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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CQN is a very pleasant place today.
The fact that this excellent atmosphere has been created to celebrate the anniversary of a defeat makes me begin to believe that, once again, we really don`t “care if we win , lose or draw”. Because there WAS a show and the Glasgow Celtic WERE there.
JJ
Paul67, how hard would it be to collect all the stories from CQNers in Seville, and and make a book about it, any profits made to Charity?
HH
JJ
Very apt.
Heat and cheating Porto players did for us in Seville.
Every Celtic player was a hero that night.
No need for scapegoats, especially ten years later.
TNT
Gracias, mi amigo.
JJ
One thing that is hardly ever mentioned is that Mourinho kept the Celtic players waiting for 5 (?) minutes before letting his Porto team onto the pitch for the second half. The Celtic players were all standing in the heat and waiting. The referee should have yellow-carded every Porto player but he was weak.
so,
I was in the unusual situation of having got 4 tickets via UEFA , that with 3 weeks to go , i still didnt have travel booked.
I was looking at all sorts of solutions, and Catman, of this parish provided the fix with his old dad having airline contacts, and 3 of us got booked on a day return from Prestwick.
Catmans parents were an absolute joy to travel with , lovely people.
Picking up Jimbo and Stiv , I can still see them coming out the houses in their hoops with the biggest grins, We left the Port at 4am, our flight was 8ish.
Prestwick was unbelievable, thousands ready to go, planes lined up to the very end of the tarmac. And some dafty hun family sitting in their colours for defiance, what a day to go on holiday, tubes.
The flight itself was strangely subdued, i dont know if i expected more like a supporters bus but it wasnt, everyone quiet, reading the papers, general chit chat.
We got to Jerez couple of hours later, then the coach up to the Stadium.
The bad part of the day was the coach park, we got dropped there, then set off for the town. Took a fair bit of walking , and melting allready. Next big challenge, how to find cousin Patrick who was allready in a hotel.
Had a beer at first place we got to , then taxi to find Paddy.
Getting to the centre, I really couldnt believe it, Hoops everywhere, and I mean everywhere
Coaches, cars , trams, all the pavements. Tricolours out hotel windows. 80,000 my bahookie.
We got Paddy, and the square beyond his hotel was just packed out, we divert into another pub, met Willie McStay, talked about his tackle on the tin man.
Then in one of those mad coincidents, got talking to a few auld tims , were you from, the Port, thats were i am from says the auld guy, but i moved to canada 30 years ago,
unbelievably, he went to school with my father in law from Kelburn, and knew my grandparents as well for good measure.
I really wanted to find more of the family , particularly the Blackpool connections but the mobile phones just didnt work. We had a McD’s next to the square, and took some pictures.
Years later, looking at them again, I spied Allan and Brian , right behind where we were, 10 feet away. !!!!!
Mid afternoon, we were in another bar, and the chat turned to Touts, Forgeries, and Police checks, and problems would happen at the stadium. Those who had been in Seville for a few days said if you have a ticket get there early.
God knows why but I was paranoid about getting the bag with the tickets lost or stolen.
We decide to go out to the stadium then.
We took a tram out , it was filled with Porto supporters, it was only about 4pm by then, but at the park , their crowd was allready there, parked up behind their end, and eating drinking out of their cars. No hassles walking through them.
Got to our side, as soon as the gates opened , we went in.
We were genuinely among the first few hundred into the ground, and the big stand above the dug outs was empty, we were in the back row, brilliant seats,
The heat was unbeleivable, but having had a few beers, we were seriously dehydrated, but school bhoy error on our part, we had nothing with us. Went downstairs, nothing opened , nothing to buy (i actually thought the stadium and its catering were rubbish, seriously rubbish).
Within half hour , the Porto end was filled up.
The rest of the stadium slowly more and more, but its all Green and White and Tri colours.
Spied some guys I knew, spied some others, spied even more, it was one of those nights.
Special mention for big Frank Tweed of Greenock, Tweedy, a wee bit unsteady on his feet, and a wee bit unable to talk, and a wee bit red from the sun, but nearly broke my back with the hug, and an emotional ” canny believe it “.
Murdo was a little in front of us, we can debate about ex players and their feeling for us, but he really was acting like a fan.
Big John then came out and took interviews, in those minutes alone he was melting in front of us. But a sad sight.
Then the entertainment, and the arrival of the cup onto a plinth.
must have been over 100 degrees. i went for food and drink the choice was …………..
water, and crisps, he haw else, and i met Dominik Diamond in the queue.
Then the game itself , our crowd were just unbeleivable, a sight to behold, in full voice, amazing spectacle.
Martin and the players, nearly legends on the night, nearly.
Henrik proved what we allready knew, he was world class.
I wore a Kearney CSC baseball cap that night.
It was a gift from uncle Pat Higgins , retired president of the club.
He gave me it one night in Perth, at the beginning of the season in 97/98.
We had lost two games previously, but that night we won 2-0 i think
Henrik and Jackson.
Pat said “thats a Celtic team, we are on our way back , Fergus plans will see us go on to great things” and we did.
I had the hat on yesterday, with a black lisbon lions t shirt, the one with Chalmers scoring the goal, i love it. In the Co-op and some sevconain, orange tshirt, blue shorts, orange and blue adidas growling at me.
I could give a flying flip.
The match itself wizzed by, I have watched the game again, only recently. i dont know that we were beaten by a better team. It was a game played in Portos environment.
We came very close.
After the match we couldnt find our bus, we said cheerio to Paddy,
In a panic we jumped on any bus that had Jerez on it, back at the airport it was surreal, thousands again, duty free raided, by others, but everyone quiet.
Tales are told of how people got to lisbon, and cars left behind. Two guys on our flight had
drove from Kerry to Prestwick to go on a day trip !
We got home about 9am.
The most amazing day out. Memories for ever.
The next weekend at Kilmarnock though, that loss it all sunk in, and i felt very cheated by the seasons end. All that work and nothing to show.
A question was asked, CL last 16 , or UEFA Cup Final.
I would be happy with another final.
our time will come ……………. and when it does, we will all be there …………
and we will win.
keep it lit.
Seville
Does anyone know what happened in The Bill that night?
Bjornandbennysouprecipe- or Lulu? Boom -Bang a Bangura Bang?
10 year ago….surely not seems like just last week
I eventually arrived in Madrid the night before the game, booked into my hotel then decided I better go and book my train for next day to Seville. Sauntered down to find it very busy, when it was my turn told the guy I wanted a return to Seville next day about 2.00pm LOL.
Then I was told ALL trains full tomorrow, so I asked when was the next available…an hour that night 9.00pm or something. Had to go back to my hotel and settle up, headed to train which was packed with Celtic fans.
As I wandered through the station I thought about grabbing a bench, but was quickly put right by local Police. On exiting the station I stood for ages in the taxi ranks…got to the top and told the taxi driver, Hotel….which one he said – ANYONE says I with a spare room !!!
Guy looked at me like I was mental, ALL full, Celtic everywhere – no hotels.
So I camped down outside the train station with a few hundred others for the night, must have slept soundly as I awoke early to find lots of broken bottles all around me and not a single scratch. Apparently some local Morrocans (?) had tried to steal our bags. Decided to head early to the stadium about 11.00am, a huge English guy asked me in the bus stop if I had a ticket, yes is it genuine – think so…Do I want to compare with his…No way Jose.
Nipped across the road (I was on the wrong side anyway) got to the stadium after a long walk…incredible heat. I had 2 camera’s with me to take lots of pics, bumped into some guys who knew me from Grangemouth bus who came from Falkirk…took pics of each other under the big adverts and plenty more during the game.
Recall Porto fans selling tickets (mostly fake for ridiculous prices) a wee lad grabbed one and ran chased by about 6 Porto fans shouting Celtic fan in trouble and was quickly swallowed up by the crowd.
Went into the stadium as soon as it opened, dreading the thought I might have a fake..but it was fine (Cost me plenty from a guy in Glasgow). No idea how many cold drinks, ice lollies I had…not enough anyway. After the game I asked a policeman way to station he just pointed ahead…..walked on to find myself in Porto Bus area…walked back asked another Policem and and he pointed other way…eventually found myself back at the train station for another sleep on the pavement, guarding my programmes with my life.
Two biggest regrets apart from losing….I went in too early, before the UEFA vans opened and never got an official hat and then back home at Boots chemists I gave the girl a camera and watched as she opened it, so I did likewise…then recoiled in horror as she said..OOoh might have exposed the film, don’t worry If they are ruined we won’t charge you !!!!
Dam right lady….alas they were ruined both of them…
Thought we had to win in 90 mins due to the heat, incredible performance, truly awesome support and despite the lack of pics – memories that will never fade.
I’ve been very lucky to attend 5 CL Finals & 3 UEFA Finals but none come close to Seville unbelievable and proud to say I was there.
Ole Stefan (EBT) Klos didn’t like Bobo and panicked at the sight of him to allow Naka’s squiggler over the line.
Celtic 2-0 CSC
I decided to wander in Seville and grab some food. Any food. Passed a Celtic fan lying non compos mentis at the side of the street. Very much the worse for wear through drink.
Turns out however that although he was clearly bladdered, some portion of his brain was working perfectly well.
As he lay there and a couple of fellow hoops fans approached him asking “are you alright big man – have you got a ticket?”….he responded “Aye – and you’re no f***** getting near it so f**** off”
Not so drunk after all eh!
Booker T
The Good Looking Tall One
The Chubby wan is Nafos
DBBIA @ 14 00.
” Dianbobo and Rab carried the can ”
Yes ———–.
I fully acknowledge that both played their part in the run to the final.[ proving me wrong ]. My problem was my conviction that both were prone to dreadful decision making and error . I was convinced that Porto were just the team to cash in on those weaknesses —-and they did.[ proving me horribly right ]
sparkleghirl,
re the flights, I took a chance and booked my flights (Manchester – Malaga) the morning after we beat Liverpool. £60 return!!
Managed to persuade 2 of my brothers, the youngest unfortunately had one of his highers on the day of the game and wouldnt/couldnt go – still gutted that he missed out on that trip – and a couple mates to also take the chance.
How glad were we all that we did!
Also booked hotel in Seville at the same time.
One of my more inspired decisions.
One of the funniest moments was in a bar close to ther cathedral the night before the game and they had ran out of glasses to serve the beer in.
Some of the bhoys’n’ghirls were getting a wee bit frustrated at having to wait till other finsihed before they could get theirs, until one of the staff had the inspired thought to start serving the beers in tupperware dishes!!
I got a beer in what looked very like a 1 litre ice-cream tub. Still only charged me 5 euros they were charging for a pint ;-)
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Sof Tunis – Celtic players are flawed, like scratches on a favourite 45.
If [with one or two exceptions] they didn’t have these flaws they wouldn’t be at Celtic. The #9 Enigma is the best example of this just now.
I love the stories of the events sorrounding the game and will never forget the trip but like many I never watched a recording of the match and don’t think I ever will. I remember thinking at the time that Bobo was hard done by for 2nd yellow and I see where Lenny said that there was a bad foul on Henrik in the lead up to Bobo’s sending off which the Ref missed. We could and should have won that game. Whilst I’m loving the stories strangely enough for the first time in 10 years its making me angry that we didn’t win. I need to take a break from reading the thread and go and cop myself on.
SOUTH OF TUNIS
That’s twice you’ve mentioned two players who you didn’t rate who let you down.
Care to share?
Paranoid about losing your ticket…had mine in a sealed sandwich bag in my trainer.
safewaycsc
corkcelt
Thompson was lucky to stay on the pitch. Never seen it on TV but he done that guy a beauty on the main stand touchline. I think he had had enough of their antics.
LB
Afternoon bhoys and ghirls from a damp hun free mountain valley.
Ľuboš Micheľ was the main reason we lost the final.
As weak a referee as I have ever seen.
Booker T
My ticket was secured in a travel money zip plastic bag and then in the money belt we had purchased at Manchester airport. One of the better ideas my mate come up with on the trip.
Would advise anyone to buy a money belt on a trip where they are wearing shorts alot.
I saw a few guys at turnstiles with tickets that had been in socks in a very sorry state. We had a weak turnstile operator and people just climbed in anyway.
LB
I have enjoyed the memories of so many of you on here the last few days,reminiscing about so many great occasions in our history.
Thank you thank you thank you.
One thing is for sure-next time we reach a final,it’s the hootensnny(TM,ACGR)on tour!
Wonderful stuff,folks,everyone of them…..
Thanks to all for the Seville stories the funny bits have made me laugh out loud and some of the poignant bits would bring a tear to a glass eye
As I’m sat on the iPhone in the cab I won’t try to type all of my memories but here are some of the selected highlights
1. The weeks leading up to it winding up the Darkside
2 being. Accused of harassment by on of the royal mails finest trying to find out if her uncle frank had got a ticket ( stalked the poor bugger all round Blackwood!)
3. Glasgow airport with thousands of others including an ex polis mate from Blackwood dressed in a green Mohican , kilt and doc martins ( he has his picture in the official Seville book)
4.arriving at our hotel and finding all the Celtic supporters given one accommodation block to themselves away from the tourists ….. 24 hr party time!!
5. Packing out an “Irish” ( ma erse it wis) bar in puerto banus and giving the barman a Charlie and the bhoys cd to get the place rockin ( he changed it to euro poop musak after an hour and we left silly señor !)
5.An amazing day in Seville on the day of the match gutted but proud sharing my seat/ step inside the stadium with gods finest fitba supporters
6 a very scary trip back to hotel over the top of the mountains ( including the driver getting told in Glaswegian to ” slow doon and get a grip thurs weans oan this bus or yer gonna get a doin pal!” I was genuinely bricking it
6. The next day in a beach bar with many other celts having a pint and sharing experiences and laughing my heid aff at some mental bhoys from the Duntocher CSC( I think!) chasing a goat down the beach which had been fully dressed in a new set of hoops including shorts
There are other highlights but on my phone wi fat fingers this is the best I can do for now
It was a privilege to be there bhoys heres to the next one
Hail hail
Just to mention an incident which many forget, a Porto fan was drowned in an accident before the game. His friend quite obviously distraught did not go to game and gave his ticket to a Celtic fan. Refused to take any money and just said say a prayer for my friend.
Booker T
SNAP! Poly bag inside trainer!!
DBBIA.
I agree with the scratch on a favorite 45 analogy . The real bummer is finding a long sought choon in a charity shop and finding it’s unplayable . Close but no cigar.
How to tackle
– by Bobo Balde
The bhuns on rm are getting really worried about this (what they are calling) ‘power-struggle’ over on the dark side …..what they are failing to understand is that this is not a power-struggle…!!! … this is a bunch of vultures scrapping over the ‘remains’ ….. the IPO etc money is being meticulously filtered from the ‘remains’ in a shocking manner…….and the ‘head in the sand’ media etc are hoping it will all go away……it will not go away ………… They will not be able to sell the shares and, in this knowledge, they will sell the assets before BDO complete the Liquidation process….UNLESS they are not legally able to do so during the Liquidation process ……. Let me tell you, this is all fascinating……
QPR got £38.9 million from TV money this season. Man U £60.8m, how much do we get?
Biggest cheat of the night – Victor Baia!!
His rolling and crawling about trying to con the weak ref when nobody touched him still makes my blood boil to this day.
HH
/Bishop B
Celt 55
£2m I believe” Equiv of about 3 bob in real terms
BMCUW .
No desire to / no need to . I do not blame them for the defeat . It bothers me that I was deeply worried about how both would play . I would be happier if I had been able to be more positive
67 Heaven
I have been following events closely on FF. Dave King is the man they are pinning all their hopes on now. That says it all.
twists n turns
14:40 on 21 May, 2013
It makes it more an more unlikely that we can ever replicate Seville.
Every time I saw that little runt ref a game in Europe I would go mental, calling him for everything,
EVEN THE MENTION OF HIS NAME GETS ME ANGRY….
These tornados in USA are unbelievable, and they seem to get worse every year…….don’t understand how, with modern technology, they can only give about 15 minutes warning…..terrible, terrible tragedy for the people of Oklahoma….
Got my ticket from dodgy London ticket touts in Hotel in Seville… tried to give me two for the Porto end… no chance! My big mate was down stairs – could have gotten ugly… he went back and got our “Silver tickets” in the Celtic end/corner.
Paid a few bob and still wasn’t sure it was genuine until we got into the ground – when the barcode machine went green… it was like scoring a goal!
We stayed in an old apartment, thanks to a fellow Tim’s wife in Madrid who went to College down in Seville… I met a couple of guys who slept under cars, one slept in a cardboard box!
Some good stories in the Official Book… and mine is in there too!, I always knew they’d be so many good ones missing…
Never watched the DVD of it I bought either, I remember my partner at time crying down the phone and my Son spoke to me on the phone, he said “How can the Man of the Match, spend half of the game rolling around the ground!?”
I wonder if other teams who made finals from Scotland talk about fighting with other fans, police and general ransacking… But who would do anything like that!?