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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Jobo
You’re point ?
BT~Neg
Was thinking the same, back to the footy then
HH
Mibbe Winning Captains is a Dave Clark 5 fan. BBC 4 :-)
TET
I was watching football and think yon figbowhstshisbame looks a good player but was placed under too much pressure too early a bit like my earlier point
Hopefully Winning Captains will make us feel Glad all Over. he he
EmeraldBee – Hope the Bhoys do it for your young cousin tomorrow
HH
BT… PV the morra???
TBM
WYCOMBEBHOY
Very generous offer. May I suggest you contact REIVER on current SFM.com blog. He is looking for assistance on fliers re Resolution 12.
Good luck!
IniquitousIV
TBM
Would be a privilege to see you again and yes I’ll be there
Butsybhoy
You going tomorrow?
Before R C checks in
Here’s a warm up
http://youtu.be/ia0vOOjCCNo
Jo Jo Gunne
Run run run
HH
Winning Captains, The Donald & Tony Doc spotted in Brazen Head
looking a bit the worse for wear.
FACT
Cheers BT; would be great to see your good self and the usual suspects…
Regards& Hail Hail
TBM
HT
Yes pal bus at 10 you going on the bus
TBM. How are you
HH
James1955
Met 2 of the 3, thankfully the Donald is the missing link . ☘ ;-)
Butsy
I’ll keep our friend well tomorrow
You could cadge a lift home with my dad and meet us in PV after
Hamiltontim
Only got one ticket so if you hear of another one going for tomorrow…
James1955 – glad all over, just about sums it up but I’m more of a Beatles man. Hail to CQN’s Fab Four….
I am sure that Paul will explain all. But remember who told you about that bitch……
Karma!
Butsybhoy
Aye, D and I going on the bus.
BUTSYBHOY…
No too bad pal, this last few days. Thanks…
Sharing the bus again???
Don’t be stopping at the chippy then eh!
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
WC
Very unlikely I’ll get any now but I’m afraid there’s a long, long list.
I saw the orange socks this morning but I tried to convince myself that it was their usual red. I had seen their goalie bedecked in orange but I couldn’t believe my own eyes that they had sunk so low.
winning captains on 29th April 2016 9:31 pm
James1955 – glad all over, just about sums it up but I’m more of a Beatles man. Hail to CQN’s Fab Four….
*******************************************************
The Byrds for me W.C.
Catching up here, but I’m pretty sure that rumours from the dolphin will serve no porpoise.
I’ll just keep my coat on actually…
Hail Hail,
KevinBhoy.
Won a ‘Porridge OR Hash Brown’ in the Mcdonalds Monopoly game. Looking to swap it for aHearts ticket or better.Give me a bell
HT
See you in the morning
TBM
Aye be home at midnight then
Blantyretim
Yer man will be in bed by then if I see yer da I will say hello
Hh
Winnings Captain
Any idea how much the new Magners deal is worth ?
EmeraldBee
Thoughts and prayers for your cousin
God bless him and his family
Let’s hope the Bhoys give him a good win tomorrow
Hail Hail
Mt
EmeraldBee
God bless your cousin, thoughts with you all tomorrow.
YNWA
Hail Hail,
KevinBhoy.
SOAL
I’d have got you a ticket for Tynecastle!
It would have been for next week though x
HT
Better late than never
LOve
AIDEN BHOY on 29TH APRIL 2016 9:42 PM
Winnings Captain
Any idea how much the new Magners deal is worth ?
———————
Twenty bottles for twelve quid in Morrisons:)
SOAL
Heard that about you.
Just popping in briefly on the way by…
EmeraldBee, I’ll say a prayer for your cousin.
I was following the Birmingham v Middlesbrough game tonight and I got to thinking:
Beram Kayal’s Brighton now only have to get a home win v Derby tomorrow and a draw in their final match at Boro will be enough to win them automatic promotion to the Premier League, And Sheffield Wednesday could yet get up through the play-offs.
Then, if the PL relegation positions do not change between now and the end of the season (so Sunderland survive… and bring Adam Matthews back from his loan spell for next season), Celtic could finally have achieved the dream move to the land of milk & honey, by stealth…
GK: F. Forster
RB: A. Matthews
CB: G. Loovens
CB: V. van Dijk
LB: J. Ledley
CM: B. Kayal
CM: V. Wanyama
CM: Ki Sung-Yeung
RW: R. Wallace
LW: A. McGeady
CF: G. Hooper
…and A. Boruc as sub ‘keeper.
Who’d of thought!
HT
Yip
Last the whole night long
JamesLast CSC
Paul 67….
Albert Kidd was a Celtic fan……REALLY?
Another myth that could be debunked quite easily if you had ever met the guy prior to 1986….
Why dont you write for the Celtic View? You and Winning Captains would certainly swallow big Pete’s narratives.
Sentimental wind and pish and you know it!!
“Who’d have thought?”
Doh!
——
It’s Friday….
It’s 10pm……
An’ It’s QUIZ-TIME Oan CQN….
A Quiz Wi’ A Liturgical Twist..!
Sharpen Those Pencils…
[ You too,HT..! Ed ]
Turn-Up Those Hearin’ Aids….
Tell Her-Indoors Tae “Go See A Man Aboot A Dug..! ”
NO SCROLLIN’ DOON…
Tae See The Answers !!!!
Bon Chance..Timmites
~~~~
Is sentimental wind a silent fart against the wife’s leg & not letting on ?
romance csc