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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Soal,
I was a few years above you at school and also from the Ness.
Nafos has packed a bit of timber since school…i was the year above him.
I went on the keys bus for a few years then the Jimmy Delaney Cleland.
I don’t often post but wanted to share my Seville memory.
I got 3 tickets through the ballot you had to collect them at Celtic Park, had a miserable hun boss so sneaked off to get them. Queue snaked from ticket office into the stadium (they opened the gate at the Rangers end) stood for hours and got back undetected, only to find my photo at the front of the queue in the next days record.
Went on a trip organised by Ricky Fearns (an absolute legend) flew to Torremolinos for 2 nights then down to Seville. The trip had a very mixed bunch on it, lots of supporters from Ricky’s home ground of Garngad, but also a pre CEO Peter Lawell, Tommy Coin and Simon Donnelly.
Torremolinos was great, we were met in the square by thousands of Celtic fans and a lot of Spanish Police with Rottweiler dogs, however after about an hour or so the Police tied the dogs to a tree and played football before heading off. Ricky had decided we should all head off to a night club near the hotel that night, we entered to see the hip and trendy strutting their stuff, not sure they knew what to do when 500 pissed up Celtic fans arrived, they certainly knew what to do when Ricky persuaded the DJ he should play Trisha Fern’s CD of Celtic songs instead of that “techno pish” they left…….. I don’t think the song about being from Garngad appealed.
We drove down to Seville next day stopping at the infamous service station that was a sea of Green and White. When we entered Seville (around lunchtime on the day of the game) it was like Janefield street before the game, there were Celtic fans everywhere from the outskirts to the city centre, every open top bus was rammed full of Celtic fans as were the horse and carts that took you round the city.
I had a spare ticket and I was determined I was giving it to a Celtic season ticket holder and not a once a year fan, I text all my mates etc and incredibly they all had a ticket, Simon Donnelly didn’t, and was eyeing up my spare, but I resisted. On the way into the game I met a boy outside the ground, who sat near me in the south stand and gave him the gift of a lifetime.
The game was brilliant apart from the lack of water , my boy nearly passed out and I missed half the first half queuing for water. Heart breaking in the end, but our flight left at midnight straight after the game, it was good to get away at that point.
Fantastic memory and in recognition of 10 years since the trip I have finally had my genuine Seville program (They reprinted and sold in Glasgow after the game) and my ticket stubs framed.
twists n turns
14:42 on 21 May, 2013
The next few days should be interesting…….
Memories of Seville……….
The heat and the humidity…….the long walk to the stadium leaving a saltire in a wee bar on the way, half tired half drunk…..
Hoops everywhere, bumped into a guy from school hadn’t seen n years – hugged like maniacs and in the process bust a pair of Raybans just purchased for the journey – didn’t care a jot.
Seated amongst the Porto fans who were civilised and relaxed – can remember feeling anything but relaxed….especially when they started to talk animatedly about Derlei…..
trip home was downbeat, and I’ve never watched the game since but i’ve never been prouder of a Celtic performance and never prouder of our support.
How are the wee Spanish police dugs goin’ to stay onside if they’re tied to a tree?
Lenny now Fav for the Stoke Job
PaddyPowerCSC
One of the biggest regrets of my life is not getting to Seville.
My memory floods back to Henrik’s goal in the semi final and me lying on a living room floor in Halfway with my mate and his son on top of me.
The second leg of the Boavista game was on a Thursday evening and my work was closed on the Friday and the Monday. On the Tuesday morning my first port of call was my boss’ office.
“I’d like to apply for a couple of days unpaid leave please”.
“What’s it for?”
“To go to the final in Seville to see Celtic”.
“No bother but I’ll need to check that it’s ok with headquarters”.
I’ll never forget her face that afternoon when she walked into my class, I knew that it was a “No” immediately. She knew what Celtic meant to me and it can’t have been easy for her to pass on the news. GCC had issued a blanket ban on all teachers looking for time off to go to the game.
I was genuinely devastated.
Instead I made arrangements with those other unfortunate souls who couldn’t attend to meet up in Trader’s Tavern in the Barras on the day of the game.
The time ticked slowly by and I could have sworn that there were several occasions that day when the clock actually stopped. My phone had been lighting up regularly throughout the day from friends who were lucky enough to at least be in Seville on the day of the game, some with tickets and some without.
On the stroke of 3 the weans were released and I made my way to the Calton, safe to say it was one of the quickest journeys I’d ever made!
The Gallowgate was a sea of Green and I took my time to walk through the pile of sand which had been placed at the doorstep of Bairds Bar, just to kid myself on that it would almost help me believe that I wasn’t in the east of Glasgow but in fact in far off sunnier shores.
My da who lived in London at the time had decided that he wanted to watch the game in Glasgow and so he and my sister’s partner (a Chelsea Fan) flew up on the morning to partake in the revelry.
Around 6.30pm a wee bhoy from my class appeared in the pub with his dad whom I knew from coaching the school football team. I have to confess that I was a little apprehensive upon seeing him as it would mean that I would have to curtail any celebrations etc. I shouldn’t have worried. His father took me to the side and let me know that whatever happened that night in the pub would indeed remain in the pub. It was typical of the spirit that this game provoked in the Celtic support.
I won’t take up much more of your time as this should really be about the people who were actually in Seville that day. However, for the rest of my life I will remember standing with a pint of Guinness in my hand at 1-0 down, closing my eyes and praying for a goal, just one goal. It wouldn’t matter if we still got beat, I simply wanted to watch Celtic score in a European final.
My final thought is of my da that night. He had been to Milan in 70′ but didn’t have the money to go to Lisbon. At the final whistle the place was awash with grown men and children in tears.
I came back from the toilet and stood in admiration as he walked around consoling strangers, putting an arm around them and telling them,
“Be proud of our team, be proud of Celtic. What we have achieved just to get here is incredible and we will be back again one day”.
I hope that he’s right.
If I’d gone to Seville I wouldn’t have shared that night with him. In hindsight I’m thankful for that opportunity.
Arthur
If Lenny was to go to Everton I could understand that – due to them being a top half EPL team, together with 4 million other reasons per annum.
If Lenny was to go to Stoke I’d give him the most agonising Chinese burn he’ll have had in his life.
Wolves got 16 mill for dropping into the third tier this season, they still have another 16 mill to come from the epl.
They got 32 mill last season
64 mill over 4 years, no too bad for failure.
No need for ole blanket ban at Strathcyde Fire Brigade.
JC
Alan Curbishley is due another job
Charlotte’s either been nobbled or she is giving us a couple of days to enjoy our reminiscences of Seville, 4-2, etc before she posts again. If the latter is the case then it must be a Tim who found out where Shred-it dumped ra deeds as well as other miscellaneous items.
I confess I haven’t watched the Seville game again but I think I will buy it now and exorcise the ghosts of that defeat, because there is so much more of the “Seville Experience” to celebrate.
It has always been my opinion that despite winning the treble in 2001, league won on my birthday and I was at both finals, and winning the other trophies he did that Martin O’neill’s greatest achievement at Celtic was taking Us (the fans) to a Euro final and showing the world what we were all about. We may have one or two people who let us down but collectively we always have been, always are and always will be the greatest fans on the planet.
The past couple of days we have laughed, joked, dare say shed a few tears, remembered those no longer with us, shared stories of the night 10 men won the league and of course Seville, ahhh Seville, meanwhile spivco sink to an even lower level by trying to besmirch the name of their own chairman on social and main stream media, there really is no comparison, whether we like it or not they have retained the poisonous traits of their deceased brethren club,
In the meantime we rejoice, we celebrate, we thank our lucky stars we are Celtic.
THE EXILED TIM
15:07 on 21 May, 2013
Next season the bottom club in the premiership get approx. £63m – obscene when compared to other leagues.
Tony Pulis mutually consented by Stoke
Celt55
Indeed it would be a monumental effort to reach a final again.
If you assume even 45,000 bought season tickets at an average of £450 it brings in just over £20m.
2 new players at £4m each demanding £25k per week wages eats up over £10.5m just on 2 players.
A squad of 22 players on an average of £15k week eats another £17m per year.
There’s your season book income gone in one fell swoop.
Stadium costs, policing, other staff etc and it’s obvious we need to have European competition every year to supplement the SB and merchandising income.
European participation is essential for progress, and that means several seasons in Europe, not the odd appearance every few years.
So it’s getting the balance. Players to excite the fans and keep qualifying for the CL, yet prudence to ensure that should we fail to make Europe, we are not destabilised. (like some other clubs we could mention)
It seems we are running now on a buy low, sell high model, and given the precarious nature of Scottish income, I suppose that’s the way it needs to be. That’s why if Hooper, Vic, Fra etc were sold, it would be understandably done for the long term stability of the club.
I think on a good year we can turnover around £60m + with a CL run. 3 or 4 seasons like that would let us compete on a more even playing field. Just one season out of Europe is a major setback.
celt55
And still with all that cash, they are shockingly bad.
Can you imagine if we had that sort of money !!!
Over the years there has been a lack of praise for MON .
MON made Seville possible.
God bless him.
TT
The money the get and without CL football they struggle….
OVERHYPED OVERPAYED PREMA DONNAS…..
Somewhere around 5am and Glasgow airport is only open for Seville flights and is a sea of green and white. I’ve 80 Euros, my passport, boarding pass and a ticket in my shorts, Celtic top on, no baggage of any description.
The happiest queue of all time has formed, I swear some of these people have tattooed those grins on. Albert_Kidd has the biggest sombrero rim of all time, must be a metre and half across.
There’s a lot of joyous cheering at the front of this queue. As we get to the front we see that each person is being cheered as they go through the metal detector with no beep.
Better still the security staff are in good spirit and are taking each beachball and passing it through the x-ray machine. In it goes along the conveyor. Everyone holds out their hands, waggling their fingers in anticipation of it coming put the other end with a low “wooaaaa………”, absolutely nothing shows up on the machine screen as it’s just air inside, and as if by magic it pops out the other side and all the hands are raised to the air with a shout of “Ole!”
Happy, happy days.
Hamiltontim
15:02 on
21 May, 2013
I share the sentiments in your post.
I was also 3-line whipped at work- no time off, no way – so watched the game with my uncle and aunt and family and friends in Yorkshire.
Uncle and aunt were in their late 70s then – she from Sligo, he a Kelly from Clydebank.
I won’t take up people’s time dwelling on the rollercoaster of the game itself as others on here have brought it back to life far better than I could.
But at the end I was drained and, I must admit, bitter. I will never forget the old fella telling me gently of following the Bhoys throughout the largely-barren 40s and 50s, and how bloody proud of them – and our support in Seville – we should be. In hindsight while I would have given anything to be there, I was proud to watch it with him.
More than a club. Then and forever.
Having said that, I bought him the DVD of the game. I have never watched it, and neither has he. But maybe when I go home this weekend…….
HH
twists n turns
15:17 on 21 May, 2013
The Exiled Tim
I think we’re doing remarkably well with what we have, however, it will be increasingly more difficult to compete if something isn’t done to even things up. I’m not too confident that FFP will be applied stringently enough to help clubs in leagues like ours.
Barca New Kit
http://nikeinc.com/news/nike-s-new-fc-barcelona-home-and-away-kits-echo-catalan-flag#/inline/19993
celt55
FFP won’t be applied.
The big clubs have already threatened to start a breakaway league if it is, uefa will cave in as ever.
http://youtu.be/3o1GGbZU-xk
canny watch the game,but a kin watch this
HH
I remember standing in a bar in Seville and SSN showed guys woth buckets and spades in the sandpit outside Bairds,the pub collapsed with laughter.
Just after the final whistle when there was a tremendous rendition of ” We are Celtic Supporters” thats when I started to cry.
bournesouprecipe
11:44 on 21 May, 2013
In the cathedral holy mass was being celebrated almost continuously throughout the day on two seperate alters, and services. Celtic fans mingled with the locals and Porto fans alike, there’s a side alter with a monument of the resting place of Christopher Columbus.
*Being a 4th Degree Sir Knight of Columbus I thought that rather poignant.
Like WG I have never watched Milan or Seville even though I was at the former game.
I had Seville on tape but taped over it that following weekend.
Someone posted the Feyenoord game on the Huddleboard a few weeks back….nae chance.
Prior tae Seville I had for a few years suffered from an atrial flutter, medication wisnae helping so the Friday before the game I was in the Toronto General Hospital for a 5 hour procedure tae correct it.
On the day of Seville I faked a follow-up doctor’s appointment (was only a few months in the job) and went home tae watch it, after Ghod’s amazing equaliser I told Mrs. TT that if it had happened a week earlier I would have had a heart attack.
Still cannae watch it and cannae read about it, still blame Bobo and Shirley Douglas for our loss as well as wee Shawnie for a urine poor free kick at the death.
A few years later we were in Madrid tae visit one of our daughters who was teaching there, she asked if we wanted tae see anywhere else, I said Seville, walking along the front there was a sign for the stadium, Mrs. TT enquired did I want tae go and see it…..naw.
Went tae the Alhambra in Granada after that then over tae the souks in Marrakesh back tae Madrid and toured the Bernabeau as well as the cultural spots such as the Museo Del Prado and palace but Seville haunted me then and still does.
Incidentally on the on/off bus in Madrid passed by a sign that indicated the Estadio Vicente Calderon was down that street , Mrs. TT pointed it out to me, my response under my breath may have cost me a few venial sins.
Talk about Lisbon on Saturday.
Great stories, keep them coming.
Off topic .. Did celtic choir make there debut on sunday ? Any reports…
proudbhoy
Not heard anything but I would assume that they will be booked for songs of praise next time they are in Glasgow.
LB
New Barca kit – Puyol looks more mental than ever in that photo.
Talking of whom, was ole Carles not due to pitch up in his combat jacket at Celtic Park for signing talks last summer to solve the ongoing centre half conundrum?? Must’ve lost his patience with the number of traffic lights on the new approach road.
I had booked flights from Glasgow – London, London – Madrid, my travelling companion at the time was off sick from her work, it was the only way she would make the game something about a blanket ban for her profession (I won’t mention the number of holidays they get a year!) Her task was to book the train from Madrid to Seville!
Arrived in Madrid the night before the game, the centre was covered in Green and White party tunes coming out of every Taverna we passed, and pass them we did, we only wanted to get to the Hotel and get ready for the match. Our Hotel had a few Porto fans staying they could not believe how many Celtic fans had travelled to the game. I wonder what their faces where like when they got to Seville the following morning!
Madrid train station was more like Queen St Station, all we had to do was collect our tickets! My companion bless her did not bring the card she booked the tickets with and without them … no train ticket! After a few heated exchanges and along with a few Celtic fans helpfully telling the Mgr the lassies better get on that train we had our tickets!
Met a chap from Boston on the train, had never been to a game in his life but his Granda had told him all about Lisbon and the famous Glasgow Celtic, he came over just to saviour the atmosphere! Met up with John Hartson’s pals in the drinks carriage what an atmosphere in there! Only one of them had a ticket but they still wanted to come and savour the atmosphere like BBJ they were now confirmed Celtic fans.
My Dad and Uncles had booked a week in the Algarve, after seeing the gridlock outside I was worried he wouldn’t make it.
I walked into the stadium, I made my way to the top of the stairs, turned round and there in his seat my Dad, the man who had given me Celtic the tears started then! I got to see my team in a European Final, I got to see my team score not once but twice in a European Final and best of all I got to share it with my Hero!
And for that I thank every one of those players that took us on the most amazing journey!
blantyrekev
15:24 on 21 May, 2013
Brilliant …. Hahahahahaha
minx1888
A beautiful tale.
Hail hail!
ONE of the many memories I have is walking back to find our bus after the game,after crossing the bridge and making our way towards the buses I looked up and seen a large banner draped across three houses in what looked like a tenement block.
It was being held jointly by the local residents ,those who were not holding the banner ,men women and children were cheering and applauding,the banner simply said
“THANK YOU CELTIC”.
JohnnyClash
The Clash to release new box set of remastered albums and rarities
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/may/21/the-clash-box-set-remastered-albums-rarities
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Celts+penny-pinching+is+coming+back+to+haunt+you+Fergus%3B+LAUGHING…-a060562977
A wee article about Fergus penny pinching and wise words from Charlie Nicholas about Henrik Larsson.
The days of A-list stars like Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup being attracted to the delights of the Premier Division have passed, Nicholas believes, for good.
He said: “People have got to wake up to the stark reality that our league will no longer attract the very cream of players.
“The four most talented we have had in the last couple of years – Pierre van Hooijdonk Petrus (“Pierre”) Ferdinandus Johannes van Hooijdonk (born on November 29, 1969 in Steenbergen, Noord-Brabant), Paolo di Canio Paolo Di Canio (born July 9, 1968) is an Italian football player , Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne – have all gone and won’t be replaced with similar quality.
“Players like Henrik Larsson and Lorenzo Amoruso are good – but they have not gained a reputation as being the best in Europe.
“I don’t think they are second raters but they are a level below the best.
“It’s a real worry because there is no one like Laudrup now playing here. Nobody who can excite a crowd and make them feel that it has been worth the admission money just to see one spark of magic.
“Rangers will have to spend money in the summer but so far they’ve found it difficult.
“And it won’t get any easier.”
LB
After the game, Mrs Teuchter and I headed back to our hotel in Praia da Rocha in the Algarve. Don’t know if it was the drink our the lack of sleep, but was struggling to keep my eyes open and my heid was doing the auld noddin’.
Decided, after a close call to pull over and sleep for a while. We found a walled in area – right next to the main road, parked up and went to sleep.
The heat was unbearable – even at night – so I got out and lay down outside the motor and fell into a deep sleep.
I awoke the next day to a polisman kicking my feet. I stood up and looked around at the 20 or so polis cars parked up beside me and dozens of cops walking into a rather large building I hadn’t noticed the night before.
His mate showed up with 2 cups of coffee, mentioned something like “Celtic fantastico” and bade us farewell.
Great times.
Teuchter ár lá