The Grand Opening
Since the club’s reformation in the mid-1960s, Cumbernauld United have had two homes, Ravenswood and current ground Guy’s Meadow. The opening of both stadiums drew two of the biggest names in football and in turn, gave the club two of its most famous moments.
The games against Celtic and Manchester United held many talking points, including the range of famous names who took to the park that day, and those who would go on to become stars in later years.
As the 50th year of the club draws to a close, we take a look back at the games against United’s most famous guests.
Cumbernauld vs Celtic
Cumbernauld United v Celtic – May 1968
Following the club’s return to Junior football in 1967, the next big step for United was the opening of their ground at Ravenswood. The committee began to look for a big name team to come to Cumbernauld to officially open the ground with a challenge match.
When it came to famous names, the biggest of the lot at that time was Celtic, who had just brought the European Cup back to Glasgow after their historic win over Inter Milan. So when the committee approached the Parkhead club to ask them if they would be involved, most expected a second or even third string team to be sent along. Jock Stein had other ideas.
On 13th May 1968, Celtic did bring a second string to Ravenswood. They were joined however, by the Lisbon Lions themselves, including the likes of Gemmell, Wallace and Lennox.
A crowd of over 4500 people turned up to see Jock Stein, Cumbernauld Match Secretary Bob Wood and District Council Chairman Gordon Murray officially declare Ravenswood open, cutting the ceremonial ribbon.
The first entertainment of the day was a 15 minute each way challenge match, which Jock Stein kicked off. Writing his way into the record books with the first ever goal at Ravenswood was Bobby Lennox, while Willie Wallace grabbed a second as Celtic ran out 2-0 winners.
The second game was between Cumbernauld and a Celtic Starlets team. A double from Lou Macari and goals from Connolly and Quinn saw the Celtic Starlets team win 4-1, United’s reply coming from Rae.
Amongst the players to play for Cumbernauld on that famous day was a certain Kenny Dalglish. His talent was already beginning to shine through, but bigger times were most definitely ahead for the young man who had been loaned out to United to toughen him up.
Jock Stein praised the ambition of Cumbernauld in the match programme: “The emphasis on football today is sadly more often on clubs closing than a new team starting up. That is why it gives us all at Celtic Park – and I am sure the rest of Scottish football – very real pleasure when a new ground opens. We have taken an interest in Cumbernauld United since it started, already one of your youngsters, Kenny Dalglish, is on our books . . . I am sure he will be the first of many. It is good to see that a new town such as Cumbernauld puts football forward as one of its priorities.”
Match Secretary Bob Wood recalled “Bringing Celtic to Cumbernauld is unique in the history of Scottish Junior football. No team has ever been so ambitious, and I doubt if another match like this will ever be seen again.”
Cumbernauld Squad: Robertson, Wilson, Stewart, McDonald, Stevenson, Pethard, McEwan, Bain, McKenna, Dalglish, Donald, Mackie, Plank, Devine, Rae, Paterson, Russell, Smith, McKnight, Currie.
Celtic Squad: Simpson, Gemmell, O’Neil, Murdoch, McNeil, Brogan, Johnstone, Gallagher, Wallace, Lennox, Hughes, Raith, Murray, Gorman, Cattenach, McKellar, Hogg, Connolly, Quinn, Macari, Clark.
Cumbernauld United v Manchester United – April 1974
During season 1972/73, Cumbernauld United were facing the prospect of having to move ground again. Poor drainage at Ravenswood and the imminent expiration of the lease meant that they had to find a new home.
The local Council offered them a site at Guy’s Meadow, where there already existed a playing surface, pavilion, terracing and a covered enclosure. The Council offered to ensure that the ground met any additional SJFA requirements, such as the erection of barriers and a car park. Dryboroughs Brewery came forward to help fund the building of a Social Club next to the ground.
The move to the new ground at Guy’s Meadow saw the club return to its roots, the original Cumbernauld United having played in the public park there following a spell at Kildrum in the early 1900s.
With their new home now settled, the Committee began the search for a big name team to open it, just as they had done in 1968. In February 1974, the search was complete.
Manchester United arrived in Cumbernauld on 29th April 1974, as a crowd of over 4000 turned up to see the Old Trafford side take on United.
The team sheets that day included the likes of Jimmy Nicholl, George Buchan (brother of Martin), Brian Kidd and Trevor Anderson.
It was Manchester United who took the lead when Anderson scored after only four minutes. His goal was followed by one for Kelly in the 15th minute, as the Reds took control, going in 2-0 at the break.
Kelly pulled one back for Cumbernauld in the second half, but McKelvey scored a third for Manchester United to complete the scoring, as the Old Trafford side ran out 3-0 winners.
Cumbernauld Squad: J McCluskey, Fawcett, Scott, Duncan, Johnston, Stewart, Mulholland, Sloan, Walker, Malone, McIntyre, Simpson, Christie, Smith, G McCluskey, Murphy, Graham.
Manchester United Squad: Roche, McKeown, Sidebottom, Nicholl, Griffiths, Kelly, Buchan, Fitzpatrick, Kidd, Anderson, Fellows, Wardrop, McKelvey.