Pat McCluskey, who died yesterday, was one of the 44 players who won nine-in-a-row first time around. He was from a generation of Celtic players who returned to the club when their careers ended, as fans and in other capacities.
Pat was a popular figure on for Supporters’ Nights, where he would share tales of how it was in those other glory years and give his take on current events. Celtic players are different today. For a start, few come from the neighbourhood and many live elsewhere after leaving football. The loss of Pat’s generation will not be easily filled by those able and prepared to give up their evenings to meet fans.
My earliest memories of Celtic are patchy; mostly of big crowds and travelling to and from games, without specific memories of the games themselves. The Scottish Cup Final in 1975 was different. Hampden in the sun, Paul Wilson (twice) and Pat with the goals, now both sadly lost. I know for sure that Pat’s penalty and Paul’s headers are the earliest goals I remember. That was the first team I knew well and could recall effortlessly (I got it wrong when I tried this morning: Steve Murray!!).
Celtic pivoted that season, nine years of unfettered success ended. Billy McNeill retired and Jock released Jimmy Johnstone, but Pat, Paul, Billy and the others made sure there were no mistakes against Oldco Airdrieoneans in the final.
Pat is a part of our rich history. Our sympathies to his family and friends.
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Burnley78
Thank you for posting that tribute.
God bless and receive your dad.
That centre forward the Hungarians have got could make mince meat out of our “defence”. Let’s hope he has an off night.
Burnley78
Great read mate. Thanks.☘
The way I see it, we came undone against Cluj, Athens and Copenhagen with the wrong tactics because the opposition manager out-thought our manager.
I just hope Lenny has learned and makes the right decisions.
Burnley78
Lovely tribute to your dad , he won’t have gone in your head and never forgotten.
I keep reminding myself to appreciate them more when they’re there.
Your post has reinforced that thought, thanks.
Hello again all you young rebels.
Back in action now after a wee bit of jiggery pokery with my comp.
Reading back I’ve missed a few birthdays, so belated happy one to you all.
Not so happy with some of the negativity I’ve missed, some posts were
relevant but quite a few were just attention seekers but we all know who
they are.
Fantastic post from Burnley 78, that’s the kind that brings us back here
constantly, kudos to you B78.
Alas, a post I thought I wouldn’t ever need to make with the passing of big Pat
McCluskey.
Not only a great player, but a great ghuy, a great workmate too.
I worked with Pat offshore and his first stint was as a store man and our first
port of call when we needed a hot coffee in the back of his wee haven.
Nightshift and struggling with a huge lump of steel all night, the sleet freezing
up our eyelids, ” feck this, lets go and have a chat with Pat ”
He loved a good story and kept us amused with loads of little anecdotes from
his time in Paradise.
But his favourite one to listen to was one I’ve told it on here before about the
MCP-01 a gas platform run by Total oil.
Don’t want to tie up the blog with a big spiel again, so the punchline of the
story was about the big hun from Kilwinning who traveled up and down on the
Aberdeen train, and had to listen to the Rebs constantly from a coach full of
Tims.
He had a lightbulb moment and said ” a’ve just realised whit that MCP-01 means ”
” The feckin place is full of Micks, Catholics, Papes and the Odd 1 me, is a hun ”
And so it was, thanks to the unseen fenian hand lol.
Pat loved that story and I had to repeat it many times in company in The Hoops
bar in Gallowgate.
God bless you Pat RIP.
H.H. Mick
Good morning cqn from a tearful Garngad after reading back, especially Burnley78, wow. Such a lovely post.
RIP your mum and dad
Thanks for that post B78 as it has just reminded me of my own dad and younger days and it will resonate with so many on here.
Hail Hail
COYBIG
D :)
MM – good to see you on.
PC sorted?
Hope you and the family are all safe down under.
D :)
BURNLEY – saddened for your loss but warmed by your affection for your dear departed Da.
To you & FRIESDORF, I was only on the EAG/BUSBY bus a few times (always playing rather than watching).
Yous surely know the legendary Sharkeys or big Shug Cassidy?
DAVID66
All good David, we seem to be getting on top of the virus again, but
another 2 and half weeks to endure this lockdown with a warning from
the health experts restrictions could be kept in place for a further 6
months to a year.
Don’t really understand how the U.K will manage with figures well in
excess of Oz, and the threat of a second wave.
Lets hope a vaccine will be accessible soon for everyones sake.
H.H. Mick
G’day QUADRO
How are you getting through this lockdown up the peninsula?
Plenty of exercise I hope.
H.H. Mick
MM – we’re going good and ta for asking. Trust all’s well wi you and yours too.
Jealously looking at QLD and WA wishing the hotel quarantino balls-up hadnt left us so confined to barracks.
1-hr exercise kills the cycling – usually take a ball down the park for a bit of ‘wall-y’ to keep me on my toes.
Stay well – HH
Burnley 78 and Sculleybhoy condolences on the loss of your father’s .
We have a lot to thank the people for ,who led us to Celtic park .
My thoughts and prayers go to the families of those just passed.
Scullybhoy
Condolences on the loss of your father, may he RIP.
YNWA HH
Quadrophenian
Who could ever forget Charlie Sharkey…
HH
Scullybhoy,
Sorry for your loss. Memories are everything.
RIP to your dad.
Good morning, friends from a grey but just about dry East Kilbride. So, tonight we again get to see The Champions play in what is likely to be a tough tie. Enjoy the build up and let’s get those positive vibes flowing!
Scullybhoy
Sincere condolences for the loss of your dad.
May he rest in peace
Scullybhoy,
May your father rest in peace.
FRIESDORFER/BURNLEY – Cheers soo’siders!
Our neighbour big Charlie was a big rangy, wild, curly-heided legend in all respects ;)
They said he could play and party equally well. I vividly remember him joining one of our pre-teen games – him peshed – and 10 yrs+ our senior, spraying the ball about Baresi style and tackling (work boots on) with the lusty abandon of Stuart Psycho Pearce. I learned to ride tackles from that one session only!
His younger brother Gerry (nearer my age) was a smashing player who coulda been a contender.
Scullybhoy; condolences to you and yours too. KTF
I would love to see Luca Connell get some game time. He made some lovely forward passes in that early season game.
If there’s one thing does my head in it’s watching a player, (usually our wing backs) steaming forward only to have to slow down, or worse still, backtrack to pick up a pass from a teammate
Glendalys – re MTK ….
…. Before my time but, much later, stories emerged suggesting Robert Kelly told the manager not to shut up shop in the away leg as Celtic had a duty to entertain the paying public of Budapest.
Do you recall if this actually happened?
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
Burnley 78/Quadrophenian
A legend is an apt description of big Charlie Sharkey. I have a vivid recollection of our bus getting windows panned in by a bunch of stickies, and Charlie almost single-handedly taking them on – to their cost. What a mhan!
CRC of this parish was also a regular, although possibly a few years later (whippersnapper 😉😉)
B78, I know of the business you are referring to, and I have every intention of having a tour as soon as circumstances permit.
HH
In fact, the abuse young Mr Taylor receives is often not warranted. Watch the amount of times he passes then moves down the wing but never receives the return pass. All because we love a sideways or back pass
Strange comments by Lenny on the Turnbull transfer.Far too much nonsense being taken as truth by us all.We were all told Monday he was in for his medical,by nearly every outlet,including Celtic ones,now Lenny is saying,he knows nothing about it.Very strange.The Duffy story is now becoming farcical.There are other CHs out there.Too much faffing around when we need a CH in now.Lets face it,he ain’t no VVD,I am positive we can find as good,cheaper as well.
I concur Turkeybhoy – transfer window all very Celtic and in parallel we create the same risk each season with the real possibility of a Bitton (again) at CH, an SPFL-level left back, a midfield system that still doesn’t function and probably 1 up front again.
We create unnecessary risk against savvy, decent european teams who then see our our failings. I’d expect the Hungarians to target our lack of pace in central midfield and LB, allow Brown all the time in the world to pass sideways and double up on Eddie up front.
We need to get our passing game in early and stretch them or it will be a nervy night.
Celtic 2 – 1 Ferencvaros
FRIESDORFER – lol.
He was always a decent ghuy to the kids of every hue and team and, again, I clearly remember him telling an 9/10 yr old me – in hushed, conspiratorial, beery tones – “We kaffliks must stick the gither”. Fond memories.
31003 – with you on GT. HH
31003,
I honestly don’t know what some fans see when watching players.Taylor is forever making runs,looking for the through ball or pulling defenders with him,always available for a pass.I bet Calmac,Moi,and the rest know the job he does.Some are still in withdrawal about KT.Jamesy suffers from this as well.No matter what he does,some fans just will not take to him.Anyway,considering who the boy replaced,I think he is doing a great job,and will get better.
I really don’t get this narrative about Greg Taylor. Masks the real issue that as a club aspiring to play at the European table we need a better option at LB. Our strategy post-KT was shocking and that’s not Greg’s fault. Doesn’t cost us in a poor league but with margins everything, it can in Europe.
I may be in minority of 1 but I think playing Bitton at CH in European matches is a positive move, as he is the best passer of the ball of all of our defenders. He is an excellent of the game.
I do think it is necessary to play 2 up front; so, I would start with Klimala alongside Eduard.
El Hamed should also start at RB.
I dare say our manager will have his own ideas, quite possibly utterly different.
excellent=excellent reader of…..
Big Wavy
If we utilise his forward runs you’ll see a much better player. I don’t see many in the team who pass and move. Most pass then stand and admire their own work
Big Wavy,
If we are going to play 3 at the back,as I think we all hope,you really won’t find better than Taylor anywhere near our price range.Wing backs now,are only part time defenders.There job is to play mostly in the other teams half.Andy Robertson,is virtually an outside left for Liverpool.You can see the problem in filling this position.Apart from KT,when was the last time we brought through a good LB,or RB.Even trying to get them in on loan,has been a failure,and some downright crap.Andy Robertson took a long time to get to where he is now.Taylor has been playing the role for less than a season.He needs a chance,and support.
31003
Really wasting your time,and me.When fans minds are set,nothing changes them.
Nice few verses on castore from the hearts supporters
A couple from me.
When you look at your kit
and your kit looks like shit
that’s castore
When your top should be blue
but it’s not the right hue
that’s castore
Ok. While I’m on it. Wee Jamsie seldom takes on the man and hits the bye line. Mostly passing or cutting inside. I’d love to know his assist stats when hitting the bye line. At a guess I’d say 15-20% success rate hitting the line. Between that and no return pass for Taylor when he makes a run I can only guess Lenny wants everything through the middle
31003 on 26TH AUGUST 2020 9:51 AM
Big Wavy
If we utilise his forward runs you’ll see a much better player. I don’t see many in the team who pass and move. Most pass then stand and admire their own work
—
I get that. Our midfield setup is an unstructured mess, players bumping into each other over in the left hand side, reliance on Brown at the back of the diamond with a limited set of passes to put it mildly. A LB with the ability to beat a man with a trick or two and break lines would help.