Several years ago, long before CQN, I was fortunate enough to be in the company of 10 of the 11 Lions who took the field in Lisbon. It was a great to see them interact with each other. A grinning Jinky walked in late, “Am I in trouble again?”, bringing a playful shout from all the others.
I’ve since met the rest of the squad who didn’t make the field, but Willie Wallace remained an unknown quantity, until this week. I occasionally wondered what role Celtic played in the life of a man who left for Australia circa 40 years ago.
As anyone who read Willie on the blog this morning will realise, he was cut from the same wood as the rest of the team, with a deeply set Celtic grain. When I met him on Saturday he had all the playfulness and spirit the other Lions had, but there was no hiding his sharp competitive edge when talk go around to matters on, and sometimes, off, the field.
Many thanks for chatting this morning, Willie.
If you can make it to Waterstones in Stirling tomorrow evening (late night shopping), I’ll be there with Willie, who will be signing copies of Heart of a Lion. See you there.
I missed out on the preparations and commemorations yesterday by Celtic Graves and so many Celtic fans. Caught up with it late in the day online. Things about this club blow you away sometimes. I know there is some traceable linage from Celtic Graves, though Jungle Bhoys and all the way back to Celts for Change. With supporters like this, your club is in incredibly good hands.
At any other club these events would be remarkable. At Celtic, they are just another chapter in a very special story.
Which takes me onto the next point………
All of these great things are underpinned by you, me and thousands of others buying season tickets each year, no matter who survives long enough to compete in the league, no matter how many times newspapers try to tell you Everton want (and will get) Neil Lennon, no matter if we win, lose or draw.
The Jungle Drums tell me sales are up on the equivalent period last year, which is great news, but it is absolutely necessary. I want to see Celtic back in the Champions League next season, competing as effectively as they did last season. I want to see us mature the development strategy which is already delivering such bounty.
This is your club, claim your seat and make it happen.
Stunning response to our ebay raffle and auction. Sincere thanks to those who bought tickets and bid. You have two days to buy a ticket for the framed Celtic top signed by the Seville squad, and a few days more for the signed and framed Messi top……..
Heart of a Lion available below, or see you at Waterstones, Stirling tomorrow evening (times will be confirmed tomorrow).
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Goaly looks OK
blantyretim
He’s made a couple of tidy saves since I came in..
Ireland under real pressure at the moment…..
clinging on here
tosb
jeezo I was just about to post EXACTLY that, my son played with him at boys club level and then 4 of the boys were signed up ay CP together they stayed together up until my own son left for hearts(I know) age 15, still great pals to this day as I am with his dad john and uncle pat
Winning Captains
Just read your post as phone on charger. Interesting what you write – remember Willie came on very late atWembley 69 and hit a shot from thirty yards which Banks made a great save from –
Hoops on
I also called him Fr. John when talking to him. Glad you can add more to his story.
Masty
Sorry for getting the wrong Our Lady ……. PS.
Zbyszek @ 21.22
“I will stick to my rules”.
Good on you mon ami-but I hope you won’t be looking for a job at the SFA or SPl anytime soon!:-)
Sorry
Continuation of last post
Aiden is no longer a youngster (now aged 27) and I don’t think that he dominates and commands a game to the extent that his skill set suggests he could.
If he is coming back from Russia this summer, how many would pay £6m and burst a wage structure for him?
I often think that some on here, while rightly proud of him and his background, perhaps allow that to blind them to his weaknesses.
Kayal33
Legia is interesting club. It’s probably four years since we last paid for the player. We are selling the players. Yesterday we sold CB for 2,5 million euros. In January we sold attacking midfielder to Fiorentina for almost 4 million euros. Last Summer we sold two players for more than 5 million euros. Still plenty good talented footballers with the team. Half of the team is players who are less than 21 years old, plus abother half of players who are with us couple of years.
jimbo67
that was the 1st game I ever saw on the telly in colour, we got a right doing if memory serves
England are pash…
Chris Commons has been a far more effective player for Celtic than Aiden ever was.
Aiden has much more talent ,but Chris has much better vision ,better shooting ability ,and more game intelligence.
Not that Aiden will care.
He had a successful spell with his boyhood heroes and is now a multi millionaire.
Aiden was the most exciting prospect that Celtic reared since Paul McStay.
TT
hoopsmon
Good to hear from you,remember Fr John’s Jubilee,all his family and friends, plus the parishioners of St Flannans,standing room only, and we have a huge Church.
Awerabest PJ
Think John Greig ( pronounced as per the Norwegian composer) gave away a penalty and ended game as a contest. Dont think Willie was in a Scotland squad after that. I have followed the national team since then – even following it to Italia90- but never had any doubts that the paltry number of caps awarded to Willie, Bobby Lennox, Joe McBride and Stevie Chalmers ( as well as the none given to Harry Hood) had a lot to do with the club they played for
Jimbo
tosb
our lady of annunciation
IMHO
Both of these teams would struggle to win the Scoddish Cup. World Cup??? yer having a laugh.hahaha
Weefra HH
Masty
Was the game that Jimbo referred to not a 1-0 or 1-1? Was that not the Ally Hunter game?
tiny tim
cannot disagree with any of that either..
Thought this answer from Willie Walllace was very politically astute.
He had been asked about his seven caps and the lack of caps for other Lisbon Lions.
“willie wallace
10:52 on 29 May, 2013
JJ caps – that’s political. I would say it was bad judgement of the selectors at the time – there were up to 20 selectors and if they left out the amber fluids they’d have picked better players. Other players at other teams – i could name a dozen – should have got more caps.”
Well done Willie still as sharp as ever.
could haver been mate, I just seem to remember a 3-1/4-1.only 9 at the time, ma granny got a new colour telly that week
tinytim
Commons has a brilliant football brain, which is missing in most of the modern footballers. We should get him signed up on a real long term contract. IMO. :))
Weefra HH
Sorry for split message
Masty
4-1 as I recall. We were still in black and White!
Jimbo
Masty
You weren’t in Heraghty’s on Sunday were you?
TT
Zbyszek
21:47 on
29 May, 2013
If you can do that and still be successful domestically then you can’t ask for anymore. Outwith the so called big leagues the smaller countries can’t expect to be successful regularly in Europe, an occasional good run like Celtic this season, is a nice bonus. Legia must have a good youth system if you can sell youngsters to Italy for relatively high fees. I suppose the fact that they get a chance helps, my biggest frustration with Celtic is lack of chances our youngsters get.
TroonTim
I hope you enjoyed Shimlas on Sunday.
Did you go back to Heraghty’s ?
TT
no mate… I was in the brazen..
Just at the end the fans singing … You’ll never beat the Irish made me smile and always reminds me of a favourite football commentary moment from the euro championships back in the day which went………………..” You’ll never beat Des walker … You’ll never beat Des walker…… BROLIN!!!!! 1-0″ happy memory that
Papa John
Was there with my Mum!!! Great occasion. Small world. A man who is missed.
HH
Weefraethetim
I agree.
Chris Commons is a very good player.
He has also been blessed with a great shot.
TT
Sorry if this has been mentioned earlier but BDO have their 6month creditors review online..cant link via mobile h.h
Theoriginalsadiesbhoy
Ally Hunter played at Wembley in 73. We lost one-nil. Stilton made a stunning save from Kenny Dalglish in the last minute. ( I did watch that one in colour)
Jimbo
TinyTim
Kris should be giving the shooting lessons at Lennoxtown…
Masty
(:-)
TT
TT
I take you were?
Starry Plough
I should also pay attention to the proper spelling of his name.
(:-)
TT
Must say I’m pretty pleased with result. Obviously rode our luck in the 2nd half but we held on and the lads & lassies will have a bloody good night in London tonight. Having said that I expect the majority of them live there.
I had my 1st pint in heraghty’s auld pub in oxford st I think it was.