THE great Jock Stein created consternation among swathes of the Celtic support when he revealed he didn’t mind losing league games to Rangers.
Before apoplexy set in among certain sections of the team’s followers, the legendary manager swiftly added: “Just so long as we win the title.”
Makes sense, doesn’t it? Who remembers that Celtic’s ancient foes beat them home and away in season 1968/69? The Govan club travelled across the River Clyde on the Saturday afternoon of September 14 1968 and, against all odds, triumphed 4-2.
In the traditional January 2 1969 fixture to usher in a new year, the hosts won 1-0 at Ibrox. Celtic had two goals ruled out for offside in dodgy circumstances at Parkhead and Rangers’ winner on their own ground came from a controversial penalty-kick by John Greig.
No matter. When the silverware was being handed out at the completion of the campaign, Jock Stein’s side picked up the Championship for the third successive crusade on their way to nine in a row.
HAUL OF FAME…Jock Stein and some of Celtic trophies from the all-conquering season of 1966/67.
They threw in the League Cup, beating Hibs 6-2 in the Hampden showcase, and brought the curtain down in fitting style in the grand finale of the Scottish Cup by routing Rangers 4-0 after easing to a three-goal interval advantage.
The clean sweep was only the club’s second since the League Cup had come into existence in 1946/47.
The record books show Celtic at the summit of the old First Division table with 54 points. The Ibrox club were five points adrift in the days of two points for a win.
There are no asterisks to denote Rangers fans had the bragging rights for 24 hours after their two derby successes.
In the great scheme of things, Big Jock’s summation was bang on the money. What is your target at the start of the season? Will you be satisfied with a few wins against the neighbours?
Or are you aiming a little higher than a brief few moments of adulation that will dissipate into the mists of time when the glittering prizes are being handed out?
As the more repetitive pundits continually inform us: It’s a no-brainer.
And that, dear reader, leads us to today’s High Noon showdown in Govan when Brendan Rodgers’ side share centre stage.
Guard of honour? The Celtic players will be walking the gauntlet in an arena where the champions’ praiseworthy and laudable 2,000 followers will face being drowned out by the usual cacophony of little ditties by the hosts’ support.
The Hoops go into the contest with the fourth successive title sewn up, the Big 55 in the club’s illustrious history has already been registered.
HAMPDEN HOORAYS…Brendan Rodgers holds aloft the Scottish Cup after Celtic’s 1-0 win over Philippe Clement’s Ibrox side on the iconic date of May 25 last year.
Curiously, though, Rodgers has witnessed his team lose in their past two encounters against today’s opponents while, bewilderingly, conceding three goals in each game.
So, does today’s skirmish in the south side of the city really mean anything?
You bet your life it does!
It’s impossible to argue with Jock Stein’s overview from another era, but you better believe The Big Man absolutely hated losing these coming-togethers.
I’ve been honoured to write the life stories of players such as Bertie Auld, Tommy Gemmell, Davie Hay and John ‘Yogi’ Hughes and in each book I’ve given over a chapter or two dedicated to their reminisces of these affairs that used to split Glasgow.
The four former players were in perfect harmony: Beat Rangers and Big Jock would be wearing a smile for days. The iconic gaffer was known as a perfectionist and his players realised they could face extra sessions at Barrowfield if he had not been completely satisfied with how they had performed in a victory against any other side.
However, any sort of win over the boys in blue would keep Big Jock happy.
“We could scrape through some of those matches,” recalled Wee Bertie. “We could struggle from first to last, but somehow manage to get that goal that gave us victory. We would come off the pitch back then satisfied in the knowledge our boss would have a bounce in his step, hands in his pockets and whistling merrily as he left the stadium.”
MAKE MINE A DOUBLE…Brendan Rodgers with the League Cup after returning to Hampden on December 15 last year to lift silverware yet again.
In the decades that follow, it won’t matter a damn if Celtic don’t win this afternoon. There will be no asterisks in the record books for Wee Barry and Co.
But you and I know that triumph in these tussles is always accompanied with a warm and satisfying glow.
I suspect Brendan Rodgers will be in sync with the Celtic following as he issues his final instructions before sending his players down the tunnel to get the job done.
Have an enjoyable Sunday, folks.
ALEX GORDON
*DON’T miss the unbeatable match report and best action images from Rangers v Celtic this afternoon – only in your champion CQN.
