Saint Mungo Cup

The Saint Mungo Cup was a one-off football tournament held in Glasgow to celebrate the 1951 Festival of Britain. The competition was contested by all sixteen Scottish first division teams. Celtic F.C defeated Aberdeen F.C. 3-2 in the final in front of a crowd of 81,000 at Hampden Park.

Aberdeen went two goals ahead with goals from Henry Yorkston in 14 minutes and Tommy Bogan after 35 minutes. Charlie Tully changed the game in Celtic's favour setting up two Sean Fallon goals in the second half and then scored the winner himself. On their road to the final Celtic had beaten Heart of Midlothian F.C. 2-1, Clyde F.C. 4-2 in a replay days after a 4-4 draw in the quarter finals and Raith Rovers F.C. 3-1 in the semi-finals.

The Corporation of Glasgow who had organised the tournament and provided the cup named after Glasgow's patron saint as their donation to the Festival of Britain were left red faced when the triumphant players and manager Jimmy McGrory discovered, on closer examination, that the cup was decorated with ornate life belts and mermaids. It was revealed that the trophy was not in fact new but third hand. The cup had been made in 1894 as a yachting trophy. In 1912 it had been altered for a football competition between Provan Gasworks and a City of Glasgow Police team.

Celtic at first demanded a new trophy, but today the St. Mungo Cup proudly takes its place in the Parkhead trophy room.