I wasn’t at the 4-2 game against Oldco on 21 May 1979, when “10 men won the league, tra-la-la-la-la.” Martin42 is still dealing with the consequences of going without me, but I endured the 0-3 defeat 20 years later that saw the title go to Ibrox.
In the intervening 19 years the authorities in Scotland have done their best to ensure we do not have a potential league winning game between Celtic and either of the Rangers group of clubs, but here we are. There may never be another opportunity.
That Celtic team in season 1998-99 started poorly with new manager, Jo Venglos, working among one or two strong personalities in the dressing room, but by the springtime we were flowing and a title challenge was on. When we met Newco on 2 May, a win would only give us an outside chance of the title.
Then came the news that we would play with a rookie, Scott Marshall. The result wasn’t Scott’s fault, but the chance added a pressure to a defence which already had Stephane Mahe, for some of the game, anyway. We could not handle the pressure. Oldco stuck to task and won comfortably.
This was a time when titles in Scotland were decided by sheer brute force. David Murray’s Rangers’ aggregate income for the four seasons which followed Celtic’s title win in 1998 was £180m – but they spent £282m, an average loss per season over four years of £25m.
The Rangers way of doing business was working. It delivered titles and denied you and me football success. There were many reasons to dislike how they did business. Liquidation would take another 13 years, but the consequences of financial irresponsibility were always inevitable.
Newco will walk into Celtic Park on Sunday with their own version of Scott Marshall, Jak Alnwick, who has made just two senior appearances (no clean sheets) since arriving in Glasgow 18 months ago. We need to make sure he endures a torrid afternoon.
After watching Graeme Murty earn two draws at Celtic Park I have a bit of respect for what he can do there. He should not be underestimated, few managers arrive for their third visit undefeated, but the man is so embattled right now, his ability to prepare a team must be significantly impaired.
By contrast, Brendan Rodgers gave a tactical masterclass in the recent games at Ibrox and Hampden, costing Murty any chance of securing the Newco manager’s job long term. For Brendan, Sunday is all about getting the job done as early as possible, before preparing the squad for the cup final, which is only three weeks away.
I know it’s greedy to ask for too much when we are within touching distance of a second successive treble, considering we only won two in 48 years before last season, but I really want this one. Let’s do it for everyone who was at Celtic Park on 2 May 1999, or who lived through the years when David Murray and Dave King sat on an Oldco board which lost £35.3m with a turnover of only £44.8m. Contemporary times show that some lessons cannot be taught too often to those who refuse to learn.
The same people are strutting around our game with the same sense of entitlement. Show them how to win the league with style and within budget, Celtic.
Raffle to play in an 11-a-side game at Celtic Park, closes 15:00 today, Friday 27th
An incredible opportunity to play on the hallowed turf at Celtic Park around the end of the current season 2017-18, in Club sponsor Intelligent Car Leasing’s match.
You will be provided with complimentary Celtic kit and receive the full match-day experience including arrival through the front door, access to the dressing room and proudly walking down the tunnel to enter the famous field of play.
Both squads will be managed by a former Celtic player. Date 16 May, 11:00 kick off. All monies raised will be donated to Celtic FC Foundation, a registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (number SC024648).
To enter the raffle, make a minimum donation of £5 to the Foundation at this MyDonate page. Then send your donation confirmation email to this address: celticquicknews@gmail.com
The opportunity to play on Celtic Park is just beyond words. I did it a few years ago, the memories will live forever, as will the photographs. The experience of preparing in the dressing room, as so many greats have done before, was fabulous.
You can enter for yourself, or gift the prize to someone you know aged 18 or over. Competition closes in just a few hours at 15:00, so enter now!.
Good luck!
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Mahe,
Sorry about not getting back sooner. Been off the blog for a few days. I know Sonora well. Lost a fair bit of money in a dive bar called “The Office” playing liars dice with the Bartender. I am in Sonoma County.
We have a supporters club and will be showing the game delayed at 1pm. We will be BBQing and have plenty of refreshments. Let me know and I will send you my contact information.
Hail Hail, CaliBhoy
Must have been busy over at Ibrox last night. Yesterday afternoon Gerrard was on a short list. Today the job is his if he wants it.
Must have done all the interviews last night and without any reporters noticing!
I’m sure they will all live happily ever after…..
Team for Sunday.
Krazy kick oot keeper.
Big Mik. The Viking. Dedeye. Wee KT.
Broonie n Ollie
Jamsie Skippy CalMac
Eddie.
——–‘
Moussa Griff Streach paddy Sinky Hendry Bain..
Maybees aye Maybees naw.
DD……
so near to Harland St then????
:)
Going back a bit but I was at St Paul’s with a few Rodgers, never knew they were related to our bhoy.
McCartneys and Mc Comiskeys were friends with them as well I think…
HH
Afternoon,all.
I can honestly say that if anyone has double pneumonia on a bucket list,change it to skinny-dipping in the ooze at Chernobyl. Bound to be much more fun. I’ve just spent 8 days in hospital,plus 4 prior to that when I didnae know what was happening.
I know now-I was getting a kicking. On a recovery programme now which doesn’t include having fun cos yer on the sick.
Anyway,the support I’ve received from this site has been phenomenal. And you have no idea how grateful and humbled I am by it. I could only get online for 15 minutes a day,not enough time to compose my thanks. This will have to do! What an amazing place…
I suppose that means I can’t,erm,engage in a lively discussion with any of you now,cos that would just be ungrateful!!!
Btw,to all the nursing staff in Kingfisher and especially Mercury Ward at Swindon GWH,you are a credit to your profession. It must be difficult to be so professional,yet they still made sure that empathy and compassion were to the fore of their actions.
And a final point,thank you very much to my parents who flew down to be with their boy when he needed them. That’s why I love my family so much. And of course,to my nephew who was by my side early Saturday morning.
Sent from my iPad
Offski for a bit-seems I have 134 mails to reply to. I’m hoping my junk filter has failed!!!
Welcome home Mick
Bmcw,
Nice to have you back :0)
I hope Gerrard takes the huns job, what could possibly go wrong.
Anyways, I was under the impression that their DoF was the one with the contacts, seems not and StevieG is the man, the gullibillies are falling for it big time.
There is stupid and there is the huns, the thickest supporters on the planet.
Bankiebhoy1 Willie McCartney and Danny McComisky??
D. :)
mon the bmcwp, early return – I was hoping for Sunday
BMCUW welcome home.
D. :)
Now what about LR67, and Weefrathetim if you are lurking, how are you and how’s the old homestead?
D. :)
BMCUW – Hail Hail from me and the Bhoy.
David66 – Re: Danny McComisky – brother Stevie? Drunk in the Dolphin – same guy?
HH
BGFC
Welcome back BMCUW. Break yourself in gently but I’m sure the hospital staff have told you that.
Big Packy hope you have not started that T- lager without us? Hope you and the bhoys are well?
D. :)
RANGERS chairman Dave King is “in breach” of takeover rules after failing to cough up cash for his club share bid.
We told last week how the South-Africa-based businessman was set to comply with a court ruling ordering him to make an offer to buy the Ibrox side’s remaining shares.
King lost two hearings in the Court of Session after the Takeover Panel took action following its assertion that he acted in “concert” with three other stakeholders when he launched his boardroom coup in March 2015.
He had until yesterday to contact shareholders with an offer to buy up the rest of the remaining two-thirds of the club’s equity at 20p per share.
If fully subscribed, King could be faced with a bill for £10.75million.
But his offer was last night branded defective after he didn’t provide “code-compliant” third party proof he had the cash to pay for the shares.
King is set to use funds from a company owned by one of his family trusts in South Africa to finance the offer.
Rangers International Football Club PLC have now reached out to the South African government to get the cash moved to the UK.
A statement on the Rangers website said: “RIFC is seeking the necessary South African Government approvals to permit the cash required for the offer to be transferred to the United Kingdom to enable an appropriate third party to provide the cash confirmation.
“Meantime, the Takeover Panel has asked RIFC to advise shareholders that the Panel will take all appropriate steps to seek to ensure that a Code-compliant offer is made as soon as possible.”
Big George possibly Danny was the same age as myself but he had an older brother, DD would be best placed to answer that as his memory is a lot better than mine. But I do think that is correct
D. :)
BGFC – enjoyed your St Patrick’s day gig at Coatbridge, I wasn’t there it was the link I think you posted.
We used to have a St Patrick’s day celebration up in the Garngad but sadly no more.
D. :)
As my old maw used to say “You can watch a thief but you cannae watch a liar.” ?
POG that was one of my mothers many sayings as well.
D. :)
Welcome home BMCUW
bmcuw
welcome back, keep well.
welcome back sicknote :))
I met the brothers McComiskey, Stephen and Danny many moons ago in Kelly’s Bar on Pollokshaws Road before one of the Cup Finals. Apart from being mad Tims we shared something else in common but they need to learn how to spell properly. There was also the furriers (oh non-PC) owned by McComiskeys that used to be on Sauchiehall street up by the Dental Hospital.
Cheers D – twas a freezing day – better watched online :-)
They should move St Patrick’s feast day to the summer !!!
HH
BGFC
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 27TH APRIL 2018 5:32 PM
Great to see you back. That must have been a truly scary and horrible experience.
You take care and all the very best for the recuperation, starting on Sunday.
HH
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
How long can the SMSM go without actually talking about the game on Sunday?
POG I was trying to think what business/ shop their family had, a furriers, that’s right.
D. :)
BMCUWP , great to see you back. Swift recovery mandated for Belfast! HH
I see the zombies have signed Scott Arfield on a pre-contract … a few thoughts…
1. They must be worried about the result this weekend, if they are announcing it today …
2. I know he’s Canadian, so I should be biased… but I really dont think he is much better than what they already have….
Apparently the royal family spell Leigh as Louis
Trump v. FIFA in a twitter battle … hard to figure out who has the moral highground in that one … or, more accurately, which one has the moral lowground ….
Just catching up,nothing wrong with a nice cold bud,to many snobs on here?
Tallybhoy
I think that Johann’s first ever game for us was the 5-1 game at CP.
Before I left the car to walk to the ground, they were sniggering on Clyde at the Celtic team selection. They weren’t sniggering at quarter to five.
FRITZSONG- big JM first game was 5:1 game
For an organisation supposedly ‘banned’ from Ibrox, Sportsound’s Ibrox correspondent seems to go out of his way to set the agenda/narrative.
thems have a closed mindset