The heat was suffocating, it was 35° and city was heaving. On the long walk out of town some enterprising locals were selling water or cola to the increasingly dehydrated caravan of people. I passed a few, not willing to succumb to extortionate opportunism, but soon gave in.
I walked into an orange tree earlier that day. Caught between taking directions from a policeman and setting off in a new direction I’d overlooked the towering obstacle a yard in front of me. There’d been a spring in my step, I must have bounced into the bark. Trees are hard. I fell.
The return journey was made in the cool of the night. For the first few miles we were a uniformed flow of humanity but eventually the crowd thinned. We walked through residential streets with locals at their doors and windows. They applauded as we passed. Few of us are ever part of something substantial enough that uninvolved observers openly applaud you. Such memories endure.
I’d an early rise and a long drive with a full car ahead the next day. The bedroom was packed, floor space was given over to spare bedding, the hotels must have shipped mattresses in from a hundred kilometres radius, so with the others in the bar, I took myself off for a shower.
I met a German couple in the elevator. “Are you disappointed?” the woman asked. “No, we played well and were beaten by a good team.” It was the perfect answer. These people must have been horrified when they noticed the throng which would dominate their trip, but they’d become part of the story, part of the throng. The answer was honestly given, although disappointment would come later. I went on, “We lost a minor cup final nine years ago, that was real disappointment”.
I surprised myself by what my memory spontaneously threw up when asked about disappointment. Looking back now, that minor cup final is no more than a touchstone, and indicator of where we were before the Generation of Domination got underway. It’s lost its power to inflict negative emotion. If I met the German couple once more I could again tell them I wasn’t disappointed with that day in the blistering heat. It’s one of my proudest memories, and we soon learned we were beaten, narrowly, by a great team.
This, my friends in Celtic, is what you call a journey.
I spoke to fan liaison manager John Paul Taylor yesterday and mentioned I’d not renewed my season ticket yet. I promised him I would today and that I’d pass the message on. Deadline is tomorrow, after that people can ask for a move into your seat. Consider yourself reminded! We walk the next mile of the journey soon, with hope in our hearts, as always.
Many thanks to those who donated to Mary’s Meals yesterday, and to Magners. The money raised in one day alone will feed over 30 of the world’s poorest school children for a year.
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Celtic corner
Easily held
Frea kick, corner now, pfft
Marspapa wattching msDiamondJackson…Smiling away Happy..Fixed that for you ..Your welcome…
Poor decision by Celtic lads could’ve been costly
The Old Firm is dead! Long live The Old Firm!
Bgx
R u going to the game on Sunday?
Need to deliver better free kicks
Sipsini,
I’ve recently been u wer…..the legal system works thanks to us…..ignore those pesky minutes of agreement…..too legal bullshit for the common man seemingly…..no wonder u had a headache ;-))
H.H.
4!!!!
I think a couple Ooft 4
Smashed home
Yessssssssssssss 4 1
superb 4
Nesbitt…….wis it oor Rab ………
braw
What a goal! :-)
Marspspa…No, i have my pal coming up from Chester, him and his bird, aint seen him in like4 years..So..duty bound…
Ho ho ho, get that right up ye young huns
Crikey,
my whole post misses my jury duty ;-))
beyondcsc
4-1, let’s have 5:))
Brother needs help here, what’s the Celtic ticket office number not the rubbish from the ticket master number, because he needs to ask a few questions on concessionary tickets. Something like 0141 xxx1967
4-1
Liking the look of Luke Donnelly. Big, strong and skilful.
I was just about to say a couple of these boys have a chance of making it into the big team
Nesbitt and mcmullin
Step up Nesbitt goal 4-1
Celtic penalty
Pen
These Chromecast devices really are the bee’s knees.
Push in the back of the jersey – actual quote
Was he wearing it front to back?
5
Bang, take that.
5
5-1
Dubious pen haha 5
Yessssssssssssss 5 1 pen
Five
Thank you Bhoys:::))))
Yes! 5-1
7-1 is on the cards!
wooooooohhhoooooooooooooohatrick for oor Rab ….braw