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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Che
Are they not banned from europe for three years ;)
Evening folks.
The memories came flooding back reading the article Paul. After the disappointment of not clinching the title at Dunfermline the week before, losing a goal late in the game it was a very long week until the game arrived.
It was a very nervous atmosphere in the stadium early doors, quickly settled down by the King of Kings early goal. But then as the game went on and O’Boyle had “that” chance the nerves returned. Then when “hapless” Harold sunk the winner it was celebration time. Felt like ten years of frustration, being the butt of jokes, having to endure the MSM was blown away that day.
If my memory is correct, I think the Dalmarnock Bridge was closed for repairs and we had a much longer than usual walk back to the car. But what a walk of joy. All the cars were backed up as they waited their turn to pass through the traffic light junctions. Flags and scarves hanging out of windows and a glorious feeling of joy all around.
Then off home to Blantyre and the Parky for a celebration drink. Thank you Mr Jansen for a remarkable achievement, especially battling against internal forces within the club and of course the usual external forces in Scotland.
Dan
doc is neil lennon
21:58 on 9 May, 2013
Am sure Easdales are gangster enough never to be fit and proper. They might own a lot of buses but you need “fuel” to put in the buses.
Doc is Neil Lennon 21:58:
With respect, Che asked a closed question…lol…:)
CRC:
I’ll start:
Lennybhoy
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Doc is Neil Lennon
22:02 on
9 May, 2013
CRC, I wasn’t in goals tonight.
Obviously.
—————————–
Don’t think you would have stopped the own goal :-)
HH
CRC
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/
21:38 on 9 May, 2013
Does Lenny know big Yogi has been sacked by Hartlepool? Hardly got a year.
barely six months and nearly got them out of an impossible position…….disgrace and an indication of what is wrong in English football
TBJ
A plague of locusts would be more welcome in Europe.
can i have raspberry on that champions league ice cream
22:03 on 9 May, 2013
Indeed.
lennybhoy…supporting neil lennon and cfc until i die
21:12 on 9 May, 2013
Superb Stuff
Che
Mainland europe has never been so grateful for the english channel :)
stephbhoy @ 21:56
You’re making some very flippant judgements on someone who has Celtic at his heart. It defies the logic of being a “true Celt”. You shouldn’t be making the assumptions you do, which are pretty scathing actually, against someone who is without a doubt in my mind, a “true Celt”, truer than me, and probably most of the fholk I know.
You’re right to question the influence of money and wealth on individuals, but your focus is way out on that one.
Travel hopefully folks
It costs nothing
And there’s little we can do to alter other folk’s decisions
Hope – and enjoy the good times we are in.
Successful and healthy with it.
U
CRC, I got to the appointment this afternoon which kept me away from the 5’s tonight.
It was cancelled, no notice or reason, just a message, we’ll do it this time next week.
Ragin’ and an email from me to say, let me think about that, actually no, booked for the next couple of weeks, playin’ 5’s!
Don’t think Thatcher is long for this world
And I predict Sir Alex will retire this season
BacktotheFuture.com
stephbhoy, Your last post re Lenny was really harsh, first of all Lenny has said or did nothing for anyone to criticise him about. You have already dissed him for his motives IF he leaves and dissed him IF he fails in this mythical move, more or less saying he’d crawl back if he could. These are 2 terrible slurs on the man’s character for absolutely no reason whatever.
Theres a huge scrap value for ibrox.
The sevconians rewriting of history would make Winston Smith blush.
georgeorwellcsc
Has any English manager ever won the EPL? Just asking.
Weefra HH
WeefratheTim
Are there any english managers left in the EPL??
Starry
Brilliant. :)))
Weefra HH
Prof FJ Lewis
Enjoyed that.
Weefra
No English manager has won the EPL.
Howard Wilkinson I think was last to win top division with Leeds in the last ever first division
burghbhoy
My thoughts entirely. Just checking. :))
Weefra HH
WeefratheTim
Maybe they can re-brand it soon!!
The greatest league in England without the English!!
Silly Silly Media Men…
So Challs saved them from a second Administration…:} ?
Stephbhoy,
You stated that you would have to be murdered before giving up the celtic job,
you never said you would up sticks if threatened, thats pretty selfish,
I will ask again, name one high profile person who has had anywhere near the level of abuse that Neil Lennon has faced
And the mighty english wonder why they cannot win a world cup! Answer, hire a Scottish manager. Simples!
Weefra HH
Prof FJ Lewis
Welcome Prof, you’re no a ….naw of course yer no!!
HH
Starry
Shurely, Sky should have something to say about this situation???
Maybe not. :((
Weefra HH
wee fra
you coming down to g72 tomorrow?
prof fj lewis
22:00 on 9 May, 2013
Welcome tae the mad hoose.
Was the half time coke a bit powdery?
stephbhoy
Mind your language?
Until we meet again…
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
BT
Won’t be coming tomorrow as I am going to the Hibs club in Carfin for a 50th birthday party which will get very very messy.
Re Lenny hope he stays and think he will…..
Kikinthenakas
lennyBhoy, tomorrow, Blantyre!
Looking forward to it.
Doc
Sent you a msg on FB
Kikinthenakas
Kikinthenakas, blast from the past for me, used to spend a fair amount of time there in the 80’s,early 90’s, a story for Saturday morning.
nakas
spoke to T this afternoon, he mentioned the party…