The 1965–66 season was the 93rd season of competitive football in Scotland and the 69th season of Scottish league football.
Overview After the openness of recent years, the Old Firm came back strongly this season. Celtic won their first title under the management of Jock Stein, their first since 1954 and rivals Rangers finished as runners-up. For the only time in Scottish football, the Old Firm teams finished first and second in all three domestic competitions.'Very Heaven' (page 9/15); David Ross, 2007; Lulu.com;
Scottish League Division One
Champions: Celtic Relegated: Greenock Morton, Hamilton Academical
Scottish League Division Two
Promoted: Ayr United, Airdrieonians
Cup honours CompetitionWinnerScoreRunner-upScottish Cup 1965–66Rangers1 – 0 (rep.)CelticLeague Cup 1965–66Celtic2 – 1RangersJunior CupBonnyrigg Rose Athletic6 – 1 (rep.)Whitburn
Individual honours AwardWinnerClub Footballer of the Year John Greig Rangers
Scottish clubs in Europe
Celtic DateVenueOpponentsScoreThe score of the Scottish team is shown first.CompetitionCeltic scorer(s)28 September 1965De Adelaarshorst, Deventer (A) Go Ahead Eagles6–0CWC17 October 1965Celtic Park, Glasgow (H) Go Ahead Eagles1–0CWC13 November 1965Atletion, Aarhus (A) AGF Aarhus1–0CWC217 November 1965Celtic Park, Glasgow (H) AGF Aarhus2–0CWC212 January 1966Celtic Park, Glasgow (H) Dinamo Kiev3–0CWC326 January 1966Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium, Kiev (A) Dinamo Kiev1–1CWC314 April 1966Celtic Park, Glasgow (H) Liverpool1–0CWCSF19 April 1966Anfield, Liverpool (A) Liverpool0–2CWCSF
Dunfermline Athletic DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionDufernline scorer(s)3 November 1965East End Park, Dunfermline (H) KB Copenhagen5–0FC217 November 1965Frederiksberg, Copenhagen (A) KB Copenhagen2–4FC226 January 1966East End Park, Dunfermline (H) FC Zbrojovka Brno2–0FC316 February 1966Městský fotbalový stadion Srbská, Brno (A) FC Zbrojovka Brno0–0FC38 March 1966East End Park, Dunfermline (H) Real Zaragoza1–0FCQF20 March 1966La Romareda, Zaragoza (H) Real Zaragoza2–4FCQF
Heart of Midlothian DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionHearts scorer(s)18 October 1965Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh (H) Valerengen1–0FC127 October 1965Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo (A) Valerengen3–1FC112 January 1966Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh (H) Real Zaragoza3–3FC226 January 1966Estadio Mestalla, Valencia (A) Real Zaragoza2–2FC22 March 1966Estadio Mestalla, Valencia (A) Real Zaragoza0–1FC2
Hibernian DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionHibs scorer(s)8 September 1965Easter Road, Edinburgh (H) Valencia CF2–0FC112 October 1965Estadio Mestalla, Valencia (A) Valencia CF0–2FC13 November 1965Estadio Mestalla, Valencia (A) Valencia CF0–3FC1
Kilmarnock DateVenueOpponentsScoreCompetitionKilmarnock scorer(s)8 September 1965Selman Stërmasi Stadium, Tirana (A) KF Tirana0–0ECPR29 September 1965Rugby Park, Kilmarnock (H) KF Tirana1–0ECPR17 November 1965Rugby Park, Kilmarnock (H) Real Madrid2–2EC11 December 1965Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid (A) Real Madrid1–5 EC1
Other honours
National
CompetitionWinnerScoreRunner-upScottish Qualifying Cup – NorthInverness Caledonian5 – 1 *Elgin CityScottish Qualifying Cup – SouthGala Fairydean8 – 5 *Vale of Leithen
County
CompetitionWinnerScoreRunner-upAberdeenshire CupDeveronvaleAyrshire CupKilmarnock3 – 1 *Ayr UnitedEast of Scotland ShieldHearts4 – 2HibernianFife CupDunfermline Athletic6 – 6 * Raith RoversForfarshire CupDundee2 – 1Brechin CityLanarkshire CupAirdrieRenfrewshire CupMorton3 – 1 * St MirrenStirlingshire CupAlloa AthleticwoStirling Albion – aggregate over two legs – play off – trophy shared
Highland League
Scotland national team
The Scottish national football side failed to qualify for the 1966 FIFA World Cup, which was ultimately won by the host nation England.
DateVenueOpponentsCompetitionScotland scorer(s)2 October 1965Windsor Park, Belfast (A)2–3BHCAlan Gilzean (2)13 October 1965Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)1–2WCQG8Billy McNeill9 November 1965Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)1–0WCQG8John Greig2 October 1965Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)4–1BHCBobby Murdoch (2), Willie Henderson, John Greig7 December 1965Stadio San Paolo, Naples (A)0–3WCQG82 April 1966Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)3–4BHCJimmy Johnstone (2), Denis Law11 May 1966Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)0–3Friendly18 June 1966Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)0–1Friendly25 June 1966Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)1–1FriendlyStevie Chalmers
1966 British Home Championship – Third Place
Key: (H) = Home match (A) = Away match WCQG8 = World Cup qualifying – Group 8 BHC = British Home Championship
Notes and references
External links Scottish Football Historical Archive