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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BRTH
Your Lisbon tale has been brilliant reading and im sure im not the only one looking forward to the rest of it.
As for part 2….as The Boss said….You cant start a fire without a spark.
Id say most of us remember a point in time in our lives when something sparked inside us and inspired us to take something on and i can see those people taking a collective spark and some inspiration from the spirit of the bhoys over there at that time.
HH
For some unfathomable reason the online version of the daily Ranger is carrying a lengthy rant from Legia Warsaw on being kicked out of the CL three years ago when they fielded an ineligible player against Celtic and how Celtic knew at the time but said nothing to warn them. Don’t know if it’s in the printed edition.
20s final behind closed doors?? Need to lookout ma crombie!!
21’44”
Goals For Shay list of missing picks coming up in 5 so get your picks in if you wan’t not to be named and shamed!!!
Starry Plough @ 11.12
:)))))
‘Gers set to grab second’
SMSM csc
*** MISSING PERSONS ***
If anyone knows of the current whereabouts of the following Infamous Five please give them a nudge and remind them to send in their Round 4 pick for Goals For Shay 2. Please.
Thank you.
FC Alessia
Jeez_I_thought_blinker_was_pants
Giuseppe 67
The VictorZulus
Vogue Punter
Milan Derby first 20mins has been end to end and still goalless ….. There must goals if they keep this pace up (or even a wee red card or two)
By all accounts game is getting played at this time as the two Far East sponsors quite like this idea
Bognorbhoy, thank you for posting that photo of Sean Fallon.
Sean , to me , was the epitome of what is great about Celtic.
He is gone from us but will never be forgotten. One of the greatest Celts.
Oh and here’s this week’s CQN Coupon…
Lennybhoy – Alloa
Gerryfaethebrig – Morton
Jobo Baldie– Dundee
Bobby Murdochs Curled Up Winklepickers – Crystal Palace
Awalkacrosstherooftops – Man City
The Exiled Tim – Watford
Pogmathonyahun – Stoke
Everton ban The Sun from Goodison…
I don’t believe we would lose support if Sevco were to go first. Firsly, I know of a lot of Celtic fans who don’t go to Sevco games, I don’t go to Ibrox or Hampden. There appears to be some posters on here who don’t go to see Celtic due to Rangers cheating.
If Sevco get their just deserts then I for one will be happy. Their Fans are a monstrosity and when we play them it gives them a platform to ramp up the vile singing and behaviour. I would be happy if we never played them again.
I will always buy my season ticket, i”ll never sell my shares. I will always be a Celtic Fan and I am not alone
Like buses, eh,
You wait weeks and weeks for part 2 and then within the blink of an eye…..part 3 is sprung on us. As if that wisnae bad enough, there’s the promise of part 4……to follow.
Nice work, BRTH,. Always leave them wanting more, ya auld tease !
:-)
BIGBHOY,
I agree with every word of that. That description fits me like a glove.
BRTH
Seems this trip is going to be more like a trip to Lourdes.
Gave you arranged for helpers to assist the old and us not so old but not very mobile? :-)
BRTH,
Brilliant stuff, as ever. Many thanks. On my own pilgrimage to the Estadio Nacional (with Cathach’s brother) many moons ago now, I experienced much the same feelings as yourself. I was thinking especially of my Dad, who was there on the day, and still fondly talks of it, as if it were yesterday rather than 50 years ago…………
BIGBHOY on 15TH APRIL 2017 12:10 PM
‘There appears to be some posters on here who don’t go to see Celtic due to Rangers cheating.’
####
Could I suggest that it’s more to do with Celtic’s utter failure to respond to the huns seamless demise and immediate resurrection than with their cheating.
COWIEBHOY
Sorry i’m just getting back to you the princess had a huge pile of
washing needing done after our camp and i had the pleasure of
doing it or else, never mind who wouldn’t want to wash a few
hoops tops and away tops and centenary tops and…………..
Oz tims.
As usual tomorrow Sun. is our Celtic day at the Bay hotel Mornington
the weather is still a pleasant 20 degs and we have our usual music,
raffles, dancing, and if PADDYMACOZ buys me enough drink i might
sing you the 40 verses of Skibbereen why would you not come it’s a
no brainer :-))))))
H.H Mick
BadaBing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39608149
I’m sure Brendan has his side in mind for tomorrow, with another one in mind for next weekend.
***GFS2 – ROUND 4***
Still a small handful of picks to come in (as always, grrr !) but here’s where the remaining selections have gone. Again, a pretty broad spread of teams but over half of the hopes are riding on Spurs and Everton. This week I’m just listing those games that have at least 1 selection.
Good luck all. But come on you Spurs!
THE FIXTURES FOR ROUND 4 – All ganes kick off at 3.00pm except where shown otherwise
Saturday 15 April
Tottenham [36] v Bournemouth (12.30)
Dundee [3] v Hamilton
Motherwell [4] v Inverness
The Rangers (big fat zero) v Partick [2]
St Johnstone v Aberdeen [1]
Crystal Palace [4] v Leicester [1]
Everton [35] v Burnley
Stoke [1] v Hull
Sunderland [1] v West Ham [1]
Watford v Swansea [1]
Sunday 16 April
Ross County v Celtic [9] (12.30)
West Brom v Liverpool [4] (13.30)
Monday 17 April
Middlesbrough v Arsenal [8] (20.00)
Inter 2 Milan 0
Have you seen the Explosive Statement?!
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/04/15/an-explosive-statement/
Tottenham Hotspur will be paid around £8,000,000 – just for being on SKY today.
Should follow Everton and Liverpools lead and ban the rag that is the Daily Rangers, should have happened years ago, Thugs and Thieves???? Those bigots don’t like us one bit, it’s must kill them to do a positive article on us. Johnny Hayes player of the year, aeh right on….
Statement from Everton about the scum rag …
https://twitter.com/Everton/status/853202194832781312
CLUMPANY
Maybe it’s the MOAB explosive you know that Mother Of All Bigots one:-))
H.H Mick
MurdochauldandHay on 15th April 2017 12:35 pm
BadaBing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39608149
Thanks, agree with Cambhoy, the rags should have been banned years ago, Leckie and his rag should have been binned after the coughgate lies.
BRTH
“Do you want a hand climbing over this fence, old yin?”
========
And his pal said ” I’ll watch yer zimmer Mr”
Lol
Phil on G&SL and TAB …
https://philmacgiollabhain.ie/2017/04/15/convicted-of-hubris/
You were told…https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=T5al0HmR4to
BADA BING
CAMBHOY
Absolutely agree with both of you, so why don’t we?
do they have something on us ? it’s quiet on here so
it’s now open for debate.
H.H Mick
A very happy hoopy 88th birthday to ANGELGABRIEL’S dad.
HH n KTF!!
Bada Bing
Good on the Toffees JFT96 HH
Whilst I’m not in favour of banning journalists nor any members of the media from all things Celtic, I do believe Everton have every right to do so with this despicable rag…
Kelvin McKenzie? Hell won’t mend him…
Milan equalise v Inter ………….7th minute of injury time………..2-2
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS
Love the nom de plum, but what about the journalists who have
waged a vicious and sometimes orchestrated campaign of abuse
against our club through their links to another deid club and all
with the approval of the senior editor, and lets not forget they
sometimes give timmy a positive story so lets clap happily :-((
H.H Mick
Amazing Milan derby with AC equalising with the last kick of the ball in the 97th minute with the referee using goal line technology to confirm the ball was over the line !
Inter were 2 up with with 7 minutes to go and decided to waste time again and again – shot themselves in the foot as minimum 5 mins stoppage time became 7.