James Forrest - The Lennoxtown Academy Alumnus

 With the opening fixture of our league campaign under a week away, the match against Wolves at the Aviva stadium served as a good exercise in building momentum towards our challenge of retaining the Scottish title.  There was more than enough action in defence and in attack for us to over analyse, yeah we could be more clinical with the opportunities we carve out, or more switched on in defence, but the match in Dublin has to be seen as more minutes in the players legs and a day out for Celtic fans.

Before Brendan Rodgers and the squad turn their full attention to competitive football, Celtic have one more match to negotiate before the championship flag is unfurled against Ross County.    Athletic Club Bilbao will make the journey from the Basque Country to Glasgow's east end to formally close our pre-season activities as well as help our long serving winger James Forrest celebrate his testimonial.

It is fitting that the club who established “The One Club Award", which recognises  loyalty, commitment, responsibility, sportsmanship and respect.  All values the Basque giants hold dear, were chosen for this occasion.   Athletic themselves celebrated our greatest ever captain back in 2019 when Billy McNeill was added to their list of One Club Award winners at a ceremony held at half-time in front of a sell out San Mamés stadium.   For this gesture alone the team and fans making the journey to Glasgow are sure to receive a warm welcome on Tuesday night from the Celtic support.

Since making his debut for the first team on the 1st May 2010, James Forrest has become one of the most decorated players in our clubs history.  With over 460 appearances, over 100 goals and many, many more assists, Forrest has embraced the challenge of what is expected as a winger in the green & white hoops.  Signed from our youth team in 2009, Forrest is another fine example of our player development from young talent, to first team and international recognition.

Forrest's greatest run of form coincided with Celtics stranglehold of Scottish football between 2016-17 and 2019-20, when we secured an unprecedented Quadruple Treble.   James was pivotal in the explosive forward play under the direction of Brendan Rodgers and then from 2019 with the transition to Neil Lennon.

In an excerpt used from the official Celtic Treble Treble book, I wrote;

An Academy Graduate comes of age.

When Celtic made the trip to Perth to play St Johnstone in October 2018, the team & one player in particular put on a show for the faithful followers in the stands.   An incredible performance had Celtic 5 goals ahead before half time. Odsonne Edouard, & Callum McGregor both hit the net as we ran out 6-0 winners, but it was Academy Graduate James Forrest who stole the show, with 4 goals in a devastating 30 minute spell in the first half.

James Forrest's performance that day & his ability to be in the right place, at the right time, in big matches throughout the season, helped him secure Player of the year awards from fellow players & writers. A magnificent way to celebrate the continued youth development from the Celtic academy during our Treble Treble victory.

Whether it was that performance, his last Minute winner against Shakhtar Karagandy, the countless important goals at Hampden or his strike in the 5-0 drubbing of our city rivals to clinch the title, Forrest has been a mainstay of a dominant Celtic team, building for further success.

The match will be a great opportunity to welcome back our champions, but it will also be special to celebrate a man who has helped deliver so much success at Celtic Park.

Celtic Park Stadium Tour. The History and Emotion

The close season gives fans a chance to recharge batteries and reflect on the season just ended.  For Celtic fans we have a few more news stories to digest over the summer, with Brendan Rodgers returning  as manager and the club cashing in on one of our most dynamic players, selling Jota to the ever expanding Saudi Pro League.

Even with all that going on, the need to get a fix of Celtic in any way whatsoever is still foremost in many fans minds.   If you’re one of the fortunate ones to be travelling to Japan or Dublin for the pre-season friendlies I am sure the occasions will be etched in your memory forever.   For those staying a lot closer to Paradise, that fix might be taking in the tour at Celtic Park.   For me, the tour has become an annual summer event ever since I started going to the matches with my children in 2011.  This summer is no different.

A lot has changed on the Celtic Stadium tour recently, and to be honest it's for the better.   The new sports lounge nestled in the south west corner provides a welcome that is fitting with a club our size, and one that continues to entertain visitors from around the world.  The lounge gives visitors an opportunity to shelter from the summer rain in Glasgow, enjoy snacks and refreshments before and after the tour, as well as taking in the memorabilia from matches through pictures and pennants from our global travels over the years.

The tour itself is a just a magnificent and at times emotional walk through the historic achievements of one of the worlds most decorated football teams.  The collection of silverware and medals each with their own story is enough to give you goose bumps.   From humble beginnings in small parish hall less than ten minutes walk from the stadium, to European champions and our most recent world record 8th domestic treble, our guide Stephen provided the commentary as we followed in the footsteps of the giants of our club.  From Walfrid, Maley and McGrory to Stein, McNeill, McStay Larsson and Kyogo  - it really is something special.

From the trophies of the boardroom, to the Lisbon lions and then the home dressing room, Stephen not only gave the historical context of our achievements, he added in his own personal experiences of following Celtic from a young age; for me the very fabric of what makes Celtic fans, those stories behind the matches and the memories.

The walk down the famous Celtic Park tunnel opens up to the wide expanse of our impressive 60,000+ seated stadium.  The modern theatre is testimony to the fans who invested heavily when Fergus McCann arrived in 1994 and steered the team and club into the 21st century and our modern day dominance of Scottish football.

From the dugouts you get a pitch side view of one of the most lauded stadiums in world football, but can only imagine the crescendo that would spur the players on every matchday.  The tour then wraps up in the directors box before heading back through the main stand to the sports lounge where you have the opportunity to relax and reflect on the tour.

No matter how many times I do the tour, it will always pull on my heartstrings having the opportunity to listen and see the story of Celtic.

A year in the life of this Celtic fan 1997 - 98

As the 1996/97 season drew to a close Celtic started to fall out the race for the Scottish title.   The reality of our city rivals equalling our 9 in a row record had just about been confirmed.  A small glimmer of hope remained that some silverware could be salvaged through the Scottish Cup.  A semi-final replay against Falkirk at Ibrox stadium on Wednesday 23rd April 1997 would represent our last chance to maybe secure a token of success for the season.

On a night when the weather conditions were awful Celtic lost 1-0 to Falkirk which pretty much ended our season.   I sat near the front of the Govan Road stand at Ibrox with my future wife Linda that night and  we were both soaked through in the incessant rain.  When I got home I went to sleep hoping to waken up from a bad dream. 

I became un-well overnight with flu like symptoms and I deteriorated over the next few days.   I was admitted to Glasgow Royal infirmary on Saturday 26th April with a suspected stroke, but after multiple tests, scans and examinations the doctors discovered that I had contracted Bacterial Endocarditis which was stopping my heart from functioning properly.  Broken hearted if you like.

For the next 2 weeks, I would drift in and out of consciousness and was given intravenous antibiotics, but it became clear that the drugs were not going to be enough to help me fight the infection. My consultants visited me around the 6th May to confirm that I would need emergency life saving surgery.

On the 9th May 1997 I made my way to theatre for open-heart surgery, undergoing a pulmonary valve replacement.  I spent the vast majority of the day in surgery as the surgeons tried to repair the damage done to my heart.  The following day my condition worsened and I went into cardiac arrest, I would need to go through further emergency surgery that day to save my life.   My family and my girlfriend Linda were given the news that the next few hours would be crucial.

I would spend another 10 days in intensive care as my condition slowly improved.   I was moved back to a ward in the hospital 2 weeks after surgery and began my post operation rehab, it was then that I found out Rangers had equalled our 9-in-a-row record and that our coach Tommy Burns had been sacked as Celtic manager.

I was discharged from hospital in early June to continue with my recovery; thankfully I had a big family and supportive girlfriend to see me through those early months. 

On the 3rd July the Scottish sports writers started to make some noise on the radio suggesting a new manager was on his way to Celtic Park, I took a trip to the stadium with my brother Benny to see Wim Jansen unveiled as the new boss.  To be honest, I hadn’t heard of him as a player or a manager.

Plenty of players came & went over the course of the next few months, Paolo Di Canio left for Sheffield Wednesday, we made some new signings like Craig Burley and Darren Jackson.   However, it was the arrival of a forward from Wim Jansens former club Feyenoord that helped spark the team. 

A slow start to our league campaign meant we would have play catch up on our rivals..  A battle of Britain UEFA cup-tie against Liverpool seemed to lift the players and the club but it wasn’t enough as we lost the tie on away goals.  

A last minute header from Alan Stubs secured a draw at home against Rangers, a result that would prove incredibly valuable at the end of season.  November ended with a League Cup Final visit to Ibrox, the scene of our defeat to Falkirk earlier in the year & where my serious illness seamed to start.

My brother George managed to secure me a ticket for the match and I watched on as Celtic beat Dundee Utd 3-0 to win the League Cup for the 1st time in 15 years.   The euphoria of winning that day reverberated around the Ibrox stands; a trophy that had been out of our grasp for so long was coming back to Celtic Park, but our main aim must be to stop Rangers reaching 10-in-a-row.

Every match had the feeling of a must win game, none more so than the traditional new year derby with our city rivals.  My brother-in-law gave me his ticket for the match that day.   Celtic controlled the match from start to finish and we were rewarded with a fine two nil victory, both goals superb and both coming from new players signed by Jansen.   Celtic had won their first new-years day derby since 1988 & were back in the race for the title.

As the league season came to an end, the pressure on both teams was beginning to tell.  On the 2nd last weekend of the season Rangers lost to Kilmarnock at Ibrox, a result that gave Celtic the chance to win the title with a win the following day against Dunfermline.  The tension got to the players and we could only earn a draw loosing a goal in the last few minutes to finish the match 1-1.  The League title would be decided one week later on Saturday 9th May – the 1st anniversary of my life saving heart operation.

I didn’t have a ticket for the match against St Johnstone and in the age before wall-to-wall TV coverage, my dad and I were left listening to the radio for updates.   All Celtic had to do was to win the match at home and we would be Scottish champions for the first time in 10 years.

Within the first 3 minutes of the radio commentary we were celebrating the news of a goal for Celtic through Henrik Larsson.  However nerves on the pitch meant that Celtic struggled to add that 2nd goal that would give us some breathing space.

News came through from Tannadice that Rangers were winning against Dundee Utd.   If Celtic slipped up the league would be lost to our biggest rivals.

I’d had enough and couldn’t listen anymore, so went to my room and hoped for the best, I was switching the radio on and off checking for the score and turned on the radio just in time to hear the commentator describe Harald Brattbakk scoring the 2nd goal for Celtic securing our first championship in 10 years.

I went downstairs to see my dad crying with delight and we cheered and sang our way through the final 20 minutes of the match.   When the final whistle blew a huge cheer was heard across the east end of Glasgow as Celtic fans celebrated winning the Scottish title.

The 9th May will be etched in my memory forever.  In the space of a year my damaged heart had been repaired thanks to the commitment of NHS staff and my broken heart had been mended with the delivery of an unexpected title victory thanks to the management of Wim Jansen.

I may not have known much about Wim Jamsen prior to his arrival at Celtic, but by the time he left the club in 1998 I knew he had joined a long list of Celtic legends, to go along with his already legendary status the earned as a player and manager with Feyenoord.

Celtic 2 Lazio 1. Memories of football under the floodlights

A year ago I endured & enjoyed a pulsating night of football in a stadium filled with passion and everything that makes football a magical spectacle across the world.   Celtic 2 Lazio 1 at Celtic Park.

That magical feeling of a big European win under the lights returned with interest in a pulsating 90+ minutes of action at Celtic Park.  

There was just an extra edge to this match long before a ball was kicked. They say football and politics should not mix, but the vast differences in cultural and social beliefs of both sets of fans ensured the atmosphere stayed electric all night while the gladiators fought for three points on the field.

Celtic could not capitalise on a strong first-half performance, often failing at the final phase of attack. In typical Euro style we fell behind to a sucker-punch counter-attack goal and fine finish from Lazzari. 1-0 down at half-time, the question was could we rise again?

The match swung from end to end as Celtic looked to get back on level terms and Lazio tried to net a second. Fraser Forster saved at close range and the post came to our rescue in a breathless second-half.

When the equaliser came it was fitting – two of our stand-out performers of the season combined as Edouard slipped the ball to Christie to fire over the keeper into the net.

With time running out and the prospect of a draw growing, the star man of the night delivered the wining goal to set the stadium rocking in wild celebration. Christie swung in a corner which was met perfectly by the head of the formidable figure of Christopher Jullien.

The drama continued for five more minutes in injury time, but by that point, I’m not going to lie, I was watching reactions on people’s faces instead of the action on the pitch. That to me is the beauty of football – you love the team but sometimes you just can’t watch.

In that moment when I was watching my feet, I heard that millisecond of silence as 60,000 people took a sharp intake of breath and then let out a cheer followed up by cries of “WHAT A SAVE”. The great wall had returned to ensure our night of celebration was not left in ruin.

An incredible night at Celtic Park capped off with a fantastic win.

The McCann Takeover - 25 years on

Six years on from our memorable Centenary celebrations Celtic found themselves in a footballing wilderness.  The families that had been associated  with Celtic since their inception still continued to control the destiny of the club.   The difficulty our custodians faced was a modern version of the game we love was in full bloom.    European club football had been revamped which had introduced the riches of Champions League football & Celtic weren't invited, worse than that we also had watch on as our city rivals spent big money on big names on their way to five league titles in a row.

March 1994 saw the culmination of a long grass roots battle to wrestle ownership of the club away from a family dynasty.  Celts for Change, Gerald Weisfeld, Stadiums in Cambuslang & a certain Canadian business man.   The story is well documented & there are some fascinating accounts out there in print format to enjoy.

“The war is over..........The rebels have won”.

Twenty five years on from those rousing words and the heated, passionate struggle for control of the boardroom at Celtic Park, fans of the club can look back with the confidence & knowledge that they took the necessary steps to breath life back into the then ageing footballing institution, but back then the club & fans would need more than rousing speeches to welcome Celtic into the new footballing world.     Investment in stadium infrastructure was a necessity after the tragic events at Hillsborough & the output of the Taylor report.    The squad & management structure also needed an overhaul, so any hope of a quick turnaround in fortunes on the pitch would need to be tempered against the stability & growth of the business.

“We have new people, a new plan, a new vision & the strength to go forward"


Success in terms of silverware in the immediate years after the takeover was scarce, performances on the pitch improved & fans returned in numbers not only to support the changes in & around the new stadium, but also on the stock exchange.    The hugely marketable brand name of Celtic was now being shared as a global trademark.

McCann stayed for his agreed 5 year stint at the club, just enough time to build a 60000 seated arena, the envy of many clubs all over Europe at the time.   He watched over an increase in turnover, profit, season ticket holders & perhaps most importantly to fans, witness our first league championship in 10 years.    Leaving the club to return  to Canada, he has delivered success to a starved fanbase & stability & structure to allow the club to continue to grow into the new millennium.

The traditional success of a Football Club is measured by fans with the results on the pitch; in the 25 years prior to the takeover at Celtic Park, Celtic had won 12 league titles, 11 Scottish Cups, 3 League Cups & appeared in a European final.

In the 25 years since the events in March 1994 our honours won are, 14 League titles, 9 Scottish Cups, 9 league cups & a European final.

A winning team has been delivered on the pitch thanks to a well oiled & disciplined business model first introduced under Fergus  McCann this allows us to maintain our place as the leading club in Scotland & in the wider reaches of the global football economy.

“....I can tell you that we have every intention of reaching the objectives that you want, which is Celtic at the very top"

I along with many other fans see Fergus McCann as the man responsible for the birth of the modern day Celtic Football Club & although the argument still exists that he left with huge profits on his original investment, he never hid that was part of his plan.    His plan allowed the bills to get paid, the lights to be kept on & ensured further generations of fans could enjoy being part of a club celebrating being 132 years young this year.

Scott Brown - The Art of Gamesmanship

Sporting greats throughout the years have made the most of this very unique talent.  It’s not taught on the training ground nor is it learned by running a drill over & over again.    Only by understanding your opponents strengths & weaknesses can this art form produce the desired effect, well that & the confidence in your own ability & the knowledge that you have the backing of your team around you are critical in using Gamesmanship to full advantage.

Not confined to football, gamesmanship plays a pivotal role in all of the biggest sporting events across the globe.   Muhammad Ali wore down opponents before they even met in the ring by getting in their heads.      Legendary cricketers Merv Hughes & Shane Warne amongst others used “sledging” to gain an advantage when on the field.   Footballers & coaches are no different in using this talent, some fail, but others like Scott Brown continue to produce a masterclass in working every advantage to deliver the results for his team.

The now legendary tale of Bertie Auld in the tunnel of the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon on the glorious night in 1967 starts our look back at winning or losing a match not on the pitch but in the minds of the protagonists.

With the Celtic & Inter Milan teams lined up in the tunnel there was a short pause before entering the arena, this could have caused nerves to grow in the Celtic team, but for Bertie Auld it was the perfect moment for him to galvanise that team spirit that had been so crucial in conquering all in front if them that season.   With both teams waiting the signal to make their entrance Bertie started to sing the Celtic Song & was soon joined by the rest of the team in the rendition.    In that moment the superstars of Inter would have witnessed the unbreakable spirit of a team united as one.    Without a ball being kicked Bertie had planted another seed in the heads of our opponents.

Jock Stein wasn’t only a master tactician, coach & manager he also had the knowhow in working his way into opponents thought processes.    In the days prior to his untimely death in 1985 Jock appeared on Grandstand along with the other home nation managers.   The discussion was on the crucial Scotland versus Wales match 3 days later.   Jock slowly & methodically smiled, nodded & spoke about how Wales had already lost some advantage by moving the match to Cardiff instead of playing it in Wrexham.    The Wales manager Mike England in his response is animated & agitated, before Jock gently reminds him it will be the players on the pitch that will settle the result.  Again in that moment the psychological seed was planted.

Even the richest league in the world is no stranger to getting one over an opponent without taking the field.    We watched Kevin Keegan buckle on T.V under the pressure of Alex Ferguson mind games, Jose Mourinho famously announced his own Chelsea team & that of opponents Barcelona in the days leading up to their Champions League match.    Mourinho was in control, took the pressure off his own team & placed it squarely on to Frank Riijkaard.

Back in Scotland many pretenders have presented their petitions to the public on how they will topple Celtic & Brown from their perch at the top of the Scottish game.    Joey Barton & Bruno Alves have come with big ambitions & words, but both have left empty handed.   All the while Scott Brown has cemented his role as tormentor in chief.   He continues to take the hits as the focal point of our opponents frustration & this let’s his fellow teammates weave their own piece of magic elsewhere in the match.

Brown does his talking on the pitch in more ways than one, what he dishes out he receives in equal & often more crude measures but he takes the hit gets up & continues with the plan.  He perfectly demonstrates the benefits of gaining a psychological edge.    The opposition fans & players might loathe him & his actions but everyone of them would have his artistry in a heartbeat so that they might dictate the physical & emotional pace of the game the way only Scott Brown can.

So here’s to gamesmanship - the art of winning games by using various ploys and tactics to gain a psychological advantage.

Stevie Chalmers - A tribute to a Celtic Hero

A little over 20 years after Celtic’s glorious night of triumph in Lisbon, I stood on the edge of a building site at the top of Kerrydale Street with my dad.     The building behind us had witnessed some iconic moments over the previous 58 years since it was originally complete & our custodians were modernising the old place  as part of the clubs wider centenary celebrations.    The rebuilding process outside the stadium was matched on the pitch as Billy McNeill constructed a team that would deliver league & cup double in the spring of 1988.

Our visit to Celtic park was not to inspect the plans of the rebuilding process, instead my dad had arranged for a special visit for me to meet the players & have a look round the stadium.     As we waited outside I could see my dad’s eyes light up as a well dressed gentleman approached us.

“Mr Donaldson” the gentleman said, my dad replied “Hello Stevie".

Stevie turned to me & said “you must be Martin, pleased to meet you.  I am Stevie Chalmers"

Walking through the corridors & rooms of the main stand we were led out the tunnel to views of the famous jungle on the opposite side of the pitch.   My dad snapped a few pictures of me sitting in the Celtic dugout & stopped for a quick chat pitch side with our host before heading back into the club trophy room & players lounge where we were joined by Neilly Mochan.

Neilly & Stevie told me all about the trophies on display, swapping stories about the Empire Exhibition Cup & the Coronation Cup.    There was also time to talk about the huge matches that both of them had played & scored in 10 years apart.    Neilly shared details of his goal in the 7-1 demolition of Rangers in the 1957 league cup final then Stevie spoke about the victory in Lisbon & his winning goal against Inter Milan that secured the European Cup for Celtic.

We moved into a room at the top of the tunnel, the floor had a huge Celtic Crest in the middle & all around the walls were the pennants of some of the clubs Celtic had played in European competition over the years.   One wall was dedicated to the Lisbon Lions campaign in 1967 in which Stevie played in all 9 matches, scoring 5 times.

Stevie will always be a hero of mine, not only because of the goal in Lisbon & his breathtaking scoring record for Celtic , but more for how he; a man who achieved so much took the time give me a personal insight in to his life as a Celtic player.   He may have scored the  most important goal in the history of Celtic Football Club, but he remained humble with his achievements & took great pride in representing Celtic in many different ways as player, employee & ambassador.

That was the Goal that was - The King of Kings.

The arrival of Henrik Larsson at Celtic Park came after a protracted  wrangle over his contract with his former club Feyenoord.    New manager Wim Jansen was building a team that he hoped could wrestle the title away from our old rivals on the other side of the city.   Larsson was worth the wait, maybe not noticeable in the first couple of matches, but over the next seven years we witnessed the talents of a truly world class striker at the peak of his footballing ability, making him the greatest modern day striker to have worn the hoops.

Henrik finished his spell at Celtic racking up 242 goals ranging from close range finishes to sublimely wonderful headers, free kicks & the occasional lob.    With every goal he carved his name deeper into the history of the club & into the hearts of the fans who had the thrill of watching him.  Everyone will have a favourite, but mine is a one off, 43 years in the making.


Venue - Estádio do Bessa
Date - 24th April 2003
Match - Boavista 0 Celtic 1

When Celtic arrived in the Iberian peninsula for the 2nd leg of their UEFA Cup Semi-Final they knew they needed to keep it tight in defence & score at least one goal.    After a nervous 90 minutes at Celtic Park in the late spring sunshine Celtic had some work to do following a 1 each draw.   A missed penalty from Larsson in the 1st leg making the trip that little more daunting.   However, this was a Celtic side who had already come through some difficult obstacles in visits to Spain, England  & Germany.


In what was a match full of tension & nerves the hosts seemed happy to hold on to their away goals advantage from the first leg.    Half chances & snatched shots were traded as neither team could find a positive commanding rhythm.    With time running out & desperation creeping into the prayers being offered by fans the special moment arrived as the ball was diverted into the path of our talismanic striker.    Larsson scooped the ball passed the despairing arms of goalkeeper Ricardo into the Boavista net.   


The goal wasn't a classic, it wasn't spectacular but in that instant a 43 year wait to reach a European final was coming to an end.    The ball crossing the line in what felt like a slow motion replay is etched in Celtic fans minds in every corner of the world.   The celebrations from the goal lasted for weeks as fans made their plans to travel to our first European final since 1970.   Larsson scored goals that helped us win league titles, cups & trebles, but the magnitude of that moment for me was the most euphoric.

That Was the Celtic Goal that was - Cathkin Park Farewell

John Hughes 28th November 1964


When Celtic made the short journey across the Clyde to play Third Lanark on the afternoon of Saturday 28th November 1964 it would be their last competitive visit there.    The 2nd Hampden Park or as it was known then Cathkin Park was a ground which had mixed memories for Celtic players & fans over the previous 76 years.


Cathkin Park was the home of Third Lanark from 1903, but before Thirds moved into the old ground it had already hosted a number of Scottish Cup Finals & challenge matches.


In our inaugural season Celtic lost the Scottish Cup Final to Third Lanark 2-1 in a replay, however in the last final played there in 1899 Celtic secured the Scottish Cup for the 2nd time by overcoming city rivals Rangers 2-0.


Those famous names from Celtics history Kelly, McCallum, McMahon & Maley had all performed on that very pitch.     It was here that manager Willie Maley gave a 19 year old striker his debut in 1923.    Celtic would lose the match 1-0, but it would be one of the few times in his career with Celtic that James McGrory would fail to hit the back of the net.


So, perhaps fittingly 41 years after making his Celtic debut there, James McGrory now as manager led Celtic to their final official visit to Cathkin Park.


In the early 60s Celtic had potential, some very talented players but they could never quite find the consistency that would allow them to become challengers for the title, or even 2nd place.


Third Lanark Lanark finished 3rd in the Scottish top flight in season 60/61, but the financial crisis that had surrounded them since then saw their fortunes change.     They began to fall down the top division, their attendances also fell.


In the dugouts for the match were 2 legendary Celtic servants.   McGrory for Celtic & Bobby Evans for Third Lanark.


With neither team particularly fancied for the end of season silverware, a crowd of around 11,000 fans paid to watch Celtic take the game to the hosts in opening minutes.       The early pressure paid off as Celtic took the lead on 6 Minutes through Bobby Murdoch.    A strike from range that Thirds keeper Evan Williams was unable to maintain hold of rolled over the line to give Celtic the advantage.


Celtic continued to control the match, with chances for Maxwell, Murdoch & Hughes, but the young Evan Williams helped keep the score at 1-0 as both teams made their way to the dressing room for half time.


The one way traffic continued into the 2nd half with Jimmy Johnstone pulling the strings, Gallagher missed from 8 yards & both Hughes & Murdoch were denied by Williams.


With 15 minutes remaining, Celtic doubled their lead.     Jimmy Johnstone jinked & weaved his way past 3 Third Lanark defenders & fired in a shot which flashed along the goal-line.    John Hughes was on hand to knock the ball over the line to ensure the points would go back to Celtic Park.


Celtic added a 3rd goal 2 minutes later thanks to an own goal from Doug Baillie.


From the Celtic team that played that day 6 would go on to win the European Cup in Lisbon less than 3 years later under the management of Jock Stein.


The young Thirds keeper Evan Williams would go on to sign for Celtic in 1969 & play in the 1970 European Cup final in Milan against Feyenoord.


Although an own goal is statistically the last goal scored for Celtic at Cathkin Park,  John Hughes was the last Celtic player to score at a ground which had given many great years service to Scottish football.

That was the Celtic Goal that was No.9

That was the Celtic Goal that was 

7th May 1977 - Andy Lynch



When researching some of the goals for the series, I try to pick out significant memorable moment from a match, a touch of genius or a collectors item like a European goal from Bertie Auld or a strike from Tom Boyd.      For this goal I've looked at it from more of an era defining moment, or end of era moment.



Almost 10 years to the day after the clubs greatest triumph when we defeated Inter Milan in Lisbon, Jock Stein was looking to secure his 25th major honour as Celtic boss.      Just 3 weeks earlier his 24th had been wrapped up when the league title was won with a 1-0 victory at Easter Road.



To win the league & cup double, Celtic would have to overcome the then holders of the trophy, Rangers.    The 1975/76 season had saw Rangers complete a clean sweep of domestic honours, now the '77 Cup Final was their last hope of any silverware for the season. 



A smaller than expected crowd of around 55,000 made their way through the turnstiles to watch the match.     A combination of  miserable weather & live coverage on TV meant 15,000 ticket holders decided to stay away from the showpiece final.



In a typically tight derby the match never really got going, with stoppages for free-kicks & treatment to players making up most of the opening exchanges.   Still in the opening 20 minutes Celtic won a corner which Alfie Conn crossed right footed into the box,  Roddy McDonald met the cross ball to head the ball towards goal, Edvaldsson challenged the Rangers keeper Kennedy a yard from goal & the ball bounced towards goal where it stopped on the line by the hands of Derek Johnstone.      The referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty, ignoring the protestations of the Rangers players & with 20 minutes gone Celtic had the chance to take the lead.



Regular penalty taker Kenny Dalglish passed up the opportunity to take it, perhaps thinking about the few penalties he had missed in previous matches that season, so the ball was given to Andy Lynch.     Andy Lynch wasn't a prolific goalscorer in his time with Celtic, but a ratio of roughly a goal every 8 games is a fabulous return for a player who eventually played at left back.     Jock Stein signed Andy from Hearts where he played as a winger.     After a number if setbacks due to injury the boss converted him to a left back using his pace to turn defence in to attack in the mould of so many great overlapping wing backs for Celtic.



Without too much fuss Andy Lynch placed the ball on the spot started his run up from the edge of the box & fired a low drive towards the keepers left hand post, the Rangers keeper guessed the right way, but the pace & accuracy of the penalty beat him as the ball passed him into the bottom corner to give Celtic the lead.



The Celtic fans soaked in the afternoon rain celebrated the goal on the slopes of Hampden and the Celtic players joined in the jubilation of Andy's perfect penalty.



Celtic would create more chances in the 2nd half, but could not score the goal that would provide breathing space.    In the closing moment Celtic & Peter Latchford  had the cross bar to thank for keeping them in the lead as a powerful shot from Rangers substitute Robertson crashed off the frame of the goal. 



As the final whilst blew Celtic players, staff & supporters celebrated the league & cup double.   Andy Lynch's goal from his first ever penalty kick had given Jock Stein his 25th & last major honour as manager of Celtic.

The 100th Scottish Cup - A Moment in Time

In the days, weeks and months that have passed since the footballing world in Scotland was brought to an abrupt stop, broadcasters have had to rethink schedules and repackage old footage to satisfy the demand for a fix for hungry but patient football fans around the country. While Sky and BT focus on the recent battles on the pitch, BBC Scotland have been able to dig deep into their archives and provide a wonderful and often nostalgic reminder of the game we fell in love with years ago.

My fascination with Celtic wasn't honed on the terraces around Paradise, it was in the stories shared by my family, It was in the recorded footage from Sportcene and Scotsport, the writing and presentation from master broadcasters in Archie McPherson and Ian Archer that are still etched in my mind almost 40 years later. So, when BBC Scotland aired Road to the 100th Scottish Cup Final I was delighted. That 1985 Cup final was my first memory of watching Celtic win a trophy and my dad dance around the living room in celebration.

The Scottish cup holds tremendous significance for Celtic, going all the way back to 1888/89 when we reached the final at the first time of asking only to lose to Third Lanark in the final. Winning our first national Cup at Ibrox in season 1891/92, the record attendance in 1937 to the 1965 cup final that would propel the club to unmatched greatness, it is a trophy that will always look out of place in any other trophy cabinet.

I suspect without actually realising at the time the BBC Scotland programme producers haphazardly captured on camera the exact moment Scottish football entered a new era. Starting in the early rounds of the Scottish cup, the film crew followed Stirling Albion on their quest for Cup glory. A one sided 20-0 victory over Selkirk at the old Anfield Stadium in Stirling was a glimpse into the old habits of supporters walking from one side of the stadium to the other at half-time & the awful conditions underfoot for the players. 

Progressing to the semi-final Aberdeen were on course for back to back domestic doubles before being knocked out by Dundee United, Celtic overcame Motherwell in the other Semi-Final to set up the landmark final. With Aberdeen champions, the Scottish cup was the last hope for silverware that season.

The match was won by a brave decision when David Hay substituted Paul McStay for Pierce Oleary and moved Roy Aitken into a driving role in midfield. Two moments of magic from Davie Provan and Frank Mcgarvey, goals I have waxed lyrical about countless times before secured the cup. The euphoria of the celebrations at Hampden were echoed in my livingroom at home with my dad. Me sitting next to the TV with my Celtic jersey on, Celtic teddy in my arms and my dad taking pictures as Danny McGrain lifted the cup as captain. Great memories.

That great feeling carried forward into the next week when our school received some special visitors with very important piece of silverware. David Hay and Roy Aitken brought the Scottish Cup to the children at St Thomas's school in Riddrie (and no doubt other schools across the city) to be included in the clubs celebrations was special.

The programme aired by BBC Scotland was dated, yet timeless. Interviews with Billy McNeill and Jock Stein show the presence and character in which we care to remember our heroes of yesteryear. 1985 was the last time the Scottish league was won by a club outside Celtic or Rangers. The Scottish cup has changed hands a number of times since then including some surprising new names on the trophy.

The Scottish Cup up also represents the last piece of silverware still to be won in season 2019/2020, hopefully when the competition is complete Celtic will maintain the recent dominance of the trophy so intrinsically linked with our club over the years.

The Hoops & Stripes, A match made in Paradise

For anyone who sat pressing F5 on their computer or pulled the screen down on their mobile device to refresh the page every couple of minutes on Friday morning the wait was almost over. In scenes similar to Cup final tickets being released, Celtic fans across the globe bombarded the club shop website to snap up the latest design in club training wear produced by our new kit supplier Adidas. Even with the connection issues and timeout problems the pre-order release gave Celtic fans an initial glimpse into what will no doubt be an expensive summer for supporters and lucrative deal for the club and Adidas.

While Jock Stein sat in the shoe shine box in Lisbon, his legendary team were already the polished article. The Lions soaked up the Lisbon sunshine in the days leading up to the clubs greatest footballing achievement. Pictures of the players relaxing in Estoril enjoying an ice cream, shopping and strolling around the Lisbon coast show a confident squad with one aim; to bring back the greatest prize in that season of seasons. A closer inspection of the photographs show the players sporting trainers, I am sure you know which ones......The brand with the 3 stripes. From a wonder on the esplanade to controlling every blade of grass on the pitch at the Estadio Nacional those famous 3 white stripes (admittedly some crudely drawn on) are in unison with the iconic green and white hoops of Celtic.

Over time football has changed from it’s working class roots in to a multi-million pound industry. Commercialism, sponsorship and corporate goals are crucial in the survival of elite footballing institutions around the world. However, that does not mean “ordinary” fans on the terraces or stands were left behind. The days of supporters dressed in a shirt and tie have been replaced with fans donning the casual insignia designer names and leading sports brands. None more recognised than that of our kit partner Adidas.

Some of the greatest moments in the beautiful game, captured in wonderful technicolour are sponsored by Adidas. 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Adidas supplying the ball for the FIFA World Cup & no matter what age you are, we all have a World Cup moment etched in minds forever. That 4th goal Brazil goal in the 1970 World Cup final, Mario Kempes scoring amongst the ticker tape in Argentina, “the hand of god" in Mexico ’86 all created by footballing genius, but all sponsored by Adidas.

Celtic are not short of truly symbolic moments captured in time. There is no match for that image of Billy McNeill lifting the European Cup in Lisbon, it will never be surpassed. However, over the years we've already dabbled in some iconic Celtic and Adidas imagery.  

There is the drawn on stripes Billy McNeills boots for the European cup final in 1967 – i am sure Adidas will forgive us for that now. In the 1985 Scottish Cup final when Davie Provan curled his freekick over the Dundee United wall into the top corner of the net and moments later when Frank Mcgarvey miraculously curled a header passed Hamish McCalpine to win the cup the Adidas Tango ball spun majestically into my heart and the history books. John Collins silenced the stands at Ibrox scoring the first freekick in the all new Adidas Predator football boots, a moment the Celtic were robbed of by the Ibrox club when no Celtic fans were permitted in the stadium.

Nobody knows what on field success will be achieved during the lifetime of our contract with Adidas, but early indications suggest both Celtic and the sportswear giants will profit from a long awaited collaboration of two iconic global brands. This match made in Paradise is more than a decade in the making for some fans, perhaps more of a lifetime wish.

Legendary Celtic Players - James Connelly Johnstone

In 2002 the title of Greatest ever Celtic player was bestowed on one James Connelly Johnstone. It may have been over a quarter of a century since Jinky had last pulled on the famous hooped jersey in a competitive match for his beloved Celtic. However, the lasting legacy of the “The Lord of the Wing" ensured those who were fortunate enough to watch him in his prime and those who could only dream of watching him tie defenders in knots voted the Wee man from viewpark as the greatest of them all.

Jinky exuded everything that represents Celtic and The Celtic Way, from the desire to entertain to his ability to come back stronger after a fall (or in most cases a crunching late tackle or tackles). In his 12 years with the club Jinky won every trophy available at the top of the Scottish game as well as helping to deliver the greatest prize in European club football.

The meteoric rise of the team under the stewardship of Jock Stein banished a baron spell for the club, propelling the members of the Lisbon Lions to global fame, perhaps none more so than the player dubbed “The Flying Flea" by French sports writers.

The legendary stories associated with Jimmy Johnstone's playing days transcend generations of Celtic fans. The simple mention of teams like Red Star Belgrade, Leeds and Real Madrid conjure up images of the jinking wizard bamboozling international class players and leaving them in his wake. His artistry and consistency earned Jimmy a 3rd place finish in the 1967 Ballon d'or awards, but the downside to this was the treatment received from the crudest of opponents especially in the colours of Racing Club and Atletico Madrid. These battles, though leaving him bruised and grazed only strengthened his resolve as he would attempt to skip past the perpetrators after dusting himself down.

In his prime Jinky had the chance to deceive defenders in the English and Spanish top flight, with interest shown in his skills from Tottenham, Manchester United and Real Madrid. However, Jimmy was never quite prepared to give up his love affair with Celtic and the fans who adored him.

When the time came to move on from the club he loved his entire life, he couldn't believe he would never get the chance to walk though the front doors and pull on the jersey as a Celtic player ever again. By this time his legacy had already been assured.

The many adversaries faced during his time at Celtic had galvanised an inner strength that would be called upon in Jimmy’s later life. Diagnosed with motor neuron disease Jimmy fought his greatest battle. As with his football career, he faced up to this new opponent and tried to find ways in which to overcome it.

Jinky is one of a select few players to have played in over 500 competitive matches for Celtic. The people young and old who lined the streets to pay their respects on the day of his funeral show the level of respect reserved for a Scottish footballing hero. On the journey to his final resting place Celtic fans were given the opportunity to commemorate the clubs greatest ever player in an emotional farewell.

There have been players who have scored more goals and collected more winners medals, but there will only be one Greatest ever Celtic player, and there will only ever be One Jimmy Johnstone.

Legendary Celtic Players - Bobby Evans

In the years and decades that’s followed the end of the second world war it’s fair to say Celtic had lost the winning mentality that had delivered so much success in the initial half century of our clubs existence. The grand gala which marked our jubilee celebrations in 1938 was a distant memory along with the gilded dreams of a flourishing club at its peak. After winning the Empire Exhibition trophy and League championship in 1938 Celtic would be starved of any sustained success until the golden era of Jock Stein & the Lisbon Lions team he nurtured. However, even in amongst those darker days Celtic still produced moments of magic along with players that will live forever in the folklore of the club.

The immortal names of the players who wore the Hoops with distinction and pride, and still echo around our modern arena helped deliver success during a downturn in fortunes. Mochan, Fallon, Peacock, Stein, Tully and Evans all played their part in providing some of the biggest days in the clubs history. The latter of the names mentioned Bobby Evans joined Celtic in 1944 from juniors side St Anthony's and spent 16 years in the east end of Glasgow before leaving in 1960 to join Chelsea, during his time as a Bhoy, he amassed over 500 first class appearances winning 1 league championship, 2 Scottish cups, 2 league cups and the Coronation cup. 

When the wait for a major honour finally ended after 13 years Evans took his place on the field as the side overcame Motherwell by a single goal in the 1951 Scottish cup final. Not a classic final by any stretch but a winning mentality was a welcome change for the Celtic officials and faithful on the terraces. 

In 1953 a one off Cup competition was created to commemorate the Coronation of the new Queen. 8 clubs took part in the festival of football starting on the 11th May, 4 clubs each from Scotland & England. Celtic, although finishing 8th in the Scottish league beat Arsenal and Manchester United on route to the showpiece final where they overcame a fantastic Hibernian team that included their “Famous Five” frontline. Goals from Mochan & Walsh ensured Celtic would forever hold on to this piece of history.

In season ‘53-54 his stamina and durability were put to the test as Evans played in all but one of the clubs league, Scottish & league cup fixtures throughout the season. His reward for competing in 41 of 42 matches was helping Celtic achieve the league & cup double, our first domestic double for 40 years.

With Jock Stein sidelined due to injury Bobby Evan’s found a new lease of life at the heart of the Celtic defence. With the entire playing field in front if him Evans ability to read the passage of play and game management paid dividends as he secured 2 more medals as captain of the club. Firstly in 1956 when Celtic defeated Partick Thistle 3-0 in the league cup final replay at Hampden park. This victory ensured the league cup would be held in the Celtic park trophy room for the very first time. 

The following season Evans won his final medal at Celtic leading the club to their greatest domestic cup victory of all time. On the 19th October 1957 an inspired performance by the men in green & white rewrote the history books by notching up the biggest margin of victory in a UK cup final. Celtic thrashed Rangers 7-1 to retain the league cup, a simply stunning performance that is still celebrated by Celtic fans around the world.

His medal haul does not reflect the influence he had in the team, nor does it fully recognise the talent of a hugely versatile talented leader on and off the pitch. At a time when Celtic players found it hard to make an impact at International level Bobby Evans was selected as captain of the Scottish national team and earned every one of his 48 caps. 

Bobby Evans ability to play, marshal and eventually lead a Celtic side for 16 years ensures that he will always be considered as one of the greatest names to have worn the hoops.

Legendary Celtic Players - Alec McNair

The wonderful and timeless quote from Willie Maley “It's not the creed nor his nationality that counts. It's the man himself" could be used to show the open signing policy displayed by Celtic from it’s humble, but outward thinking beginnings. Over the years a number of players who may not have been Celtic fans have been influential in the clubs success on and off the park. 

Alec McNair fits this narrative perfectly, signed from Stenhousemuir in 1904 he was not brought up on Celtic traditions, he was in fact raised as a Rangers fan. However this had no impact on a glittering Celtic career for the man nicknamed “The Icicle” because of his cool and measured approach on the field of play.

In the formative years of organised football there was an expectation for players to deal with more stern challenges and rough play from opponents. McNair had an athletic physique that allowed him to deal with whatever was thrown at him. He wasn't all about strength though, McNair read the game instinctively well and those attributes along with his footwork meant he was seldom found second best.

Spending an incredible 21 years at the club as a player, Alec boasts the highest league winners medal tally of any Celtic player past or present. In all he won 12 league titles between 1904 and 1925 incorporating the 6 consecutive titles by the all conquering Scottish champions from 1905 to 1910 - which also included the winner take all league championship play off match against Rangers at Hampden where Celtic won 2-1.

He was a colossus for Willie Maley in developing that groundbreaking Celtic style and winning mentality. During the 1910/11 season Alec McNair would represent Celtic in every Scottish league and cup match, running out 40 times for the Hoops collecting a third Scottish Cup winners medal as his reward.

Alec McNair formed part of the very first “Trinity" that came out of Celtic Park. He along with goalkeeper Charlie Shaw and fellow defender Joe Dodds created one of the finest defensive backline to have played the game, which included a shout-out lasting over 1200 minutes covering 10 league & 3 cup matches during season 1913-14. Such foundations allowed the club to maintain its stranglehold on the Scottish game. Conversely this was a far cry from the early appearances for Alec, when his name was included amongst the attacking players at inside right on some occasions. 

Perhaps Willie Maley captured it best talking about Alec “he would have distinguished himself in any position, even in goals, with that calm cool head and the sharp eyes" 

With the changing face of football ensuring players move at will for significant sums of money, it is difficult to imagine any similar commitment to one team over such a long period of time now.

Alec McNair like so many other illustrious players to have served the club over the years may not have been a Celtic supporter from the outset, but his commitment to the club and its success certainly ensured that he will forever remain a Celtic legend. 604 Appearances 11 goals 12 league winners medals 6 Scottish Cup winners medals 1

Legendary Celtic Players - Jimmy McMenemy

In over 130 years of footballing excellence a number of Celtic players had been tagged with legendary status. These powerhouses of the club have written their names into the history books as great goalscorers, skillfull wingers, commanding defenders or natural leaders. There are a select few have made over 500 appearances for the club. However, only one man can lay claim to being the first to do so.

Signed from Rutherglen Glencairn just before his 22nd birthday, Jimmy McMenemy was a mainstay of the early Celtic side, making his debut in 1902 shortly after joining and just before the club strip was changed to the iconic Green & White Hoops. “Napoleon” as he was known was an integral part of the Willy Maley team that simply swept aside the rest of Scottish football in the opening decades of the 20th century. His instincts and intelligence on the field made him one of the many commanding leaders in the all conquering 6 in a row championship winning sides between 1905 & 1910.

Coupled with dominance in the league, McMenemy also played his part in making history in the first Celtic side to win the League & Cup double in 1907, then repeated the feet the following season securing back to back doubles (the first time it had ever been achieved). McMenemy scored the only goal of the game as Celtic overcame Aberdeen in the 1908 Semi-Final to set up that date with destiny. 

As the team evolved during the 1910s Jimmy played an important role in bridging that gap between the experienced players and those brought in to continue the success of playing the “Celtic Way". Celtic remained the dominant side during these years, securing 5 league titles between 1913 & 1919, along with 3 Scottish cups from 1911-1914. Including a 2-0 win over Clyde in the 1912 final at Ibrox when Jimmy scored the opening goal, his only Cup final goal.

After securing 17 winners medals at Celtic his presence was sorely missed when he left for Partick Thistle. The Celtic team would go into decline during the roaring 20s, unable to match the silver laden success of the previous 20 years. A return to Celtic in a coaching capacity in 1934 was hailed as a triumph by fans, players and officials. McMenemys influence and leadership shone through again as Celtic won the league in 1936 & ’38 along with the Scottish Cup in 1937 against Aberdeen in front of a record breaking crowd. The brutality of the 2nd world war meant football took a back seat, Jimmy finally left the club in 1940.

Jimmy McMenemy will always be considered one of the all time greats to be associated with Celtic. A man who most definitely played “The Celtic Way”. Attack minded along with quick feet with the ability to control a match from his position as a forward. At a time when the beautiful game was still finding its way, Jimmy McMenemy provided secure footing not only for Celtic, but as a pioneer in everything we love about football and our club.

Legendary Partnerships - The Roaring 20s

After the unbridled success enjoyed by Celtic in the opening decades of the 20th century, the 1920s in comparison delivered much less for Celtic fans to cheer. Celebrating 2 league titles and 3 Scottish cups shows significant achievements for many clubs, but such was the dominance of the early Willie Maley sides the roaring 20s were a little more tempered in contrast. 

The reduction in trophies did not result in a decline in quality names throughout the team, the emergence of a young striker in James Edward McGrory and the talents of Patsy Gallagher ensured that playing football “The Celtic Way" was preserved. Stalwarts of the club in the guise of Jimmy & Willie Mcstay supplied the grit & guile in defence that helped provide some high points during the mid twenties. Those celebrations were particularly special between March 1925 and April 1927, when Celtic secured the league title and two Scottish cup triumphs. 

On the 21st March 1925 Celtic made the trip to Hampden very much in the shadow of our city neighbours. Rangers were the form team and were expected to seal a passage to the final, however 2 goals each from James McGrory and Adam McLean with a solitary strike from Alec Thomson secured a 5-0 victory as we sailed into the final. This result was the springboard to silverware.

In the cup final against Dundee just 3 weeks later James McGrory secured the cup heading in the winner with only a few minutes left to play, but he was upstaged by the mercurial talents of Patsy Gallagher as he weaved his way through the Dundee team and somersaulted into the net with the ball between his feet to bring Celtic level late in the second half. 

The following season Celtic were crowned champions of Scotland winning the league by 8 points over second placed Airdrie. In his second full season as a Celtic regular, James McGrory played 43 league & cup matches scoring 42 goals. Both Willie and Jimmy McStay barely missed a match as Celtic missed out on a league & cup double, losing to St Mirren in the April showpiece final.

In season 1926-27 Celtic rattled in over 100 goals during the 38 match league season, this century of goals included 3 matches where James McGrory scored 4 goals and another 3 matches where he scored 5 goals in the games, ending the season with 56 goals. Scoring wasn't the issue, but perhaps stopping the opposition was. With over 50 goals lost in the league campaign Celtic finished 3rd. The season did end brightly with another visit to the national stadium to contest the Scottish Cup final. 

East Fife were the underdogs, but that didn't stop the 2nd division side taking the lead after 7 minutes. Celtic were not behind for long scoring the equaliser just 60 seconds later thought an own goal. A goal each for Adam McLean and Patrick Connolly ensure the Scottish Cup returned to Paradise as Celtic ran out 3-1 winners in front of 80,000 fans. 

Celtic may no longer have been the dominant force in the Scottish game, but the names that represented the club during the 20s certainly made their mark and would be considered amongst the greatest to wear the green & white hoops.

Legendary Partnerships - The Holy Trinity

Under the guidance of Willie Maley the Celtic side of the first decade of the 1900s had delivered an all conquering, record breaking & history making “6 in a row" champions of Scotland, with the last of those 6 titles secured in the 1909/10 season. However, Maley had already started to lay the foundations of a new side that he would develop into a team of winners to deliver further success into the following decade.

In the short term there would be a break in the monopoly of league titles for Maleys Celtic side. A three year gap in title celebrations between 1910 & 1914 would be tempered with back to back success in the Scottish Cup in 1911 & 1912. A further Scottish Cup was secured in 1914 to make it a league & cup double celebration for the hoops. That domestic double would be the catalyst for further dominance as Celtic secured 5 of the next 6 league championships.

At this time Celtic seemed to be able to field attackers who could not only put the ball in the net, but could entertain the burgeoning crowds gathered on the terraces of Celtic Park & at other football stadiums throughout Scotland. Jimmy Quinn “The Croy Express" & Patsy Gallagher “The Mighty Atom" would form part of the 5 forward options at the disposal of Willie Maley during the first half of the 1910’s & it is sometimes easy to focus on the goal scoring heroics. However, in defence a Trinity of players would form a partnership that set records & help secure success for the club.

A defensive pairing of Alec McNair & Joe Dodds along with goalkeeper Charlie Shaw, known as The Holy Trinity provided the secure foundations for this Celtic team to deliver more silverware .

Alec McNair was a veteran of the Celtic side who helped secure 6 titles on the trot just a few years earlier. Spending 21 years at the club, Willie Maley described him as a "Calm, cool head". His compatriot in defence Joe Dodds joined the club in 1908 & was known for his pace & ability as a full back & centre back . With Maley making changes throughout the team, it would be 1911 before the pair would begin to form a more stable partnership together. The speed & flexibility of Dodds & the coolness of McNair allowed the rest of the team to focus on winning matches.

The final piece of the defensive trinity arrived in 1913 when Goalkeeper Charlie Shaw was signed from Queens Park Rangers. It didn't take long for the new man to grow in to his role between the posts at Celtic Park. During the winter months of December 1913 & February 1914 Shaw & the defensive pairing in front of him would go an incredible 13 matches in league & cup duty without conceding a goal.

There would a regular selection of “The Holy Trinity” as the first three names on the Celtic team sheet for the next 5 seasons. This particular Trinity served a collective 45 years at the club winning every major honour available & helped make Celtic the dominant side in Scottish football.

Lubo - A gift from god

After a painfully long wait to celebrate winning the Scottish premier league the Celtic players and fans were well with in their rights to keep the party going for a good few days and weeks after the final whistle was blown on the last day of the 1997 / 98 football season. Not long after the last bottle of booze was finished news broke that the manager & mastermind of the title triumph was no longer in charge of the newly crowned champions. The departure of Wim Jansen not only left a gaping hole in the clubs plans for the new season, but it also exposed the toxic relationship between General Manager Jock Brown and the clubs management team. 

The change at management level ushered in the arrival of the likeable and dignified figure of Dr Jozef Venglos. Dr Jo was a largely unknown quantity amongst Celtic fans, but had a strong pedigree in coaching long before he was unveiled at Celtic Park, the good Doctor was given the impossible task of following up on a long awaited championship success. Celtic fans were still in a state of confusion and surprise as our first championship flag in 10 years was unfurled in front of our newly completed stadium. The 60000 sell out crowd watched on as Dunfermline were dismantled 5 - 0 in Celtics first home start to the league since 1988. 

The match proved to be something of a one off in the opening months of the season. Inconsistency in results meant that the hangovers from the championship win started to hit hard on the fans. The performances, results and injury list highlighted the fact we needed more players, but any new signings always seemed to be a few weeks away, especially under the frugal watch of Jock Brown. 

When the purse strings were loosened, a rather unknown Slovakian thought to be in the twilight of his career was paraded in front of the Scottish sporting press to much derision. Lubo Moravcik had to wait over a week before taking a bow in front of the Celtic faithful. However, before he took his first touch for the club, the air of gloom that had hung over Celtic Park since the end of the previous season was lifted in a truly joyous moment when General Manger Jock Brown left the club. Lubo made his debut serving up a masterclass that had many in the Scottish press eating their words. That performance gave an insight to what was to follow later in the month.

On the 21st November 1998 Rangers made the trip to Celtic Park already with a healthy lead in the league, however a Lubo inspired Celtic team simply tore apart the visitors scoring our biggest margin of victory over our city rivals in over 30 years. Moravcik helped himself to two goals, including a wonderful strike after 11 minutes to open the scoring. Henrik Larsson scored two and a young Mark Burchill wrapped up the scoring in the final minutes. In truth that victory may have been the highlight of a difficult season, Dr Jo was replaced at the end of the season, but the little magician he signed from Duisburg continued to grace The Hoops for another 3 seasons.

Lubo cast a spell on Scottish football, mesmerising defenders and enthralling fans around the country. His genius was used to devastating effect in the early Martin O'Neill years when Celtic conquered all in front of them sealing the Treble before displaying his skills on primetime viewing in the champions league.

Lubo Moravcik was one of the most technically gifted and skilful players to have pulled on the hoops for almost 30 years, he arrived as an unknown quantity but will forever remain a Celtic hero.

The Shamrock - Walfrid Walking Tour

For a 3 month period over the Glasgow summertime Celtic fans were taken on a journey of discovery around the east end of city and in particular the parish community of St Mary’s in the Calton. The author and producer of The Shamrock magazine pieced together the momentous events, people and streets that contributed to the birth of Celtic Football Club and brought them to life. The Walfrid Walking tour transported you back to a time of hardship for the people living in and around Dalmarnock, Bridgeton and The Calton as these areas absorbed new settlers who fled famine and hunger in Ireland and the Scottish highlands.

I was fortunate enough to take part in the final tour of the summer along with another handful of faithful fans. The tour kicked off from the feet of our most famous Captain beautifully cast in bronze and forever holding aloft the European Cup representing the clubs greatest footballing achievement. What followed over the next 9000 steps and 4 hours of walking, talking and listening was a re-education of those pre Celtic formation years and the eventual development of the club. 

As a fan who has sang those famous words from the Celtic song year after year “and if, you know the history" I was delighted to uncover more details of the origins of a truly global footballing institution . Subscribers and readers of The Shamrock magazine will not be surprised at the level of detail the tour goes into, making it an enthralling and enlightening wander retracing the steps of those early Celtic founders.

By the mid 1880s the rapidly growing sport of football was already pulling in significant crowds and this detail was not lost on the local parish leaders. Charity football matches were being arranged no more than a mile from the current location of Celtic Park, with teams making the journey from around the central belt to play these games and the proceeds of the gate “devoted to the Poor Childrens Dinner Table”. 

The social change and regeneration of parts of the east end of the city mean much of the historic focal points have sadly been lost to time, but thanks to the passion of our guide a unique vision is shared through the tales passed from previous generations and the archives from the Mitchell and national libraries.

Following in the footsteps of the clubs founding Brothers and office bearers, taking in the business links and buildings and acknowledging the political influences of all those involved under which allowed the fledgling club to grow quickly from a very modest beginning. From St Mary's Calton to the site of the original Celtic Park the tour is a fascinating tribute for fans to enjoy.

Fittingly, the tour ends at the head of the newly developed Celtic Way at the foot of the statue of Brother Walfrid who had the foresight 132 years ago to be a driving force in the formation of Celtic football club, a club which continues to follow the charitable vision shared by our founders.