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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STEINREIGNEDSUPREME
Is this what you refer to?
I don’t think a 100% bonus is unreasonable. It’s still less than Meatloaf McCoist gets.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-fans-demand-know-ibrox-3425791
BMCUWP, indeed.
But Yogi now has a log in, you never know.
Blackpool’s Barry Ferguson dreams of managing Rangers
1 hour ago
Caretaker Blackpool boss Barry Ferguson talks to Eilidh Barbour for BBC Scotland, with the 35-year-old outlining the challenge at Bloomfield Road and saying it is his “ultimate dream” to return to Rangers one day as manager. (UK only).
Can anyone on here hope for a better replacement for fat boy.
Please let it happen.
Evening all
In from work , read a bit of the blog before sitting down to my tea and o seem to have missed a rare day with Yogi on and in fine form. I used to have a Rosette in his honour which my dad bought me for the 69 League Cup Final we beat St Johnstone.
Worried guy the night as my wee darling Kelly ( actually a young woman I work with who supports the Tic and who I like platonically but severely) is under the knife for a trivial but for her terrifying operation. God bless ye ya wee honey.
Jimbo67 supporting and praying for Oscar Knox
Anyone on twitter…virtual candles being lit for Oscar
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………Praying for our WEE HERO! 22:53 on 17 April, 2014
Aye. That’s it.
I know they are not the brightest, but you would think the Onion Flans would take the hint regarding these demands which are routinely ignored.
Even ole KevJungle goes ‘aff oot’ when he’s ignored on here.
Father Dougal is probably working on his set of demands I type this.
STEINREIGNEDSUPREME
You know,I think Rangers ignore them at their peril.
If they’re not careful the malcontents will thkweam and thkweam and thkweam until they’re thick.
Oops,Violet-Elizabeth’s endearing little lisp has ruined that line…
JIMBO67
Wish Kelly the best of luck from me,bud.
Don’t forget to ask to see her scar,it’s only polite…
Starry Plough
You polish boots b4 you lace them up.
Richie, I have added a real one tonight.
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/
I had pencilled in Jon Daly for that joab…
RICHIE
I keep hoping for a miracle.
But I also want his pain to stop.
I’ll keep hoping for a miracle.
BMCUWP
Thanks and I will . And then I’ll be looking at my own even fresher scar!
Jimbo67 supporting and praying for Oscar Knox
Didn’t see John Hughes the striker play for Celtic far too young but that was a mighty fine header against Leeds.
Who the h*ll put Boyds name up for poty??
Poty I say just poty!!!
JIMBO67
Nice one,mate!
Sent me to work with a smile,thanks.
sp
HBH!! ,;<0)
For anyone who attended cqn10 and watched the irish dancersl
one of the girls came in18th in world championship of irish dancers.
only uk girl and you bhoys and ghirls saw her at cq10…
BMCUW
Visitors due the mo at around 1400. Will have ma fone with me if you want a blether. I’m sure you will. :-)))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
KC is a stick on for the players award. The voting took place some time ago when KC was going through a particularly purple patch.
As regards Boyd, I agree with all those who are saying he seems to be a thoroughly decent bloke and comes across we’ll on the media. But one of the top four players in the league this season??
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS ………Praying for our WEE HERO! 23:03 on 17 April, 2014
We all do stupid things when we are drunk, but Father Dougal does this stuff when he is sober.
he is my favourite Zombie.
I remember BBC Radio One were doing a round Britain visit to every football stadium and the Celtic celebrity waiting at Celtic Park was Paulo Nutini.
They went to Ibrokes and the best they could muster was……….. Broxi Bear.
A sign it was – I tell you CSC
p.s. Caustic Love now on my iPhone
BMCUW
Sooooooo looking forward to ma visitors. When are you gonnie make it??? :-))))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
She isnae a relation, honest.8)
Wee fra looking forward to our wee visit tomorrow. ?
BT
Yeeeeeeees. :-))
Weefra HH supporting and praying for Wee Oscar.
Bsr
surely marty pellow was wishing he was lucky?
bournesouprecipe 23:19 on 17 April, 2014
To be fair, Mr Abie was in panto at the time.
Doc
Alex Gordon worked at Daily Record and then the Sunday Mail as sports editor. I can tell you that most or all the Lions trust him completely and so did so many other Celtic players going right up to the time of Paul McStay.
Alex left the Sunday Mail twenty years ago and as sports editor he basically used threats to the *hit of an editor who wanted to run a Celtic story – you know the one, with the hearse outside Celtic Park to signify the death of our club. The weekend after he left the *rick ran the story. No doubt egged on by the club who were loving our misfortune.
You will recall what he was saying today about the succulent lamb and the foolishness of the journalists involved – seduced by Dodgy Dave.
The MSM in the last 20 years or so has got worse in their anti Celtic agenda. They weren’t always so bad and Alex always fought the Celtic cause in his career. He is very much one of us. He too got a great thrill being part of CQN today…
WC
sorry to have missed john hughes today, I’m sure he is looking forward to his trip to lisbon with the lions.
BT
Marty must have bee indisposed ;-)
Mind he had the cheek to be at a Celtic game as some kind of guest during the Hampden flit, – his welcome was less than rapturous, with puzzled Tims looking at each other when they announced him.
Maybe I dreamt it CSC :-)
blantyretim
Yes he is, as is Willie. The club are flying him over from Australia to attend which is a nice touch.
Steinreigned
I remember I laughed out loud, and it was well before LOL.
p.s. Was Mr Abie the rear of the horse?
BT
I believe 1 of those young dancers got 3 rd in the World Championships last year, my Ghirls and wife know her well, she is from Falkirk, and were talking to her on the night ( my oldest daughter used to do the dancing and competed in the worlds a few years back in Boston)
Praying for wee Oscar – keep fighting wee man, your light will be burning brightly on Easter Sunday at Lourdes grotto
Winning Captains, Alex insight into the succulent limbers was interesting, much of what Alex said was.
The MSM was more balanced then, it wasn’t even, but with the likes of Alex looking for balance it was a hell of a lot closer then than now.
As he mentioned the circulation figures have gone south since he departed.
Cowiebhoy
your daughter is a star and you should be rightly proud of her, god bless..
Big Yogi played with St Pats who were a cracking at that time.
Old hislop on b2 is only adding to my yes vote..
glorious revolution my ass..
bournesouprecipe
23.19
BroxiBear’s grand-cubs will be Celtic fans.