In 1986, Walter Smith left his assistant role at Dundee United to take up the same job at his boyhood club, Rangers. He later became manager, leading the club to six (and a half) of their nine-in-a-row league titles, though like a few other legends, he discovered 10 was out of reach. He managed Everton, then Scotland, where he left to return to more success at Rangers, including reaching the 2008 Uefa Cup Final.
As an opponent, he was uncompromising, ruthless, even. He managed to have a congenial nature and to be as hard as nails. His first period in charge of Rangers saw an era of no contest. Celtic finished second only twice during those nine seasons, Aberdeen, Motherwell and Hibs were often the nearest challengers, allowing Rangers space to prepare for Champions League football.
His second spell at Rangers concluded in 2011, having won three successive titles against different Celtic managers: Gordon Strachan, Tony Mowbray and Neil Lennon. He retired the same month that Craig Whyte bought the club from David Murray for £1, with the emerging EBT scandal scattered like confetti over every inch of the Ibrox and Charlotte Square.
Smith was ill advised to get involved in the scrap for Newco a year later, where he was briefly chairman in 2013 before resigning after three months.
For all the battles, my abiding memory of Walter Smith happened days after that Uefa Cup Final in 2008, watching him carry the Tommy Burns’ coffin from St Mary’s, Calton. Everything that had gone before seemed irrelevant. Later on, a Celtic supporting journalist, who was moving on from Scottish football, told me he received a call with best wishes from Smith. No one from Celtic did likewise. What little we really know of the people we cheer and jeer.
73 is no age, may he rest in peace.
185 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
From a CQN side article:
“The Celtic boss, speaking to the Scottish Sun, admitted: “James McCarthy is training well. It’s just a matter of finding the right opportunity for him.”
Admitted? Hmm…
FAIRHILL BHOY on 26TH OCTOBER 2021 8:56 PM
Still no comment on your post at 11:18 am today.
And unbelievably nobody else thinks it’s in poor taste either.
It was in incredibly bad taste without doubt.
Yet this guy sets himself up as a moral compass on here calling out “Sleekits”
FAIRHILL BHOY on 26TH OCTOBER 2021 8:56 PM
Still no comment on your post at 11:18 am today.
And unbelievably nobody else thinks it’s in poor taste either.
BANKIEBHOY1 on 26TH OCTOBER 2021 9:03 PM
BANKIEBHOY1 on 26TH OCTOBER 2021 11:18 AM
Sad news indeed for the family of the former manager of
the fomer rangers.
Scottish football will mourn.
I’m sure the upcoming fixture against Aberdeen will be postponed as a mark of respect.
May He Rest In Peace.
HH.
tom mclaughlin
Was thinking, Tom was ahead of the game there.
Speaking of which you have done well getting tickets for Easter Road tonight.
Looking forward to watching it on the box myself.
And Celtic winning the battle of the greens!
I suppose I am an eternal optimist but I think there is a truly excellent player in Mikey Johnston. I hope matters are going our way enough that he gets some game time tonight .
One – nil
to the Good Ghuys
Tonight (obvs)
Hot Smoked, there’s a genuine special talent in our Bhoy , I think AP recognises it.
Good news too that Big Julienne is back in team training.
HH
An Tearmann on 27th October 2021 7:29AM 7:31AM
The gift of Labour and the gift of Lubo, both in the same decade. Wonderful memories.
Around the time of Lubo’s signing, I was trying to encourage the spreading of a Celtic ditty,
If only tears were laughter, if only Fall was Spring.
If only prayers were answered, then we would hear God sing,
“Stand up, if you hate Jock Brown, stand up if you hate Jock Brown, etc.”
Of course, my serenade didn’t manage to capture the popular imagination, though we were rid of the imposter the following month.
———————————————————-
I read Paul67’s article and comments yesterday, I haven’t read Phil’s yet. Danso1888, TontineTim and Hairlikespaghetti’s opinions reflect mine more closely than any others I saw.
Good luck to the Celts tonight. More see the ball, hit the ball from GG and we’ll do fine I hope.
LETS ALL DO THE HUDDLE on 26TH OCTOBER 2021 6:48 PM
cant believe all this talk about the GB and not one mention of their fkin drums
they properly do my nut in having to listen to them getting hammered for 90 minutes
can they not just use them to get each song started and then silence them when the singers join in?
———-
I’m with you on that. At my age my ears don’t need that.
Unless we are going 3 at the back, i can’t see Jullien getting a game anytime soon
Clear what you meant pal….
Sleekit ))))))))))
Guys,
I like Mikey Johnston, but this is make or break season. He should be played whenever possible with a view to a big decision in 2022.
Christopher Jullien has been out for nearly a year now with his latest injury. I will reserve judgement until he has played some consecutive games.
HH to all and COYBIG from the COP 26 city.
Bada, I’d agree with that as well…………….
given the constant rough treatment meted out to Celtic players, we’re gonna need options.
I’m not convinced he’s a long term one either but to beat hundom this season I think we’re gonna need a full complement of players.
HH
I’m another Mikey fan but the History of Football is littered with great Talent that never made it due to repetitive injuries.
Whenever he comes on I’m genuinely nervous for the Bhoy.
I think Ange should keep him in a role as a Super Sub until James Forrest for one is back in harness.
I expect Hibs to attack us tonight, it should make for a great game.
Every game is a must win until we claw back the 4 pt deficit, it makes for nervous viewing but it certainly is exciting.
Interesting chat re Mikey Johnston.
I’ll just put it out there – the boy often infuriates me.
Clearly a talent but STILL looks raw?
Am not seeing a young, professional athlete managing his improvement.
Think he has lots of work to do on his physicality, mentality, and game intelligence.
As I recall, we said similar often on here about James Forrest in the early days.
Brendan Rodgers influence was massive.
Genuinely hope Ange can do similar for Mikey.
As a punt? Once the squad stabilises, I’d be tempted to send MJ out on loan next season to play 30+ games down in the weeds.
Slightly late in his career for this kind of thing admittedly (23 years old?)
But I suspect he would either toughen up, appreciate his lot and then come back and ROCK …..
or
Find his level and drift away.
(Ideally the former)
Drums are one of the least irritating aspects of the GB. In fact I actually like them ( But I sit at the opposite end )
Are the GB struggling to match the increasingly obnoxious but in your face UB. Do they feel upstaged and their desire to remain relevant, controversial and centre of attention has led them to bring out the 1970’s songbook. ?????
Have the UB been duping the GB at their freshers outings and feeding them outdated plans.
The GB must know that what was acceptable a decade ago is not necessarily acceptable going into 2022.
History should be remembered but celebrating conflict tempered. Especially at public football matches.
We need to focus on what is happening now and what is acceptable today or we will be left in the past. ( Like the OO dinosaurs )
I remember the GB changing the names of Glasgow Streets in an attempt to eradicate the signs of slavery. I had some sympathy with them, but we cannot change history, however we can and should certainly learn from it.
Now and the future should be our focus and with that in mind I look forward to the GB out on the streets of Glasgow campaigning against modern day slavery.
I was disgusted to read about the modern 5 year old slave girl tortured and left for dead. The sentence of the German national was only a few days ago and it was good to see high profile human rights persons involved.
Where is the outrage. Where is the demonstrations.
This is not history, this is now and we can make a difference.
To stay influential and relevant in 2021/ 22 we must move with the times, or fade away into obscurity.
Possibly the demographic of CQN is too old to comprehend this and its inevitable consequences. The GB do not have that excuse.
HH to all.
TIMHORTON
Best wishes!
Hope you have a great day!
HOT SMOKED on 27TH OCTOBER 2021 9:45 AM
From a CQN side article:
“The Celtic boss, speaking to the Scottish Sun, admitted: “James McCarthy is training well. It’s just a matter of finding the right opportunity for him.”
Admitted? Hmm…
_______________________________________________________________________________________
HOT SMOKED
It’s The Sun, we’re lucky they got the Club, Manager and player right as well as getting the spelling of ‘admitted’ correct!
Mikey Johnston.
Made debut in 2017 and has made 38 appearances.
Make or break season, or move him on.
Re.Julien, I would expect him to replace Starfelt, as soon as he’s fit
GUYFAWKESAFOREVERHERO on 27TH OCTOBER 2021 10:14 AM
An Tearmann on 27th October 2021 7:29AM 7:31AM
The gift of Labour and the gift of Lubo, both in the same decade. Wonderful memories.
Ha.i thought a shrewdy like yourself would pick up on my predictive text faux pas.
Alas the newly marketed form of ‘new’ Labour were always to much to the right and fitting in with a murdoch narrative was not for my vote.
Lubo enriched.Tony didn’t.
Keep well and I may see you at a reserve game
HH
in sunshine, and in showers
Interesting piece from Brian Wilson in today’s Herald, re COP26 .
Hello again all you young rebels.
Back To Basics
Good post, and completely agree, Mikey needs to produce
now, or its never.
Great couple of days down the rebel peninsula, sunny 27 degs and PADDYMACOZ
filling my head with the future plans of our CSC.
Think I might need to find a minder, it looks like I’ll need one😎
As you probably know I have a caravan down here which I frequent regularly
especially on our Celtic weekends, now a wee discussion/ debate took place after
I mentioned that outside our campsite there is an old train track which attracts
hundreds of tourists who want to ride on the old steam train, and guess what?
It was built at St Rollox, which I think was on Petershill Rd Springburn.
Maybe I’m completely wrong, and what linked Polmadie to the steam train
industrie?
A 50 million dollar bet is at stake here ghuys. 🙈
depending on CQNs unbeatable knowledgeable historians.
H.H. Mick
JIM, I wouldn’t know aboiut WSilson’s article as I’ve not bought or read a Herald in 10 years or more, but that’s the price they pay for their positive coverage of one side and their negative coverage (and lies) about Celtic.
I assume that decision, made those many years ago, was a business one (?), but in so doing they lost my business which, previously, had been the Herald six days a week plus the Sunday Herald as well. But, what do I know about the newspaper industry, eh?
Ave Ave
I’m very surprised that this evenings games are going ahead as normal.
I’m especially surprised that the huns game is going ahead in particular.
Hibs will be a tight game I think and should show if our development of a particular style of play is continuing a pace…….
In Big AP I trust.
What’s the story with McCarthy?
HH
MM,
Polmadie depot , for the trains.
St Rollox Springburn, might have been the largest steam train manufacturer in the world.
Your train being from here is not unusual, in all corners of the old empire wherever they used iron for bridges, steam engines, they mostly came from glasgow.
The depot
https://www.theglasgowstory.com/images/TGSE00236.jpg
When I think of Lubo I sigh and then I smile.
What a player!.☘
HH.
From St Rollox – steam engines to move a steam engine.
—————
Taking a locomotive to the docks, 1949.
This steam locomotive was built by the North British Locomotive Co in 1949 for the Egyptian State Railways. It is pictured here being hauled through the streets of Glasgow to be loaded on a transport ship bound for Egypt. The great weight of the locomotive required the employment of two steam traction engines, a Burrell Simplicity and a Fowler Supreme. Note the police outrider on his motor cycle.
https://www.theglasgowstory.com/images/TGSE00086.jpg
EMERALDBEE \O/ A DOUBLE NINER!! on 27TH OCTOBER 2021 11:38 AM
JIM, I wouldn’t know aboiut WSilson’s article as I’ve not bought or read a Herald in 10 years or more, but that’s the price they pay for their positive coverage of one side and their negative coverage (and lies) about Celtic.
———————————–
I’ve not bought it for years either, but access via phone, tablet, and PC (FOC).
Scotland’s engineering heritage…
we took a wee boat from Baltimore out to the Islands,
only on disembarking did we see that it had been built in Yoker………
BankieBhoys CSC
Bankiebhoy, what was the name of the boat ?
———————
MM, some more engine history, no wonder my daughter thinks I am boring, -)))
————————
This 1952 photograph shows a passenger train in Victoria, Australia, hauled by a 4-6-4 R Class locomotive built by the North British Locomotive Co. Railways in Victoria were built to a 5 feet 3 inches gauge, one of three different gauges used by Australia’s main line railways. The engines were built to facilitate a later conversion to standard gauge.
The order placed at the Hyde Park Works from Victorian Railways for seventy R Class locomotives provided a major boost for the NBL. A special 100-ton gantry-type crane was constructed in Glasgow, dismantled and shipped in 1950, then re-assembled on Nelson Pier at Williamstown to unload the engines when they arrived aboard Blue Funnel Line ships. Some work was required to repair sea water damage sustained on the long voyage, before the first locomotives entered service in 1951.
Between 1903 and 1953, a total of 374 locomotives were supplied to Australia by the NBL, including 120 for the state of Victoria. R Class locomotives are regarded as among the best ever built by the company, and several have been preserved at various locations in Victoria.
https://www.theglasgowstory.com/images/TGSA05182.jpg
St Tams, totally in agreement on Mikey and big Julienne.
Both need to get the finger out and actually contribute on a game to game basis.
My thoughts are that if both go put injured again, soon after returning, we’ll probably not see them in the hoops again. In that worst case scenario I would not be particularly upset.
new article posted.
Out.