The script was written for George O’Boyle. Henrik gave Celtic the lead in the opening minutes but this was a team on its knees. If we thought that early goal would lead to an easy afternoon we were wrong. St Johnstone were our match all over the field.
O’Boyle met a near inch-perfect cross from the right with Jonathan Gould stranded, but the St Johnstone striker could not get high enough (pun intended) and Rangers’ best chance to win 10-in-a-row was gone.
Like the entire decade of the 90s, the game was torture. With Rangers winning at Tannadice we needed a win to ‘stop the 10’, but more was at stake than that. If we had let this one slip through out hands, needing only three points from our final two games, it is difficult to conceive how we would have recovered.
In truth, it is hard to imagine how we got close to the title. The 11th hour appointment of Wim Jansen produced a stuttering start to the campaign: a defeat at Hibs before an embarrassing capitulation at home to Dunfermline. Meanwhile, Rangers new prolific striker, Marco Negri, was breaking records.
With two weeks of the season left, we drew 0-0 at home to soon-to-be-relegated Hibernian. This was not a fantastic Celtic team, but they were made of strong stuff and would not be denied.
With around 15 minutes left against St Johnstone, the world’s most magnificent misfit, Harald Brattbakk did what he did best – got between defence and goalkeeper – to sweep the ball home. Grown men cried. This title was celebrated like none will ever be celebrated again.
The subsequent 20 years have seen many great successes. We have had Seville, The Beating of Barca (twice) and many Champions League triumphs, but that game against St Johnstone is without doubt the most important victory in my Celtic supporting life. Nothing in my entire relationship with the club comes close to that 90 minutes.
During the previous decade Celtic fans were effectively foreigners in our own land. Our streets were filled with celebratory blue jerseys; men had died blonde hair, aping (pun intended) Rangers players. They laughed at us, often with good reason.
We all have our memories of that night’s celebrations, but my most vivid memory is driving through the towns and villages of Lanarkshire. Green and white hooped fans were everywhere, some even waving flags sitting on top of traffic lights. The streets were ours again and we’re not giving them back.
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Stopping the ten…
I was at parkhead to see the beam back of the Dunfermline match the previous week. Thought that was to be the day but it wasn’t to be. Going into the last game I wasn’t confident TBH. The expectation seemed too much for the players. Never been as happy to have my doubts about them erased by a gritty balls of steel type performance by the hoops. Delighted too that the much maligned Brattbakk got the clincher.
Relief was the strongest emotion for me on the day which was fraught with nerves. Didn’t eat much that day which I made up for later.
Listened to it on radio with some mates, about six of us crammed into a bedroom. You could’ve heard a pin drop when news of O’Boyles near miss came through.
Remember doing a impromptu huddle outside the ‘ auld hoose ‘ and inadvertently stopping traffic in the process. Joyous for sure but mostly relief.
When my nerves had subsided a bit later that night I got a serious case of the munchies which I cured with by skelping a sausage supper, a pot noodle and a beef curry from the local Chinese in fairly quick succession, man I was hungry.
Crashed out exhausted after more beers and party tunes at my house , some mates lasted a bit longer, nobody wanted it to end.
HH
Interesting that the reason this game was so celebrated was because it hurt the Huns so much.
That is simply an observation and not a criticism. Had I been in these parts then, I am sure I would have felt the same. Even so, Lisbon 1967 was my happiest Celtic day and I was not living in these parts then either !
Half an hour until departure time to see the Glasgow Celtic.
HH and cheerio for now.
JJ
THE EXILED TIME @ 1:40 PM
You are welcome.
I’m not sure if what has been written is garbage or not.
I’ve only seen two articles; one from Phil and one from Richard Wilson (https://twitter.com/timomouse/status/993718303725154305). There might be others out there but I haven’t seen them.
Phil certainly says the application went to UEFA and was rejected. That doesn’t seem to follow the UEFA process where a rejected application can be appealed to CAS.
Richard Wilson implies that the appeal is with the SFA. This would be in line with the published process and timetable (https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/media/2881/scottish-fa-club-licensing-manual-2018.pdf).
Was at the game that day with Dena, and the rest of the now defunct Anton Rogan CSC, can still feel the North Stand Upper deck flexing as we sang and cheered.
From the low point of the League Cup loss to Raith Rovers up to the day we stopped the ten was a period I will never forget. during that period we showed just how different we were to the Orcs. In our worst times we turned to humour and hope they turned to bigotry and hatred. We got “Celts for Change” they got “We deserve better”. We bit the bullet and carried out a boycott of the club we loved and then supported Fergus in terms of Season Tickets and the Share Issue. They demanded a saviour on a “White Charger” and then blamed everyone else when it didn’t materialise.
Still thank my lucky stars that my old fella passed on Celtic to my Mum, sisters and me.
One more sleep before seeing the bhoys win againt killie….
Sorry Jobo, I’m 70 now and I like a wee sleep in the afternoon… :-)
Only kidding…my two dugs widnae let me snooze in the afternoon, not when there’s walking to be done…
For me that day was about preserving our record of nine in a row.
Imagine the hoo ha if they got the ten? In the end they had to settle for equaling our record . We done it first and at a time when Scottish football clubs were holding their own in Europe. Green tinted vision aside , our nine is way better.
Always late to the party that mob.
HH
Glad Naismith got a two match ban for his assault on Broony, lucky to get off with nothing for his tackle on wee Forrest.
HH
Paul67
On that day I was sat high in the Northstand with much missed Harry Fathersham.
HH
TERJE VIGEN
Whatever the case, they will get their licence, the sfa will make sure of it, I only hope that someone at uefa has a closer look and rejects it, may my day that would.
What gets me is their chairman has publicly stated that they do not fulfill the ffp criteria, running at a loss, relying on loans and relying on euro footy to break even, that in itself should bar them from getting a licence, he also stated in a court of law that he is skint, then he promises the sfa that he will underwrite any losses the huns will incur, it can’t be both :-)
HH
JJ
I believe, from my POV, it was more the relief at us not losing our 9-in-row record to them and them then having just one more thing to Lord it over us with after the previous 9 dry years. It hurting them was probably a small part of it but not the overriding thing that made it such a great occasion.
MWD TREBLE 6 IN A ROW & DOUBLE 7 IN A ROW CHAMPIONS.
Finally decided that KEVJ is just a nasty wee person.
We’ve all cut him a lot of slack over the years,but,heyho,sometimes we just have to admit defeat.
If he was a hun coming out wi that pish,we wouldn’t be slow in calling him out for it.
@1:42pm
“”””””””””””
There can be no debate, discussion, or review with a poster who only engages by moving the goalposts, that’s yer tactic, it dizny work on me.
Now go away and get snottery plug to wipe yer nose for ye.
Oh, and, Wim chucked it rather than give the wee tyrant McCann, the pleasure of sacking him, just in case ye were unaware of that wee juicy bit of tyranny.
From now on, scroll on, k.
……..oot
HAPPY HOOOOOOOOOPY BIRTHDAY to
FRANTIC07 !!!!!!
My abiding memories of that season:
1. The Nike advert with ‘teacher’ the legned Watty and the Nike Swoosh as a tick ”9/10 must do better.” Feck you Walturd and you Nike.
2. Winning the League Cup at Ayebrokes and celebrating afterwards at a do in the Swallow hotel.
3. Getting up at stupid O’clock in the morning, leaving my family in the hotel, to watch the New Year’s huns game in a Celtic bar with Fr Peter Burns in Los Angeles. We of course won 2-0 courtesy of Lambo and motor mooth Burley.
4. Getting tickets for the Aberdeen game at Pittodrie, from Billy Dodds, and taking my oldest Bhoy who was 10 years old to see a 1-0 victory, also courtesy of motor mooth Burley.
And of course,
5. The day we won the league. Being at the game and celebrating the win. Getting home to find that the wife had pranged the car, everybody was safe so it didn’t matter. Celebrating our win on the Renfrew Ferry with the Brummy Frau whilst enjoying the Silencers in concert.
Boyd led the players onto the podium for the presentation and they remained on the pitch after a lap of honour for 35 minutes.
Boyd took the microphone and told the fans: “I would just like to thank you all for your support. We are going to celebrate in style tonight.”
The fans had already made it clear what they thought.
“Cheerio, 10 in a row,” 50,000 voices cried in unison after Brattbakk’s shot found the net.
Commenting on Goss she said: “he’s obviously wearing thrupenny bit boots tonight. He can’t kick the ball straight!” (for those of you who are post decimal, thing 50p boots).
_________________________________________________________________________
How very dare she! Wee Tom said last night in commentary that Goss had a ‘wand of a left foot’
He probably meant that instead of toes he just had a star like most fairy tale wands!
Heres a wee plug for Celtic Day One: https://www.celticdayone.com/celtic-day-47-666
KTF
I blame Craig Falconbridge…
TERJE VIGEN on 9TH MAY 2018 1:14 PM
Yes but it is possible SFA have asked for guidance given the focus now on club licensing.
What is needed here is what UEFA allow as acceptable debt. If an owner pumps money in without a need for repayment that is not debt.
If it’s a loan that loanee agrees to swap for shares that isn’t debt.
That is where clarification is needed. Is there a debt for equity agreement in place and by when to be acceptable.
Are Rangers over the allowable limit of 30m euros in the time frame at the link I supplied?
Is their debt policy if unbridled going to take them past the limit and what happens if after 3 years of mounting debt they are eliminated from either EL or CL.?
I’m not sure that they are over the limit but some clarity on debt funding is required from UEFA and the SPFL clubs in competition with TRFC for a UEFA spot.
As I said the only House of Cards is at Ibrox and the SPFL clubs should be taking steps to protect themselves from the possible collapse.
It is a subject well worth seeking clarity on but it seems suppprters organisations including our own CSA/CST are not interested.
MCPHAILBHOY
Erm,a ten-bob is 50p. And also what I got change from in a note the last time I bought a round.
Lovely light brown colour,I remember it well. Noted the serial number.
A thruppenny bit,thon wee brass things,they were a thing of beauty. And so were tanners.
But best of all?
The silver thruppenny. Rare,about the size of a current 5p. Really must stop showing my age,but I don’t mind revelling in my memories.
They never did 10 and they certainly never equalled our 9…….
not even close. We did ours the Celtic way, the good way……………
We know, they know we know it – theirs is tainted with the scoddish disease of ranjursitis……….
HH and thank-you to Celtic, for the best years of my life.
Paul 67,great reminder.
I can still remember the feeling of dread leaving Dunfermline after we lost the opportunity of clinching it.
However as we all now know we succeeded .
TET
That is where clarity from UEFA is needed.
The risks and consequences from such an unbridled debt policy are exactly what UEFA FFP is intended to lessen.
As it stands it looks like DK is working the rules but ignoring the principle and putting the league and their contracts at risk.
That is why SPFL want more power, to do what the SFA are failing to do and protect the integrity of the SPFL.
Something has got to give.
Season Ticket renewed, 33 years in a row…..i think….
KEVJUNGLE on 9TH MAY 2018 3:28 PM
Kev, that shows your lack of class and an inability to defend your standpoint. It also stands as personal abuse IMHO, something which you have been guilty of on numerous occasions.
If you cannot justify your spurious arguments and don’t want to enter reasoned debate that’s your choice. Just don’t expect to be given any credence from those who can!
spitmadummyootCFC
KTF
Happy Birthday FRANTIC07, hope your having a great day
Happy Birthday to Jenna, daughter of the famous NorrieM
HH
Team sheet latest……….wee Jamesie
Auldheid
I don’t believe they are above the €30M limit for contributions from equity participants for years T-1 and T-2, however the debt for equity swap needs to have happened already:
UEFA Club Licensing & FFP Regulations Annex X, Section E, Para 1:
“Acceptable deviation can exceed EUR 5 million up to the amount described in Article 61(2) in a monitoring period only if such excess is entirely covered by contributions from equity participants and/or related parties. The cash or goods must have been received by the reporting entity, rather than just some form of promise or commitment from the equity participants and/or the related party.”
Glib promises of debt for equity swap are not good enough.
Dave King could give the club a £5M donation though…
Terse Virgen 2.44
I hadn’t seen Richard Wilson article but that does fit the timetable although still possible SFA contacted UEFA first for advice.
The main point is its not a shoo in and the interest from smsm might produce the kind of clarity that is required.
For the record in 2012, the SFA, knowing what by end Jan 2012 was in the public domain re the wtc and Sherriff Officers calling and UEFA questioning the June 2011 monitoring submission, actually did apply the rigour missing in 2011 and sought proof an appeal had been made on the wtc liability as they had been told.
In line with everything to do with that 2011 application Rangers had lied.
It’s all documented.
As in…right now…
Aye,……lol
…….oot.
Paul67
Up to watch the Dunfermline game the previous Sunday, full of expectation and hardly any nerves..then the equaliser..aaaaaarggghhhh!!
A lifetime of waiting until St. Johnstone game, as the knot tightened deep in the pit of my stomach.
North stand 104 and watching Henrick’s curler inside the far post.
Another lifetime passed until ole ole, ole ole, Harold Brattbackbacback ….etc.
I remember the pain in my forehead from all the jumping around …everything was a haze after that. Like a survivor from a stun grenade blast…ringing in ears and everyone jostling and jumping about. Disorientated.
Ended up in Malmaison drinking fizz and anything else that was going. Billy Connolly was in the bar quietly minding his own business puffing wee cigars…I remember watching everyone and noticing there was little or no chat – everyone seemed deep in thought and lost in their own wee world. Playing back the phases of the game…thinking what if.
It was without doubt a landmark event as a Celtic fan.
By Monday it was finally registering. In Mickey Joe’s, remember enthusing with an old pal that Wim would be remembered forever as a Celtic Legend…he wasn’t that sure then. I know he agrees now.
That was back when we only suspected they were poakling the odd match refereeing decisions…
What we know now, Wee Wim and those players achieved a bloody miracle!
Thanks Paul67 for this wonderful site and to everyone for sharing their memories. It’s so easy to sometimes lose track of the really important Celtic stuff.
Fond memories of a time when the modern era of Celtic really began?
HH
The ole Onion Bears were going for 55 in the last hunskelping but they only made it to 53 minutes when the fifth goal went in.
DavidOpulous.
Cheers. I’m not as a fait with break even requirements as overdue tax :)
I guess I’ll have to do the homework.
Hooooooooooooopy Birthday to Jenna & FRANTICO7
Kevin Clancy appointed Cup Final referee
Naismith cited by compliance officer and offered a two match ban.
Justifiable.
Bigger question to me is why the referee and linesman who as proven by tv pics had a clear view of the incident yet neither deemed it to be a foul?
In a fair and honest system they would both be asked why they saw no offense when the entire stadium and viewing audience did.
They and the system with no accountability are not fit for purpose.
Also Naemark only cited for Brown stamp but should have additional charge for going over the ball on JF.
Who’s the Fenian in the black
Auldheid
Pobodies nerfect, mate :)
My position is that the SFA have all the information and criteria they need in the rulebook
(https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/Tech/uefaorg/General/02/26/77/91/2267791_DOWNLOAD.pdf) in order to stand on their own two feet and make the licensing decisions themselves. I mean, Article 5 tells them they are the Licensor and that it is their responsibility to:
a) establish an appropriate licensing administration as defined in Article 6;
b) establish at least two decision-making bodies as defined in Article 7;
c) set up a catalogue of sanctions as defined in Article 8;
d) define the core process as defined in Article 9;
e) assess the documentation submitted by the clubs, consider whether this is appropriate and determine whether each criterion has been met and what further information, if any, is needed in accordance with Article 10;
f) ensure equal treatment of all clubs applying for a licence and guarantee the clubs full confidentiality with regard to all information provided during the licensing process as defined in Article 11;
g) determine whether a licence can be granted