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Daily Express Five-a-Side Challenge Cup

Celtic Tournaments - Daily Express Five-a-Side Challenge Cup

Wembley is a name synomonous with English football history and it was in the north London suburb that Celtic became the only Scottish club to win the Daily Express Five-a-side Challenge Cup.

However it was under the roof of the Wembley Arena rather than in the shadows of the now demolished Twin Towers that the Hoops made this tiny piece of football history back in the winter of 1981.

On November 28th a relatively young and inexperienced Parkhead squad – managed by youth team coach Jim Lumsden - took part in this once popular annual competition. The Bhoys squad was made up of Peter Latchford, Willie McStay, Charlie Nicholas, Danny Crainie, Willie Garner and John Weir.

Unlike most of their rivals for the trophy the Hoops squad was short on first team experience and only the up and coming Nicholas was at that stage a regular first team member, although keeper Latchford had plenty of big team experience. On their march to the final Celtic defeated Watford 3-0 and then a Manchester United side featuring Lou Macari plus big money buys Ray Wilkins and Bryan Robson were brushed aside in a 2-0 victory.

A talented Ipswich side could not find a way of stopping the youthful Hoops who sealed their place in the final with a 3-1 win. A vastly experienced Southampton waited in the final and the south coast club were able to call upon veteran World Cup winner Alan Ball and twice European Player of the Year, Kevin Keegan.

So far though the talent that had really shone out during the tournament – which would be aired throughout the UK on the BBC’s midweek ‘Sportsnight’ show - belonged to that of the young Nicholas whose confidence and ability made everyone sit up and take notice of a very real talent. It was only right then that the Bhoys’ striker should score the only goal of the final – his fourth of the tournament – to claim the trophy for the Celts.

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