Leeds United v Celtic – 1970 European Cup semi-final – Getting Tickets
Leeds United v Celtic – 1970 European Cup semi-final – Getting Tickets DidsburyCelt looks back on the European Cup semi-final, first leg, Leeds Utd v Celtic on this Day on 1970. Here’s his story on how he managed to get four ‘gold dust’ tickets… England’s finest were drawn against Celtic in the semi-final of the European Cup in 1970 and over 13,000 Hoops supporters travelled to Leeds from all corners of the British Isles to support the Bhoys. The English media had written Celtic off before the game had even kicked off but they were in for a shock.
We had been drawn against Leeds United in the European Cup. How to obtain tickets? Hampden (the match was being moved to accommodate what was expected to be a massive crowd) should be no problem.
The first leg at Elland Road might be more difficult. Tickets went on sale for both legs on the same day, Palm Sunday. In my naivety I was on an early train to Leeds expecting to just walk up and purchase what I wanted.
Unbeknown to me several English clubs including Leeds had a voucher type system whereby the fans queued and displayed their vouchers or programmes from previous matches to demonstrate their entitlement. Leeds had a variation of that. Having discovered the situation I was standing about 200 yards from the stadium wondering what to do when I was approached by three or four Leeds fans asking if I wanted tickets and explaining their individual entitlements.
It transpired that they were able to buy several tickets each and were willing to let me have their four spares at face value if I would trust them with my money. I jumped at the chance and handed over the cash. With assurances that they would not let me down we shook hands and they went off turning round two or three times to give me the thumbs up as they approached the end of the queue.