Billy and Davie on Caesar and the Assassin
Billy was self-effacing as ever. For all purposes, today he is an ordinary Celtic fan, so much so you need to remind yourself that there is nothing in the club game he hasn’t done. Yesterday was about his days as Celtic manager but he made the point that Davie Hay was a profound influence on him as a team-mate.
The take-away thought I had on Davie Hay was about his range of knowledge and experience. He has done so much in the game which still pulses in his veins. Does Scotland still produce men of his calibre? If so, why are we not giving them a platform to flourish?
There is tons of great stuff in the book from both men:
“We were already a goal down nine minutes into the second-half when Johnny Doyle was ordered off. As he came off, I remember telling him he would be in serious trouble if we lost.
“I was furious, especially as we were in such a desperate situation at the time.
“Afterwards in the foyer, Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Murdoch, Mike Jackson, Paul Wilson, Pat McCluskey, Benny Rooney and a whole host of former players were dancing around in amazement.
“Jinky was as happy as I’ve seen him. That win meant so much to anyone with an affiliation with Celtic.”
– Billy McNeill on winning the league against Rangers in 1979.
“I arranged for someone to cut out the stories and pin them to the walls of our dressing room at Love Street.
“I said nothing, but I could see the players reading the clippings. It was having the desired effect. It’s never clever to dismiss Celtic.
“It’s history now that we won 5-0 and Hearts lost 2-0.
“I think I still owe [Albert Kidd] a pint!”
-Davie Hay on winning the league at Love St in 1986.
The book’s great, reading the step-by-step accounts of what happened from the managers’ view, you’ll love it. I know I’m biased but it’s the best thing CQN has done, a wee bit of our history set down on record.