The five remaining teams still involved in this season’s League Cup are all playing for the honour of reaching the 80th League Cup Final when it takes place this December.
Since its inception, it’s a competition that has provided memorable moments for Celtic, as well as some events best forgotten. This is the story of Celtic and the League Cup….
Celtic and the League Cup
The origin of the League Cup goes back to the Second World War. Before this, there were only two major annual tournaments in Scotland: the League and Scottish Cup. However, during the 1939-1945 conflict, national football competitions were suspended in favour of regional contests, including the Southern League. Connected to this, a Southern League Cup was also held.
When the fighting ended, Scottish football eventually went back to national tournaments. However, it was decided that the Southern League Cup should continue as a Scotland-wide event. The first national competition happened in 1946-47, with Rangers eventually winning it.
This victory was the first to include the new League Cup trophy, which is still the prize that teams are given today. The Southern League Cup trophy had only been borrowed from the Scottish FA and was given back after the war ended to be used for another competition.
In the opening years of the League Cup, Celtic had very little luck. In the first ten seasons, Celtic failed to make the final. In fact, at this stage the League Cup featured group stages at the beginning, and most of the time the Bhoys failed to even get out of their group.
This all changed in season 1956-57. This year would see the Celts make it to the final, and in fact do even better than this.
After topping a group that included Rangers, Aberdeen and East Fife, the Bhoys were through to the two-legged quarter-finals. Despite losing 3-0 away to Dunfermline, it mattered not owing to a 6-0 home victory. The semi-final took place at Hampden and the Celts overcame Clyde to reach their first final.