30th September 1968 We all reported early that morning to Celtic Park and boarded the coach which would take us to Seamill, our haven before major matches. When I say ‘all’, I am exaggerating matters; there were three players left behind. Two – Ronnie Simpson and Bobby Lennox – for treatment and also Bobby Murdoch, …
Read more “2nd October 1968: Celtic v St Etienne – European Cup 1st Round Second Leg”
3rd October 1968 The headlines after the St Etienne match were both lavish and complimentary –
7th October 1969 There was a reduced number that Monday morning at training, as a friendly match had been organised at Cowdenbeath to celebrate the new floodlighting system at the ground and quite a number of the first team squad had been selected for that game. The rest of us, though, put a decent shift …
Read more “9th October 1968: Celtic v Clyde – League Cup Semi-final”
10th October The inside of Celtic Park was like a war zone this morning, with various players making their way to and from the treatment room while the un-injured ones squeezed past to get to training. I personally noticed McNeill, Murdoch, McBride and Hughes definitely going in, with some others not feeling too good either …
14th October 1968 Most of the Celtic players got the day off. There were a few with the Scotland squad preparing for the international with Denmark and others – Murdoch and Wallace – still recovering from ankle injuries. I came in that morning to work on my sharpness and was just in time to hear …
Read more “19th October 1968: Celtic v St Johnstone – League”
20th October 1968 All the players and management headed for Seamill and on the way down to Ayrshire, we discussed what was in the papers that morning.
28th October The whole squad was given the day off from training, although, as was the norm, anything with an injury of any sort did report. However, from what I heard from the guys in the days following, no one turned up that day and the Boss was apparently quoted in the press as “expecting …
4th November All the guys – except those who were in the international squad – had the day off, which gave me the chance to be in the dental practice full-time and catch up with some paperwork. The papers were more concerned with match coming up against Austria on the Wednesday and the weather seemed …
10th November 1968 After a very light training session at Celtic Park on the Sunday morning – more of a wind-down in reality – we all boarded the bus for the trip to Seamill, our usual haunt before a big game. I should perhaps clarify the use of that word ‘all’. Ronnie Simpson had been …
Read more “13th November 1968: Celtic v Red Star Belgrade – European Cup 2nd Round First Leg”
14th November 1968 The previous evening had been a good one for Scottish football, with the four clubs involved in European competition all having good results. The main headlines went to European Cup representatives Celtic, especially the showing of wee Jimmy – Johnstone the Tornado It’s Ace Destroyer Jimmy! Belgrade Fans Want to See Wee …
Read more “16th November 1968: Celtic v Raith Rovers – League”