Boavista v Celtic, 24 April 2003, was one of the most frustrating games of football I’ve sat through. Needing to score, for 78 minutes Celtic were moribund; they made not a single attempt on goal. Instead, they did what most teams do away from home, condensed midfield and defended, while Boavista, who would qualify for the Uefa Cup final if the game ended goalless, did much the same.
The goal appeared to take place in slow motion. Henrik Larsson moved forward to the end of the D and tried to pass to John Hartson, but a defender intercepted. Unfortunately for Boavista the ball was returned from the interception to an unmarked Larsson on the edge of the box.
It spun from his preferred right foot onto his left but the shot gently arced inches away from the goalkeeper’s grasp. The goal was a deflection, although we didn’t see it at the time. The keeper was moving his weight from right to left as the ball drifted to his left.
It may have been a turgid game of football decided by a deflection but it was also one of the most intense sporting occasions in our 125 year history. The sheer release of tension when the goal went in was incredible. 15 minutes, and one generous refereeing decision later, Celtic were in a European final.
Since then we have become accustomed to our position as a credible European team but it was very different in season 2002-03. This was the first Christmas Celtic were in Europe since 1979; each milestone along the way, Blackburn Rovers (a far more credible team at the time), Celta Vigo, Stuttgart and Liverpool, was celebrated with something close to astonishment.
The triumphs of this season, qualifying for the Champions League group stage instead of losing to Basel, then progressing to the knock out rounds, are greater than the achievements of April 2003, but they will never feel that way. That game, that season, trophy-less though it was, changed our entire landscape. Nothing would ever be the same again.
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It’s a nervy game in Inverness. Atajic and Keatings have come close to breaking through a couple of times but it seems our man of the match so far is the goalie, Noring.
Yeah lads, I heard that was a PS piece … just edited that to get rid of it.
I actually didn’t see the picture myself, only heard about it from a couple of messages I got at the time. To be honest, I didn’t think it was a particularly big deal.
Nearly frightened the life out of my wife and daughter as Henke’s shot hit the net, was pacing about the living room, nerves shredded, Henke scores I jump and but the roof, Mrs Bma, looking at me as if I’m a nutter…………………then at the final whistle panic sets in, can’t find passport, eventually find it only to discover it expires at the start of May…….
It cannae be 10 yrs already.
Bma
Bt, get well soon.
Eoghan O’Connell replaces Thomas Rogne 62 minutes. Still 0-0.
Paul
I agree about that Boavista game. In terms of nerves it was right up there with Lisbon, Milan and the rest quite probably because it meant so much to a couple of generations of Celtic supporters. Getting to the final was going to be their time, their Lisbon.
For me I was in London for the first leg, went out to Heathrow mid afternoon to be met with chaos and stories of the plane being full. Somehow or other I got on that plane along with Swedish – Celtic supporters and endured that testing night in Glasgow with even Henrik missing a penalty.
For the second leg I was in Fernando de Noronho which is a small Eco island off the east coast of Brazil. I actually met a Porto supporter in a small roadside bar on the day of the game who predicted that his club would be facing Celtic in the final.
Anyway all next day I could not get the result and flew back to mainland Brazil ( Salvador ) and thence to my hotel. I gathered myself and using a mobile phoned my Mum in Glasgow. The conversation took the shape of enquiries as to my trip etc during which I lost the signal. I called back and up front asked my Mum just to tell me the result. We got cut off. I could have cried. I called back and was surprised that I did not know the result what with Brazil being such a football mad nation etc etc. I calmed myself and said….. Please just tell me the result. Her response then was to describe the game. I had never ever shouted at my Mum but that day I screamed down the phone……… just tell me the result. Celtic won 1-0. We were in another European final and nothing was ever the same again!
The first call came at about 5am. I was in a very deep sleep but already Celtic fans were making plans. The voice simply said- can you get tickets for Seville?
HenkesFlowing,
thanks will have a go a bit later!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
None of the SPL champion-winning side are included in the shortlist of four names released this afternoon.
The nominees, produced after votes were cast by players from across the four Scottish leagues, are: Leigh Griffiths (Hibs), Michael Higdon (Motherwell), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), and Andrew Shinnie (Inverness Caley Thistle).
Victor Wanyama, Celtic�s influential midfielder, is nominated in the Young Player of the Year category, along with Griffiths and Dundee United pair Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven.
Madness!!!!
Victor can out play the Barcelona midfield almost single handed but can’t get nominated for POTY.
Forster also should have been in the running.
LB
Still 0-0 but Paul George is now on for the U20s. 65 minutes on the clock.
10 game ban for Suarez
James Forrest @ 14.50.
Good article James but as long as the existing SFA management remain in place Sevco are as safe as houses. Its quite clear that their top man sees saving sevco at all costs as a core responsibility of the SFA, to get to Sevco you first of all woud have to eliminate the SFA, and even if we managed to achieve that which is very unlikely, you then have to think about free masonery and the Lord Nimmo Smiths of this world, too many protective layers unfortunately.
Commons,Hooper,Wanyama,Wilson
all credible POTY candidates
Bobby Murdochs Ankle
15:19 on 24 April, 2013
“………………then at the final whistle panic sets in, can’t find passport, eventually find it only to discover it expires at the start of May…….
It cannae be 10 yrs already.”
Have you got your holidays booked for this year? If so, you’d better check the passport again
notthebus
All of the players nominated are strikers. How predictable. Wanayma should walk the YPOTY award. Hope McGinn wins the POTY award. I reckon the whole Celtic team will have went for him.
LB
LIVIBHOY,Your piece about celtic park upgrading ,etc etc, i agree with you,its not all about on the pitch, and what about the triangle,the old school,any update on them.and were in livi did your dad work.also i think its time celtic cashed in on the likes of .wanyama,hooper ,foster, ledly,stokes, kayal.they are good players, but i think its time for them to move on, and sammi as well.fringe players that are not good enough,like miku, rogne,zaluskas.mcourt,can find new clubs.i would give lassad another season,
LiviBhoy
15:22 on 24 April, 2013
“None of the SPL champion-winning side are included in the shortlist of four names released this afternoon.”
…and what’s the betting that Stuart McCall will get manager of the year?
TTT
No worries mate, hope it does what you need it too!
LMAO at the Player of the Year nominations.
Their bitterness, petty bigotry and barrell-scraping knows no depths.
Petulant, narrow-minded specious pinkie-pulling vermin.
James Forrest – just bought your book ‘Fragments’ for my kindle. If you want an honest critique, some editing (sps & typos), get my email from Paul.
As long as there’s no teenage girls falling in love with sparkly vampires I might enjoy reaidng it…
A few empty seats at the Celtic table that night.
Hmmm lets see if this works:
For those of you talking about Big Sutty after Henrik scores, is this the one?
http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/7373/thekingofkings.jpg
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Giorgios is POTY.
The Token Tim 15:12 on 24 April, 2013
No, cannot make the BMCUW brains’ trust light beverage discussion; maybe next time..
Aye, Cebu South is home for now………
Appreciate the gesture re contact but Manila is one of my least favourite places on God’s earth………
Nonetheless, would be good to meet up with fellow Tims in SE Asia….
Be sure and let me know when you are next in Toledo City……….
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
timbhoy2
My old man worked at an engineering firm in Houston Industrial estate.
LB
Callum McGregor goes close with a long-range drive, but there have been very few chances in this game. 75 minutes, still 0-0. Celtic need three points for the title.
Cadizzy, Booked, Portugal in sept, Marys 50th, 2 passports to be renewed, mini Bma’s and mine.
How’s life treating you down in foreign?
Bma
Player of the Year?
Easy..
Michael Higdon.
Ah always like the lad..in fact .. Ah recommended him fur us.. long before he went tae Motherwell.
He has all the tools that ur needed .
He is Big.. He is Brawny and He kin
Pit the Ba’ in the Net..
Wi’ His Heid… which is an Art which Died.. at Parkheid by the Clyde, when
Henryk left us.
Yep.. Higdon fur the Award..
Kojo
Still. Laughin’
Atajic goes close in a six-yard-box scramble on 78 minutes, but it’s still 0-0.
timbhoy2
You’re havin a laff……int ye?
Kojo
The boy may be decent but is nowhere near Celtic class.
POTY should come from the Champs unless someone elswhere has been exceptional. Higdon is not universally appreciated by Motherwell fans. My mate is a big fan of his and has to argue with guys every week in the East Stand at Fir Park.
LB
Boavista away game:
Watched it in the Lorne Hotel lounge with some mates (McPhabbs was more tightly packed than the Old Jungle) in the company of a coach party of old ladies who were on a People’s Friend type tour of Scotland.
Think they found our antics more entertaining than the match on TV.
We were still on a high lunchtime the following day (topping up) and one of the boys decided to go on-line and try and charter an aircraft to get to Seville.
Swiss company phone us with details: “circa £350 per head return blah! blah!”
Few of us listening in: “sounds like a brilliant idea just go ahead and book it – we can fill the plane no problem!”
Our negotiator: “they’re asking for a credit card payment.”
Us: “give them the company one – we can all chip in enough to cover the deposit.”
Our negotiator: “they want a £75,000 deposit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Us: “sh@@ – tell them we will get back to them. Pub anyone? Think we will need to come up with another cunning plan.
Needless to say the 3 of us got to Seville – but the Swiss Charter Company actually phoned us a few times and emailed us with offers up to the week before the final.
ComeFlyWithMeCSC.
cadizzy
I should have been clear it’s the players version that the short list is for. I expect Adams to get the football writers MoTY.
If anyone outside Paradise gets it then it should be Danny Lennon for winning a trophy!
LB
Have to admit that Im not really surprised at the nominations for POTY.
With the possible exception of Vic, all those mentioned are IMO deserving of it.
Each of thos players will definitely have shone in their games against the rest of the League.
Vic and possibly FF earlier in the season apart, I don’t think any of our players have really shone this season, too many been up and down in form.
I doubt any of the players are that fussed…..im sure they all much rather be walking away with League and Scottish Cup Winner’s medals instead!!
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Timbhoy
Pal..
Ah am wit ye…
Time tae cash in oan..
Wanyama, Foster…Sammi( Who’d Tak HIM?…ed)… Ah know! Ah know! Ye dinnae need tae Remind Me!
Ah wid keep Hoops..
Kayal and Paddy..??
Baith…
Oot the Door.. A.S.A.P.
Players, whom Ah wid Nevah Release..
They wid hiv tae Prize them..oota Ma Cold Deid Haun…
ur..
Forrest, Matthews..Rogich.. Wilson…McGeogh, Hoops, and.. Darling Charlie.
Kojo
Still , Laughin
Five minutes to go for the young Hoops. Still 0-0.
Jackson Irvine comes close but can’t get enough power on his prodded shot.
Suarez ten match ban. Was that bite worse than a leg breaking tackle or stamping on a player.
Defoe did something similar a few years ago and only got a yellow.
Can only imagine what the SFA would do to one of our players?
For me Kelvin Wilson was our player of the season. He was consistently good, apart from one mistake recently.
BMA
All is good though no big funerals to turn my back on this week.
I suppose after all this time I have to recognise that Foreign is home….and that Home is now a bit foreign to me.
Give my best to T and the rest of the family. Is that brother of yours still a high heid yin in the CSC?
Boavista – I had the internet flights page sitting at the ready – to secure flights before the prices went through the roof.
Only problem then was tickets.
I had a call from my son when the letters went out to say that 3 letters from Celtic had dropped in. He had opened his, and had got a ticket for Seville. He opened his brothers letter. He had also got a ticket. My heart sank. No way would all 3 of us be successful. I told him “open mine”.
Unbelievably I’d got one too. All 3 of us had a ticket. Cant tell you how happy I was. Ok, I can tell you…but I don’t need to..you already know.
In Spain, we’d been on the sauce in Cadiz the night before the game. Tickets hidden so well in the hotel bedroom that an Indian scout wouldn’t have found them, and for a horrible few minutes on the morning of the game , in my hungover state, I couldn’t remember exactly where they were. Heart racing, I found them, in the first place I had looked, but somehow missed them. The relief was unbelievable.
Anyway all good, hoops and shorts on, tickets inside a plastic bag , inside the trainer, and off to Seville we went.
For weeks before the final I’d told my sons we would need to score 3 to win, and that Porto would pull every trick in the book to con the ref. How I wish I hadn’t been so bloody prophetic.
I have great admiration for Mourinho’s managerial ability but still struggle to accept his teams behaviour that night, and the awful officials.