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Men against boys: how did that turn out, Graeme?

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Celtic have played Blackburn Rovers 19 times, 17 friendlies and two very memorable competitive games.  The English side travelled north for the first leg of a Uefa Cup tie, on Halloween 2002.  Manager, Graeme Souness waited until after kick-off before walking out of the tunnel, an indication that he expected a hostile reception.  His players were less intimidated.

Blackburn bossed the game, so much so, that Souness felt comfortable enough to overlook the fact that Henrik Larsson scored the only goal of the game in the 84th minute, to declare the match “Men against boys”.

That was a decent Blackburn side; Champions League winners, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole supplied the cutting edge, with Damien Duff, ex-Rangers Tugay in midfield and a host of solid internationals and Premier League professionals.  If football success was about unconverted chances and unproductive possession, Blackburn won hands down.  Souness was blind to his side’s failure.

Celtic shredded Blackburn in the return two weeks later.  Chris Sutton didn’t mind celebrating his opener on his return to the ground he became an EPL champion at, while Henrik scored a peach to secure the tie 3-0 on aggregate.  The game went out live on terrestrial TV across the UK, allowing Henrik to tell the nation, “We knew we played s### in the first leg.”

We tasted Champions League football for the first time a year earlier, then felt the disappointment of elimination in qualification to Basel.  That win over Blackburn gave us hope that we may be able to remain in Europe at Christmas for the first time since 1979.

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  1. Scaniel on

    TOM at 5:19

     

    That’s basically the conversation I had a week past on Monday online.

     

     

    PRESTONPANS BHOYS at 6:02

     

    Like you,I’ve no real interest in friendlies and if I had a ST I’d probably not go on Saturday. I Swore after Bobby Charlton’s testimonial that I wouldn’t attend another. Have relented since, and here’s the reason why – and it relates to CELTIC MAC’s point at 5:01: Not being a ST holder, but Celtic daft, I’m always looking for a way to take my grandson, and perhaps some of his pals, to Celtic Park so they, in turn, will have Celtic in their hearts for years to come if not forever. European nights offer this if you’re quick enough when the general sale opens up to non ST holders. Same goes for some cup games. We shouldn’t put obstacles in the way for potential life long supporters for bread and butter games.

     

    Some of us may be casual attendars out of necessity, but we are not casual supporters. It’s who we are.

  3. MadMitch on

    Fair Friday high jinks — I think that 1992 still has the yellow jersey for the wildest in recent memory.

     

     

    Seemed to coincide with GDC’s decision to clamp down on the opening hours out in the sticks with longer hours in the city centre.

     

     

    Cue a mixing of the clans in the city centre that did not turn out as intended.

     

     

    Only two years after the City of Culture dog and pony show — not good.

  14. Celtic Mac on

    prestonpans bhoys – scaniel – vinniethedog

     

     

    Perhaps an opt-in system for friendlies might work. But then again I doubt if Celtic FC have either the hardware or the software to implement such a system. Would have thought that games such as those against Blackburn and Norwich give the chance for younger supporters, or potential supporters, and not just that age group either, visitors, tourists to see the Celtic given it is not going to be packed out no matter how the Ticket Office publicises it but there is little or no flexibility. Tried to get a couple of tickets together for an Australian woman and her son for the game tomorrow, but no luck for tomorrows game at least. She has been waiting two years or more to even be able to make the trip. And as regards the public or general sale there is a serious lack of candour or information available from official sources re numbers. Think we have gone down the Dave King route on the ST and sponsor front.

     

    One eye on the share price, and one eye on the till.

  18. Celtic Mac on

    scaniel

     

     

    Pretty sure it was the League Cup tie against Raith Rovers last September I think, when Celtic introduced ticket prices of £10 adult and £5 concessions, drew a crowd of 30-35,000 a great atmosphere and a run out for Big Pete’s Disco Lights. Showed a bit of nous, paid off.

  19. itscalledthemalvinas on

    I can’t make the game tmrw as I’m working,my son can’t take my ticket as he’s going to hampden to see Gary Zimmermann.

     

    Old tims in work have other things planned so my seat will be empty.

     

    Any smart brains on CQN think of a way we can pass on tickets to Celtic fans who would like to go to games that the season book holder can’t attend ?

  21. prestonpans bhoys on

    ITSCALLEDTHEMALVINAS

     

     

    Not possible as your ST is now a personal swipe card. In the old days you would get a paper ticket which you could pass onto to bhoys, I did for years , some league cup games or friendlies.

  23. Coneybhoy on

    Good people died to stop FASCISTS. Calling it malvinas

     

     

    They were British or brave Argentinians

     

     

    Grow up

  24. jackiemac on

    The tories have lost the run of themselves- they are in a weird superposition of in freefall and in the power. The English are stupid c words.

  25. corkcelt on

    With her thunder plunder we will teach the natives

     

    For the Brits are going to war just like Whitelocke didbefore

     

    With her ships and guns and drums and flags and banners

     

    In the Empire days of old when they murdered for gold

     

    And paraded it around the streets of London

     

    Oh no human rights were given to the natives dead or living

     

    “Las Islas Malvinas, Argentinas”

     

    In the Argentine he died Father Fahey by his side

     

    ’57 was the year his country mourned him

     

    A hero of the nation he’s remembered with elation

     

    Throughout the world where freedom still abounds

     

    And the Southern Cross take note where bold Willie Bullfin wrote

     

    The Irish still support you Argentina

     

    With the Empire tumbling down let no Paddies back the crown

     

    “Las Islas Malvinas, Argentinas”

  26. Tom McLaughlin on

    Our supporters club secretary holds about 40 ST cards belonging to members. Every member receives a txt prior to every game asking if they are going and if they don’t have a ST, do they need a ticket. On match day, he hands out ST cards to their owners if they are on the bus. ST cards for those not going are then issued to those on the bus with no ticket. It works well for us but it’s hard work for the guy.

  27. An Tearmann on

    Coneybhoy

     

    Ol classic from the Maestro’s turntable,Twas called that before shutting and gettin Glasgows 2kisseez/mwah set in the Cotton Club,now shut but back in day some nice wimmin went there lol.

     

     

    Another one Gina X no gdm

     

     

    https://youtu.be/GKsNdUJOFxo

     

     

    HH

  30. bournesouprecipe on

    They don’t call them ‘smart card’ for nothing.

     

     

    Many a season ‘book’ ended up in the washing machine and came out like paper mache, then you had to go in and pay for a replacement.

     

     

    What a waste of time and money that was.

  31. petec on

    bournesouprecipe on 15th July 2022 10:31 pm

     

     

    They don’t call them ‘smart card’ for nothing.

     

     

    Many a season ‘book’ ended up in the washing machine and came out like paper mache, then you had to go in and pay for a replacement.

     

     

    What a waste of time and money that was.

     

     

    …………………………………………………………

     

     

    Never done that, yet (x2), I hear the fee for a replacement is an Ayrton Senna (Aidan is mad about Formula 1), I dinnae ken tbh as it is a quite Precious item these Davie Hays.

     

     

    Gollum.CSC

     

     

    CELTIC

     

     

    CELTIC

     

     

    Legend,

     

     

    Wan mair post frae, possibly, the Wildest, Bravest, Wackiest and so unsuited to CQN frae philvisreturns would be Harry Harry Hood.

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeqtAB1WgEw

  32. BelmontBrian on

    Evening all.

     

     

    CELTICFOREVER on 15TH JULY 2022 1:32 PM

     

    Still a thug although souness did come through at Middlesbrough at same time as Sam Murdoch was nearing retirement.

     

    ============================================================

     

     

    In an STV documentary ‘A Pride of Lions’ recorded at Seamill Hydro. It recalls Celtic winning the European Cup and celebrates 20th anniversary of the historic achievement.

     

     

    The only person missing at the anniversary celebration was Mr Stein.

     

     

    During the filming, Bobby Murdoch is asked how his name of ‘Big Sam’ was originated from.

     

     

    Bobby describes how some routines involved dribbling around paint pots, easy for the likes of Lemon, whispy or Jinky, however not for Bobby Murdoch.

     

     

    When it came to the big fella’s turn, he unfortunately knocked over quite a few paint pots. Big Jock shouted ‘look at Big Sam’.

     

     

    The local demolishing contractor was Samuel. B. Allison. hence the the ‘big Sam’ reference.

     

     

    The video is still available on YouTube, hopefully the link works.

     

     

    Bertie et al at their best

     

     

    HH

     

     

    Brian.

     

     

    https://youtu.be/9ZkRGMr_KL4

  33. Sargassosea on

    AN TEARMANN on 15TH JULY 2022 6:45 PM

     

    What a story and how true. We were lucky as we had a friend who worked on board and reserved seats and sometimes even bunks for us. If he wasn’t working we used to sleep under the lifeboats. Then breakfast at our aunt’s in Derry before heading out to Glenvar.

     

    Bridie Gallagher was No. 1 for the Homes in our house.

  34. Friesdorfer on

    An Tearmann

     

    My Aunt lived in Norfolk St, top floor. Have a hazy memory, though could be wrong, could see over the Clyde at Carlton Square and Suspension Bridge. Her son,my cousin, now lives in Newton Mearns. Changed days indeed.

     

    HH

  36. Tontine Tim on

    I much preferred the greens versus the whites with the money going to the Little Sisters of the Poor

  37. celtic40me on

    Spurs season tickets are all digital now. You need a mobile device that your ticket can be downloaded to. No printed tickets, at all. Fun and games showing a covid digital passport and a digital ticket on your phone, but when you go with a child who doesn’t own a phone things get even more difficult.

     

     

    Plenty of kiosks to buy an expensive coke or a micro-brewed beer but a bit of a ball-ache to get a ten year old in the ground if you dont own a season book. Because its not convenient for Spurts to have printed tickets anymore. Or cost effective

     

     

    I pay £48 to be a member of Spurs which allows me to buy tickets on the ticket exchange. I dont like Spurs but my boy is a fan and I go to the games with him because I’m a great Dad. And I love watching football, I’m not sure in what order. He’s a junior member and I pay £25 quid for him. he received a package in the post this week, a bum bag with a water bottle and a voucher for the shop and he also gets access to the ticket exchange

     

     

    HIs uncle, his mums cousin and his barber are all Spurs season ticket holders. His barber was telling me last week that he owns a third share in a season ticket with his son and his mate. £400 to get access for a third of the games each season. He shrugs his shoulders when I talk about the price of games.

     

     

    Between me and my son I pay over £70 quid a year to be able to buy tickets from other Spurs fans for tickets. theres no discount on the tickets when I buy them, I wont say how much they cost as its embarrassing.

     

     

    The season ticket holders I know pay for the ability to be able to sell their unused seats on the ticket exchange. Season ticket prices doubled when they moved, when the new technology came in. Its factored into the price of a membership and a season book

     

     

    If you want a ticket exchange that effectively reduces the price of your season book (the ability to sell your seat when you dont want to use it instantly reduces the cost of your season book) expect to pay for it. if your membership allows you to get access to seats that aren’t being used by season book holders expect to pay for it.

     

     

    Dont expect anything for free in life, it never works like that

  38. celtic40me on

    An increase in season ticket prices so you can sell your seat when you can’t go, and an increase in a membership scheme that allows access to the ticket exchange.

  40. petec on

    Tontine Tim,

     

     

    Whilst you are tattie scone, there isnae many Tubes of how good Davie Hay was as a Leo Sayer, I Loved his attitude when he was our Leader, any recalls about games?

  41. celtic40me on

    If you want to give someone your season book at Spurs they need to be a member (paid, I think) and you need to go through a tortured process to transfer the ticket for that game to their account. Then they need to download it to their phone. It doesn’t cost but its still a ball ache

     

     

    No such thing as passing the books out on the bus or in the pub before the game.

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