In the months afterwards I made a trip to the Celtic Superstore to buy the DVD of the match. I wasn’t ready to watch it but needed to have it nonetheless, for when the time came. I’ve still not opened the box.
I watched the game from high up in the Porto end. The Porto fans were great, allowed us to celebrate with all the enthusiasm you could muster for goals in a European final, then wished us well as we made our way through them and out of the stadium. Had Celtic won while dropping like flies whenever an opponent coughed, it might have been different.
Porto were favourites and would go on to prove how good a team they were by winning the Champions League 12 months later. Their players would demonstrate their prowess across the world for the next decade. They had fabulous talent, so much so, that they should have aspired to better than the gamesmanship used during their run to the Uefa Cup and Champions League wins.
On the field it was a tale of great goals and heroic defeat, off the field, it was one of the most spectacular events in sport.
80,000 Celtic fans made the pilgrimage to Seville and treated the world to a carnival. The city became the scene of one of the largest parties the game had ever known. For me the pre-match schedule involved a two hour trip north before a panicked dash across the city collecting match tickets. What a stress!
There was 10 in our party and collecting the tickets took priority. Once we had them we could afford time to eat, but what? Several restaurants were sold out, we eventually found a café with frozen chips and a meat-based slab of something or other. No choices. No beer, wine or cola either, it was diluting orange juice or water. An entire city was pretty much emptied of food and drink.
You could forget about motorised transport to get to the game, we had to walk from the city to the stadium on the very outskirts of town. It was hot and dry. An enterprising local was selling a retained stash of cola at the side of the road at a hugely inflated price, no one passed him without buying.
This was a journey to a football game, but not one any of us were familiar with.
The long walk home from the game was memorable for the incredible reaction we got from the locals. They applauded each of us as we walked past their homes in recognition of what took place in their city throughout the day. Things like this don’t happen but that day was different. Seville, like Lisbon, will always remember Celtic. Fifa and Uefa made their Fair Play Awards the following year to Celtic fans, a nomination normally reserved for clubs.
I met a German couple in the hotel elevator. “Are you disappointed?” they asked. “No. We were beaten by a good team”. I had celebrated two Celtic goals in a European final and watched as we pushed a tremendously talented team to the brink. Disappointment comes a lot worse than this, although time brought regret.
Seville 2003 was not Lisbion 67 but it was a wonderful occasion in our very proud history. Let’s do it again.
For those who prefer their nostalgia with a bit of silverware, 10 men won the league, 24 years ago today. Big Billy was back and the Celts were in control.
Speaking of Lisbon 67…… Willie’s book, pre-order your signed copy now!
[calameo code=000390171179f475cf1c0 lang=en page=6 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,062 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- »
ABZMike
Only takes a couple of days by all accounts, no idea how long we have to wait for the judgement.
Just found this on You Tube. Its a hoot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnIVMo7Xx2c
absmike
no ..it can go to another level i believe h.h
TET…thanks for that… Interesting who is still around by then to respond…
OK nighty night time here in Glasgow, good night all HH.
Tommy… Ah well there is only so much agony can be dragged out
MurdochauldandHay
23:41 on 21 May, 2013
Sevco date for the UTT 19th july
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/tribunals/tax-and-chancery-upper-tribunal-/hearings-register.pdf
………………
Sooner than we expected. Read on PaulMcC’s site that July 2014 wouldn’t be a surprise.
jude2005
haa quite funny i’l no get they images oot ma heid no..night cqn. a special day of memories comes to a close h.h
ABZMike
If the losers want to take it to the final level they can, but the UTT will only take a couple of days, they are only looking at the legalities of the FTT, no new evidence will be presented.
I suppose it all depends on who wins the UTT, if it’s hector, does minty’s mob have the money to carry on, I suppose so.
But the important thing is, no matter who is the winner, is that the UTT findings will set a precedent in law, the FTT didn’t.
Dead and Loving it
23:31 on 21 May, 2013
___________
You chose the name ‘ Dead & Loving It ‘.
Then you post that they are ‘ NOT Dead & you are NOT Loving It ‘.
???
______________
What a great day this has been for CQN.
The Seville memories have been very moving, truly inspiring & sometimes hilarious.
Thanks to every one of you Celtic spirited pilgrims.
_____________
Boy Jinky,
You will never walk alone.
•-:¦:-•** -:¦:- sparkleghirl :¦:-.•**• -:¦:-•
Walter will only be walking away as far as the nearest goat farm, it’s his turn.
Just thought I’d add another for you to choose from.
Its a real shame the date of the UTT wasnt set for the 12th July, that would really piss on their parade.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust 00:18 on 22 May, 2013
Walter will only be walking away as far as the nearest goat farm, it’s his turn.
———-
Thank you, I think I like that one best. For some reason I imagine him walking to the goat farm with one trouser leg rolled up above the knee.
I reckon all the independant judges are on holiday when the UTT is hearing, otherwise it would have been in London.
I smell shite.
The former Rangers
Football Club Plc (now
RFC 2012 – in
liquidation)
……………………………
Such a beautiful description of our former rivals. Get me a hanky.
Seville :
Got the plane, coach to hotel, coach to game, watched game, came out , coach left, got another coach , day by the pool, coach back to Faro, plane to Glasgow , taxi back to EK, Mrs EKbhoy said hard luck , went to rhe pub, talked to people about the game who had a better view in front of the TV.
10 years crikey!
•-:¦:-•** -:¦:- sparkleghirl :¦:-.•**• -:¦:-•
You are most welcome:-)
19th July – I don’t have a calendar handy but would that be the Glasgow Fair?
Seville memories have gone now and let’s focus on the corruption that prevented us getting there many other times. The corrupt sfa would rather no Scottish team won in Europe if the only chance was Celtic FC.
I hope the sfa get it big time at Hampden.
V
V
Nail on the head mi amigo, that is how sad and corrupt they are.
HH
I didn’t cry in Seville, but I have cried reading all this tonight.
I’m hearing a story that El Haj Doofer got his his heid kicked in in a pub bog.
Hopefully they left him a broony.
Nite Timland.
Up in a few hours, things to do.
A superb couple of days reading about Seville.
Take care and god bless you all.
HH
KTF
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
Can we just make the golf at your bit, there are no courses to talk of closer.
Unless we go they other direction that is >}
TET, if it was on the 12th, we could have had a real party after our sclaff baw encounter. We can save it until september, I’ve booked a few more flights;)
I’m still waiting on your location for organising a pre HDA game. Drop me a mail and I’ll look at a halfway point.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
Been looking and there is really nothing closer to me than your bit.
They are all about the same for me, so your bit is ok for me, unless we go the opposite direction.
.
VMhan..
Yea Pablo would have been in His Element today..
It Broke my Wee Heart when l First seen this Video Not long after the Wee Man Passed away..You prob know Why..
It Breaks My Heart even More now that Pablo is Up there with the Man he Made the Video for..RIP Stevie..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdP75sChPchttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQi8wEHMm5Y
001Bhoy
TET, aye there is, I just canny remember the names of the courses I was given. The problem was I didnt know exactly where in andalucia your cave is.
John Green gave me the names of a couple of good tracks and I’ve got them written down somewhere.
Problem is, its hard to find the halfway between two points when I only have Andalucia as a point. Thats not a point, thats a circle? Geez a clue……….:-)
Nae bother TET, my gaff is set for the 13th anyway.
So the UTT is set for 14 July, which happens to be the Glasgow Fair, so some people will be on holiday, ergo that date is a conspiracy too.
TET – Now I think I’m getting it.
You’re just taking the piss aren’t you? And I’ve been falling for it every time.
I hold my hands up. Superb!
19th july
Great stories of seville. Didn’t get there and didnt see henriks second goal. Was in a crammed house full sitting on the floor with my beer and my back against a sofa. Three people were on the sofa and four were standing behind it. I saw the cross. I saw henrik jump but seven bodies landed on top of me and I dudnt see the ball hit the net. Didnt spill the beer though.
I wonder what it is like not to be a Celtic fan.
Lonely and sad.
Possibly a bit envious.
H.H.
I went off there for an hour to watch the panorama program from last night on i player.
I’m utterly disgusted after watching it. Near the end of the program they describe a senior officer as having resigned because the investigation was becoming a “distraction”.
That comment made me feel sick.
A distraction to me is a bird flying past my office window or mrs acgr clicking her fingers while I’m watching TV, not the death of 96 innocent people.
The police officers responsible for this must go to jail for real justice to be seen to be done.
The relatives of the 96 will never walk alone
RIP the 96.
As for the UTT case…
A Directions hearing is a preliminary hearing where the entirety of the appeal is not considered, only specific aspects.
There would normally then be a substantive hearing at a later date
ACGR,
It was harrowing stuff.
On talking to a mate today, and asking if he’d seen it. He said everything I’d been thinking – the relevance being the Upper Class CI rozzer with the evil eyes, who couldn’t hide his contempt for the whole thing and the footballers he held responsible.
An establishment stooge.
The message that stuck out for me in that particular programme was for the rozzers.
Pawns.
And no matter how important they think they are, just dispensible pawns.
And I mean that as no disrespect to the officers there who did their best to save lives and do their duty…and also spent years being tortured in their minds over this.
Those that colluded….pawns. The most expendable, the most damaging to society, and the most stupid of them all.
“the footballers” = the football supporters
Well that shut ye all up!
Is this a closet rozzer site??? I demand to know !