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!
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Big Mike
That would have been front page news!
Snake Plissken
I’m sure Berti had one of his famous bonding training camps that week.
LB
Snake
Scotland had a euro 2004 qualifier v Germany early June and must have had warm up games
mic1888
I just want to know how they were all together but it seems squire danaher has explained.
I’ll need to get that book out and look it up.
Snake Plissken ..They played a friendly against NZ on 27 May …Could it have been a get together minus Scottish based players?
Well lads all I can say is those bonding sessions never worked out.
I’d heard Dunfermline players were all cheering Porto on as well.
It just surprised me when people said the Scotland squad did it. I didn’t know there were upcoming qualifiers or friendlies.
TheOriginalSadiesBhoy
11:27
The Celtic player’s name was William but he was called Peter by lots of people because Peter McGonagle, William’s father, had been quite a well known player at Hamilton Academical. I’d like to know more about that Peter McGonagle, the Hamilton player, because I think we may have a family connection to him, and hence to William as well.
Similar to this, another Celtic player of a much later generation was also known in some circles by his father’s first name as his father had also played professional football, not for Celtic. And, curiously, I don’t remember the Celtic fans ever taking this up, although I think some of his Celtic team-mates did. He had another nickname that players and coaches used for him too, and another, completely different one by which most Celtic fans still knew him at the time.
Even more curiously, if the nickname (basically his father’s name) were used today it would be a bit of an insult.
Anyone know who?
Snake Plissken
Their colours were nailed to the mast a few days later.
Not sure that teams would have all met up to watch it though unless away as a team for the evening.
LB
By the way, it wasn’t Michael Conroy. His dad was called Michael Conroy but the Michael Conroy of the 1980s was called Michael Conroy because his name was Michael Conroy.
Hope that clears that wan up.
Livibhoy
As I say I’m not doubting that some players would do that, it was the timing that confused me.
I doubt guys like McFadden or Paul Devlin weren’t cheering us on.
One for the Wishy Bhoys
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpKqICiEDSM
1000???
LiviBhoy listened to the Pat Stanton team.a great footballer who had knew a good footballer.
That takes skill btw!!!!!
Snake Plissken
I reckon it would have been the same banter most of us face watching a game with people who don’t support Celtic. The Celtic supporters there would be cheering Celtic and those of the deid Rangers support would have been cheering Porto.
This is Scotland!
Would scousers in the England squad support Man Utd?
LB
Jude2005 – Your post was number 999, the count doesn’t include moderator posts (Paul67).
Count them and check if you don’t believe me ;)
SOE
Party poooper!! Bet ur a right hoot at parties!! <:o((
34 years not 24, since the best match I have ever seen. 10 men won the league brilliant.
jude2005 is neil lennon \o/
11:52 on 22 May, 2013
That takes skill btw!!!!!
You cleaned up with 1001.
There was a story about the Crabbit Cardy and Dyke-Jumper-Donnelly playin’ gowf the gither during the game and refusing to celebrate our goals………..
Just heard that , of course it could be false..
…but…
CardMarked CSC
RIP Ray Manzarek,
“Break on through”.
Anyone remember the song
“1001 cleans a big big carpet for less than half a crown”
Get my Zimmer off oot.
Unhappy Birthday Moz
Whats the odds Broonie thumpin Griffiths in the first 5 mins and wee w c yellow carding him?
ps Thanks googybhoy you are a gentleman not like some folks.
……….of course you could understand the reaction of the Indulged Ned……( we’d hardly be cheering Thems on……but shirley Doooooogeeeee supports……………..
………….. Clyde?
Aye!
Great reading all the stories from Seville. The amazing thing for me was how good natured the whole experience was. There were a few tired bodies leaving town on this day 10 years ago.
Going Home!
jude2005 is neil lennon \o/
12:04 on 22 May, 2013
I appreciate the hours you put in waiting for that 1001 post. Well done.
Onwards to 1888
Another point about Seville. Someone posted yesterday, somewhat jokingly, asking “Where did all the Seville money go?”
This was a question that was being asked in the period after Seville as that Celtic team declined. It had peaked in Seville.
The MSM were busy fuelling the discontent among the Celtic support by questioning what happened to the money the club made in reaching a European Final?
Keevins was battering away at this on the radio and it so infuriated at least one listening Celtic supporter. He was still ranting and raving about this MSM spin on the Seville money that a colleague suggested he should do something about it and start a blog. The suggestion, made to Paul, came from an Oldco fan too!
So that is how Celtic Quick News was created – conceived in Seville.
googybhoy ♥ Celtic
12:02 on
22 May, 2013
Anyone remember the song
“1001 cleans a big big carpet for less than half a crown”
Sadly yes but it was knocked off its lofty perch in the carpet cleaning jingle charts by the equally catchy
“Do the Shake’n’Vac and bring the freshness back.”
Snake Plissken .
I watched the 2005 Champions League Final in a beach bar half way between Catania and Siracusa. A real mixed allegiance crowd.-Catania / Inter / Roma / /AC Milan etc
There were some Juve fans there too —supporting AC Milan [hating Liverpool] , everybody else , including two South American Catania players was supporting Liverpool..
At the end the AC fans departed and then everybody [ including the Juve fans ] sang a song which advised Silvio Berlusconi what to do and where to go .
Me —–I didn’t care who won.
Now for the N A!!!
I was cheering for utd and aberdeen dyring their European cup runs but I coukd never cheer the dead team although they did make it eaay to beat tge bookies when they where allowed to play in Europe. .:-D
Shake and Vac honked!!
https://twitter.com/blythpaterson/status/337160973590880257/photo/1
The Celtic Family. Brilliant.
http://bit.ly/167FVO7
The release of the video / letters etc evidence was certainly very timely / strategic …..with the ‘independent’ commission result due this week, the ‘evidence’, which has not been ‘disputed’, will ensure minimal ‘carpet sweeping’ …!!……the shenanigans are becoming more obvious by the day…….. no way back for them, bhoys ….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
23 days to go.
This is the kinda stuff that makes us stand out from all the rest.
@blythpaterson: This is brilliant, #BestFansInTheWorld #CelticFamily http://t.co/ojAgetEs7y
MWD
See rooney tweeted a pick of his young son. His eldest had a green and white hooped top on..don’t think it was celtic though.