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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FRANNYB67 all in good time, just a little young for leadership, more experience for sure, and he be da man.
Delighted but not in the least surprised by the result last night at Ibrox.
Celtic are MILES ahead of them in terms of youth development and it has to be said, Ronny Deila as Celtic manager has done more than any manager in recent times to make this so.
Neil Lennon didn’t get involved. Ronny is entirely the opposite and his influence I think will be felt long after he’s left the club.
Things haven’t worked out for Ronny as our manager which is a shame. However he has helped set a platform for us to build a modern club which can develop players. Celtic at long last is excelling in this area. Conversely the new club is a shambles.
On other matters, stay tuned. Might be a busy evening.
TD …. harry Kane, Sergio Aguero, Jamie Vardy and Romeo Lukaku all scored more goals than Riyad Mahrez this season …. sometimes numbers dont tell the whole story.
And, as I said, CG may have been the best goalkeeper in Scotland this year… but that is simply a relative term … (in the land of the blind…) but in absolute terms, and compared to the level he was at last season, I dont think his standard has been great this season.
I reckon the guy Gordon Shearer who placed the bet with Bet Victor has been hard done by.
In the first instance it was a crazy bet but apart from that Celtic were leading one nil at half time, he claims he placed the bet on a Celtic win, Bet Victor said he placed the bet on Celtic to win 2nd half.
The price of 18/1 on would strongly indicate it was to win match.
18/1 on to win a 45 minute half is beyond belief. Particularly when say with 10 minutes or so left, Celtic would have had no incentive to chase a second goal. To my way of thinking this lad has been done up like a kipper.
WINNING CAPTAINS
Busy night?…..naebody likes a tease!!!!
Afternoon Celts
Have the board appointed big Mixu Paatelainen yet:)
Mark McGhee as assistant manager.
HH
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 29TH APRIL 2016 2:34 PM
!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.
The bitter Hun Tom Miller commentating,still gets a gig on Snyde from time to time
Jaysus Winning Captains, I’m on your side but you will have to stop teasing us.
NegAnon
Anyway there are a few murmurs that you are going to get your wish and that Celtic will make a strong statement before too long.
I hope this is the case and it puts all our minds at ease and we can focus on the job of getting our club back up to the levels we know it can reach.
HH
In my heid, Neganon2 looks just like Droopy Dawg….
http://tophdimgs.com/369847-droopy.html
TRAD88
Murmers?
Could it be about our new Pink strip:)
HH
Macjay1: I have hesitated to respond to your comments re Mrs Thatcher as the very thought of her ‘ reign ‘ fills me with abhorrence, however, some things cannot be allowed to be said without response.
You stated that the unions were a force attempting to destroy the country because of their use of strikes during those times to paraphrase. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ideaology was the root cause of MT’s attack on the unions. If you have read the autobiography of the woman ( which incidentally I bought in Brisbane ( your bit not mine ie Largs ) for 2 AUS dollars ( about 80p at time ) you would have read that her first objective on taking office ( after she mangled St. Francis’ prayer ) was to SMASH the unions. Firstly she brought in ‘ proper voting’, then decided on the majority needed to be legal to strike (funnily enough not a straight majority – Democracy ) and then set out a strategy to smash the NUM. Stockpile coal by buying in foreign coal then announce pit closures. Of course she knew that Arthur Scargill was also an idealist and would never accept the conditions under which the strike would have been legal and therefore there would have been no need for the forces of law to be involved (Pity we did not know about South Yorkshire Police then ) and the union would possibly have won. All conjecture of course because facts are chiels that winna ding.
BTW I was chairman of thr North Ayrshire Trades Union Council at the time and we ‘ sponsored a few families for holidays in lovely North Ayrshire homes. As an aside, I spent many an hour with big Mick and he was always in favour of a ballot . ‘ From a distance many things appear different and you are 12000 miles away! Now that is a distance. Apologies for the long post fellow bloggers but sometimes must need!
The Magners sponsorship is for another 4 years.
TRAD88
Typo there….but, what the hell eh
HH
winning captains on 29th April 2016 2:44 pm
Delighted but not in the least surprised by the result last night at Ibrox.
Celtic are MILES ahead of them in terms of youth development and it has to be said, Ronny Deila as Celtic manager has done more than any manager in recent times to make this so.
*considering that we lost 3 times and tied once with them earlier in the season and that their age group seemingly had the upper hand over us for a few years this illustrates the influence that Ronny has had in his short tenure with us.
I would have him back in the originally capacity he was actually interviewed for.
Neil Lennon didn’t get involved. Ronny is entirely the opposite and his influence I think will be felt long after he’s left the club
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 29th April 2016 2:51 pm
There’ll be more than murmurs when that sees the light of day ;)
HH
Sandman,
Joe Btfsplk. :)
HH
THE LONG WAIT IS OVER on 29TH APRIL 2016 1:52 PM
Neganon2 et al.
Is it seriously being suggested that our CEO should be expected to meet with a single supporter ……..
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Without making any comments about Negation’s opinions, I would just point out that CEO met with a single supporter within the last week or so to discuss RES 12.
For some reason that supporter has chosen not to share the gist of the meeting with other supporters.
My point is simply that CEO will meet a supporter when it suits him to do so,it seems.
Of course there are other times when he is far too busy doing better things to get around to answering correspondence.
There is much discussion on the blogsphere about the part Celtic are playing in resolving the issues raised by what is commonly known as Resolution 12. Until very recently, I was 95% decided that I would not be renewing my Celtic season ticket with the whole Res 12 thing being central to my decision making. I was and still am appalled by the at best blatant mal governance and at worst (alleged) corruption within the SFA, SPFL and former SPl. I note the flak Jimmci is taking from some quarters for not disclosing what was discussed during a private conversation. I understand the frustration but fully support Jimmci’s stance and reasons for it. What follows will explain why.
I attended a meeting at Celtic Park on Thursday 28th April, accompanied by a life long friend and fellow season ticket holder. We met with two high ranking officials of Celtic PLC to discuss various matters concerning Celtic and Scottish Football governance in general. This was a private meeting and confidentiality will be respected.
However, I will share this. My concerns over the perceived inaction regarding the issues raised by “Resolution 12” have been allayed. I will now renew my season ticket confident that, regarding this particular subject, the custodians of Celtic FC are acting in the best interests of the club and its supporters. I’ve seen the evidence.
This message will be posted elsewhere.
I see the guy that wrote the Hokey Cokey got buried today. Heard it took nearly an hour to get the coffin lid on. Every time they put his left leg in his right leg came out!!!! o)
TRAD88
Im sure the ladies will love it:)
I hope its not got Pink shorts and socks.
That would be going too far.
We wait for a new manager…we get an all Pink strip.
HH
Althetim on 29th April 2016 2:59 pm
And there we have it.
The positive benefits of taking some affirmative action. Fair play to you.
HH
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 29th April 2016 3:01 pm
It looks proper pink as well:) Sales will be interesting
HH
IKI
Perhaps the supporter PL met was from his own ludge and it’s all a big secret.
You never know with this mob.
Geordie Munro on 29th April 2016 2:56 pm
Sandman,
Joe Btfsplk. :)
HH
—————————
:))))))))))
TRAD88
Matching handbag,.Manbag, and accessory kit:)
HH
MIKE IN TORONTO
ILL TRY AGAIN
GOALKEEPER, they don’t take corners, don’t cover much ground, hardly take penalties , or throw ins, or in direct free kicks, or take on two or three players at a time, or direct free kicks, he let in 26 goals, Bain let in 56, now I don’t need to look at any of them playing, they numbers tell me Whois the best goalkeeper, this seaso not last season, wtf is that got to do with it, lol, he/they stop goals going in the net, you get this right? I’m thinking you don’t?
TD … just, for fun, I checked the stats ….
Craig Gordon has played 33 league games, conceding 22 goals (0.67 per game), and making 72 saves (2.18 saves per game)
Neil Alexander of Hearts has played 34 games, conceding 34 (1 per game) and making 99 saves (3 saves per game)
So….. which one is better … the one who lets in less, or the one who saves more?
Has WITS been on with any tips for Punchestown? Anyone else heard anything?
HH
The Green Man says SACK THE Board on 29th April 2016 3:06 pm
Don’t give them ideas :)
JUDE2005 IS NEIL LENNON \O/ on 29TH APRIL 2016 3:00 PM
I see the guy that wrote the Hokey Cokey got buried today. Heard it took nearly an hour to get the coffin lid on. Every time they put his left leg in his right leg came out!!!! o)
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Dreadful, and in that spirit.
What goes in and out and smells of p#sh?
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Yer granny doing the hokey cokey
MIKE IN TORONTO
Obviously has to be Gordon, as in individual and team effort, look at the goals for ratio for the team, against the goals for, for hearts team, anyone can manipulate stats to make it work for them, anyone, main stat, no squirrels, Bain let in 56, in my book a puddin, Gordon let in 26 , in my book no contest, next thing you’ll be putting in OGs penalties, :) doesent how many you save the don’t come into it on the goals for goals against ratio, it’s the ones that crossed the line that count, for and against, so again Gordon comes up tops again, but by all means keep pitching them, and I’ll hit them out the park :))
Yogi Hughes – Last I saw from WITS below…
I have been given good word for Jazzy in the 4.00 at Chepstow tomorrow big price at the moment. Best of luck
ALTHETIM
This was a private meeting and confidentiality will be respected.
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If so then why publicise it ?
What about the rest of us who are concerned ?
I hope sincerely that your confidence about this matter proves to be well founded.
Traditionalst here is hoping but don’t hold your breath………
Sandman it’s like looking in a mirror so it is.
Loving all these mysterious titbits about busy evenings and comforting but secret conversations etc.
But why is it all such a big secret? Is it cos it’s nonsense?
Cmon prove me wrong. To quote Kevin Keenan I would love it if you showed my I’m wrong. Love it.
Away from all the bickering is there a meet up in the BV on May 7th for a wee swally, if so details,time etc. Thanks H H Hebcelt
TD
I suspect that you and I will likely never agree on anything …. but I will say this …. I hope I have as much puff in me when I reach your age! Well done, and hail hail!
‘Off oot’
Heres to 5 in a row
HH