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.
375 Comments- Pages:
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MAGNIFICENTSEVEN on 30TH MARCH 2017 10:52 PM
Unacceptable comment.
Best moments? There are so many.
But this one. I was only 10. Each time we scored I was moved on a wave of people and ended up about 20 feet away from where I was. Luckily, my sister held me tight and came with me.
When Bremner scored there was no panic. I was panicking, but older heads than mine knew we would beat them.
A bit like watching the team today under Brendan.
https://youtu.be/qsDPlK2qpEw
Duty calls,but before I go…
PETEC doesn’t come across too well on here at times. I’ve had reason to rebuke him once or twice in the past too! But he is one good guy.
Meet him in person,you’ll see what I mean.
That said,his repetitive posting on religion is usually too much for me,so I barely glance at them. I neither agree nor disagree with him-my faith is my own,same as everyone else.
Agree to disagree by all means,or just scroll past his stuff. It’s easily done. There are bigger issues to argue about,after all.
Anyway,offski. Have fun. Play nice and all that.
HH.
GREENINBINGLEYINOSLO on 30TH MARCH 2017 11:01 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lozafLiK3Sg
I was at both those games against Leeds.
The clip above briefly shows our late inexplicably disallowed goal .
petec on 30th March 2017 11:05 pm
Magnificentseven on 30th March 2017 11:01 pm
Intelligent answer, obviously very well thought out. Anyway time to go, some of us mere mortals have work in the morning
Is it a Spiritual thing?
MAGNIFICENTSEVEN on 30TH MARCH 2017 11:06 PM
I know.
Make allowances.
Please.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 30TH MARCH 2017 11:10 PM
Yes.
The Tower of BAbel is Man wanting to become God. As soon as I seen the EU Parliament Painting. I wanted out of there. BIG TIME BIG TIME.
Get Out Get Out
As long as things are ok today.
Utopia can’t be Manufactured in a Transhumanist World with Billions reduced. Sorry.
Pete , old son .
Go easy,mate.
What Bobby says at 11.10
Unfortunately he peaked in 1995
Maybe cqn should close from 12 midnight to 7 am.
You know it’s often been called a cyber pub
Maybe it should be subject to licensing laws
Lisbon 17 SCLAFFBAW Outing update.
Our good friend Graffitionthewall (and Mrs Graff) have organised transport to and from Belas De Campo Golf on the 26th May. We have three vehicles to collect nine sclaffers from our various hotels.
The pick up details will be posted later but the rough timing will be 11.00 pick up for an 11.30 arrival at the course and a 19.00 pick up from the course for return to Lisbon.
Cost for the return journey is 16.5 euros per person and was by far the best deal available.
Many thanks to Graff and his lovely missus for sorting this out for the sclaff brigade.
HH
macjay1,
I Know the Time it is, but God is Incredible and he Defies every thing, Imagine olde Pat voting for the Tories in the Future?
Scotland will be in a hell o f a predicament then. :D
WITS, I often thought the same, but then you would be locking out all the wizards from Oz.
Now that wouldn’t be right, would it ?.
Anyway will check in tomorrow to see what Pete has been up to.
Good Night & God Bless All.
List of names for sclaffbaw plank the
Goffboz/clubs in Lisbon?
Ah just joking ACGR :-)
Hope yir good pal
HH
Mystic Steg
will make a prediction that there will be hours of posts , by one poster, about his god.
I wish the fella gets help to get into a regular sleep pattern.
dont keep it lit, go have an early night.
ACGR – I’ll coordinate the Lisbon west coast sclaffers brigade to arrive simultaneously and in unison with your mob at the Belas clube de Sclafbaw:)
Slainte
Tony
Am I bloody dreaming. I’m reading posts and they are disappearing as fast as I’m reading them.
In all fairness ACGR had a post deleted there, I only read it quickly before it disappeared but I could see no reason whatever for it’s deletion, unless of course Pete is the Moderator.
Anyhow I’ll leave ye all to it.
PETEC on 30TH MARCH 2017 11:40 PM
macjay1,
I Know the Time it is, but God is Incredible and he Defies every thing, Imagine olde Pat voting for the Tories in the Future?
Scotland will be in a hell o f a predicament then. :D
========================================================
I think I understand where you are coming from , Pete.
I think , though , that good guys don`t like being lectured to . Particularly about religion.
Having said that , good guys also don`t like being lectured to about politics .
Who knows ?
AnT, all good pal. The sclaffbaw is pretty much sorted, just need all the participants to turn up and pony up_:)
macjay1,
EVERY Man is WEAK, weaker than you can possibly imagine.
Corky, you are correct. My post was removed, no idea why?
Moderator 2 used to be such a polite chap and other posters who have posts removed are generally informed of the removal and the reason why.
My posts on this repetitive religious bigotry were also removed on Tuesday with no moderator explanation.
Anyway, hope you’re well bruv…………………..HH
Talking about politics
:-)
In this instance ,the Govt. understands the will of the people .
Telegraph
” Britain has begun to take back control from Brussels as David Davis announced that the first EU law to be scrapped after Brexit will be a charter that helps criminals avoid deportation.”
===============================
About time too.
ACGR – concentrate on the turn up as there might be few sore heeds within the camp; my crew as you know are teatotalers so nae danger there;)
By the way is TET coming to Lisbon?
Slainte
Tony
Torontony, excellent. I’ll be in touch before the trip just t make sure we’re all aligned.
HH
Huv ye heard abooot the JJ fight?
Torontony, teetoatlirz…….yer ripping the pish……………………………..:_)
TET isn’t able to make it, which is a bit of a shame.
PETEC on 30TH MARCH 2017 11:56 PM
macjay1,
EVERY Man is WEAK, weaker than you can possibly imagine.
================================
My father used to quote this to me :
” You never know what is inside a man.
You only know what has come out. ”
The more I think about it………………
Nigel Benn has been fighting Demons ever since he Destroyed Gerald McClellans LIFE.
Bring back the disappeared posts.
This is becoming like the gutter press comments sections where entries are arbitrarily removed, generally because they contain the truth about the death of the hun.
Who deletes posts on here?
I knew I wore cursed Skiing Gloves when I went doon that Mountain – No Fear label.
I stayed up all Night to hear Good News about Gerald.
Gerald should have Won. Nigel was pushed back in the ring from the first big punch.
I didnae like Boxing after that night.
An incredible fight, not for me after that.
ACGR- That’s a pity I’d love to meet TET, one day!
My lot are all sorted and Ausi John is joining us for a few games:)
I look forward to hearing from you and in the meantime stay healthy young fella.
Slainte
Tony
I’m off to my love chariot. I need to be up early to make it into Dundee Waterstones to get a hardbound copy of the Koran.
All my Islamic friends assure me its a cracking read.
inshallah
Clink\o/, you are wasting your time. My posts are being deleted (not moderated).
Seems you can say what you like in a Nazi fashion on here now as long as it fits with the perceived celtic choice of religion. Open to all has gone by the wayside.
And we slag off hunmedia and follow follow.
Very poor show CQN
Clink\o/ on 31st March 2017 12:10 am
Get Over it.
That is the Truth.
You are Backing the worst Horse ever.
If you put up an Islamic flag @ Celtic Park, I’d be having a Word with you.