LISBON LION Bertie Auld was the strutting maestro of Jock Stein’s team of all-stars in the sixties.
CQN are celebrating the life and incredible times of the Celtic legend in an EXCLUSIVE series with extracts from his best-selling autobiography, ‘A Bhoy Called Bertie‘, co-authored by his friend and writer Alex Gordon.
The remarkable life story continues with Bertie’s recollections of a young defender just starting out on a pathway to legendary status at Celtic.
BILLY McNEILL began his Celtic career alongside me in a game against Clyde at Parkhead on August 23, 1958. I ended my Celtic career against the same opponents at the same venue on May 1, 1971.
He came in as a winner. I went out as a winner. I think you can take it as read we shared a few memories in the thirteen years in between.
I signed first time around from Maryhill Juniors in April 1955 while Billy arrived from Blantyre Celtic in August 1957. So, I had a two-year head start on him and that gave me the opportunity to welcome our new centre-half into the first team. I had made my debut the previous year, but I couldn’t call myself a regular in the top side.
I played in six successive League Cup-ties up to the Final against Rangers on October 19, 1957 – and was left out of the line-up for Hampden. Neilly Mochan took my place at outside-left and smacked in two goals as Celtic walloped our old rivals 7-1. Oh, to have been on the field that day, but I could hardly complain when you look at the scoreline.
NO WAY THROUGH…Billy McNeill and Bertie Auld combine to help keeper Ronnie Simpson repel a raid from Rangers striker Alex Smith.in the 1-0 League Cup Final triumph at Hampden in 1966.
I was hardly a veteran when Billy prepared to take his bow in those green-and-white hoops. Bobby Evans was our regular centre-half and he also played there for the Scotland international team. He had been a mainstay in that position since 1948, so it looked like Billy might require the assistance of dynamite to shift him from that berth.
Remember, too, that Evans had captained the club to their Coronation Cup success in 1953 over Hibs who were favourites for the trophy. Celtic won 2-0 and Evans had completely nullified the threat of the Edinburgh side’s star forward Lawrie Reilly as well as making a telling contribution to the second goal which was scored by Jimmy Walsh.
He was the first Celtic captain to lift the League Cup in 1956 and he was in place again the following season for the 7-1 rout. The fans idolised him.
That afternoon, though, Billy was clearly determined to make his mark. He would have been a new Bhoy to most of our supporters, but, of course, I had played alongside him a few times in the reserves and I had a good idea of how those fans would react to an eager eighteen-year-old central defender.
YOUNG BHOY…a fresh-faced Billy McNeill at the kick-off to his spectacular career.
NINETY MINUTES FROM DESTINY…Billy McNeill and his opposite number, Dunfermline captain Jim McLean, lead out their teams for the 1965 Scottish Cup Final.
HAMPDEN HALLELUJAH…Billy McNeill celebrates his headed winner in the Scottish Cup showpiece against Dunfermline in 1965 – Celtic’s first piece of silverware in eight years.
Bobby, who had converted from the old right-half berth to the middle of the rearguard, was not particularly tall, certainly under six foot. He had a mop of bright red hair and was a good passer of the ball, powerfully-built and strong in the tackle. All eyes would have been on Big Billy against the Shawfield side.
The supporters might have been intrigued, or even surprised, to note he was just about the opposite of their hero. Billy was around the six-foot two-inch mark, extremely lean and, of course, possessed fair hair.
Pre-Jock Stein, there were no in-depth team talks before kick-off. Jimmy McGrory was the manager, but we all knew it was chairman Bob Kelly who had the final say in team matters. It was farcical at times and occasionally you didn’t know if you were playing until about half-an-hour before the game actually started.
What do I remember about Billy’s debut match? Not too much, to be honest. I know Sammy Wilson gave us an early lead with a header and I recall my shot that gave us the second goal about ten minutes before the interval. I remember all my goals, I just wish there had been more of them!
I accepted a pass as I came in from the old inside-left position and, fortunately for me, the defenders backed off. Had they forgotten my left foot was a magic wand? I hit the ball from about twenty yards and it flew wide of their keeper, a guy called Tommy McCulloch.
Astoundingly, at the age of thirty-seven, he was still in goal for Clyde when I played my last game for the club in May 1971. Billy’s first appearance concluded with a 2-0 triumph and I like to think I contributed to his first win bonus. Well, that’s what I’ve been telling my big mate for years, anyway.
Bobby Evans, who had returned from international duty, might have expected to walk straight back into the team. That was not the case, though. Bob Kelly had taken a shine to Billy and that was an open sesame to the first team.
STRIP STRIP HOORAY…Billy McNeill (back row, second left) and Bertie Auld (front row, extreme right) in the legendary shamrock outfit.
Billy and I played the remaining five games in the League Cup, winning four against Airdrie (2-0), St Mirren (3-0), Cowdenbeath (2-1 and 8-1 in the two-legged quarter-finals) before losing 2-1 to Partick Thistle in the last four at Ibrox in front of a crowd of 45,000.
That would have been Billy’s first major disappointment in football. We were looking to win the silverware for three successive seasons, especially after that 7-1 result the previous year.
Theoretically, Billy McNeill had been only three hours away from his first medal after a mere nine games – he had played three in the league – in senior football.
You could say he made up for it on the honours list as his extraordinary career developed.
TOMORROW: DON’T MISS THE UNFORGETTABLE BERTIE AULD: PART THIRTY
