Wednesday, May 23, 2007

The Lotw Diary- Lisboa, Seville and Hampden.

This week will be a time when we wallow in what us Celtic fans love. Nostalgia, history and myth. It’s a week when we will look back at the greatest EVER Celtic team and we will remember them as if they were still pulling on the Hoops.

The Leoes de Lisboa shaped the Celtic Football Club we know today. That team and Jock Stein made the Hoops world famous. Right, we had won one off competitions before that really we shouldn’t have won and oor Irish lineage would always mean that we would have supporters all over the world but on the 25th May 1967, bhoys became men in the eyes of the fitba world.

As soon as all Hoop fans were auld enough in ma generation yer faithers would tell you aboot the Lions. It’s almost as if you need to know the story of these guys to get a grasp on how special the club is. The lions are the starting point of oor modern day history. You start in 1967 then you got back and get told aboot Wullie Maley and the foundations of the club.

It’s a great place to start. A team from Glesga becoming the 1st team to bring home the big cup when all of Britain, well England, wanted it to be Man Utd. In that game a young side, only 2 were over 30, had 39 shots at goal. They were gallus. They had flair. They had spirit. They had the “Celtic Way”

So Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeil, Clark, Jinky, Wallace, Chalmers, Auld and Lennox we salute you and RIP the dearly departed.

Now talking aboot ma generation, mid seventies onwards, we realised early doors that wie the changing financial climate that Celtic ever reaching another European Final would be a long shot. May 20th 2003 UEFA cup final Paul Lambert lead the Hoops oot in the searing heat to face an up and coming Porto team.

It was something I never thought I would see. It was something the Celtic family thought they would never see again judging by the amount of fans that turned up in that beautiful city. I laughed this morning when Mike Parry was talking aboot the biggest movement of people since the 2nd world war due to an estimated 40,000 Liverpool fans going to Athens. Nice, for Mr Brazil to point Seville oot to him.

The run to that final I often imaging to being like what it must have felt in 1967. The tension, excitement and general disbelief that us, the selliclk, were conquering Europe. In that run to Seville I imaging the emotions I felt when Henrick scored in Boavista then realised there was 10 mins to go to be the same as listening or watching the game from Prague when a draw would see the hoops through and they were getting battered.

I also imaging when we equalised for the 2nd time in Seville it must have felt like that in Lisboa when Tommy Gemmell equalised. That’s the over-riding emotion that I remember from that game is after the delirium of the 1st goal, I ended up on the deck under a pile of bodies, the second one was meet by, great celebrations don’t get me wrong, but muted compared to the 1st.

The reason being, we believed that Henrick’s second was only prelude to the main event. The Pearl and Dean adverts before the main feature. We believed we were going to win. Right, I haven’t watched the game since the real time events in the stadium. The road to Seville DVD gets switched off before the final.

But I believe that we had with stood all Porto and threw at us and they were a spent force. They’re tactics after that goal changed to the cheating, play acting bassa’s we just like the lions had a spirit that oor better opponents just couldnae handle.

We all know what happened. The final whistle went and I have never felt more complete as a Celtic fan. “We love you Celtic” rang oot from the stadium drowning oot the Porto fans.

We lost the battle but we conquered Europe again.

This week ends with us competing in a competition that we hold dear and also a competition that we usually causes drama, excitement, sometimes heartbreak, joy and it plays a massive part in the Celtic folklore.

Ma 1st memory of Hampden was the 1985 final. The turnstiles had been renewed at the Celtic end and had broken-down. The polis, in traditional Glesga wisdom decided to open the gates, for short periods of time then close them; letting a stream of people in. it was bedlam. I was crushed against a wall, FaitherG was screaming at the polis to let us in.

Next thing I knew, I was howked of ma feet by a big polisman, glad to say the only time I have been lifted by the polis, the crowd parted like the Red Sea and I was in the ground. At the top of the stairs, faither turned round and said, “You still got ma fags?” as he gave me them for safe keeping in the crush!!

No, thought for ma wellbeing the bassa!!!

Anyway, ma first Hampden experience lived up to what I had been told aboot the hoops in the Scottish Cup. Goal doon and two late goals to win it. From ma view point, planked on a cross barrier, I remember Provan’s free kick being awarded and faither grabbing me saying he scored from this position last week. I remember the bear epitomising what the bear was aboot charging doon the wing and crossing in for the winner.

Ma love affair wie Hampden in May had begun and it has never waned.

Now, for me to complete a double, the double, is special. For any player to be a member of a double wining team is a badge of honour. No matter what has happened to oor form recently there is surely enough Celtic minded Bhoys in the dressing room that have memories of famous Cup victories from their childhoods.

Enough for them to know that if they win a place in the history of the club is ensured. This week, wie all the lion’s things going on, the privilege for them to be playing in the Hoops should hit home. Even some of the foreigner chappies will know. Read that JVOH knows his history very well.

Looking back, if we complete the double and coupled wie that the qualification for the last 16 of the Champs League then in years to come oor grand weans will wonder what we were moaning aboot. But the fact is we willnae moan.

We will tell them aboot Naka’s goal against Man U and Killie, aboot the team finding that Celtic spirit and keeping the potential European champions at bay for 180 mins wie a young side wie a core of Celtic minded men. We will celebrate the guid and forget the numerous bad. But that is years doon the line and that is if only we complete the double.

This week, wie the celebrations celebrating the birth of Celtic, as we know it I have had a premonition. Aiden McGeady will score and inspire the hoops to a cup victory. Why do I think this? Well it just seems right in this special week.

Forza The Hoops

37 Comments:

Blogger sixtaeseven said...

Good thread!
My first SC final ties in nicely with the Lions as it was in 67 v Aberdeen.

Celtic were just back from Prague where a 0-0 was more than enough to see them qualified for the final in Lisbon. I had been at the first leg which Celtic had won 3-1 and evrybody was coming away from the game thinking 'Is it enough, is it enough?'. More than enough as it turned out :o)

So two Willie Wallace goals were enough to see off the Dons that day. Don't remember the lineup but it must have been as near as dammit the 11 Lions (no subs in those days either).

Don't remember what the crowd was but probably twice of what we'll see at the weekend.

Funny you mention Seville, cos long before Seville was what I kinda think of as the 'forgotten' final in Milan in 70.

As you say looking back, the old selective memory comes into play and we prefer to celebrate the guid and forget the numerous bad. The games against Racing, also in 67, are filed under 'forgotten', even although big Billy's header at Hampden in the first game is a cherised memory. And we tend to remember the Leeds semi-finals rather than Feyenoord.

So on to Hampden - who's going to be the hero?
AMcG is a good shout.
The last time I was at a final at Hampden, it was a guy called FMcG...

May 23, 2007 2:35 PM  
Blogger Keving said...

Six

You are quite right. In 1970 the Leeds game is remembered not the final.

I was told today that the Lions only played together 11 times and were unbeaten? Also one was sold just after winning the European cup.

Any light on this?

May 23, 2007 2:57 PM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

I think that Gemmell was sold in late 1969 but Simpson had already retired by then. Clark and Chalmers were being phased out by 1970 and eventually Wallace and Hughes went down South. Craig left after the 1972 cup final and Auld who had left a year earlier played as a sub for Hibs in that game. Johnstone and Murdoch lasted until 1974/5 and McNeill retired after the cup final in 1975. Hay, Connelly, Macari, McGrain and Dalglish kept the pot boiling as the Lions got older. Signings such as Callaghan, Hood, Deans and Murray helped on the way to nine in a row.
Celtic rarely failed to entertain in these years.
As for this final, it`s the Pars who are making the news with a dispute over the players` bonuses.

May 23, 2007 3:42 PM  
Blogger sixtaeseven said...

Not sure about the "11 times" but it doesn't seem very many. But they were going through a lot of games, and with no subs, there must have been a lots of aches and pains. Don't remember the pool of first team players being that big in those days but I could be wrong. And of course there were internationals to contend with (Wembly67 anybody?).

"As for this final,... dispute over the players` bonuses."
That was one of the things that led to our downfall in Milan70.

Talking about Milan, I think that's who I want to win tonight but only because I think Liverpool have enough CL wins plus I think they always seem to take a "crafty" route: other teams are competing for their championships and are stretching their squads at home & in Europe but they "just" concentrate on big ears.

May 23, 2007 4:32 PM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

I remember the Liverpool team playing and losing against Borussia Dortmund in 1966 in the ECWC final. Since then they have developed the knack of winning European finals. They have a remarkable record!
Hopefully we`ll get an enjoyable game. With Celtic in a final I will not wish any ill will on either team.

May 23, 2007 4:40 PM  
Blogger Keving said...

Got a story aboot big Gemmell. If i see him at the weekend i will ask him.

You see oor bus is the Tommy Gemmell Dunblane CSC and Tommy is always in the pub before we leave etc.

Anyway, when we beat r*ngers 2-1 at the begining of the season he was in the boozer after it and we were having a blether aboot the game.

i said that i thought we played not great and that r*ngers look not too shabby.

Tommy gave me a look that he has bound to have gave countless wingers during the years. i was scared he then said "Son, they offered nuthin, rest assured the celtic players widnae have needed a bath after that"

Magic.....

May 23, 2007 4:41 PM  
Blogger Keving said...

Six

Big Ceaser was on Radio Tuecther last night talking aboot Lisbon and Milan. He said he reckoned that the players thought job done after beating leeds.

Will have to disagree about tonight and yer reasons not wanting liverpool to win.

If you look at it AC weren't even in the competition until a week before it started...remember they were banned.

In 80's i admired the liverpool team, much the same way i admire the current Arsenal team. Except the pool team of that era was full of Scots.

So i have a soft spot for them and they gave me a great night in the kop in 2003. But i had a guid time in Milan this year....

so i hope fitbaw wins....

May 23, 2007 4:54 PM  
Blogger sixtaeseven said...

Hey Ian, do you mean the ECWC final that WE should have been in afet we wuz robbed at Anfield ;0)

Talking about Liverpool I used to travel down to Anfield just to watch King Kenny play. I was detroyed when he left Celtic.
Even then we couldn't compete with the English monies.

I liked Liverpool and I suppose it had a lot to do with the number of great Scots that used to play for them but I just don't like teams winning it too often, well when they're English anyway. Fives plenty for them :o)

And you're right about Milan (cheats, etc) but they DO have Kaka.

May 23, 2007 5:21 PM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

More tickets?
On line from the Celtic ticket office. See official site.
Another mad dash! :-)

May 23, 2007 6:45 PM  
Blogger sixtaeseven said...

Ach, well, we'll see Liverpool in the CL again next season - they were only 21 points behind the EPL winners.

Hope to see better than that on Saturday.
G'nite all.

May 23, 2007 10:17 PM  
Blogger Keving said...

Well, that's Milan won 7. I think that is too much. Them and Madird should now be banned from entering.

All teams that have only won it once now get a by to the semi final where they must play against 10 men.....

"We got beat of the winners, beat of the winners" Badge of honour?

LFC had most of the baw but like us against Milan failed to create. Their wide players were woeful. Alonso and Mascaranho were immense bossed the midfield. No suprise when the wee argie went off Kaka got freedom.

Rafa will look back and wonder why Kewell and not bellars....

May 24, 2007 8:57 AM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

Athens was to me a pretty rubbish place to have to travel to for a final. It`s too far away, the pollution is terrible and the airport is a disaster.
This from a person who was there 20 years ago! :-)(perhaps all three reasons are not valid now)
Was there a pilgrimage to the part of pavement that Paula sat down on?
The Liverpool players and manager were superb in defeat, were you watching Chelsea and Man U?
Come on the Celts! (If the Pars win it`ll be because they deserve to.)
Championees!

May 24, 2007 9:29 AM  
Blogger sixtaeseven said...

Sun glasees - check
Sun cream - check
Swimming gear - check

That's me ready for sunny Ecosse!

Don't know if I will have web access this WE.
If not enjoy the game and have a great WE !!!

May 24, 2007 9:46 AM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

You have a great weekend too Sixtae!
Maybe pack an umbrella and some gloves?

May 24, 2007 10:02 AM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

and a scarf?

May 24, 2007 10:04 AM  
Blogger Keving said...

Six

Enjoy the WE look oot for the Tommy Gemmell banner- i will be close by in a early 90's away top:-)

Oh ye forgot yer coat from the check list.....

Ian- heard this morning a lot of fans complaining that the station was to far away from the ground.

May 24, 2007 10:05 AM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

UEFA have said that Liverpool fans were to blame for the chaos where people with genuine tickets were refused entry and that the Greek police bent over backwards not to use violence. They also said that there were no problems with the Milan fans. (What do you expect from a country where some people still openly praise Mussolini?):-)
Italia amo bene!
Not just a coat, a duffle coat!

May 24, 2007 10:51 AM  
Blogger Keving said...

Radio 1 have said this morning that an estimated 70,000 Liverpool fans were in Athens.

Still 120,000 short of oor figure in Seville!!!! Sorry.

Anyway, of course if the fake tickets were cheap enough fans would buy them and attempt to get in wie them.

I would have thought in this day and age that barcode readers should be installed in every stadium that has any chance of hosting a final.

Reduces the chances of people trying to get in wie fakes or even buying them.

Hope Danielle was lucky last night and got in. No suprise that the Athens polis said that aboot the Milan fans.

The people and fans in Milan were very nice to us even though some were doing their best to be like the tartan army....

A wee half day today, need to pick up ma tickets from CP.

May 24, 2007 12:01 PM  
Blogger Keving said...

Read this morning that Magic is fit and competing wie KM and Deek to partner JVOH. Funny thing is a read it and I think if he comes back in it’s a big risk. The man husnae kicked a baw in anger for months. Decent pre-season is what he needs not an energy could be confidence sapping run oot in a Cup Final.

Saw the team leaving yesterday for their post match retreat. Barney, Sno, Kennedy, O’Dea all sulked onto the bus knowing that the 2 places up for grab on the bench could be beyond them.

How hard is that?

May 25, 2007 8:48 AM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

With only 5 places on the bench it will mean disappointment. So long as some of the 16 players can play the role of protagonist and make things happen on the field. Of course one protagonist may be enough! JVoH?
I had a look at the Celtic website and they were reporting a record sales launch for the new outfit. Some keen people (sheep?)were queueing for the midnight opening in some stores.
Amazing! I was thinking of getting one of the tee shirts but what`s the point? The fella I loaned my teamcard to for the Dons game has yet to return it! No teamcard no points! :-)
Come on the Celts!

May 25, 2007 11:40 AM  
Blogger Keving said...

Ian- unsure of this but i'm sure only 3 are allowed on the bench. Now don't quote me on that....

I will purchase the top...but it can wait to next week....and no i will not put it on ma teamcard...

I was talking to a guy who works in the Stirling shop last night he was saying that they expect to shift £8000 worth of tops today...

May 25, 2007 12:01 PM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

I think that it`s 5 on the bench and up to 3 can be used. At least you have a teamcard! When am I getting this back? :-(
COTC!
This is the 40th anniversary of the win in Lisbon and while I acknowledge that it as a wonderful achievement I hearby declare that the win shouldn`t be mentioned again until it appears in small print in the Celtic View in 2017.
Come on the present day Celts!

May 25, 2007 1:15 PM  
Blogger Keving said...

Right, I must admit when I heard that the club were making a big deal oot of the 40th anniversary i thought we were milking it. Thought the top and such was naff. a cash fleece etc. I really felt that we were beginning to go doon the England 66 route. But instead of it being an albatross like 66, I know realise 67 is a lot more. It disnny weigh oor club doon like 66 does to a nation, it makes us chest oot proud. It makes oor club what it is.

It’s a moment to celebrate.

Reading all the stuff over the last few weeks, i have realised that the Lions just didnae change the Hoops forever they changed European fitba as we know it. Made people realise that teams ootside Italy and Spain could win the big cup. Gave the English, Dutch Germans etc hope. Big Jock, maybe more won more but none done it like him.

Every paper today has an article aboot it, English papers included. I have just spent ma lunch hour reading them all.

To quote a famous Scot who uttered, “John, you’re immortal” I would change it to “Simpson, Gemmell, McNeill, Craig, Johnstone, Murdoch, Auld, Lennox, Wallace and Chalmers, you’re all immortal”

But lets not forget Charlie Gallagher, Willie O’Neill, Joe McBride, John Hughes and John Fallon. They weren’t on the pitch but they played their part.

Now, I’m going to the Celtic shop to buy a top I thought was naff…..

May 25, 2007 1:16 PM  
Blogger Keving said...

Doh...missed John Clark from the team of immortals....

memo to meself don't post when boss is in the room....

May 25, 2007 2:31 PM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

I agree Kevin but I`m drawing a line under it starting tomorrow. It`s my line, I`ve got the programme, the videos, the books and the memory.
I`m moving on, after I get this tee shirt, perhaps maybees. :-)
COTC

May 25, 2007 2:37 PM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

Daniele made it to Athens. See under Atene 23/05/07 in
www.letthepeoplesing.splinder.com
the 3 films are good and the photos quite intersting. Going abroad to a Euro final has it`s quiet moments too.
Hail ! Hail! The Lisbon Lions!:-)
COTC

May 25, 2007 3:34 PM  
Blogger Keving said...

Ian

The photos are very interesting.

Suppose we could go "I'm not Scottish i'm Celtic"

Anyway ma tickets are for the south stand upper tomorrow next to the corner flag i think.

May 25, 2007 4:01 PM  
Blogger Keving said...

That should be above the corner flag.

Correct the line is drawing tomorrow, at least we huvnae spent the dat fretting over whether KM will play....

Tomorrow is hopefully the day team 2 signs of wie a victory....

May 25, 2007 4:05 PM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

I think I`m close to that, Area K passageway 63. Anyway, enjoy the game. The last of a long season!
Cup finals are always big games although the last one, two years ago was played in a mood of depression. Surely this one will be a better day with the same result, a win for the Celts! :-)

May 25, 2007 5:22 PM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

Up for the cup, come on the Bhoys!

May 26, 2007 9:51 AM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

Phew!
Well done Bhoys! :-)

May 26, 2007 7:02 PM  
Blogger sixtaeseven said...

Was glad to see JoeDoumbe start the game and he provided the wee spark at the end to make the difference.

Credit to the Pars and their manager, they were up for the game but, at the end of the day, Artur was never troubled.

Unfortunately, Aiden wasn't getting much right today (good work to put the cross in for KM though) but not many were.

Strachan is a brave man to have subbed Lennon in that game - I would like to know the full story behind that one. But I supose that Beattie and Caldwell gave us a wee bit more of a direct approach which eventually led to the goal.
I hate to think of the reaction if we had lost though, after taking NL off...

The cup is ours again, after a performance that leaves much room for improvement for next season.
But never one to complain (aye right!) I congratuate and thank the Bhoys for the double.

The type & style of fitba we all crave for next season will no doubt be discussed at length on this blog, so look forward to heving a virtual chinwag with you all very soon.

PS
Saw the TG Dunblane banner on proud display (I was in South Stand Lower Area I).
I gave a wee wave but I don't think you saw me - ha ha ha
:o)

May 27, 2007 12:56 AM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

I noticed that Naka took on more after Lenny went off and the passing of the team improved. in the end I think that Celtic were worthy winners.
Referee? So predictable! Allow the opposition to rough up Celtic and book the first Celt who put in a foul tackle. Can read you like a book ref. Who can call our(?) referees inconsistent?
I`m glad that the season is finished. Beating Dumfermline has been rewarding though. The 2-1 win against Dunfermline on 3rd March was the game that won the league by passing 72 points.
Double winners 2006-7! :-)

May 27, 2007 10:59 AM  
Blogger Keving said...

Morning Lads

Double winners 2006/07. Say's it all, really.

Worthy winners...too right.

More latter, will reply to all comments regarding the game

Oh yes six...i was the one wie the lime green away top on holding the banner....

May 28, 2007 8:35 AM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

Good morning!
We are happy with the double but an on form Celtic team would have beaten that Pars team by at least 3-0. So many players have lost form or confidence. Where they had the edge was fitness however, the last twenty minutes were a monopoly of possession.
It`s up to the manager to invigorate the team in time for the start of the league. I think that the last pre season didn`t help and the board have to stand up to criticism for that. In another unpublished letter :-) I warned the Celtic View at the start of season 2004-5 about the dangers of extensive pre season tours. That held good for this season! Players like McGeady were played out! (Kenny Dalglish showed burn out in the first 3 years of his Celtic career and after carrying the team for 6 months was carried through the last two months.)
What I`m saying is, this shouldn`t happen every two years!
There were quiet spells even during this game but the league highlight ended up being the first match against Kilmarnock. Another season like this one and the will to live will disappear rapidly and the crowds will dwindle. the current ad campaign to get people to renew, Moment #56 Surrender at Falkirk, Moment #81 testimonial fitba at I*rox can really get you thinking too much. :-)
Okay, we got away with it this season but people are being scunnered/tested and change is needed. We don`t deserve it but we still need it.
Come on the Bhoys!
Hail! Hail! the Double winners!

May 28, 2007 9:33 AM  
Blogger Keving said...

Ian

Think oor pre-season program for the new season is a direct result of the loss of form we have seen.

We won the game by being fitter and better than Dunfermline. Make no mistake.

We need invigorated, correct.

Nice to see you casting off yer shackles Ian, yer the most positive one on here and now yer having a rant.

Touche

May 28, 2007 12:41 PM  
Blogger ianinjesi said...

I can relax now Kevin, now that it`s the end of the season. I was dreading the possibility of extra time and may have celebrated that in equal measure to winning the cup. I felt the tension drain away from me.
The players are only human and that should be remembered when planning pre season which has to prepare the team for the CL qualifier, the start of the SPL and give the players a level of fitness that`ll stand them in good stead.
How do those Spanish players do it? Sevilla, two UEFA cups, challenging with the big two for the league and in their own cup final on June 23rd. Must be the sunshine! :-)
Roll on the hols!

May 28, 2007 12:56 PM  

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