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.
[calameo code=000390171179f475cf1c0 lang=en page=1 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,078 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- ...
- 29
- »
The biggest problem with NL leaving is the standard of replacement Lawwell would go for.
He got out of jail with Lenny as he overhauled the shambles of Mowbray (PL’s lame appointment) squad very quickly, the club couldn’t afford another “lame” appointment.
That’s why Dermot Desmond must make Neil’s mind up for him with a suitable legthly contract of 4, 5 years.
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/ 21:33:
Sorry mate disagree, personally think MON has had his day, just my opinion. Also he likes money to spend, not Everton’s way.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Does Lenny know big Yogi has been sacked by Hartlepool? Hardly got a year.
Where is SEAN frae prestwick these days
valentinesday
20:32 on 9 May, 2013
Off topic……..I’ve never met a
hun that I liked.
———————–
Best comment of the night!
SFA dont do independent inquiries!!
NFL has worked for celtic for over a decade and throughout that time he has had to face a lot of negative stuff in the west of Scotland and Scotland in general, but anyone saying he is leaving celtic for his famiy’s safety etc… is imho talking through a hole in their arse, it is pure nonsense to suggest that would be the reason for him going. I suspect NFL is a wealthy man and if he or his family were facing terrible living conditions he could leave at any time and potentially with a nice package from celtic.
no if NFL decides to leave celtic its because he wants the money on offer and when/ if he falls on his arse he’ll jump at the chance to return to his ‘boyhood hero’s’ bla bla bla etc… celtic is a means in itself to ordinary celtic supporters like me but for others its a means to an end. in other words if I was lucky enough to manage celtic you’d have to murder me before I would make the choice to leave celtic and I suspect there are many others like me.
hail hail
Remind me……………..when’s the Cup Final?????
See that ad on the telly for the new Range Rover Evoque wae the guy washin the mud aff the motor?
I think it’s pish
Kevtic @ 21:38
Couldn’t agree more. Losing any of the players would be preferable to losing Lenny. We need to give him (and John Park) a wage hike and contract extensions. Would be the best signings of transfer window.
I’ll be there on Saturday and all the fans need to let Neil know how much he is loved at Celtic Park.
Craignho
OneNeilLennon CSC
Doc just got Internet access here, what’s the latest are the dead or struggling on?
bankiebhoy1 21:48:
Sunday 26th May
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
stephbhoy
You don’t think having kids, and their safety being under threat, as well his own, might be an issue?
Stephbhoy
What if he wants to continue working ….but remove himself from the constant harassment from the Huns
Unless you have had to endure the difficulties that Lenny has had to endure then I don’t think that you ( or anyone else ) can properly comment
Che 21:49:
If you mean sevco, still limping along…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Stephbhoy,
so if your family were at risk you wouldn’t cosider leaving, pretty selfish attitude
bankiebhoy,
Fair point.
The new away top looks ace :))
stephbhoy
21:47 on 9 May, 2013
NFL has worked for celtic for over a decade and throughout that time he has had to face a lot of negative stuff in the west of Scotland and Scotland in general, but anyone saying he is leaving celtic for his famiy’s safety etc… is imho talking through a hole in their arse, it is pure nonsense to suggest that would be the reason for him going. I suspect NFL is a wealthy man and if he or his family were facing terrible living conditions he could leave at any time and potentially with a nice package from celtic.
no if NFL decides to leave celtic its because he wants the money on offer and when/ if he falls on his arse he’ll jump at the chance to return to his ‘boyhood hero’s’ bla bla bla etc… celtic is a means in itself to ordinary celtic supporters like me but for others its a means to an end. in other words if I was lucky enough to manage celtic you’d have to murder me before I would make the choice to leave celtic and I suspect there are many others like me.
hail hail
Well said Stephbhoy, me to.
Gb
Cheers Lenny
Hopefully last till Monday till I’m back at work, I’d hate to miss the party.
Has the thommo blog surfaced?
Lennybhoy
…………….thanks.
………………………….that would explain a fair whack of the mischievous hunned-up speculation around Neil’s future.
Wouldn’t think bad of Lennon IF he were to end up at a top 8 side in EPL.
Lots odd ifs and buts though.
Che, Thommo has blogged he won’t be putting a new article on the undead until next week.
He’s off to Syria, some sort of tiff going on over there apparently.
Gangsters trying to take over Ipox, no other ones, Easdale Bros. I believe.
Rumours they are a front for yet more ne’re do wells, well ok they are rich, but the money needs cleaning.
Ally just pipped at the post by Moyes for the Man U job, stick on for the Everton job.
Other than that, nought. Quiet over there, for now.
Soup at your work was particularly good today.
odd = of
SmashingMilkBottles
21:30 on
9 May, 2013
Excathedra@ 20.51
Thanks for the update,very interesting.
corkcelt
21:01 on 9 May, 2013
All of Ladbrokes/Wm Hill/Paddy Power are now making Lenny favourite for Everton job.
That’s not on knowledge but money, as I told Bada earlier at bet of only £50 will make a bookie react on a price, no big the bookie.
A good friend an-ex high street bookie confirmed this. NFL won’t be going to Everton.
Stephbhoy, name one high profile person that gets anywhere near the crap Neil gets up here
LennyBhoy, details, your report lacked detail!;-)
Doc
Cheers
Not a sight of any of them here, not one.
Maybe cancelled all their holidays to buy shares in the the the rangers?
Che,
They used all their holiday money to buy shares!
Stupid Stupid Huns.
First time post, many years lurking…..
I’ve been lucky to see many special games at paradise over the years but this game was the only one I experienced something a bit weird. Whenever this forum reminisces about that game I often think back and wonder….
My memories of that game. All the tension and agony of the barren years and the fear of them erasing our great manager’s domestic record, coming to an unbearable peak. It felt like we were watching our own families being fed to the lions in the colloseum. It was real pain and grief for every celtic heart in the stadium. Then suddenly and unexpectedly it all washed away as good old Harald slotted that goal home. The last minutes of the game were pointless. No one paying any attention to the play on the park. We knew we had done it at last. The party started and the pain evaporated. The final whistle went and uncharacteristic of me I found myself on the park as did many fans sitting at my end of the stadium in the front rows. The stewards must have been prepped by wee Fergus (clever man), they made no attempt to hold the line.
The sun was out that day and I hadn’t been drinking or smoking (although others were puffing frantically to sedate the nerves) but suddenly it felt like a haze had descended onto the park. Like my eyes had developed a film over them. Maybe it was tears. It was at this point I realised the whole playing field was suddenly jam packed with people. I’m talking Argyle St on xmas eve. Not a square foot of the park empty. And stranger still there were groups of people wearing long trench coats and old style suits just as I’d seen from old photos, guys in denim jackets and jeans complete with permed hair…tartan turn ups, tank tops and all. It looked like every previous generation of supporters were standing, moving, crisscrossing each other right in front of me. Every face looked as real as the next, some joyous, many crying…and then as I turned back to the stand the mist lifted. I headed back to my seat without hinder or help from the bemused stewards.
So, unless there was some prearranged fancy dress party going on or someone slipped something into my half time coke…well you know…wonder if anyone else had a similar experience that day? Or maybe I’m just special…
Have a great night and keep up the great posts…..
Evening Bhoys & Ghirls
So where is the list of CQNers going tomorrow night then? :-)
Good game of CQN 5s tonight, but struggling for 10 fit players, with some players hugging the goalie roles. 2 goals in it in the end, but on the loosing side again.
Scored 3 tonight as well as a great own goal. My best finish of the night :-)
HH
CRC
IF Lenny goes to Everton, He goes with our thanks, for all that he gave and for all that he endured.
Glasgow Celtic FC will still be here and will motor on relentlessly.
Che 21:53:
Doc is Neil Lennon covered Thommo///
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
CRC,
Shhhh, I mentioned a list once, but I think I got away with it.
CRC, I wasn’t in goals tonight.
Obviously.
Second paragraph from the so called” independent commission” renders it total keech.
Charles Green has been found not guilty of links with disgraced ex-Ibrox chief Craig Whyte in a report commissioned by the club.
Queen’s Counsel, Roy Martin QC, who oversaw the investigation has completed a draft report which will be handed to the clubs board confirming there is no credibility in obscene claims made by serial liar Whyte that he was part of the Charles Green led summer takeover which saved the club from administration.
brogan rogan trevino and hogan supports kano 1000
20:44 on 9 May, 2013
Jim Connell
Paul67 et al
Congratulations to Davie Moyes on getting the Manchester United job, a good Partick bhoy if I am not mistaken, terrific achievement, and well deserved. Compare and contrast Walter Smith’s tenure at Goodison, a grim time to be an Everton supporter. Sir Alex is the hardest act to follow in football, but following David Moyes is no easy task either. Neil Lennon won five SPL titles, four Scottish Cups and two League Cups as a player, at a time when, paradoxically, it was the most difficult time for Celtic to win anything, no matter how good. And we were very good indeed. (And I did not mention Seville) Neil is on his way to matching that as Celtic Manager and I hope he achieves that in the next couple of years in Glasgow. Timing is all, I am convinced that Sir Alex would have given the nod to Martin O’Neill had he actually retired ten years back, but he didn’t and Martin’s star has waned, hence Moyes was in the right place, at the right time.