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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Fantastic goal for Ireland….!!!!!!!!
In fairness i thought wee gollum….yasssssss shane long goal…belter!!!
As i was saying gollum had a good game at the final
GB at wembley
Gollum starting to get into his stride and nit-pick tackles.
Just hope longs goal doesn’t have the same effect as a david narey ” toe poke” …..
ScotPatsFan 20:00:
Cheers mate, seem to remember something now, should read the Bulletin.
e-mail me the details when you know lennybhoy@gmail.com
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Gollum had a great game.
The trolling starting early tonight…
Up The Republic!
Excellent headed goal by Shane Long. Loved Trap singing The Soldiers Song in Irish.
Sorry to be a dunce bhoys but what channel is the game on??
sky973
ITV
Cheers masty!
VM 853
853 VIRGIN
masty is neil lennon
20:14 on 29 May, 2013.
GB at wembley
>>>>>>>>>{
Thought the same when the flare came on:-)
Congrats BT
Chapliness and yours truly must be years older than your good self !
We got married on the 95th birthday of Celtic FC
Like I say, I must be older :-)
smashin player Frankie lampard
charles kickham, Shane Long, Tipperary man. Was outstanding hurling prospect before choosing soccer. Played Inter-County Minor at age of 15.
Chaplin.
Long time no read…
You missed another great q&a in ksc couple of weeks ago..
Oh Great! I can now look forward to the zombies bumming about Lampard in work tomorrow. They NEVER mention Sevco now but constantly talk about the EPL and Chelsea in particular.
I hope we sign a name player this summer as well and I hope the name is James McCarthy.
For all their years of Sky TV money and all their huge wages, England’s international players – with one or two exceptions – are pretty mediocre.
Aww boo
Center half sold the jerseys there
TOSB
no chance mcarthy is now a £12/14m player
corkcelt
20:23 on 29 May, 2013
knew that about him – did you see him in his cork days
Good to see 2 Glasgow bhoys stroking the ball around in midfield
Young James McC is having an excellent game so far.
Yep charles, saw him a few times
Pretty decent game for a friendly this, Ireland definitely giving the home team a game.
Masty
It doesn’t cost money to dream:-))
anow mate, and it’s a good dream, we missed the boat with the bhoy,he was desperate to come to CP at the time.
jimbo67
Glad you have enjoyed reading Willie’s book. You mentioned at the end of your post that you can’t be bothered with the internationals tonight. Willie was talking tis afternoon about how his Scotland career came to an end. His wife Olive was ill and Scotland were playing. Willie called to explain and to suggest that if he wasn’t going to be playing he would pull out of the squad. He was told he’d be playing and according showed up only to be overlooked in favour of an oldco alternative. Livid he was going to walk out before the match but Big Billy advised him to call Jock Stein. Jock told him to stay until after the match then do what he liked – Willie did this then shortly afterwards wrote to the SFA and told then to stick their caps where the sun don’t shine! He refused to play for them again.
corkcelt
20:32 on 29 May, 2013
big decision to make when there is the chance of a lot of money on offer – a decision I’ve never personally had to
make – still talentless and skint
Lennybhoy
I hope the administrator to take over from Bishop Devine is no Duff and Phelps.
I met the bishop many times when I was a teacher in Motherwell Diocese when my class was making their Confirmation. At the tea after Mass he always sat beside me to discuss The Celtic. A great ghuy.
like the look of the irish goalie..
What does Shane Long have to do to win a free kick in this game??
Gollum having another great game?
Rooney fouled Keane in the box. Should have been a penalty for ROI.