to the national stadium.
The original match was postponed due to a flooded pitch – it was the end of April, after all – and on a Thursday night, goals from Bobby Lennox and Willie Wallace made it six-in-a-row.
With the title in the bag, Stein decided to field the Lisbon Lions together for the last time, two days later in the final league game of the season against Clyde. Ronnie Simpson was injured, but ran out with his team-mates to take the acclaim, before being replaced by Evan Williams in time for kick-off. Celtic won 6-1.
The Hoops had previously been declared champions at Fir Park in 1966, followed by Ibrox, East End Park, Rugby Park and Tynecastle.
Titles seven and eight were secured at Bayview and Easter Road before the chance to make it nine-in-a-row presented itself at Brockville on April 27, 1974.
After going behind in only the third minute, a goal from Kenny Dalglish was enough to earn the 1-1 draw against Falkirk needed to see the League Championship trophy staying where it was for another year.
The result also confirmed relegation for the Bairns.