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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Suicide inside Notre Dame Cathedral Paris
When the Hoops fans held an impromptu going away party at Ibrox on Beach Ball Sunday they would set the tone for the whole Seville experience – whatever the result the Celtic fans were going to have a party. And so they did.
An army of 80,000 supporters travelled the long road to southern Spain via any means possible. Not before or since have so many travelled so far in the name of football. It was though the friendliest of invasions. Large quantities of alcohol were undoubtedly consumed but the mood was never anything other than festive.
Locals and Porto supporters happily mixed with the Bhoys supporters in the squares, bars and clubs of Seville. Hugs, huddles and handshakes were the order of the day as new friends were made and old pals reunited. As kick-off approached the Celts danced and sung in the sunshine and even when the Bhoys suffered the agony of an extra time defeat the partying continued.
Not even defeat could sober the mood of a support who had come to realise in recent days just what a unique and special club they belonged to. Although the team lost the final the support had won the hearts of the people of Seville as well the respect of the football world. Awards in recognition of the fans behaviour followed from both UEFA and FIFA.
UEFA Cup finals are annual events. They come and go. What happened in Seville however was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. An experience no other club is ever like to repeat.
celticwiki
livibhoy
15:48 on 21 May, 2013
proudbhoy
Not heard anything but I would assume that they will be booked for songs of praise next time they are in Glasgow.
LB
—
U think they are gonna be bit diluted version of the green brigade ?
I dont mind as long as they back the team for 90mins like the green brigade and add bit of colour.
Celtic celtic thats the team for me
Tony Watt featured on Official website giving interview re his call up to Scottish squad. Hopefully that indicates that any spat he may have had is sorted.
Great day on the Blog!
Been catching up with the Seville Diaries.
Absolutely wonderful.
Only wee problem was when Radio 2 played “Walk On” about an hour ago.
I was not a pleasant sight. Tears, sobs, snotters, everything.
But well worth it!
Thanks again!
So them 4 players did more than henrik in football… I think nae
Di canio as good as he was after us played for wednesday and west ham.
Thank you to all for the Seville Recollections.
Fantastic stuff.
Palacio67 you can get me email from P67.
Could it be a CQN publication?
HH
livibhoy
15:48 on 21 May, 2013
proudbhoy
Not heard anything but I would assume that they will be booked for songs of praise next time they are in Glasgow.
LB
—
livibhoy
15:48 on 21 May, 2013
proudbhoy
Not heard anything but I would assume that they will be booked for songs of praise next time they are in Glasgow.
LB
—
@thecelticchorus: At our first public performance! http://t.co/EeNjVlt0Oz
HT
One for you, shortly after arriving in Seville we were just standing about trying to take in what we were witnessing.
When from down the street came a domonstration by local teaching staff about education cuts(I was told by a local)
The teacher at the front would shout through one of those loud hailers and the children who were holding long Green & White type banner the lenghth of the procession would shout back .
As they approached as they stopped at the junction and the kinds were gifted with flags, tammys, scarfs and their collection buckets were loaded with money from our Bhoys & Ghirls.
As they moved on the teachers at the front could hardly talk through the tears and the kids now draped in the colours were now shouting “CELTICA” as the moved on.
I new then I was involved in somthing special.
Till later all group meeting night
Wearedifferentcsc
Interesting wee snippet on the radio re PSG .
Spokesman for PSG has stated that many of the Ultras who caused trouble during PSG’s title party were known to be just some of the 13,000 season ticket holders banned from the PSG stadium since 2010..
Italian media still has Ancellotti leaving PSG for Real Madrid . His replacement ?–
Mancini / Mazzari/ Di Matteo/ Montella
I remember being held up for ages in the bus car-park whilst they let all the Porto buses go first. It was pretty frustrating as we were facing a long drive to Benalmadena. Suddenly a large group came striding accross the park and passed just alongside our Bus. It was Billy Connolly plus entourage sorrounded by about 10 minders. He got a big cheer and gave a clenched fist salute as he went past.
Tontine
Good stuff – there were more Celtic supporters at mass that day, than normal it was an out of body experience, the whole day, was specially made for Celtic, the result of the football match was an inconsequence.
A Clash box set?
Tie me up, tie me down, you public school rebel rousers!
There was a story of Billy Connolly laying a guy out like a carpet in a restaurant in Seville.pashed guy with hoops and a comedy set of t /#$ on was bothering him and his company during lunch.
Can you not renew online with a debit card – looks like credit cards only with £5 booking fee per card?
anyone?
the asian guys in this are superb
http://youtu.be/5OdH8VoXBmw
HH
is this our Pablophanque that posted Seville Memories to you tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCMlmVimGcI
Seville,brillaint.great read on the blog
bournesouprecipe @ 16.16,
I felt that about the game too. I wouldn’t say it felt an inconsequence but I barely gave it a thought until about 45 mins before kick-off.
It was about being with the Celtic Family and showing the World that we are fantastic Club with a wonderful support.
I’m convinced we did that. . . . . .
MINX1888
Absolutely splendid….
proudbhoy
Article is from 1998. Charlie could spot a player right enough. Laudrup was average.
never thought laudrup was anything special. He was protected by referee’s that much that nobody could touch him. Gazza was a talent but would never get away with those elbows at Paradise.
Larsson was the greatest foreign player to play in Scotland by a mile. He is one of Europe’s greatest players of the last 30 years.
LB
DBBIA.@ 16 17.
There is a great Clash mocking choon called —I Hate London .
Band were called 2.3.[ they came from somewhere up north ]
Band said they were inspired to do it after seeing that ridiculous photo of The Clash posing on a street corner in Northern Ireland.
LiviBhoy
15:59 on
21 May, 2013
Come on. Be fair to Nicholas.
Henrik only managed to play for clubs like Barca and Man U when he was arguably past his best.
He is certainly the best second rater that I have ever seen.
philbhoy
Heard the oldies on radio 2, done by Father Euan from St Johns barrhead, used to be at The Cathedral for about 12yrs, a big Celtic mhan, season book holder. Would not have expected anything else in his golden oldies.
Well bhoys & ghirls, it’s been an absolutlely wonderful afternoon on CQN reading our all Seville memories.
Rarely do I want a shift at work to drag on that bit longer!
Thank you.
Laters. . . .
Uncle Fester
Dontbrattbakkinanger
16:17 on 21 May, 2013
“A Clash box set?
Tie me up, tie me down, you public school rebel rousers!”
Slightly lazy journalism from D&G’s finest. Only Mr Mellor went to boarding school (though Mick Jones does have a cousin who is a tory mp). Also the said Mr Mellor for a while attended same state primary school as my 4 weans and his old family house in Warlingham is very modest indeed. As Joe said himself, the government paid all of the school fees, not his parents.
Street cred almost fully intact.
Seville ……………
Memories are made of this , never to be forgotten
It all started over a curry and a few beers 10 days after Boavista , my pal Jack and I talked the other halves into it and a mad scramble for flights and hotels …………. a couple of days later and we are sorted but no tickets .
Monday before the match , dropped off at Glasgow Airport 7 ish on our way to Faro via Stansted . Stansted was quite quiet but a few hours and a few beers later the place was swarming with the hoops , met a guy I worked with who was booked on the same flight and same hotel in Albuferia . We managed to beg a lift from them from the airport , must have been 10 of us in a white transit van ……happy days
Next morning lying at the pool having a few beers and cant believe how many hoops around the place so far away from Seville . ……………. more and more arriving every minute and 3 Irish guys sat next to us , bought us a beer and managed to secure us a ticket within 10 mins of meeting them ……………Wee Sean will forever be in our memories , he even got us seats on the irish bus to the match and return free of charge . We took over Albuferia that night with non stop singing and drinking , even did a huddle around a cop car on the strip .
Day of the game , wee Sean , a big carry out on the Irish bus and heading for Seville , the wee man knew the words of every Celtic song in English and Latin. On our way to Seville the motorway was just a trail of cars , busses and vans all with green and white , stopped at a service station and it was like a swarm of Ants all with hoops on , even bumped into Curly Watt ‘s from Coronation Street . The first person I saw getting off the bus was Tommy Burns , standing in the bus park welcoming everyone but taking it all in himself . Headed straight to 5* hotel in centre , secured our tickets and started one of the best days of our life . A few beers later , a bite to eat we headed early to the stadium but we all got split up and of course mobiles down we made our own way there . While waiting at the stadium waiting on the rest met my brother in law , a work colleague and was offered 2 tickets free on 2 occasions from 2 different sources …….unbelievable but as i had one told them to go and give them to one of the many hoops who weren’t so lucky .
I was nervous going through security but when that wee light lit up green i felt i had landed . the sight when I entered the stadium will live with me forever , I was in the main stand and looking across to that wall of green and hoops brought me to tears . A few minutes later Jack arrived and we were ready , photo’s taken and the rest is history . I was felt worse at half time as we had done nothing but the second half was why we came all that way , it was why we are Celtic supporters, it is why we belong to the Celtic family . I was so proud even in defeat but annoyed at the antics of Porto , they were a good side and didn’t have to resort to those tactics .
It was with a heavy heart we headed back to Albuferia , without wee Sean on my bus . The next day we had another party on the strip before heading home , missing our flight from Stansted and having to get a bus up the road on Saturday morning . We got picked up at Hamilton , still in the hoops , smelling bad , Jack’s feet had swelled up to twice the size but with the time of our life and memories never to be forgotten ………..C’mon the hoops
‘Larsson was the greatest foreign player to play in Scotland by a mile’
-or by a short head from L.Moravcik;/)
livibhoy
Not looking for a fight. Honest. But Laudrup was a very good player. I can still remember the butterflies in the old stomach when he got the ball against us. He was a handful.
HOWEVER
Larsson was on another planet. I remember one game when nothing was coming off for him and someone sitting nearby shouted, ” &@@£’s sake Henrik!” Around 60 or so sitting around the shouter turned on him loudly and mercilessly. We loved that guy and no wonder. A genius. Heart of a Lion. Showed he could play in any team at any level.
dbb
Avery short head. God we were blest then.
Once again,for the first time Charlie Nick has thrown down the goblet……
the blagger of seville, never seen this before.
sweary words warning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh7HPEgIdVg
Cadizzy
The ole blue plaques for the great and the good are quite the thing down in Foreign. Have they got one outside Joe’s ole gaff, or did some stick in the mud (say from D&G) remove it and replace it with a tribute to some drab early 70s M.O.R. pub rockers?
Hoopslegend Rico Annoni could snuff out Laudrup.
I remember Thommo crossing a ball from the left with about 2 minutes to go in normal time,about 8 yards out ………nobody there. BBJ?
I managed to get a ticket from a mate but gave it to my son who was an apprentice at Dundee Utd at the time. At the last minute McCall gave him a couple of days off to go so I did what any dad would do.
I’d blagged my way into many games over the years, 4 times at Wembley and numerous Oldco games. So with that in mind I bought a snide brief for £15 in Alfredos West Nile st. It was the worst fake ever seen but it gave me a fighting chance.
We flew from Alicante down to Malaga the day before the game and then had to get a taxi to the the Costa del Sol. As I waited in the taxi queue a jacket appeared on top of my bag, and it wasn’t mine or any of the mob I was with. I picked it up and there was a wallet inside. I opened it and inside was a passport, name P. Murphy, 62 from Dublin, a few hundred Euros and a ticket. One guy shouted, keep the f’’’n ticket but no way could you do that to a fellow tim. Anyway I found the guy in five minutes, he was blitzed, crying like a wean and being held up by two Spanish cops. He was that drunk he probably won’t remember me giving him his wallet.
I think God must have been watching me because the very dodgy ticket got me past the first police check, and from there let’s just say I got past the turnstile operator, in a very nerve wracking manner.
I’ve never experienced an atmosphere like it, and that includes the Leeds game 1970.
hh
Doctor Whatfor
Ask the ole Rangers fans who the best player they ever saw was. Laudrup doesn’t get mentioned much.
Larsson was a class act in many ways. he had to deal with the Rangers defence dirty tactics of kicking him all over the place. I don’t remember any of our defenders being allowed near Laudrup to even foul him never mind kick him. Good player but nowhere near the class of Henrik. Lubo was another class act. I bet he regrets not sticking around another season. He would have put wee Shauns free kick in the top corner!
LB
so nobody here actually has a season ticket – all makes sense now