Ahead of our visit to Tynecastle on Sunday I’m going to share this story with you. It was written by a Celtic fan, Arthur. Arthur wasn’t always a Celtic fan. In fact, he travelled with his grandfather to Rugby Park on the final day of the 1964-65 season with his fellow Hearts fans to see the title decider.
For Arthur, it wasn’t all about Hearts, though, his favourite player was their stop striker, Willie Wallace. When Willie left for Celtic Park in 1966, Arthur’s allegiance followed him. Neither of them would look back.
Williie was back from Australia a few years ago, when we did his autobiography. I was with him at a signing session at Waterstones in Stirling when this guy walked in with a carrier bag from the Celtic Superstore. Willie was busy holding court so I made my way towards the new visitor, Arthur, who told me his unique introduction to Celtic.
What a great moment seeing Arthur and Willie meet.
Some of us are born into Celtic but an increasing number of us make our own way to Celtic Park. Arthur’s story was brilliant. He chose Celtic, chose the Lisbon Lions, six months before they would become so, and almost half a century on the fire burns as brightly.
I love hearing stories of how people come to Celtic. One for another day, is the son of an African father and Scottish mother, who received copies of the Sunday Post in the mail, courtesy of his non-football affiliated Scottish grandfather.
The intention of sending the ‘Post was no doubt to inform a Scottish ex-pat of what was going on back home, but the lasting result was to spark excitement in an African man for Jock Stein’s Celtic, one which still burns in his son today.
That’s maybe a story for another day, but Arthur sat at his keyboard to recall a great Celtic league win, as well as a memorable family moment, here’s his story:
“My Dad. He was my best pal, a warm, likeable man with a great sense of humour. We shared a love of football in spite of me becoming a Celtic fan when Willie Wallace transferred to us. He’d shout for us on TV against Rangers or in European Cup games.
“But he was always a Hearts man, although not so much as years past. After seeing them lose the league title in 1965 on goal average, then the cup at Hampden in 1968 to Dunfermline, he used to think he was ‘a jinx’.
“Fast forward to the third of May 1986. Me, my wife and three kids, and my mum and dad head from Edinburgh to Loch Eck near Dunoon for a weekend in a caravan. My youngest daughter just two months old, made my Dad as happy as his other grandchildren.
“We listened as best we could to on the car radio to the Celtic game, but reception up round the Rest and Be Thankful was patchy! Eventually we reached the caravan, unpacked a few things, brewed a cup of tea, and got the telly on.
“By now late afternoon, Celtic had done all they could to snatch the title from Hearts, but it looked like it was heading to Tynecastle. In my heart a wee bit of me was happy for my Dad.
Then, to quote Archie McPherson, ‘WOOOSHH’! Albert Kidd scores for Dundee late in the game. ‘WOOOSH’ ! The wee man does it again. An ‘Archie Gemmill’ type goal, scored by Bobby Ball’s lookalike.
“As it does, the adrenalin hit me. Up I jumped, dancing round the wee caravan, tea cups getting bumped, alarmed kids wondering what’s up with me. My mum cheering as she was happy for me.
Then I looked at my Dad. Hadn’t seen him like that often. Thirty years on I don’t remember his exact words but by his expression, a bit like gathering thunder, I could see he was less than pleased.
“Embarrassed silence engulfed the caravan.
“Finally my mum broke the silence. ‘ I’ll put the kettle on’. I think I mumbled an apology to my Dad, like a wee boy. And you know what? He gave me one of his bear hugs and forgave me.
“Never forgave Albert Kidd though.”
Here we go………..
Many thanks to everyone who entered the raffle for tickets for Sunday, we raised £1298.73, which is already with Mary’s Meals. The winner has been informed, but has not responded to his email yet, so check! Thanks again to the guys at Intelligent Car Leasing.
It’s seven weeks until the cyclists set off from Celtic Park on The Road to Lisbon. This is an incredible Celtic fan project, read the update here and make sure you keep an eye on progress.
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Re-turfing a field in Leicestershire for a reenactment of the Battle of Bosworth?
Sod that for a game of soldiers.
@ Scott Hoad
Happy Hoopy Birthday to Celtic’s Stuart Armstrong.
Ive been having a lot of trouble on the blog in the last few days with pages freezing, and pages being ” unresponsive”………….just like most of the wummin I have made love to in my life !
Is there a fault with the blog, or is it my computer ?
“Celtic Park was built with 60,000 seats for a reason.”
Fergus McCann
I’d rather be a TIM……………..than a CHEAT !
Lenny v Duffy…………watching the footage, Lenny quite rightly had a verbal go at the Morton player that chopped down the Hibs boy right in front of the dugout.
I don’t see why Jim Duffy could possibly have any argument with Lenny or anyone else for that matter ?
Will Jim Duffy and Morton take action against their player for feigning injury, kidding that he had been butted ?
Neil “Rocky” Lennon…….love it !
Hail Hail to Arthur
Reminded me of talking to the Kano volunteers and kids one day and hearing of the young jambo who travelled through with his pals and was given the usual great treatment and after his day in paradise, on returning home told his parents he wanted his maroon themed room changed to green and white as he had got the bug :))))))))))
AN TEARMANN on 30TH MARCH 2017 3:53 PM
DBhoy 1:53
Doesn’t seem to matter what party/leader are in charge, outcomes/trends remain the same in US,Uk and Australia etc
More wealth for those who need it least and the rest can fight over whats left. Which leaves us where we are now with 8 people owning as much wealth as the poorest half of the worlds population .
Strange thing is , this can only continue as long as we ( the 99%) let it.
All in my humble opinion of course.
Stuart Armstrong is 1.83 metres ( including his exquisitely quaffed quiff )
Copyright St DBBIA
GLENDALYS…
Thanks for that explanation. ;))
Why are Sevco taking so long appointing their number 3 though,they have plenty of the component parts available?
HH
BSR @ 5:51 PM,
Seen Celtic, on his Birthday, hailing him as the best hair in Scottish Football.
This is just Days after Paul Murray’s resignation…
Wonder if they’d jump in his grave so quickly;)
Hail Hail
MNCELT on 30TH MARCH 2017 1:35 PM
I was on the Croy bus that day as well; I was living in England at the time and came up for the game; was in the Duke before and after and nearly missed my train back home!
KTF
Has Lenny been arrested yet and charged with attempted murder?!
HH!!
Beatbhoy
Fat alex letter bout the shreddet was a note of pressure from a scottish minister who had NO say on policy.that was left to the torylite goverment in London who authenticated/rubber stamped it thro mergers and acquisitions.The power lay in London.
Unionist
The final say lay were?…..2tone heid, Gordon whovowsnotaedaeaddinup or Mandy? Lmao take responsibility as the genie opener would say….but not likely as fake socialists dont do apologies eh
HH
Aye! I remember my first pint. Well. I think it was my first.
Chairbhoy
” We won’t forget the people who were quick to dance on our grave.”
( Andy Kerr, president of Rangers Supporters Assembly, July 2012 )
Italian restaraunt recommendations in Glasgow ?
Only 23 days to go until we win the treble??
What happened to the last guy who tried to punch Neil Lennon live on TV?
Remind me csc
Canamalar
Get an Indian.
CANAMALAR
La Fiorentina on Paisley Rd West, a fav of myself and a certain
Gerry McNee from back in the day.
BSR
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2037334/Hearts-fan-John-Wilson-cleared-Neil-Lennon-attack-jailed-running-pitch.html
Canamalar
La Lanterna
Like Arthur I wasn’t born to Celtic. I was a Leeds supporter. Indeed I had many an argument with Celtic supporting brothers and uncles.
My dad is from the other side but always supported Man Utd. In the 80s I gradually gravitated towards Celtic through my mates.
Strangely enough I watched Celtic in the 1980 semi final Scottish Cup as a 13th yr old and a mate got spat on by a drunken Hungary. I wonder if that began my conversion.
Anyway 1986 was pivotal. I traelled with a mate to the Glasgow Cup Final without tickets. It was 9 May 1986, and Hearts plaged and lost the Scottish Cup Final the following day.
My mates got into the Friday night game, and I failed (not cute enough). Anyway out drinking the next day we taunted a few Hearts fans about ‘no trophies’ in the subway.
They reacted and came over from their platform to ours and then into the tube where a bit of fisticuffs took place.
I never looked back.
Árd Macha
*Hun
*played
Árd Macha
Canamalar 6.25.
La Lanterna at bottom of Hope St across from Central Station.
I think it was Whitedoghunch who recommended it, I’ve never been disappointed anytime I’ve eaten in it and I do like proper restaurants and food.
I think a good few CQNs have enjoyed a meal there.
Hail Hail.
Whitedoghunch 6.35.
See JNP 6.38.
:-))))
Tallybhoy on 30th March 2017 6:08 pm
Has Lenny been arrested yet and charged with attempted murder?!
HH!!
He’s in Guantanamo Bay as we speak…
MARGARET MCGILL
Yip, that was him
Hi Bhoys
Loved Arthur’s story but the Love St stories are best.
I was there that day and we made our way back to the Bull Inn to celebrate our triumph. The party was in full swing when a tim comes in and shouts at the top of his voice “GOD BLESS ALBERT KIDD” . He proceeds to pop a bottle of champers it explodes and the spray goes everywhere,over punters over tables over the fruit machine and all up the wall. Cue a very unhappy barmaid (hun) turning aff the jukebox and shouting nae mare that’s new wallpaper up there and wee Andy (another hun) will go mad when he sees it. Wee Andy’s second name was Whyte I wonder if he’s got a “brother” Craig.
I was lucky enough to be born into Celtic due to my mother being the biggest rebel not born in Ireland I have ever known. God Bless you and keep you safe mum. Hope to see her again, She loved big Billy as a leader and wee Jinky as a player and didnae say much about all the other celts until Henrik appeared. When she was young she had a crush on John Divers and Tommy Coyne’s dad was an early suitor in her young life in Govan. Funny how people think Govan is full of huns it isnae and she would of told anybody that a fierce and proud tim as well as Govanite was ma wee mum.
KEEP THE FAITH
Canamalar,
There are loads of good ones. I was in Fanelli’s ( Merchant Square ) on Saturday night and the food was excellent.
My wife wasn’t keen on the house white wine though. Tasted ok to me , but then again, what doesn’t.
While you’re on ,I thought the traditional style and produce of La Rivera was fab. A far better experience than Tony Macaroni’s ( Byres Rd & City Centre ) although the food couldn’t be faulted.
Have you heard when any work will commence re : Dolphin & La Rivera. ? The wall collapse was on the 06-08-16 and not a brick has been moved ?
Thanks and Rgds.
BBC live tea time news……………..”But Neil Lennon hasn’t apologised”
TIMMY7_NOTED on 30TH MARCH 2017 1:15 PM
I too was there in 1986, four us travelled from Coatbridge. Recall coming back from Dundee that Season, car full of Jambos passed as we travelled through Dunblane, shouting expletives and gesturing to us as they passed, we gave as good as we got. As you say travelling back up the M8, passing the hordes coming out of greyskull was brilliant. Just wish we could have passed those same Jambos that we saw in Dunblane.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
I hope Neil gets more support from Petrie and Dempster , than he got from PL after the so called shame game.
CANAMALAR
The Amore restaraunt on the corner of Ingram Street and Shuttle Street. Just at the merchant city but not merchant city prices also about 100 yards from Mc Chuills (good tim pub) on the High Street.
KEEP THE FAITH
I see Sevco are upping there training . I thought they were fresher and fitter than us the last game at celtic park , Which was surprising to me . Seems like they are going for it in the semi . I also hope if BR is starting to look to enhancing his squad for a European challenge , he is looking to add some steel to his team , because we are still too soft .
Even the good old Ulster Television News had Lenny snarling in the 2 photos shown without even a sight of Jim Duffy.
Strange that even your own buy into that shite isn’t it….
Not here it isn’t.
Árd Macha
I take my post has been deleted.
What for?
Tonyrome.
My Dad was a Govanite brought up in Nethan St then moved to Dava St in the Wine Alley. Mad Tim.
My Mum went to Govan High brought up in Tuker? Hill, he Dad was in Orange Order and her Mum in The Eastern Star, they refused to attend their daughter’s wedding. 1957 a good year.
Incidentally My Dad was one of the few tims ever to gain employment with Harland and Wolfe in Govan. He had young children and was desperate for work. He knew they wouldn’t employ a Catholic so in his application form he gave all my Mums school details. After a couple of weeks a guy he knew said to him how the he’ll did you get a start in here, my Dad asked him to keep quiet, which he did but as soon as he found another job he was off.
I was also at Love St but I’ve already told my tale twice before. Suffice to day it’s between that and the 4.2 game in 1979 as my all time favourite.
Hail Hail.