In yesterday’s blog titled, “Celtic fitness should see them dominate late on”, we discussed the likelihood that the champions “should grow stronger as the game gets into the latter stages”. Almost as though we knew it would take until around the 78th minute for Celtic to ease ahead.
Aberdeen battled – quite literally – for much of the game and gave evidence as to why they are second top of the table. Despite their efforts, the game always had a Celtic-win feel to it.
Had the goal not occurred, Brendan Rodgers could easily point to the stormy conditions, which caused havoc for both sides, but you need to be exceptional to score against this Celtic team and you need to be equally exceptional to keep them out.
Aberdeen keeper Ross Doohan, making his second topflight start, was decked in a clash with Kyogo with the game 80 seconds old. This would have finished lesser players, but Doohan picked himself up and put in a performance Kasper Schmeichel would have been proud of.
Greg Taylor is rightly getting plaudits for his pitched forward ball to Reo Hatate for the goal. As impressive was this understanding of space Greg showed to be in the right position to make create the chance.
Reo controlled and finished delightfully. My cheer was initially muted, surely Reo was offside? Nicky Devlin’s tired mind saw him drop behind the Aberdeen defensive line to play on Reo. By contract, Cameron Carter-Vickers was immense throughout, surely one of our two world class defenders of the 21st century.
The game came as the CQN community heard we’d lost our pal Setting free the Bears – Tony. He will be missed terribly.
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A sad day for us all
Good afternoon all from the Victoria Bar. Not in the mood for celebrating.
Maybe
A sad day indeed.
Our lead at the top means that games like last night are without much stress, a draw would have been OK but we got the win and look to be simply unstoppable for 4 in a row.
I think I’d like to see Idah start away in Zagreb. A bit like Bernardo, he’s played his way into a starting role. He’s been contributing more than Kyogo for a few weeks now.
Just reading about Tony, very sad. Mary Queen of Peace, pray for him.
Afternoon all.
Still stunned at the news of Tony’s passing.
BRRB
I completely understand why you do not feel like celebrating, I’m sure however, SFTB would want you to celebrate.
Tony’s life is well worth celebrating.
What age was Tony?
I was out of the loop yesterday so have only just heard the sad news that SFTB has passed on.
I never met him, but his decency and intellect shone through with each and every post on this blog.
My sincere condolences to his loved ones and all who knew him.
May he rest in peace.
Shocking news about SFTB
It must be a terrible loss to his family and many friends. I hope they take some comfort from all the kind words about a genuinely great man
fourstonecoppi on 5th December 2024 12:36 pm
What age was Tony?
……………
TONY was 68 ( I think he was ever so slightly younger than me by weeks or maybe month ?) I will be 69 in a couple of weeks.
A Tragic loss….TONY was one of the most decent human beings that I have ever met.
i intended to go out Today for some beers, but drinking will only depress me even more.
It was ( and STILL is), a real Privilege to have met Tony on numerous occasions. Today I feel rather empty and very sad.
My sincere condolences to all of of Tonys Family and Friends.
A REAL Celtic GENT.
YNWA TONY BHOY.
HH Mate.
LIONSROAR67…
Are you in contact with Tonys Family ?
IF so, I would like to speak/text you ASAP ?
Is anyone on here in contact with Tonys Family ?
HH Mate.
BelmontBrian on 5th December 2024 12:33 pm
………..
Many thanks for your telephone call last night around 7pm about TONY and the horrible news.
I am GUTTED.
HH BRIAN.
A little surprised there’s no mention of SFTB in Paul’s piece.
Maybe there’s to be a dedicated piece – he certainly warrants it.
to be fair to P67 he did post a message on the blog yesterday after the sad news was announced.
he never usually posts so i think that shows his compassion for SFTB and what he has given to this blog over the decades
Lets All: Tony/SFTB is acknowledged in the last paragraph of Paul’s piece.
ahh, indeed he is
BIG JIMMY
That was a telephone call I never thought I would make.
RIP Tony
Paul67 has asked to be kept in the loop about arrangements.
YNWA
I was lucky enough to meet Tony at a Golf Day at Aberdour, his prolific, measured, knowledgeable and humorous posts set standards on here. May he rest in eternal peace and always be esteemed by the CQN community.
Last night’s game and result will ever be remembered as the day we lost our friend, Tony Gillespie. I first met him in a pub in Cathcart, one I didn’t know existed. I had made arrangements to meet, for the first time, one of CQN’s early legends, Noel 90. It was the day of the 2007 Cup Final and I had come over for it.
Apart from the result,the game was a poor one, but meeting some of this blog’s celebrated posters, somewhat compensated.
As well as putting a face to Noel, I also met Terry O’Neil and Tony Gillespie, amongst others, including Lurkers; guys who never posted but read every post.
That day built a connection with some of those lads, including Tony.
What a few of them had was a direct connection with Donegal. especially the Rosses and Gweedore, Whenever they came over here, we always arrange to meet for one of the CL qualifiers, under the banner of CQN Donegal Branch.
The last time Tony was here, he, along with his wife Shirley and his aunt called at our home and we had a lovely afternoon chat, with football on the back burner.
As has been said. Tony was a kind, courteous gentle man, who, when debating, which he loved, always did so with grace, knowledge and wit.
There will be many groups who will miss him, but none more than his wife Shirley and his sons, to whom I offer my sincere condolences and prayers.
Rest in the Peace God, Tony;
Logged on to give my thoughts on the game. Stunned to read that Tony has passed. I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of being in his company many times, hell, he was in great form just last Friday. No exaggeration, a great loss to the community. My heartfelt condolences to all who knew and love him.
Rest in Peace Tony
Hail Hail
ALMORE on 5TH DECEMBER 2024 1:07 PM
Thanks – I stand corrected.
Don’t know how I missed it.
As all on here I was totalled shocked by Tony’s sudden passing.
Playing 5s , meeting up at the corner or social occasions Tony’s views were well worth a listen .Erudite , articulate with a calming tone he could converse with the best of them a very very clever guy and humble with it .
At the dinner dance he tried to coax me back to the 5s , I’ll miss his visits to my home to check up on me n Val. Coming up from his work in Hamilton for lunch or an early finish and blether for an hour or two .
He finally got a change of seat in the main stand (waited for 4 years) to just left of the half way line .
He loved Celtic . He loved his family , he loved life .
He was a lovely lovely man who’ll be missed by many .
Tony was a people person had time for everyone
❤️🙏
Prayers for family and friends.
R.I.P …..SFTB 💚🤍💛
SFTB – sad loss and condolences to his loved ones.
RIP….SFTB.
Heaven will gain a really clever guy.
Any got reliableLondon West End venue for Zagreb game please?
This site still a thing?
https://www.celticbars.com/find-a-celtic-bar/
Aipple
Going to Gran Canaria on Monday, looked it up 2 weeks ago nothing doing. Prestonpans said he watched the Celtic there last week, probably hallucinating. 😊
Moisey,
Ooh,the West End.Be struggling among all the Wine Bars and Brasseries.
Ur you showin aff?. 😉
SFTB – We never met – God Bless you
67ECW
Paul67 – you called it right
They were knackered at the end
Credit to Aberdeen they were really well organised
Their Manager has got them playing for each other
Impressive
But we were brilliant given the opposition the venue the weather
Well played Celtic
67ECW
BRRB
If you’re going to Maspalomas or Playa del.ingles there’s a few bars that show the games
I just want to add my condolences on the passing of Tony. I have enjoyed his contributions to this site. I only found out thanks to Paul’s reference in the article. Thanks for that, Paul.
And big thanks to Tony for being here over a great many years.
Ronnie
Worth a repost.
All those personal tributes are really from the heart.
i am such an eejit, I couldnt place who SFTB really was, I did not know him as Tony Gillespie, and we had only met a few times and only had a couple of sentences to each other, but I did listen into a conversation at the last steak-night and just though wow, he knows his stuff, and lots of other stuff, but he left before I got to ask some things.
The Oscar Knowx days, allready 12 years ago, and alongside Vanessa appeal, and Kano, and the cycles, the great work done is the real more than a club dna of the support.
CQNs greatest moments, must more than watching the team, so much more.
—————————-
lionroars67 on 5th December 2024 9:34 am
Great photo BRRB
Wee Oscar charity
Tony 2 mins in sharing some laughs and raising cash
Some very fine CQN folk the best of them
https://youtu.be/QnmFfs9JXBY?si=fYdJ5OEbFxo839gB
aff oot as they say
Rest in peace SFTB
Thoughts and Prayers with him and his family.
KLV
For those calling out the Ref last night.They have 3 pages on the Fenian Robertson on FF.
Walsh is another they have dug up facts on,as they do,another Tim.Extracts,
” They have got everything sewn up in this parochial hellhole.Their DNA is such that their morals are perfectly happy to win by cheating.We have problems,but thank God we dont have to stoop to their levels”
“That Rhat Robinson,not even hiding it now”
” Don’t be surprised if these bastards cost us the Cup next week”
” This cheating needs to be called out.Its been rampant all season”
They actually believe this.Like Liquidation.Twisted.
Just a few.Makes me hate them a little bit more.
Terribly sad news about SFTB (Tony).
A most valuable contributor to this site & others.
Will miss his posts.
I believe we shared a surname.
Condolences to his loved ones.
RIP SFTB
Gene
Thanks. I’ll find a bar, I usually do. 😉. Our 30th anniversary next week and the small doll is ok with me watching the Celtic. 💚.
P.S. Port Vale jammy again. 😁