The Centenary Season was memorable for many reasons, not least the brand of skilful, attacking, football we played. The title was destined for Celtic Park after a win at Ibrox, but Hearts at Tynecastle would be our first opportunity to officially become champions.
Two tickets were secured, but for the Hearts end, so title celebrations were planned without colours. We were in the ground early – the enclosure in front of the stand. As the place filled up there was the occasional Hearts scarf, but the majority were also without football colours. By kick off it was clear there were more Celtic than Hearts fans in the section. Both sets of supporters were free to express their feelings without any trouble.
The game was forgettable. Celtic, who had run teams ragged all season, were unable to craft a goal and left pointless. It was disappointing, but a week later, 63,000 (over) packed Celtic Park in the sunshine as the league was won in a more appropriate environment.
My preference would always be to win a title before our own season ticket holders at Celtic Park, but if we can’t do that, Tynecastle comes pretty close as an ideal alternate venue. Hearts fans sang “We’re only here for the party” when we lost the title seven years ago.
Let’s remind them who the champions are tomorrow, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Albert Kidd title in 1986. Albert Kidd, a Celtic fan, was a Dundee player at the time. On the last day of the season he was on the bench against Hearts, who needed a point to win the title. They were 32 games unbeaten. Albert hadn’t scored a single goal all season.
He was introduced with 15 minutes remaining. Five minutes later he opened the scoring at a corner kick. He then scored the goal which inspired Diego Maradona to run through the England team and score at the World Cup a few months later. Diego’s goal was brilliant, but Albert’s was far more astonishing. It was utterly astonishing.
We did something to Hearts that season. They never recovered and never will. That 15-minute cameo from Albert, with Celtic’s five goal mauling of St Mirren, finished them.
The Celtic Foundation’s ‘Heroes of ’86 – 30 years on’ dinner takes place on Sunday. Albert Kidd is guest of honour, as are Celts from that team (not all of them!), including our captain, Paul McStay. I hear the Kidd family will be very well represented on the night. It should be something special.
Enjoy your weekend, especially if you’re going to Tynecastle, or the Foundation dinner. These moments are precious.
30 years later, I’m still astonished.
Charlie Gallagher, What a Player
Charlie Gallagher was at Celtic Park for over 10 years. Encompassing the 1960’s, his career was an eventful one, touching the depths of despair and the ultimate triumph. Slightly-built, he seemed to lack the necessary robustness. But appearances can be very deceptive. Behind the easy-going exterior lurked a tremendous football brain, with the ability to spray passed which fast-running forwards would relish.
Charlie starred in one of Celtic’s best performances in years as MTK Budapest were beaten 3-0 in the European Cup-Winners’ Cup semi-final at Celtic Park. When Jock Stein arrived in March 1965, Gallagher was given a settled role at inside-right. His play was quiet but effective and good enough for him to retain a place for the Scottish Cup final. Eight minutes remained when Charlie trotted over to take a corner kick on the left. It was like one of those Spot the Ball competitions in the newspapers where the entrant must place the ball in the exactly the right spot. In this case, the target was the moving one of Billy McNeil’s head… And Gallagher’s accuracy was to signal the return of the glory days to Celtic Park.
The next two seasons were to see Charlie in the role of valuable pool member, covering for injuries or being used as a surprise weapon. In the first league game of 1965-66 season at Tannadice, Charlie hit the bar in the first two minutes and rumour has it that the bar is shaking yet. And, of course, it was the action replay from him and McNeill which gave Celtic their narrow victory over Vojvodina Novi Sad in the European Cup quarter-final in 1967.
One day at Muirton Park, where Celtic won 6-1, there was a brilliant Freudian slip by an old-timer standing near me in the enclosure. One particulate long pass was greeted with a clap and a cry of “Well done, Patsy”, an understandable confusion with Charlie’s namesake of more than 40 years earlier.
CHARLIE GALLAGHER? WHAT A PLAYER! by David Potter is published today by CQN. You can order your SIGNED copy HERE.
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Supersutton
Why we are Tims.
DELANEYS DUNKY on 30TH APRIL 2016 10:40 AM
MacJay
Ronny’s legacy will be the Bonny Bhairns coming through.
He would be perfect youth developpment coach at Lennoxtown next season.
===================================================================
I really would love to see that.
Proudbhoy,
Nope. Still waiting for The Karma. The Kalm before the storm perhaps
I hope the baby and family are well.
For WC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmcA9LIIXWw
Good luck to the bhoys today, unfortunately having to watch today’s game in this sweltering 26c Tenerife sunshine, go on and get this league won
Hail hail
If no news is good news … I fancy celtic to win the champions league
A legacy from Ronny, ha ha. 1 up front at home and 25 midfielders in the squad :-)
He tried his best admittedly but those that put him in the position should be held responsible, not Ronny.
Anyway he will hopefully get us 2IAR soon which is the ironic thing
HH
CRC
MacJay
Me too. Hope you and the family are keeping good health and well.
Imo, Ronnie’s real legacy will be the young lhads who come through the system. I was hoping he would have been given the time to bring them through. Obviously, that is not going to happen. I now wonder if anyone else is capable of building on his foundations or is even interested…………………
Mon the TIC.
Neganon
Big game today give the board sheet a rest ffs man, after the game fill your boots but ffs give us a break please.
Lynott
Yer namesake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M2jSzLBzK4
CRC
Lionsroars and his baseball bat for CEO at Celtic. ;)))
DELANEYS DUNKY on 30TH APRIL 2016 10:50 AM
My boy just departed.
He got a better offer.
Bigger and probably more attractive fish to fry in the fleshpots of Sydney.
:-)
Leigh Griff is due to smash somebody soon.
He isnt fond of the wee huns:)
Cmon Leigh.
HH
MACJAY
You brought him up well…
TONY DONNELLY67 on 30TH APRIL 2016 10:51 AM
Neganon
Big game today give the board sheet a rest ffs man, after the game fill your boots but ffs give us a break please.
===============================================================
Feelgood blog just now.
Come on ,`Tic.
Do it.
Just do it.
NORTH CYPRUS (FORMERLY BAKU) BHOY on 30TH APRIL 2016 9:51 AM
A great read, cheers for posting it. HH
MacJay
My son took a nice photo of me in Dublin at Easter, cuddling the statue of Phil Lynott. :)
Just a word on the Albert Kidd/Celtic supporter debate.
In the early seventies I used to play fives at Menzieshill Community Centre, and one night the Bold Albert, who was already well known in Dundee for his footballing skills, turned up.
He was wearing a dark blue tracksuit with a Celtic top underneath.
My friends in Celtic,
Lots of talk about the bigger picture. I look forward to the article.
With Ronny , his true achievement may take a few years to bear prominence.
Unfortunately he has lost backing with many of the players and the majority of the support, subsequently there is no alternative, he has to go.
Go for it today Ronny, go out in style with 5iar.
HH.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 30TH APRIL 2016 10:56 AM
You brought him up well…
================================================
Like father. :-)
Mind you. Chicks never came before the `Tic .
Hope we can tie up the league today, so good luck Bhoys
But
Let’s not big up Ronnie for making a difference
The u17s have won the Glasgow cup for the past 3 seasons – how many has Ronnie been with us ?
Yet he takes credit for making a difference with our youth set up
I read more than enough earlier if his comments are true about who he thinks should replace him
He is delusional as well as a very poor Manager, in my opinion
I will be glad to see the back of this cheap management option, who is currently in a job he should not be near
Anyway COYBIG and get over that line
HAIL HAIL THE CELTS ARE HERE!
DELANEYS DUNKY on 30TH APRIL 2016 10:57 AM
I loved Billy Connolly`s tribute to Phil.
Included chatting to his mum.
Moving , mate.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 30TH APRIL 2016 10:56 AM
Leigh Griff is due to smash somebody soon.
He isnt fond of the wee huns:)
Cmon Leigh.
HH
=========================================================
I would love it if Leigh capped off a great season with a performance agst. the wee hun.
Leigh would too .
Can`t wait , mate.
Emeraldbee thoughts & prayers for your cousin & family at this sad time , here’s hoping we wrap up 5in a row today God bless
Macjay, cheers for the memories, I once met the great man after a gig at the old Apollo. Didn’t think I would still be using this name after 11 years of posting on this blog.
Hoping Ronny can give me a good birthday present today by wrapping up this league.
Hail hail to all going today and watching the world over.
Sing ur hearts out lads.
Oh here we go, try and have a bit of common sense and a little dignity and also a bit of a class the man has handed in his notice, but some sre just for not letting go is absolutely astonishing, and embarrassing no class at all but then again each to their own.
Mon the Hoops.
5 in a row.
HH
MacJay
I pissed myself laughing at Billy Connolly as a kid. Gret when I last saw him. Sad.
Difficult game V the diets today our form is basically c**p and we have individuels not performing all over the park.
Not an easy place to go when we’re not firing on all cylinders.
i’d throw Commons in from the start just behing the Griff today and hopefully the two of them can give us the goals we require.
No chance of seeing this :
Gordon
Lustig
Sviachenko
Efe
Tierney
McGregor
Johansen
Roberts
Commons
Christie
Griffiths
Cowriebhoy,
I not bigging Ronny up, but I am giving him credit for taking the time in adverse circumstances to watch and promote our youth. Especially compared with previous managers.
One thing I’m sure we can agree on is that Ronny has given 100% effort. If only all our staff could say that.
HH.
Top of the morning from cloudy Thornliebank.
Any horsey tips today.?
MacJay
Im confident we can do it today.
Leigh Griff is the man.
Lets win this league, and then get it all sorted out.
I will be screaming and shouting as usual today
Cmon Celtic.
All guns blazing.
HH
LYNOTT67 on 30TH APRIL 2016 11:04 AM
Used to sing that song folk style when there was folk/pop crossover.
11 years. Wow.
Credit to Paul.
Enjoy your coldies in the heat of Tenerife.
Otra cerveza !!!!!!
“The u17s have won the Glasgow cup for the past 3 seasons – how many has Ronnie been with us ?”
Cowiebhoy,
2. And the gap seems to be widening. 1-0, 2-0, 4-0.
8-0 next season? :)
HH
Ha ha irony in its best form this morning.
The ole black kettlely pot thing.
Think it will be a draw today and we will move onto Paradise next week looking for those final couple of points.
Enjoy your day, hoopsters
HH
CRC
DELANEYS DUNKY on 30TH APRIL 2016 11:06 AM
First saw Billy backing Matt McGinn at the Metropole. `68.
I`m so sad that he appears to be so ill.
Funniest guy i ever saw.
Parkheadcumsalford- a propos the medic you mentioned the other night; I don’t know of him but I did hear of a GP in the south side of Glasgow who joined the priesthood after his mother died.
Of course the way things are goin’ your ole local GP will soon become as rare as your ole parish priest.