If football resonates with you in any way, it’s probably because it brought you an intense joy at some point. For me, two such moments happened at Tannadice. We travelled there in 1981 but were still trying to get through the turnstiles when Murdo McLeod put Celtic ahead in 2 minutes. Frank McGarvey and Tommy Burns added two to complete a 2-3 win. I think this was the first title I saw us win in person, it’s certainly the earliest I remember. Danny McGrain was held shoulder-high right in front of me; the memory is indelible.
The outcome of that league was never really in doubt, not so, the 2008 title. Gordon Strachan’s side looked dead and buried six weeks earlier. They needed to beat Rangers twice and hope their title rivals dropped points in another two games to bring the achievable gap down to goal difference.
All that was achieved by the time we travelled to Dundee on the final day of the season. Celtic and Rangers were level on points, with Celtic holding a four-goal advantage.
If the game that won the title in 1981 was a procession, that night in 2008 was anything but. Celtic looked fragile throughout the first half and came perilously close to going behind in the final minute of the first half. Rangers were at Pittodrie and both games were goalless on the hour mark. A goal either way could shift momentum.
Aberdeen made the breakthrough on 63 minutes, we had beathing space. Nine minutes later, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink headed Celtic ahead from a corner kick. Soon thereafter, Aberdeen made sure of the job with a second goal at Pittodrie and a helicopter was despatched towards Dundee.
That season started with the players celebrating on-field with Tommy Burns, their assistant manager, after beating Spartak Moscow on penalty kicks to gain entry into the Champions League group stage. On scoring the winning goal, Jan pointed to the heavens, acknowledging Tommy’s passing a week earlier. The fortitude the team and manager showed that season was remarkable.
As you watch tonight, there will be no tension. Celtic could play you and me in central defence in their final two games, just for the “lols” and would still win the league. But that just makes the achievement all the more remarkable.
In the summer, we went out of the Champions League with a central defensive pairing of Stephen Welsh and Dane Murray playing in front of Scott Bain, who was given the gloves after Vasilis Barkas performance in the first leg. Ismaila Soro played the holding role in both games. In a very literal sense, the Celtic that will take the field tonight would be unrecognisable to us back then.
Enjoy the game and remember – it’s an early kick-off: 7.30.
174 Comments- Pages:
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AT
BRRB will definitely be in Vicky Bar, Vicky Rd in his Govanhill Fyfedom
Good pub
Celtic: Hart, Starfelt, Ralston, Taylor, Carter-Vickers, Hatate, McGregor, O’Riley, Forrest, Giakoumakis, Abada.
Subs: Bain, Ideguchi, Welsh, McCarthy, Rogic, Turnbull, Maeda, Jota, Kyogo.
Celtic title race 2007-8
https://youtu.be/jaRb7eqNdgU
I like that team.
Gio to batter the door down.
Bain, Ideguchi, Welsh, McCarthy, Rogic, Turnbull, Maeda, Jota, Kyogo
Some bench!
Maeda Jota and Kyogo all on the bench
Shockeroonie CSC
holy pox batbsr
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/scottish
kyogo drinking the tears of thems
There’s me predicting a Kyogo hat trick.
DANDAN
Lovely post!
Dan Dan
very touching. I hope we meet up again sometime.
J
Not surprised with the starting eleven – Ange will make sure his ‘main men’, Rogic, Maeda, Jota, Kyogo are on the pitch at the end.
live updates up
The hard won titles are sweeter than the strolls even though they are not easier on the heart.
Tonight should see us mathematically secure but we will still get a chance to celebrate in larger numbers again on Saturday.
Life is sweet.
Why are we kicking off 15 minutes before everyone else tonight?
BOGNORBHOY on 11TH MAY 2022 6:35 PM
live updates up
Where?
I’ve just heard “there’s going to be a show”
AT
BRRB will definitely be in Vicky Bar, Vicky Rd in his Govanhill Fyfedom
Good pub
Vicki Rd pub for years was run v professionally by our own hard as nails fullback jim brogan.
The other vicky bar is just round from the clutha vaults in the brigait and was were Billy connolly/gerry rafferty frequentedthat and the scotia,the vicky used to be renowned for live diddleydee music sessions
Wortha checking out
HH
And the Glasgow Celtic will be there !
Click this: TRENDING
Dundee United v Celtic, Live updates
at the top of the page to go to Live Updates.
These calls to get certain posters thrown off the blog simply because you interpret their posts as offensive are well out of order, we are all Celtic supporters on here, clearly – Celtic supporters like to argue with one another, it has always been like that. Some will never admit it because it simply doesn’t suit their personal agenda.
ROCK TREE BHOY on 11TH MAY 2022 6:48 PM
These calls to get certain posters thrown off the blog simply because you interpret their posts as offensive are well out of order, we are all Celtic supporters on , clearly – Celtic supporters like to argue with one another, it has always been like that. Some will never admit it because it simply doesn’t suit their personal agenda.
Rocktree bhoy
Your post does not mention racists,racism or fake multimonikers ripping the pish out the blog.so your not directing your post to me
Personal agenda,thats real popular with the anonymous trolls in their view of me.
today its correct.ON THE DAY WE BECAME CHAMPIONS I AM MAKING A STAND AGAINST RACISM
It’s amazing the amount of upset soft racist anonymous trolls are not to happy with it.
Enjoy updates,lot of good celts posting
The obvious ones stick out,but you’ll know that
‘