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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TBJ – good news is good news, especially if confirmed.
Confirmed it is and you can expect it to put a wee smile on your face sooner rather than later.
Probably start of the week through correct channels.
Meanwhile enjoy the game – just dropped my boy at the supporters bus to use our one ticket.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 30TH APRIL 2016 11:10 AM
Onya.
Your enthusiasm is contagious.
Hail Hail
P.S. As you can probably gather I`ve had a wee day gently supping and waiting impatiently for this evening`s proceedings.
:-)
You can bump your gums and slag all you like, but the club history will show that RD is among the top ten managers in the clubs history to win two league titles in a row, when bigger names failed.
Lurking Huns GIRFUYs
Ronny Delia,
Did he sign players? I dunno but how long was Carlton Cole on trial with Ronny before we signed Carlton? Maybe the Medical Staff signed him? According to Sky (?) it was a month.
http://www.skysports.ie/football/news/11787/10038445/celtic-give-striker-carlton-cole-an-18-month-contract
Macjay
Credit to Paul indeed. Stumbled on this blog after black Sunday and have read it most days no matter where in the world I’ve been. Met some great lads , sorted me with tickets good few times. We might have our disagreements but we all know what we have in common .
Off to local Tim boozer now for cold birthday beer.
Go and do it Ronny
Hail hail.
Cowiebhoy
Good post.
Honesty and consistency, with no re-writing of facts.
Witnesses to a – Five In A Row
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
The legendary Celtic scarf right n the front, happy happy days:))
Mon The Celtic..
MacJay
I wouldnt be surprised to see Erik smash another header in.
i like his attitude, good player as well.
We play with guts…we win:)
Dont sup too much mind.
Dont want you going too mental when we win
Me…i will be out annoying the local zombies….whatever happens:)
As ive noticed in the last week, a few brave enough to wear that blue rag in Maryhill.
Shocking.
HH
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 10s10 seconds ago
Celtic team to face Hearts: Gordon; Lustig, Ambrose, Sviatchenko, Tierney; McGregor, Brown, Bitton; Roberts, Griffiths, Kazim-Richards
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 31s31 seconds ago
Subs: Bailly, Rogic, Commons, Mackay-Steven, Armstrong, Izaguirre, Janko KO: 12:30pm #COYBIG
Right am off to the Brazen, and hopefully a great day, if not? It’s not the end of the world, have a great and safe day everyone, and HH
Lurking huns GIRFUYs
Ambrose for Mulgrew and McGregor for Rogic.
Good to see Saidy Janko has made it to the bench.
Today’s team before I go
Celtic team v Hearts: Gordon; Lustig, Ambrose, Sviatchenko, Tierney; McGregor, Brown, Bitton; Roberts, Griffiths, Kazim-Richards
Bsr @1132
Indeedy
HH
Glad to see McGregor playing.
DBBIA,
Fr John was from Maryhill, I think. He did become a priest after his mother died. If memory serves, he is buried in Lambhill. Lovely man. He must have had a great bedside manner.
SIPSINI on 30TH APRIL 2016 10:57 AM
You’re welcome – someone else posted the link, which I followed.
COYBIG in deepest, darkest Gorgie!
HH to all from sunny North Cyprus!
Janko on his way back from injury, good to see,I think he’ll be a good ‘un for us..
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD
We had a priest in Ardrosssan in the 70s who had a great bedside manner…
LYNOTT67 on 30TH APRIL 2016 11:22 AM
Happy Birthday to you, and also to the great Jim Craig.
Let’s hope that the Bhoys give you both a big present this afternoon.
HH
WC
So many rumours… so many false dawns … makes a boy cynicall
Hoping that the stench that will no doubt fill the air from a ‘ cultural March’ in Broxburn today will not waft up the road to the People’s Republic of Winchburgh and spoil my enjoyment of a certain 3-0 victory for the hoops!
COYBIG
Hopefully McGregor will bring some energy to the midfield. Hard shift for the young man, he’ll have to carry Brown and Bitton
“Yeeeeeesssssss,……………………….Efe is playing”
things you don’t hear often
LYNOTT67 on 30TH APRIL 2016 11:22 AM
Macjay
Feliz cumpleanos , mi companero en Celtic.
Ay. Differences.
Of course.
They should never divide us.
Ay. There` s the rub.
The biggest thing to me that this Celtic team is not a team.
Kieran Tierney gets attacked on that field and noone is going off his head at the perpetrator. Selfish barstewards.
C’mon the Celts today. Get it over the line.
Kieran is just a kid. Get the impostors out ASAP.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 30TH APRIL 2016 11:23 AM
Magic photograph.
OORSELS.
Sinn Fein
Celtic are unbeaten in their last 8 visits to Tynecastle. – won 7 drawn 1
A team full of bang average players with a few exceptions
BURGHBHOY
Check wind direction;close windows if required.
Speaking from years of Kilwinning experience…
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 30TH APRIL 2016 11:28 AM
MacJay
Maryhill
Getting the impression that you didn`t suffer fools ( ie. huns ) gladly.
Respect.
GARY67
Got a horrible feeling that he won’t be carrying Brown for long.
Burghbhoy
The best game we have played this season was at Tynecastle.
I would love to do the same today – but can’t see it.
Anyhoo, Broxburn always had it’s fair share of mad republicans with a not too shabby “aim”.
SnipersonthebuchanroofCSC
Hopefully a good performance and 3 pts today for the faithful travelling support.
Oot! Running up to the club.
Emeraldbee……in my thoughts. HH
TGM
Have not seen hun tap in Dalmuir for 4 years. Have seen two in the last fortnight. House prices drapping.