I remember singing “It’s going to be 10 in a row”, but back then 10 had no significance. Neither did 9, it was like 8 in a row, another stop along the way. But when Jock Stein’s team finished their spectacular domination of the Scottish game in 1974 with nine successive titles and four European Cup semi-finals, “Nine in a row” became a phrase with extraordinary substance.
Of course, in years to come, for others, nine in a row became a target to surpass. In the late eighties Rangers changed the financial parameters of Scottish football for some time, and set their own course towards liquidation, but on the park, they swept all before them in the domestic game. By summer 1997 they had won their won nine in a row. McEwan’s lager billboard adverts featured the club with the line, “9 out of 10, could do better”. And didn’t we know it.
Celtic were in disarray having sacked Tommy Burns and with our three most cherished players, Di Canio, Cadete and van Hooijdonk on their way out the door. The new managerial appointment “the second worst thing to happen to Hiroshima”, as our mainstream media portrayed him to Celtic fans, arrived only two weeks before the start of the season.
After losing the first league game of the season at Easter Road Celtic lost 1-2 at home to Dunfermline; they were leading at half time. 10 in a row seemed inevitable but this season was the greatest example of why the prevailing currents of football are now always evident on the surface.
Have a read at this from the Independent after that defeat to Dunfermline:
“[The home supporters] cannot be fooled – even as the teams were announced it was clear they are unconvinced by the new signings. The mention of Pierre van Hooijdonk, Paolo Di Canio and Jorge Cadete before a game was enough a year ago to raise the roof in anticipation. On Saturday, Henrik Larsson and Regi Blinker hardly registered in the approval stakes.
“Larsson’s poor touch too often saw him lose possession. The blunt truth is he is not a proven goalscorer and Jock Brown, the general manager, will have to add fire power to the team.”
Don’t be too harsh on the journo who penned this, few dissented, and Jock Brown’s reputation was pretty much set by these incredibly inaccurate reviews. Although, “blunt truth” has never been used with such laxity.
The towns of the west of Scotland can be dangerous places after big football games but not 15 years ago today, when Celtic beat St Johnstone to win the league for the first time in a decade. Celtic fans of all ages poured onto the streets as the spirit of carnival took hold.
I remember hooped fans sitting on top of a set of traffic lights in Lanarkshire; green, amber, red, then rows of green and white. I walked around Hamilton town centre that night. For an evening, every pub was a Celtic pub, with rules about wearing colours suspended, and singing was celebrated.
And sing we did.
At the end of the night I could be found singing “Cheerio to 10 in a row” at a taxi rank outside a nightclub. The ‘brave’ soul standing in front of me waited until his taxi was moving away before mumbling his offenses out of the window.
Last summer I did an interview with Tony Hamilton for Celtic TV . When we drilled into what really made an impact on me as a Celtic fan I had no hesitation on placing that game against St Johnstone above Champions League victories, qualifying for a European final or beating Barcelona. We aspire to move beyond the confines of Scottish football but for 125 years this has been our home. In all that time, in domestic or European football, there have been, at most, only two more important games.
Enjoy the memories, but don’t play that George O’Boyle leap over in your mind; just in case you imagine him a few inches higher.
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Considering the short time Neil has been in management, it’s quite an accolade that he is being linked with a fairly big EPL job.
Having said that, I hope he is with us for a few years yet.
If and it is that wee word with the biggest meaning IF Neil is offered and takes the Everton job, I would approach WBA to speak with Steve Clarke, makes sense to me.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
tom mclaughlin
20:21 on 9 May, 2013
How about Paul Lambert as Lenny’s replacement, with Henke as his assistant?
…………….
Just logged on and……..
You know the rest
Bwaaaaaahaaaaa!
Ferguson never said he turned down the RFC managers job because his wife was a Catholic.
He was given a hard time when he married a Catholic while a player there. He was eventually edged out and he held a grudge. When they came back asking him to become manager, he refused.
His mum was also a Catholic.
HH
maybe lenny is doing a lawell on lawell by giving the impression he is being offered another job in the EPL
seemed to work for PL… o))
John Park is the guy we need on a long term contract :}
Vmhan –
I know. It’s called irony.
Didn’t think I’d need the wee smiley.
Tom, Paul Lambert yes thanks and
Lennybhoy Steve Clarke is also a good shout.
I’ll take any of those two in about 5yrs, ye know after CL success.
V
Neil go before he equals three in a row, I don’t think so and what’s more I think he go for four..
And after Lambert/Henke, how about Jackie MacNamara?
….PFayr
20:12 on
9 May, 2013
Lenny stays …Lenny goes ….such is life
IMO Lenny has done a decent job at CFC ….no more no less …
———————————————————————————–
Precisely,a fan in a Managers job,does not a Manager make.
Remind me again what is stopping Hooper re-signing.?
BT afore I go, I hope you and the CQN team have a great night tomorrow, remember and take it easy bud.
V
Vmhan –
Sounds good tae me.
Off topic……..I’ve never met a
hun that I liked.
Excathedra
No idea ….was it a rhetorical question ??
tom mclaughlin
20:27 on 9 May, 2013
………
I did get it.
HH
Vmhan 20:29:
After Lisbon 2014 our Mecca…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
If anything Paul Lambert is a good example of a guy who has seen the rough and the smooth end of the English leagues.
Neil would do well to look at his fortunes and speak to him should he even be offered the Everton job.
I happen to think our game is so low in the EPL mentality’s opinion there is no chance Neil is even on any shortlist.
vmhan
enjpy yer hols buddy…
• RalphWaldoEllison remembers ALS victims Jimmy Jonstone & John Cushley
20:24 on 9 May, 2013
…………………………………………..His mum was also a Catholic.
HH
Have you any evidence of this?
valentinesday
20:32 on 9 May, 2013
…………
Me neither, but I’ve met a few rangers supporters that are ok though.
Huns, what’s to like, laugh at yes but like no way.
:>)
The weekend we stopped the ten in a row, was one of the finest
I recall this being the first time that I was able to actually celebrating winning the league with a few beers and a few more.
Totally amazing weekend ( Sat night / Sunday and Monday) with friends from Glasgow and Dublin
Many highlights (some funny moments, after the cladagh club on the Sunday, we made a huge huddle on the cross junction of pollokshaws road, when strathclydes finest arrived they did not know if they should laugh , cry or try to act serious (so funny)
They suggested we could play at huddles in queens park, some took it too far and ended popping in with the swans
Despte being born in 73′ the first trophy celebrated with beers was only a few years earlier in 1995
totally brilliant !
Please be advised that I had pledged to raise a MIN of £125.00 for the Celtic charity
125 4 125
I aim to Cycle 1888 miles in order to complete my challenge
Please find my story as follows
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/1888miles1254125paulmuldoon
Since creating this page,
Can advise that the following additional challenges are planned as means to,
promote 125 4 125
18.05.2013 85 mile cycle from Celtic Park to the Graveside of brother Walfrid in Dumfries
15.06.2013 climb Ben Nevis
16.06.2013 97-110 mile cycle from fort william to glasgow
Please help to sponsor AND or to spread the word about 125 4 125
Cheers
Mouldy67
I think EPL guys like Lambert and Clarke will be on far too much money to attract to CP.
BT thanks
✊
I have just looked in and I can’t believe we are discussing Neil’s replacement.
Where does this come from?
Are we so accustomed to instant gratification that we don’t have the patience to watch Neil develop and grow a young side to reach its full potential?
How long would Jimmy McGrory have lasted if there was a CQN in the 50s and early 60s?
I hope NFL and his team continue to blossom with the support of the board and fans.
I listened to the game somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I was working on a ship at the time that was captained by a striking Italian who was a die hard Napoli fan. After a talk with him about the upcoming game, he decreed with a sweep of his arm that his officers would provide a satellite radio link for me to tune in get the commentary. During the game, to this day such was my agony and joy, I am certain i turned more than one Italian officer into a Hoops fan. Try teaching the huddle to a bunch of resplendent uniformed Italian officers on the bridge of a ship, quite the challenge!
On returning home three months later and bursting into my Uncle Andy’s living room in a wee cottage overlooking the sea, we both promptly burst into tears.
I miss you Uncle Andy.
Charlie Nicholas ” the Man U Board have thrown down the goblet…”
ralphwaldoellison remembers als victims jimmy jonstone & john cushley
20:24 on 9 May, 2013
His parents lived up stairs from my grand parents and note that his dad actually ran one of the Celtic Supporters Buses from Govan.
Iam sure back in the day, it was Govan All Saints or Bus from St Consantines chapel area
Before he played with blue mob, as a very good friend of my late uncle Jim, he would actually go along to some games with him,
I recall a few stories from my dad, when the three of them had casually went to some games, including a cup tie at Easter road , with their carry outs
Snake@20:35
Your last paragraph is oh so true.
In other news. Falcao of Atletico heading to Monaco according to a Spanish radio station.
Surely not. What a waste that would be.
Casually should have read , occasionally (blood predictive iPads)
Giggs ruled himself out the managers job saying
“he wanted to spend more time with his brothers family”
Mouldy 67
what was your late uncle Jim’s name?
Decided to go for a bevy on Saturday after the game so I will leave the car at home and get the train.
Now if you get a return from Prestonpans to Edinburgh then another return from Edinburgh to Glasgow its £6 cheaper than buying a return from Prestonpans to Glasgow – nuts!!!
….PFayr
20:32 on
9 May, 2013
Excathedra
No idea ….was it a rhetorical question ??
———————————————————————–
As you know he plays despite poor form,and again the team form and points has dipped to Tony Mowbray levels over the last few months,this is similar to the malaise which cost us the Title at Fir Park when MON was in transit (unofficially).
Perhaps GH looking for a new berth with a friendly face.
stumptownbhoy-(ex-sandiegobhoy)for_wee_oscar
That story sir is what I mean about Celtic Fans, I doff my cap
Houl yer Wheesht.
In his biography.
Celtic Underground @celticrumours 49m
Hearing talk that big mjallby may be heading back to Sweden in the summer.