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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A wee rumour emanating from The Dolphin in Partick,Lambert and Larsson to take over,don’t shoot the messenger
Pleased to see young Aitchison sign a 3 yr deal, there were strong rumours that Clubs south of the border were sniffing around.
Anyone who want’s to know where the unions are
in the 21st century should take a walk into the new
Southern general hospital and gaze at the Unison
office in the main foyer along with Marks and Spencer
and WH Smith………assimilated into the whole corrupt
matrix.
NBRS,unison member.
Good Evening Timland.
Any one a link to the young bhoys beating the young sevco.. ?
Need cheer up after that hampden disaster
Winning captains on 29th April 2016 2:44 pm
Ronny is entirely the opposite and his influence I think will be felt long after he’s left the club.
———
I hope this is recognised in time.
Not a bad legacy to leave.
co-op single malt, guinness original, tickets for celt aberdeen booked, night in prem inn cambuslang booked
MON THE 5IAR and the friday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o10drRI3VQ0
!!BADA BING!! on 29TH APRIL 2016 4:59 PM
A wee rumour emanating from The Dolphin in Partick,Lambert and Larsson to take over ….
=======
Not sure if that is going to work as neither of those two have any experience of running a pub.
Highlights From the Under-17 Glasgow Cup Final as #Celtic Hammer Rangers https://t.co/A4DyET1iXv
Proud bhoy
IKI-VG made me laugh mate HH
Maybe Lambert and Butler?
Now that would be smokin’!
I think Charlie Gallagher was too modest to a fault
GLASSTWOTHIRDSFULL…
Maybe if Ronny just got the chance at the job he was intended for rather than being thrown to the Wolfs, he would made the good coach that I think he is. Sadly, he was hung out to dry. HH
cosy corner bhoy . Was no problem sir . Hopefully our paths will cross again . I don’t usually go to the pub as I drive more often than not . But next time be assured I will look for it for you , and your daughter . HH
IKI :))))
IKI
Aye very good!
Oot AC/DC UK beckons!
!!BADA BING!! on 29TH APRIL 2016 4:59 PM
‘A wee rumour emanating from The Dolphin in Partick,Lambert and Larsson to take over,don’t shoot the messenger’
###
Lambert and Larsson are taking over the Dolphin?
Bada, thanks for the highlights link.
Don’t want to come over all paranoid and that, but IF you are trying to distance yourself from the previous sectarian stuff that attached itself to your club, why would you turn out your ‘keeper head to toe in orange, and why would you have your outfield players wearing orange socks?
TIMHORTON
Yes I have scooped a few in the Rowan Tree, many years ago. I have lived in Glasgow for 24 years. I know the Rowan Tree is closed. My routine was two pints in Sandy’s Bar, maybe sneak a wee carry out onto the Lochee No 1 bus, then back to Sandy’s after the game. These were the days when I could scoop to my hearts content, not now. For big games the Lochee No 1 had a mini bus in addition to a 52 seater, the mini bus was a blast, 6 cans each on the mini bus, through in time to scoop a few pints before the game then a carry out and chips to keep us going on the road back to Lochee then out again for a standard Saturday night gallivanting. Happy days.
Emeraldbee-I didn’t notice that mate,pathetic stuff.
Sipsini- probably won’t happen,but we could do worse than putting Ronny in charge of Lennoxtown,and see if we can bring through more boys than we currently do.
The SFA will always turn blind eye to any misdemeanour of rules by any club/team/company/ragbag based at Ibrox park.
Bada Bing
Cheers
If the board are waiting until the new manager’s announced before season ticket renewals time, they would be wise to appoint someone who will sway the disaffected….otherwise they could be in for a shock.
Sippini Bada nice thoughts about Ronny and I wish the man no ill – he is a Gent
But at Ltown he would rearrange the cones into 4-2-3-1. Even the car park would be reconfigured 4-2-3-1.
If we signed Messi Neymar and Suarez 2 of them would be on the bench
I’m guessing his PIN number us 4-2-3-1
Basically that’s why he has to leave
I wish him the best of luck
67ECW
Bada Bing
I noticed the keeper an socks immediately.
Bigot purveyors are always consistent.
Did laugh at how clueless their big numpty defenders looked when our guy trod on ball then turned the big tumshie and faced two lumbering clowns who he sold a shimmy and knocked into the net.
http://www.celticfc.net/news/10416?
Good news. This kid will be knocking in Champions league goals for us one day.
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS…
Yer a hard man :)
I was reflecting on the input he has put on the youth, same as bada, still, time for him to move on now.
What a belter the Ireland top is, told my bhoy to get it and I can get a loan of it for Dublin:))
67-did RD not say when he arrived,he would play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3?
A couple of things could be organised that might hit home to at least get some sort of response from Peter re Celtic public position on res12 and other SFA admin type matters… no renewals or new season tickets till the 12th of June . We turn our backs on the board at the 12th minute of our last two homes games..with #res12 cardboard flyers held up. I’d be willing to contribute £1000 to the cost of flyers.
Hi Bhoys and Ghirls from a sunny Madrid.
Like to thank DHARMA BAM and TRADITIONALIST 88 for putting forward a bar in Madrid to watch the Celtic game tomorrow.
Triskel is showing it.
Madrid CSC are based there.Looking forward to watching the game with fellow minded thims.HH
BADA BING. I have just returned from a break down South where there are plenty of rumours I cant say who the new Celtic manager will be but the rumour down South is that Paul Lambert is going back to Norwich City.We will just have to wait and see however I dont fancy Paul Lambert his style of football is very defensive and he always looks so miserable. H.H.
Hopeful of winning the league tomorrow. Win at Swinecastle and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dons drop a couple of points. Win at Swinecastle and we’re there in my view.
Hail Hail.
Anyone confirm the rumours flying around that Lambert’s the new manager and has also bought a pub in the Partick area?
@ the internets
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell confirmed today that after months of speculation over the future of the sponsorship deal on the famous green and white hoops, Magners have agreed a new deal with the club.
With no confirmed front-of-shirt sponsorship deal, speculation persists that betting company Dafabet remain interested in the main sponsorship deal with Celtic.
The Magners deal, which will see the drinks firm’s logo feature on Celtic kits until 2019/20, means that the branding will appear on the back of the shirt instead of the front from the beginning of next season.
Magners, owned by the C&C Group who also own the rights to Tennants lager and Bulmers cider, first partnered with Celtic at the start of the 2013/14 season.
Magners marketing director Paul Condron stated his pride at the work done between club and company in a statement to the media.
He said: “Magners has enjoyed three fantastic years as the shirt sponsor of Celtic FC and we’re very proud to extend that partnership in a deal that will see our association with the club stretch to seven years – a number with great significance in the club’s illustrious history.
“Since 2013, we’ve worked closely with the club in a number of areas – from support of the team and fans to the valuable work of Celtic FC Foundation and we’re very much looking forward to continuing this over the next four years.”
“67-did RD not say when he arrived,he would play 4-4-2 or 4-3-3?”
Bada I’m not sure if he did but we certainly have.
HH
Joe,
Alex Neil it is then?
HH
CELMAN…
According Bada, that is the case and has signed a couple of players from the Miami Dolphins.
A wee request lhads. My younger cousin (an unrepentant rebel) is arriving soon for his ‘last supper’ (his words) after being given a couple of weeks left in his fight with cancer. I would love it if we won the league tomorrow for his sake – he might not last as long as the Aberdeen game. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers.