2nd September 1968
While most of us got the day off, others were involved in training for the Inter-League match on the Wednesday. And when I bought one of the evening papers, I found out a lot more about this match under quite eye-catching headlines – Continue reading
29th August 1968
We were all back in for some training the day after the victories over Morton and Dundee United . It was a fairly normal morning’s work amidst the euphoria that is very prevalent after good results for both the first team and the reserves. Continue reading
26th August 1968
Training on the Monday morning was fairly light, as both the first team and the reserves had matches on the Wednesday. I noticed that Ronnie was getting treatment for a leg knock sustained against Rangers but apart from him, everyone else seemed to be OK. Continue reading
18th August 1968
“Old Firm” Bosses Tell Players – Relax!
With 6 days to go to the vital League Cup qualifying clash at Parkhead, Celtic and Rangers told their players “Rest and relax – we get down to business again tomorrow.
Both managers are certain that they will have a full panel of players to choose from when they start working on their line-ups. Davie White has no doubts about the fitness of Willie Henderson, while at Parkhead, Jock Stein was even more definite about the Celtic health bill. “We have nothing to worry about”, he said.
15th August 1968
The headlines in the press offered great praise to the boys on the field –
Sizzling Celts
12th August 1968
On the Monday after the Old Firm match, the press was still going on about the happenings off the pitch rather than those on it. This headline caught the mood –
Bigotry at Big Match Sickening
and the comments below matched the headline – Continue reading
7th August 1968
We were all back in for training this morning and did a pretty strong session. Even the guys who had played at Hamilton the previous evening had been told to turn up. Sean Fallon was in charge of affairs as the Boss had travelled down to Leeds who that same evening were playing Ferencvaros in the first leg of the Fairs Cup final. Trust the big guy not to miss a major occasion.
5th August 1968
In the days after the defeat by Leeds United at Hampden, the comments in the press were still fairly uncomplimentary about Celtic’s loss while at the same time recognising the quality of the English side. One headline singled out the visiting keeper for a special mention –
Celtic KO’d by Super Sprake
21st July 1968
A Sunday, which meant that I had to run the gauntlet of Celtic fans after Mass. It was getting to the ridiculous stage where even grannies who had never been to a game of football in their lives were asking questions about what was going on at training, what was Jock Stein like and so on. And, of course, the priests who said the Mass liked to have me to themselves for a short time afterwards to ask their own questions. Eventually, my Mum and Dad just went home, leaving me to deal with – as my Mother once said – my public!. And not a cup of tea in sight!
It was an interesting summer. Initially, while the playing party was in North America, I did the occasional training session in Bellahouston Park, just along from my parents’ house. It was quiet and I could get on with my work without any outside interference. Continue reading