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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BT,
I’m sure there’ll be many who still manage to get magners all over the front of their top :)
HH
Neganon2 et al.
Is it seriously being suggested that our CEO should be expected to meet with a single supporter who feels, (genuinely I’m sure) that the club isn’t where it should be?
Nothing personal Neganon but I seriously hope our CEO has far better and more profitable ways to spend his highly remunerated time.
Neganon2
Did you miss this bit, “I tend to agree that a statement should be made; and I believe it will be done in the next week or so”. That is the rallying call, banner that’ll see me continue next season.
The long wait is over. It will never happen but I was told I had refused an offer to meet Lawwell. It was nonsense of course but the things you need to do to prove it is nonsense………
BCW I didn’t miss it but I will believe it when I see it. If it appears then it will be something like “we are monitoring the situation” but there will be no substance.
But I would love to be wrong BCW.
Celtic punter betting 92 grand ?
HOME Glasgow & West
Punter who lost £92,000 on Celtic match loses legal bid
STV
Gordon Shearer placed wager with BetVictor on a Celtic v Kilmarnock match in 2011.
Celtic Park: The home side’s 2-1 win over Kilmarnock in 2011 was at the centre of the case.
Celtic Park: The home side’s 2-1 win over Kilmarnock in 2011 was at the centre of the case. © STV
A punter who lost more than £90,000 in an online bet has lost a legal bid to have his case reviewed by a senior Scottish judge.
Gordon Shearer placed £92,476 with BetVictor during Celtic’s clash against Kilmarnock on Christmas Eve 2011, according to a Court of Session judgment issued on Friday.
Mr Shearer claimed the 1/18 bet was for Celtic to win the clash, which they duly did 2-1.
The bookmakers said the wager was only for Celtic to win the second half of the match, however, which was tied 1-1 after Celtic went a goal up in the first half.
BetVictor then refused to pay out on the bet or refund Mr Shearer his original stake. Mr Shearer appealed to the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS) Ltd in England.
In summer 2012, administrators at the service refused to grant Mr Shearer’s appeal and ruled in favour of BetVictor.
Lawyers acting for Mr Shearer wanted judge Lord Boyd to give the go-ahead for a judicial review into the IBAS decision.
They told Lord Boyd their client had “exhausted his funds” and “required to obtain legal aid” to take the case to the Court of Session.
The judge refused to grant permission to the request, saying IBAS was registered in England and Scottish courts did not have any jurisdiction over it.
In the written judgment, Lord Boyd said: “I refuse permission to proceed. I am not satisfied that the petitioner has demonstrated that the second respondent is subject to the jurisdiction of this court.
“It is a company incorporated in England and having its place of business in England. The adjudication was carried out in England.
“Rule 2(l) of paragraph 8 of the Civil Jurisdictions and Judgments Act 1982 applies and provides that jurisdiction lies in the courts in the place where the company has its seat, i.e. England.
“I have concluded that because the second respondent is not amenable to the jurisdiction of the Scottish courts that there are no real prospects of success.
“Even if it were to proceed the petitioner would face some formidable hurdles
“Rumour has it that it was the CQN posters who picked the team”
Tony,
There’s a player short then. ;)
4-4-3 csc
Stick it up your ).( I said.
Hello Anthony,
We’ve tried to make you laugh and put you on the edge of your seat. But most of all, we’ve loved putting on a show for you. So we’re sad that you’ve cancelled your Sky TV.
Benjybhoy Mul, Ahh, dont say that about Albert Kidd!! On another matter I heard Stuart Cosgrove on Tv years ago about casuals Kirting Hunz were they Huns? Seemingly very few Tims in that scheme?
player short then. ;)
Nawwww? Is there?
Watch this space in the coming minths for something very special coming in this respect which has been 2 years in the making.
HH
CRC
———-
You gonna be a daddy again?????!
;-)
HH jamesgang
A beautiful maroon-clad historical squirrel is still a squirrel.
:-(
HH jamesgang
The Scotsman stating the obvious.
1
HAVE YOUR SAY
The PFA’s Teams of the Year have been announced with more Aberdeen squad members than Celtic players named in the chosen eleven for the Premiership team.
Player of the Year nominee Jonny Hayes, right-back Shay Logan, and midfielders Kenny McLean and Graeme Shinne all make the cut from Pittodrie, while Player of the Year nominee and league top scorer Leigh Griffiths and Young Player of the Year nominee Kieran Tierney are the only players to be included in the Celtic Park contingent.
Dundee have also got more representatives in the team than Ronny Deila’s club, with Player of the Year nominees Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart both included, as well as goalkeeper Scott Bain. Also in the starting eleven are defenders Alim Ozturk of Hearts, and Andrew Davies of Ross County.#
There is no place in the team for some of this season’s top performers with Celtic’s Tom Rogic, Hearts’ Igor Rossi and Motherwell’s Lewis Moult all being denied a spot.
The Championship team is unsurprisingly dominated by Rangers, Falkirk and Hibernian, with Rangers taking up almost half of the chosen eleven. With 10 goals and 17 assists from full-back, James Tavernier is included, alongside teammate and captain Lee Wallace, midfielder Jason Holt, top-scorer Martyn Waghorn, and Young Player of the Year nominee Barrie McKay.
McKay’s fellow Young Player of the Year nominees Jason Cummings and John McGinn are included in the team, alongside Hibs colleague Darren McGregor. With the race for second place in the Championship coming down to the final weekend, current holders of second spot Falkirk have also gained recognition with goalkeeper Danny Rogers, Peter Grant and John Baird all included.
Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/more-aberdeen-than-celtic-stars-in-pfa-team-of-the-year-1-4114647#ixzz47Dk4sVRO
Follow us: @TheScotsman on Twitter | TheScotsmanNewspaper on Facebook
Barrybhoy 29TH APRIL 2016 12:32 PM.
Nail on head mate . Wish we were back to the days when ,our only talking point was how many we would score .
‘Dafabet on the front of the jersey? Magners on the back of the jersey?
When are we getting a tobacco company on the socks? :)))’
ClogherJnr
.
Just spoke to My Mum..630 GBP for a SB at Ibrox..How much is Celtic’s SB..?
Summa
NegAnon2 on 29th April 2016 1:55 pm
The long wait is over. It will never happen but I was told I had refused an offer to meet Lawwell.
=======
Who told you that?
I dont see enough of Aberdeen (I only see them when they play us) to know how their players perform week in and week out …
but, as for the Celtic players, I can’t think of too many other than Tierney and Griffiths that I would have said had particularly good seasons. Tom Rogic has had moments for sure …. but consistently enough to merit being in a team of the season? I wouldn’t have said so. Sviatchenko has shown real promise, but hasn’t played enough to justify a selection…
The only other player I would have said should have been in the team is Nir Biton.
Okay … I just threw the Nir Biton bit in to make my pal, Fan-a-tic’s, head explode. Just joking Fan…. :)
Mike in Toronto
And the goalkeepers?
Why it was little ole you traditionalist that said it.
New Ireland away kit. With hoops on the sleeves. Barca match in Dublin this July?
http://www.joe.ie/sport/pic-the-new-ireland-away-jersey-is-an-absolute-beaut/542501
MAYFAIR ?
Might cover everything with that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
CLOGHER CELT on 29TH APRIL 2016 2:13 PM
‘Dafabet on the front of the jersey? Magners on the back of the jersey?
When are we getting a tobacco company on the socks? :)))’
ClogherJnr
Jimtim: Apologies for not responding to your comment about meeting myself and No. 2 daughter in Cron Crieghton. I am usually so far behind on CQN that I skip pages and never saw your post! Having been been ‘ bollocked’ by said daughter and BMCUWP I can only apologise as I post here before every home game where I will be for my pre-match libation then when I meet a fellow blogger I ignore it!! Enjoyed the craich and the ‘ small world moments ‘ HH
Don’t give a stuff about their team of the year but in reality the only one of our ghuys I could pick apart from Griff & KT who might deserve to figure is Craig Gordon.
COSYCORNERBHOY
To be fair to you,my Mum puts you on punishment regime after a dayooooot!
TD …. again, I dont get to see a lot of SPL games (Other than those involving Celtic), so it is hard for me to say which other goalkeepers have excelled this year. I am struggling to pick out one keeper that stood out to me as really exceptional. All I can say is that CG has picked up a bit of late, but his performance in the first half of this season was well short of his standard of last season (when I thought he was exceptional).
Highlights From the Under-17 Glasgow Cup Final as #Celtic Hammer Rangers https://t.co/A4DyET1iXv
Re Association Statement,I have never referred to Celtic,as Glasgow Celtic in my life,except when singing a certain song. Everyone knows where we’re from.
Here is whatcha said this morning traditionalist. Now we are all getting old but it was only this morning for goodness sake. I would be worried if I were you dude.
At least twice now you have been offered an audience with Peter Lawwell – ‘don’t worry Ted, they repeat those shows all the time’ eh… you continue to avoid this offer and pretend you didn’t see it.
You can’t ignore the offer indefinitely – you don’t even have to stand outside with a banner saying ‘down with this sort of thing’…
You say you wrote to Lawwell before and had no response – I have yet to see any evidence that this letter was sent.
As WC pointed out your modus operandi has been completely ineffective the whole time.
Now you have a chance to go straight to the source and raise your concerns, one by one. It would be great for the blog if you did and reported back.
But you won’t will you, because its easier to walk away and hope someone else will do it.
Whats the worst that can happen?
I don’t have a problem with the team of the
year,yes you can make a case for big Craig,
but imho only KT LG have done themselves
justice this season, if one or two other’s had
the league would have been put to bed week’s
ago.
!BADA BING!
“4-0. Not a reflection of how the game was played”
Those highlights came from Rangers TV. They’ll have done the editing.
And it still looked like a fair reflection to me.
NegAnon2 on 29th April 2016 2:19 pm
Why it was little ole you traditionalist that said it.
===========
Not quite.
http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/its-not-just-about-genius/comment-page-15/#comments
My only motivation here is that there are Celtic supporters who feel they cannot attend CP at the moment because of the way the club is being run and/or governance issues in football.
If you can’t be in the stands, why aren’t you at the front door? You think CQN is a mouthpiece for the PLC – so CQN receives what may or may not be close to 100% of your angst, but to what end?
Not that it would take much organising to protest at CP, but why would you need someone else to organise it for you?
If you feel so strongly about the aforementioned issues(broadly speaking), what would it take for you to do something about it in the real world?
The root of the problem is that you have made your mind up, when we don’t have all the facts.
NYEBEVANSREBELSOLDIER
Worst? Can you make that a wurst instead,please?
Struggling to find a place showing the game tomorrow so could do wi the proverbial foreign sausage.
Anyway,offski. Cot time.
MIKE IN TORONTO
A little help then, Bain goals against: 56
Craig Gordon : 26
Do the maths :))
KT captain for me starting next season.HH
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
Night night Bobby, don’t let the bed bug’s bite:)
Goes to show how well Ronny actually did. Only had 2 of the best players in Scotland yet is on the brink of winning the league, that proves how good the coach is :o)