I remember the 10th anniversary of Lisbon. The BBC marked the occasion with a memorable documentary and on the exact anniversary, Liverpool won their first European Cup, against Borussia Monchengladbach in Rome. Celtic had just won the double, which would turn out to be Jock Stein’s last trophies.
We had little to celebrate on the 20th or 30th anniversaries, but the 40th anniversary was marked appropriately. For the first time, I felt we correctly defined the achievement of the Lions, not just for becoming European champions, but for pivoting Celtic’s history away from mediocrity to spectacular success.
The 50th anniversary will be the final big celebration, nothing like this will happen again. The groundswell you see from the fans, in particular on the 67th minute of each game, is unique to this year.
All of this leaves you and me with a question, do we let the anniversary pass us by as just another night on the calendar, or are we going to mark the occasion in an appropriate manner? It has to be the latter.
For me, this means doing what I can for the Celtic FC Foundation. I’ve signed up for what will be my first marathon, at Stirling, four days before the 50th. It is five weeks on Sunday, and if I get a move on, I might get to Celtic Park to see the second half of our final league game of the season.
I know most of us are not in a position to take on a project like this, but maybe you can support me along the way, the next five weeks will be difficult.
On a related note, I discussing the Dukla Prague semi-final at Celtic Park with my Dad, which happened 50 years ago this week, and he emailed me the notes below, on that night and on the Vojvodina game. We should tell each other as many stories as we have from that era. Here’s Martin42’s:
“50 years is a long time in football and sometimes our memories become a blurred, however that game will always loom large in my memory, as will the last few minutes of the quarter final tie v Vojvodina Nova Sad, to give them their full name.
“For the life of me I cannot remember who scored the 1st goal that night. 1-0 down from the first leg, we needed to score 2 goals and keep a clean sheet to go through to the next round.
“I will always remember the tension around the whole stadium as we won a corner and Charlie Gallacher trotted over to take it. I am sure the whole stadium was thinking the same as me, that Charlie and Billy had done it before in the Dunfermline cup final in 1965, and that they could do so again.
“The wait seemed to go on for ages but at last the ball came over, as straight as a die, to the forehead of our centre half and then into the back of the net.
“The duo had done it again, Charlie and Billy, 2 of the most important goals in our history.
“As for the home tie v Dukla Prague, we have spoken about it often, and you probably know my memories as clearly as I, so what I will tell you is about the break into my butcher van. That was the only time I used the van to go to a game.
“I always went to the midweek games with Thomas and John and we would to in via the Hamilton Road and Gallowgate but that night I went to the hospital before the visiting time to see your mum and then went straight into the game.
“We parked on the London Road and ran all the way to the ground, watched the game in a state of frenzy, and walked back to the van in a mind state that you will know when you think of Boavista.
“Policeman were standing at the van when I reached it and found that the back doors had been forced open, and the inside trashed. My knives and chopper were stolen.
“Back down to earth with a bump, well for a wee while anyway. Just had to face the consequences when I got home, clean up the van and mop up 2 or 3 trays of smashed eggs.
“At the end of the day, alls well that ends well and the football was more important that night than the mess and theft from the van.”
I’m not looking forward to the work I need to do for this marathon, but this occasion requires a significant gesture. For lots or reasons you’ll understand.
You can sponsor me here, money goes straight to fund the important work of the Foundation.
Thank you.
Published today by CQN Books.
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Petec
Have you considered this, as you might get help with it?
I suffered from this during a particularly stressful time a few years back, and got help.
It can be very distressing.
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sleep-paralysis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Obviously, if what you do works for you, no need to bother.
Gerry at 8.01 , I thought it wouldn’t put you off going there.
It will be good to see Neil and Hibs back in the top league .
I watched the first half of Dundee United’s game earlier, if they get up through the play offs , they will be straight back dwn again. They have a lot of improving to do.
GFTB 757
Huge Philvis Thumbs Up!
Check yer mail in a minute for another one,it’s a cracker. Oooops,wrong season…
GFTB:you no ready for bed yet :/))
Dallas- how you doing? Were you referring to MG at the Lanterna?
Dallas. 7.55.
Yes he was.
In case you don’t know, Bankies won 3.0 with 3 late goals.
Paddy assures me it was because he was subbed at 0.0.
I don’t think I would be giving any secrets away to say he was most unhappy at being subbed.
Hail Hail
Hi Bhoys
I think it was BIG JIMMY mentioned anti war songs on here so this is 3 of the best for him.
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD – FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY
JOHN LENNON – GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yU0JuE1jTk
IAN BROWN – ILLEGAL ATTACKS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_9pKiTt4m8
The Ian Brown song features Sinead O’ Connor
Happy Easter and KEEP THE FAITH
Jimmynotpaul, my pal was at the game and despite Bankies winning, he is not happy with Kieran McAnespie, their new manager and wants him gone.
I’m sure Paddy will let his boss know the error of his ways.
I have been barred by my pal and a former work colleague of going to Bankies games at Holm Park as they never win when I attend their home matches.
Art of War , Mick G not Mart G , yes.
He would tell me he was fed up and was going to chuck it but never did until roughly three years ago.
Been in La Laterna a few times.
This one time though I was a bit disappointed due to the amount of barflies. In truth though OT67, PFayr, BT and the rest were great company.
:-@)))
MWD
Dallas.
Yes I’m sure he will have a conversation at training on Monday.
It’s a new experience for him, apart from being injured, so he’s hurting a little tonight, he said the fans asked him if he was injured, when he said no, they asked why he was being subbed. That of course is, all his partial version of events, he was probably mince and that’s why he was subbed.
Hail Hail
Fairhill Bhoy 8.08pm
Just had to go and pick MissGFTB up from my sisters, so got my second wind….
Might be on for a few hours yet…..well at least until one of the Mods tell me different :-)
BEATBHOY,PETEC
Apnoiea,and the sensation of it,is being linked now to such as reduced life term via various routes,heart,lung,cancer.
See a doc if you have those symptoms.
Vojvodina was the best team we faced in ’67. Everyone after the game saying that we had done well to beat them, an that we couldn’t have been sure of progressing had it gone to a third match (those were the days..). After that game, the was a feeing that we might go the whole way.
From what I read, I felt sorry for Sam English. A terrible situation which probably he could have done little about. I remember reading how Rangers fans had begun to boo the fact that John Thompson injury was dragging on, and Davie Mieklejohn, the Rangers captain, went over to the terrace and indicated that they were to be quiet, and that it was serious. These were bigoted days, but. I think Mieklejohn showed humanity, which is hugely important. I saw Rudd Gullit do the same after a bad injury in a Milan game, I’ve always respected him for that.
FAIRHILL BHOY on 15TH APRIL 2017 7:58 PM
My first post to you was in answer to your post looking for Marspapa. I was just letting you know that I had spoken to Marspapa and explained that he had been busy but may get on later.
BT had asked you to e-mail him, probably to let you know that Marspapa has been busy.
When you posted to BT you could not e-mail my next post to you was to let you know that I had let you know what BT would have told you bout Marspapa had you been able to e-mail him.
Hopefully your not as confused now…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Kolncelt
Mulligans Bar in Deansgate. Show all our games. Excellent place.
MOONBEAMSWD
Wow,boomboom!!!!
BMCUW
Thanks, I did, and was letting Petec know I had.
Our last visit to Dingwall saw Celtic ride their luck to some extent with Gordon pulling off 3 key saves – the most he has had to deal with in domestic games. 3 goals were scored in the last 10 minutes – another season first.
In many respects, Ross County have performed well despite losing 0-6 over 2 games vs the Bhoys.
To whet the appetite, try an entrée of Celtic By Numbers before hitting the Highland trail!
http://celticbynumberscom.ipage.com/ross-county-v-celtic-preview-by-numbers/
HH
Thaks Mazzy,
Mulligans it will be
APRICALE
That’s humanity,mate.
We’re all different,that’s why we compete.
But we’re all the same,and that’s why we cry.
Bizarre, left my parents house to drive home when it was 1-0 Barca, 33 mins gone, got home, turn TV on and it’s 3-2 at HT.
BEATBHOY
Good lad.
HH
Tontine Tim,
Great post about Sam English.
My dad was a BAnkie and played a lot of his football in Dalmuir, Duntocher and Dumbarton. Sam’s story was well known to many Bankies and I was brought up to always acknowledge that what happened was a tragic accident which sadly cost Johnny’s life and which Sam English never got over.
My old man said he was a very very nice man with a good word for everyone and absolutely no hint of any kind of bigotry or bias.
It is a shame others don’t know the truth of his story or respect the dignity and values of the man.
BRTH
Dallas,
As you know I have a wee lurk now and again during the week, noticed John Paul McBride was mentioned, remembered one night in Blantir in the PV and a young JP McBride was with John O’Neill former St Jo player, think it might have been a Celtic v defunct Rangers game, Viduka in the rain ?? Wee McBride was in the pub on his way to the game as excited as any other Celtic fan, just a normal punter who probably didn’t make the most of his ability for whatever reason
APRICALE
Re Vojvodina,I wasn’t there. Not old enough,still in my twenties,you know(!)
Well known a few of us are Lisbon-bound late May.
Aye,it will be good just to be there.
There 50 years to the day.
THE day.
And what will be every bit as good will be listening to the guys who were there,and those who only saw the games at CP.
And their memories …
Cos let’s face it,they fought the fight so that we could enjoy the victory.
LENNYBHOY – ok ,didn’t understand a word of that,;-))) hope your well MARSPAPA:-))
Athletico Madrid won 3.0 today but missed 2 penalties.
That’s 6 out of 8 missed in La Liga this season.
That must be up there with one of the worse conversion rates in any of the major football leagues.
Hail Hail.
Jimmynotpaul , unfortunately I can’t get my pal’s thoughts on Paddy’s performance as he only notices opposition players if they boot lumps out of Bankies players.
Gerry, Jimmynotpaul posted through the week, John Paul McBride is Cumbernauld united’s assistant manager. I wonder if they have a number 3 management assistant or is that atnother first for a club from Ibrox.
GFTB- mite stay on with you pal:/))
CELTIC BY NUMBERS on 15TH APRIL 2017 8:37 PM
Our last visit to Dingwall saw Celtic ride their luck to some extent with Gordon pulling off 3 key saves – the most he has had to deal with in domestic games. 3 goals were scored in the last 10 minutes – another season first.
—-
If i recall correctly, we made need 8 changes that night but still played well for the most part.
Re Craig Gordon, he has been outstanding this season. I was watching Southampton tonight and big Fraser looked unsure of himself. I also thought the same when watching him in the Cup Final against Man U. Maybe I’m remembering him being better than he was with us but I’m sure he’s went backwards since he left. Big Craig is definitely the better of the two.
FAIRHILL BHOY on 15TH APRIL 2017 8:50 PM
It’s okay I know what it meant J…:) and Marspapa knows that you’ve been asking after him…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Fairhill Bhoy 8.52
Let the people sing….ah mean post (not the peepil that is)
Where is Roy C when you need him….
Surely an Easter favourite….. Oh father Why…..
I like Driving in ma new Car.
Upgraded from Fiat to Seat
Life is AWESOME.
LENNYBHOY,sorry for coming across like a fud,but am in the dark here
me and the Bhoy hope there are more Rail SEATS.
I’m sure most that know me on CQN – there is only WAN place I Belong.
I’m a Capitalist dude as well. I cash in work shares regularly.