Our enormous thanks to John Hughes for spending time on the blog this morning. He was at Celtic throughout a very special time, making his anecdotes and stories all the more valuable.
Here’s an extract from his book, Yogi Bare, which is due out soon:
“Jock Stein and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye. I recall receiving a ferocious verbal volley after a game against Hibs at Easter Road in January 1968. My offence? I went to offer my condolences to their right-back Bobby Duncan in their dressing room.
Unfortunately, Bobby had suffered a broken leg when I slid it to try to block the ball. His ankle got caught up in my outstretched leg and he collapsed to the turf in obvious pain. It was a complete accident, I hasten to add. The conditions were slippy that afternoon and we just collided with neither of us able to pull out.
Unhappily, the defender had to be stretchered off and I felt sick. I never went out to injure an opponent; not once. Frankly, I wouldn’t have known how to, but I did know some players who were well versed in the black arts. No names. No pack drills. No lawyer’s letters! It just wasn’t the right-back’s day because he had also sliced a clearance into his net to give us a second minute lead.
Bobby Lennox added a second shortly afterwards and it was game over. But Bobby Duncan’s game, unfortunately, didn’t last until the ninetieth minute and I headed for the home dressing room as soon as the referee blew for time-up. I was concerned for the player who, although he was a gritty campaigner, was never dirty.
I mixed with the Hibs players and told Bobby I genuinely hoped he would make a fast recovery. He accepted my good wishes and I thought that was the end of it.
Suddenly, though, Colin Stein, who would later join Rangers, barged through his team-mates to have a go at me. He accused me of deliberately trying to injure Bobby. I wasn’t having any of that and told him to get lost. I didn’t stop to think I was actually in the Hibs dressing room.
The usual pushing and shoving ensued before I was thrown out into the corridor. Jock wanted to know what all the commotion was about. I gave him my version of events and he blew up.
‘What do you want to do that for?’ he bellowed. ‘It’s bad enough the boy’s got a broken leg, but you’ve got to go and make it worse!’ I protested my innocence, by which time he was in full flow. ‘What a daft thing to do.’ And so on.
I thought it had been a meaningful gesture from one professional to another, but Jock, clearly, disagreed. Sometimes you couldn’t win with that man.
Please don’t get me wrong. This is not a Big Yogi versus Big Jock chapter in my life story. I just want the supporters to be aware of the facts. For a start, I think he did me an enormous favour by pushing me out from centre-forward to the left wing.
I was happy enough in the central role, but Jock thought I could be more effective when I was taking passes on the half-turn. I would be off and running within seconds of the pass arriving at my feet. In the main striker’s role, though, I would often have my back to goal. Controlling the ball in those circumstances would add vital seconds onto the manoeuvre. A centre-half could be breathing down my neck, forcing me to push the ball back for a midfielder. At outside-left, though, I could skin a right-back if he got too close. And once I was away, there was no stopping me.”
You can order a signed copy of the book by clicking on the graphic to the right of the page.
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Depressing news re Wee Oscar….
Why isn’t Stevie May in the running for POTY….guy has had a great season in a moderate team
Our little Hero, please God protect him…….
@Wee_Oscar: Having great fun in the @NIHospiceSnak Mini Cooper! Wheeeeeeeeeee :-)
#theyseemerollin http://t.co/zi5Xex13Ss
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
PFayr Isn’t he in the young POTY group?
EDB
Perhaps …didn’t think of that list
Let them let Boyd win their player of the year award.
PFayr fairly sure I read here earlier that he is.
Old age doesn’t come alone mind:o)
Edb
don’t you leave the blog, big yogi was the most crabbit on the blog today because you where mising..8)
!!Bada Bing!!
Aye. I was looking forward to it but with only one ticket it ain’t gonna happen I’m afraid which is why I’m selling it.
Just need to wait on the offer coming round again, winning the lottery or waiting on my annual dividend re-investment eventually bearing fruit. :-) Look out Dermot I’m coming for you!
HH
SpanishJohn
BT
Text received?? Looking forward to seeing you and, err, is mini BT coming also, hopefully? I bet mrs BT doesn’t know mrs weefra now. :-))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
EDB
Just the cynic in me coming out >}
It’s scottish football after all.
HH
Weefra
she certainly is, not sure if she is more excited about the lambs or the border collies…
bt
Course I’ll not leave the blog. Crabbitness is needed here sometimes:o)
Have a holy and peaceful Easter weekend bud. Catch you soon.
Boydy, Coisty’s new goal machine, POTY, no brainer for the hun silly games society..
Everything is fine on the big ship hunnyton..
DM on the way back, jeez Sammy things are gonny be awright..
My letter published in the Times today
Most days we see on the front page of the Scottish Times a massively negative headline on the perils of voting for Independence on the forthcoming Scottish Referendum.
I have until very recently thought that this was just part of the concerted campaign by the British Media against Independence. However my thinking is now, why are the British Media continuing on the same course despite the barrage of warnings informing on the thrawn nature of us Scots: and how we so hate being told what’s not good for us, particularly by nosy neighbours?
Do the English want rid of us and are they deliberately antagonising us by being even more typically pompous and supercilious?
Starry
How many goals has Boyd scored this season and how does it compare with the other SP strikers and Kris
Billy Bhoy 05
The same thought has crossed my mind.
If the rest of UK wants us to stay, why is their campaign so poor.
My own theory is that they have employed the strategists behind the Hoover free flights offer.
Arsenal 0 chelsea 1 2nd leg fa youth cup
On telly itv4 now
HH
Any feruz?
PFayr
He scored lots of goals, including umpteen penalties, but against big teams I,e, Celtic and Europe he was a dud. If this guy Wallace sanctions that clown being paid what has been suggested then they have learned no lessons.
This flies in the face of what Paul67 said in a lead article a couple of days ago about cost cutting. This is about getting the stupid huns to stump up dosh for SBs. Again!
The thought of divide and conquer must have came into their line of thought..
edb. KTF
Heh BT enjoy your weekend with the family. Have you heard from old Tim ?
HH
….PFayr supports WeeOscar
Nae idea I have to be honest and say he’s not somebody who crosses my mind very often but the hun fraternity are desperate for a hero, roll up Big Chap yer oan..
Players can and have been nominated in both PotY and YPotY.
Stevie May would have been a stick on to be shortlisted if it weren’t for the fact the Huns need a good news story.
In my humble opinion.
Did I mention I met John Hughes today?
Alex Gordon as well, he helped John with the book, top fella.
clashcitybhoy
20:33 on 17 April, 2014
The hoover free flights offer?
Those were the days. I think I still have a couple of vouchers. Need to check when they expire. ⏳
An tearmann
spoke to him last Saturday, will give him a call shortly, let’s just say he should have taken a lift home when it was offered.,
Shaun Maloney won both awards in 2005/06.
God Bless Knox family. How they find strenght to go through?
Continuing the ‘ you couldn’t make it up’ theme of all things Sevco , check out the name of the guys selling Craig Whyte’s hoose…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-27069770?
Just read back, God Bless Wee Oscar and his family..
billy bhoy 05
20:27 on 17 April, 2014
Sssshhhhh!
I loved watching things unfold today with John Hughes and of course great things to Yogi for sure and those great guys who assisted making it happen but also great thanks to Paul67 for giving guys like WW and JH the platform to tell their story.
Would love for this to continue but not only with former players but also with current players. Wouldn’t be surprised to find Paul, WC and BRTH are moving forward on this.
Boyd scores against diddy teams so would likely be a good signing for Sevco if they are still around next season, plus it’s two steak bakes for the price of one at Greggs, so a wiN win for Boyd and their manager, pep fatsiola
EDB-Your girl has good taste,couldn’t get tickets a few weeks ago,Paolo’s new album is brilliant.HH
BT
Good on the wee ghirl, she’ll luv the lambs. Ye never know, there might be new borns in the mo. Remember to tell her to wear her wellies. :-)))
Weefra HH supporting Wee Oscar.
kevjungle
19:13 on 17 April, 2014
It’s the way ye tell them……..is murray bringing back the £6m worth of shares he purloined when he jumped ship…..hahahahahahaha…….off oot, ya wee shoite….. :)
the long wait is over
20:48 on 17 April, 2014
I’ve heard Celtic have put in a cheeky offer and intend turning it into a club retreat for those recuperating from injuries.
Bada Bing, Paolo’s album is another belter from the young Tim.
South Of Tunis 18:36 on 17 April, 2014
The Amazing Snakeheads .
I have yet to hear them . My 17 year old niece thinks they are the bees knees .
I note that The Grauniad said this ———–
” what Begbies band would sound like “
———–
They remind me of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. What I’ve heard so far is very good. I’m going to see them in a couple of weeks as well.
Tom moloch
Ha !
They could also just turn it into a shrine to Our Hero.