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
- ...
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- ...
- 29
- »
At this point The following managers in the uk will prepare shortly for next years european champions league
Davie moyes
Roberto Mancini
Neil Lennon l
Others to be confirmed
Lambert- Clarke will prepare to stay in the epl- others are unemployed
Hh
Bada
I cancelled HD last month because I could not afford it, they contacted me within a fortnight, and gave it free for 6 months for being a loyal customer. (22 yrs)
Weefra HH
Re my post at 23:05,
With ankle socks, it will be silicon-injected shin pads.
Fortunes Favour Mibbes
23:05 on
9 May, 2013
Doc is Neil Lennon
“Anyhoos, the focus over the next few years will be on the shorts. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, that those tight fitting nylon shorts of the 80s will be making a big(small?) return very soon…”
Lionsroar67 will be over the moon, as this is in his Thursday CQN 5s apparel :-)
HH
CRC
Doc.
I can call on the bhoys of the auld brigade ;-))
Steptoe and son kung fu fighters cfc.
I was in Tartuffe in southern Estonia on this day 15 years ago. I had a shortwave radio and by balancing it on top of the wardrobe in my hotel room I got broken commentary if ‘the game’.
With my heart in my mouth I survived every gap in sound as we stayed 1 up, I got the tail end of the bloody George O’Boyle header and breathed again.
When Harrald got the 2nd I hit the ceiling, the walls and the stars!
At the end I phoned my Dad (RIP) and told him to tape everything.
With no one I knew or who would even have a scoot as to why I was in tears I went to the hotel bar- just me and the barmaid, she must have thought I had lost the plot……I had. I was in a drug I had never experienced before.
I jumped a cab to the ubiquitous ‘Irish Bar’ – I had been there many times but never had a hint if the Blarney, but tonight, of all nights a wee local band kicked off with Whiskey in the Jar’ and I met a real Irishman who asked me how Celtic got on!
Some time later Conner and I took the stage and regaled the locals with The Fields and Gary Owen- I felt no pain
Thank you Vim, Henrick, Harrald, Tommy Boyd and the whole crew who made an Exile the happiest Man in the world.
Hail hail
Sorry guys – bloody predictive – should be Tartu in Southern Estonia
Stephbhoy,
Don’t remember any of your list being beaten unconscious, or abused in his car, or physically abused on live television or being sent bullets and attempts at incendiary devices,
CRC
Aye, no chance of the hoops getting the opportunity to shrink to fit inferior players on that particular field….
Paintedoanhoops.csc ;-)
See you tomorrow
hh
b
Just back in from the specials gig, last 2songs,enjoy yourself and wondering now if this is the end.wish ah was there wi hun pal instead of ma Tim -ones tho ah doubt they would have got the irony
CRC,
Oh dear :))
Lionsroar, if you’re reading, those things affect your ability to run at speed. For a number of reasons..
Was it not those shorts that led to the invention of the jock-strap, aka baw-holster?
Lionsroar, if you’re as passionate about your fives football as you are yer politics, you MUST be suffering when you get home! :))
wee fra
replied…
FFB, that’s the price, ranges from £40-£50. Some even more, mad.
BSR, my Na Na’s were correct, just not repeated enough;-)
Sipsini, The Bhoys of the Auld Brigade are always ready.
CRC, scary, LionRoars67, go baggy!
Jude2005, carrying Auld Docs carry out in for him, and the carry oot wasn’t the only thing that was swilling around your feet.
Goodnight one and all, there is no greater feeling than another day in Timland..
bjmac
23:19 on
9 May, 2013
You seen some of the bellys on show. Think the hoops have been washed far to many times :-)
Looking forward to tomorrow night.
HH
CRC
BJMac, speak for yourself.
WearingXXXCSC
Doc
Try not to lower the tone please.
Jinkydstar
The first iMac was launched later that year in the SCET building ;-) “no floppy drive!?! It will never take off” A few advisors were heard protesting……. The rest as they say history… ;-))
Memories ;-)
hh
b
Jude, cannae help but lower the tone in this high brow establishment!
If it is the new top I like it, is that a star above the Magners or a reg trade mark thing.
Any hun msm trolling I will save you some time, we are not signing a Dutch guy called Regi Trade, Regi Mark, Mark Reg Trade etc. put your pencils down and dream of better days when your club was alive
HH
Jinkyredstar – sorry for getting the name wrong ;-)
bsr
Seems a nice girl!!!
Feckin flip
That new away top looks like a sponsored high vis vest.
Hideous!
Is it me or some of the folks going to the doo 2 morro night are going to be lost b4 they get there??
Dont fancy wandering abt Blantyre on a Friday night.
Juse, at least they won’t be zombies wandering around.
RalphWaldoEllison remembers ALS victims Jimmy Jonstone & John Cushley
20:24 on 9 May, 2013
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.
*as was his Renton born grampa who married a Dumbarton born daughter of the manse.
As for proof his mother was a ben Affleck, she was buried out of the pineapple.
My wee Jude got MOTM in his age group for the 2nd week running tonight. <:o)
Ps and a busted lip for his trouble as well.
BT
Gotcha. :))
Weefra HH
Jude, the lip will mend, the pride will not diminish.
Well done wee fhella.
jude
the bhoys have sat navs primed… o))
Doc
Thats even more dangerous in Blantyre!!
ps Juse??
BT. Seemingly two of the lads coming with us are in the KOSC! And know the venue, so sorted. No Sat Nav needed after all.
bt
Sat navs in Blantyre?? I need to get out mare!!
Jude, apologies re name spelling, my bad.
Someone did to me once, it was just rude;-)
No o, replaced with an i, maybe they were making a point!
Doc
The Knights is surrounded by fields btw. Mind them big coo’s
Take a good look at the Sat Navs going into Blantyre……….cos…..
Doc
The d & s are next to one another. Simple mistake.