The Football Years

1973-74… The end of an era

By 1973 the optimism of the 1960’s had evaporated and the country lurched from political upheaval to economic crisis via industrial strife while the IRA waged a sustained and bloody bombing campaign in London and Birmingham.

• It was also the time that Celtic won the last of their 9-in-row Scottish Championships and came within a whisker of a domestic treble.
• They also reach the reach the semi-final of the European Cup only to lose amid disgraceful and shameful scenes to Atletico Madrid.
• But this season was to be the last hurrah of Jock Stein’s all conquering Celtic side. The team that had won the European Cup back in 1967 had disintegrated and although replaced with young players like Dalglish, McGrain, Connelly and Hay they were unable to maintain that level of success.

See extended exclusive interviews with the likes of Billy McNeill, Harry Hood, Denis Connaghan, Dixie Deans, Tommy Gemmell and Jim McLean once the programme has been transmitted on April 1.

• See more of the Year in Question.