We’re running through the CQN 11 guests as we get set for another fabulous night at the Kerrydale Suite tomorrow evening, Friday 13th March to raise funds to build another CQN school kitchen in Malawi, this time to honour Brother Walfrid. We featured Tom Boyd, Tommy Coyne and Joe Miller yesterday and this morning it’s the turn of our fourth guest Pat Bonner. we’ve two or three more to feature today so check back later…
CELTIC boss Billy McNeill realised the true value of Pat Bonner in a game in which the popular Irishman did NOT play.
The Hoops’ legendary captain and manager explained: “Pat must have been sick at being forced to miss the 1988 Scottish Cup Final win over Dundee United on the memorable afternoon we completed the Centenary Double.
“Pat had a calf muscle injury and I told his back-up Allen McKnight on Friday to prepare as though he was playing the following day. Pat’s injury was camouflaged from everybody as physio Brian Scott tried to get him fit. I worked Pat quite hard in the morning and then asked how he felt. He told me he wasn’t one hundred per cent and I replied he had taken a hard decision. So, Allen was in. But Pat’s attitude was so typical. He didn’t want to risk letting anyone down.”
The history books tell you Celtic won 2-1 with two goals from Frank McAvennie after Kevin Gallacher had fired the Tannadice ahead. Bonner, capped eighty times by his country, yelled himself hoarse with encouragement from the touchline.
There is a happy ending – the keeper won three Scottish Cup medals on other occasions to add to his four league titles and one League Cup.
* This is taken from ‘Caesar and The Assassin: Managing Celtic after Jock Stein. Billy McNeill and Davie Hay with Alex Gordon. Published by CQN books and available at www.cqnbookstore.com.
Before Friday’s CQN 11 St Patrick’s Dinner you can win a Celtic jersey signed by the 2008 squad, who won one of the most remarkable titles in our history. All proceeds go towards building a fourth CQN school kitchen in Malawi, for Mary’s Meals.
