Pain of defeat is no tonic

Rangers won three consecutive Scottish Cups in the 60s and Aberdeen repeated the feat in the 80s, however, Celtic have never won the Cup more than twice in succession.

The closest we came to three in a row was the 1990 final, when Sunday’s opponents, Aberdeen, won the trophy on penalties after the game ended 0-0.  The double was achieved in the Centenary Season, before Joe Miller’s famous winner in 1989, but we were a busted flush by season 89-90.

A last 16 win over Rangers at Celtic Park was illusory.  That season, Celtic finished fifth in the league; ahead of Motherwell and Hibs only on goal difference (Celtic had a goal diff. of zero).  We were four points ahead of second bottom St Mirren.

29 years on, it is hard to explain how much we thought we needed to win that Cup in 1990.  After a cataclysmic season, there was a chance to celebrate with an historic third successive Scottish Cup.  Instead, we walked out of Hampden that afternoon telling ourselves a Cup win would have papered over the cracks, and that medicine of defeat would be a more effective tonic.

That was rubbish.  Defeat is not a wake-up call, then it was a portent of what was to come throughout the 90s.

No Celtic fan who walks into Hampden on Sunday will have the sheer desperation to beat Aberdeen that we had at that 1990 final.  But, unlike then, this time, we can look each other in the eye and say we deserve to join the three-in-a-row Scottish Cup winners’ club.

We have planned for our current success.  Form outside the competition supports the ambition.  If we win this Scottish Cup, we have earned it.  29 years is a long time to wait for compensation, but I firmly believe that without the pain of defeat, we cannot experience the full jobs of triumph. I want this for my May 1990 self.  I needed a break that day.

15th Annual CQN Open Golf Day

This year’s CQN Open will take place once again at Aberdour Golf Club on Friday 21 June.  The usual successful format and costs are £80 for the golf and evening event, £40 golf only and £40 night time only.

Please contact john@thewoodsidehotel.co.uk if you would like to come along.  Speakers and charitable beneficiaries to be announced.  Anyone seeking overnight accommodation, please contact John at The Woodside Hotel. John has an attractive package including a game at Burntisland Golf Club the day before the CQN Open, should you wish to hone your skills on the Fife Riviera!