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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steady build up, ball on the deck 3-1
Is the game on Celtic tV emdae??
braw braw braw
3 1
“This is turning into a rout”
CommentatorsSick CSC
EASY -))))
Jude
YouTube spfl mate
Jude
watch it here..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg9GUooV-ww&feature=youtu.be
jude2005
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg9GUooV-ww&feature=youtu.be
Durrant for gardening leave.
Great finish for a big striker
Class is showing now
Hope none of the bhoys get broke up
Cloggers will revert to type if we get any more
Burgas ……must be hoor oh a size of a garden!
braw
Magic…burgas cheers for the link, passed it on to a lot of hoopsters.HH
Great build up play, mishit shot 20 yards out unlucky
10 yards not 20
I’m no convinced with our keeper btw.
Just another four to go..:))
Penalty not given…booked for nothing…
C’mon the Hoops..
Two great bits of skill for the last two goals. Lots more goals to come I think.
Clear penalty ……………………..free kick huns -)))
Booked for. Being fouled ( theatrical) could have been a penalty for Celtic.
save by Celtic keeper ;)
The flowing football our boys are playing is very pleasing on the eye
Free kick 35 yards oot
Messed up big time
This place is Mental…dunno whit it would be like if we were playing rangers youths..Laughing…
Youths playing very well.
Penalty denied.
Luke Donnelly is a big lhad, I wouldn’t like to be trying to feed him at home
Is the co – commentator on a bonus for mentioning the o## f%$* every five minutes?
We had joy we had fun
We had Seville in the sun
But they joy and the fun
Was all to help the Hun
BGX – not much else to do on a Thursday night ;-)
H/t summary
Celtic good
Rangers rubbidge :)
Huns are honking -)))
Off oot for a small shandy.
Bgx
It’s halftime
A wee video of Diamond Jackson on to keep my.. Ahem.. Spirits up lol
Thanks for the link , whoever put it up – superb picture.
Excellent performance from the young Celts oozing class, great to see
our youngsters at this level.
Passing game is a joy to watch.
mike in toronto @ 14:33
Great post containing some of the reasons that I am finding it difficult to renew my season ticket.
Commentator said “Blatant penalty” not given.
He won`t last long.
Missed the first half.
Happy with the score.
Tuning in for the second.
Mon the young bhoys!
8-1!
HH!!
bejesus ….who is promoting this OF shit ….showing pics from the dead ones …
no braw ata
CELTIC (4-2-3-1): Hart; Wardrop, O’Connell, Findlay, Waters; Lindsay, McManus; Nesbitt, Donnelly, Tierney; McMullan.
Subs: McCart, McCabe, Kelleher, Miller, Hill
Celtic kid booked for PWF in the opposition box.
HH jamesgang
The People’s Front of Judea vs the Hitler youth
Sounds like enough to base a movie on.