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Close Encounters of the Celtic Kind

The summer laziness continues and following  the ‘Irish Soccer Demise’ discussion topic from last week, we have yet another  idea inspired/stolen from the wonderful Football365 Mailbox.

Originality, schmality…hey at least we’re not just mirroring stories on line and claiming them as our own exclusives now are we? ( Hmmm, how many anti-Histamines have you taken? – Ed)

Anyhows..I was reading  the Mailbox and came across a selection of mails about “I remember when I met such and such footballer” ..and lo and behold..there were 2 Celtic based stories. 

Go to Football365 Mailbox...its always worth it!


 

So that naturally got me thinking of my own Celtic encounter experiences, and not just the “Around Celtic Park” style meets..although I will never forget watching Johan Mjallby signing autographs and getting pictures taken ( Celfies ( copyright Me!!)  werent quite invented back then) and his phone rang. Johan politely asked the crowd to be quiet, answered the phone and said “Sorry, Im with the fans, I will call you back when finished”…1 hour later he was still signing away and no return call had been made. A true Gentleman and credit to the Hoops.

I also remember being out in the town the Sunday after a Title win and thanking Paul Telfer for the trophy and him almost crying in his pint “But the fans just love Jackie Macnamara!”. I remember Hector, Ralph and I keeping Tom Boyd on a podcast chat for almost 3 hours..you could hear Toms wife sighing in the background as the podcast was only mean to last 60 minutes.

I remember Mo Johnston(yeah I went there!) getting us youngsters a drink ( Whisky and Coke I think) at a Leeds Utd boys club end of year awards dinner in Shettleston in the early 80s..well okay, we stole a drink from his table..well it was his or Jim McInally’s who was also there for the prize giving.

A reverse of that, a NON-Encounter was walking into the Corinthian Bar midweek to meet my wife and sister a few years ago and she said “Oh, that guy, him you like, oh whats his name, he was standing right there alone for ages,..then some big English guy joined him and then later a few more, then they literally just left before you came it…oh Henrik Larrson, thats it!”. 

Seems the Seville superstars were all up for a Celtic Park fundraiser and had met up the night before for drinks and a laugh in town, cue my sad wee frowny face!

So folks, whats your favourite personal Celtic encounter?

Give us the most obscure, the most surprising, the most insane, the most uplifting, the most disappointing i.e “I met Deadhead and he was actually quite an enlightened fellow!”

Hell you can even tell us funny stories about meeting Hun players ( I remember going down to Elland Road to see Leeds Utd play Brian Clough’s Forest with our boys club…Leeds run out for a warm up and my mate Joe shouts out to ex Hun Derek Parlane.. “Hey Derek, mon over for autographs, we’re aw Rangers fans down from Glasgow!” Cue a surprised Derek Parlane stop his run out and he then turns to face us saying “Is that right lads” and cue “IS IT FUCK!” being roared back by half of us.

 You can even tell us about meeting other famous footballers or sports stars…and be honest…did your weans or wife laugh at your adoration filled face ?

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BRIAN
8 years ago

Lads holiday to Benidorm in the 90’s… on the bus from Alicante airport and we realised that Falkirk’s beanpole utility player Kevin James was in front of us, on a similar lads holiday with his mates. At the point of noticing this, I was reading out the transfer rumours loudly from a Daily Record that I’d picked up at the airport…to my mates…so I decided to play a wee trick on poor Kevin.

“apparently Rangers are in for that Kevin James of Fawkirk”

I announced…their chat stopped dead and Kevin James got a nudge in the ribs by his mate as if to say ‘did you hear that?’…there was a pause and you could tell that Big Kev was stunned… until I came in with:

“Aye…LIKE F**K!!!!!….”

Half the bus burst out laughing and Big Kev’s head dropped.. knowing he’d been had!!!! He stayed in the same apartments from us and didnt talk to any of us for the first week. To be fair to him, he forgave us in the second and turned out to be a decent guy!

AntonDeclan
8 years ago

Staying on the Chelsea theme. Moved south 30 years ago and through wives / first borns met an ardent Chelsea fan (his daughter’s middle name is Chelsea!) and despite this we remain great friends to this day (!), where he has been to Paradise a few times over the years. Accordingly, I couldn’t refuse when he invited me to Stamford Bridge during the Ken Bates era. We were at the ground early to pick up tickets and the away team bus arrived – Everton. Low and behold the auld hun, Duncan Ferguson appears and signs some autographs. Not sure what came over me but I shout over, “Derek, how you doin’…….?”, where he picks up the Glasgow accent, looks up and smiles just as I finish my sentence, “…..ya big DOB!”. His face was a picture….and to this day I am so pleased the Police officers present either couldn’t understand my strong accent or the meaning of the content……as I made a quick exit leaving aforementioned friend behind!

AntonDeclan
8 years ago
Reply to  AntonDeclan

Duncan not Derek……!!!!!!

Johnnie Bhoy
8 years ago

NAFCSC Convention in Las Vegas years ago. We were seated at the same table as the Dallas Club. Who approaches the table but the great Willie Fernie who was the guest of honor of the Dallas Willie Fernie CSC. To say I’m star struck and speachless by the appearance of my boyhood hero would be the understatement of the year. However the wife turns round to him and says, “You canny sit there mister thats the Dallas Bhoys seats.” Me wishing a big hole would open up and swallow me and / or her. “Shut it! He can sit anywhere he bloody likes in this hall!” Turned put to be a great night. Mrs Fernie had been Jimmy McGrory’s secretary and had lots of stories of that era in Celtics history to share. Fair do’s to the Dallas Club for bringing Willie over for the Convention. The sight of him going on stage holding up seven fingers to rapturous applause will remain long in the memory of this auld Tim.

Jvr
8 years ago

I was lucky enoughtto be in the late Sean Fallon’s company a few times.

He must have thought i was real dumpling as I just stood in awe at one of the greatest ever Celts talking to me.

I bumped into Derek Whyte a couple of times,. Despite some of our support slagging him for his tan and fashion sense, i found him very down to earth and easy to talk to. He didn’t like the cuttant buns much which was understandable.

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

I manged to get to play in the same side as Bobby Lennox for 45 minutes in the same team as a 16 year old.
I was a Sub for the local side and my U16 Manager who was an ex Pro was playing in the Ayrshire Ex Pro side that used to play teams on the west coast in the 80’s.
Any way my Manager pulled his groin and as they had no subs told me to get stripped for the Ex Pros.
They were a good side I bagged a hat-trick as we pumped the local side 11-1.
Bobby complimented me on my second of 3 goals which has remained a career highlight to date!
Only downside was I was to young to go to the “refreshments” after.

George lazenby
8 years ago

A close encounter for me was Newcastle train station and I saw Tommy Burns waiting for a train up to Scotland. I was going to go over and ask for the great man’s autograph but thought better of it, thinking it’s his time the last thing he’ll want is pestered by a fan. Everyone I know who has met him has said he would have loved to talk to a fellow Tim. Like I say one of my biggest regrets!

On a different note, I met Boumsong (who is fecking tall) at the pictures. My girlfriend at the time asked who he was and I said he was some prick that used to play for Rangers. Then the fecker sat in front of me at the cinema and I missed half the film.

AntonDeclan
8 years ago
Reply to  George lazenby

George, that reminds me of a story of my own. I was a guest at a Bournemouth – Reading game, which didn’t go well for the away team (a 3-1 defeat). Once the hospitality had finished I convinced a colleague (& Pars fan) to hang around outside so I could meet a Celtic legend: ‘Tommy twists, Tommy turns’ was the manager of Reading. It took an absolute age, which made us think we had missed the away team bus but we were then advised that the away dressing room door had been closed for quite a while! We waited and waited and I could wait no longer…..the ‘gents’ beckoned! You’ve guessed it, while I’m away seeing Jimmy Riddle the Reading players and management get on their bus. When I arrive back the bus door is closed and they are about to drive off so I chap the door, which opens and I politely explain to the driver I’m a Celtic fan and sorry to ask but is there any chance I could get a quick photo with Mr Burns, where the short reply was “No, we’re running late”! One second later a certain red haired gent was climbing down the stairs saying “Of course we have time, the Celtic fans come first…..come on Packy!”. I still have that photo with Tommy, Packy (Bonner) and me, where Tommy’s actions that day epitomised the great man he was – The Celtic Family will forever miss him. Regrettably Tommy was dismissed 5 days later so despite the pressure he must have been under he still had time to put the fans first. A CELTIC LEGEND.

Atlantabhoy
8 years ago
Reply to  AntonDeclan

Great story about Tommy, what a man and Celt

Lee Lafferty
8 years ago
Reply to  George lazenby

Ah George, no wonder you were gutted, a true Celt who would give you the time of day no matter what, my story about him many years ago, Celtic had just played Dundee at Dens (Tommy still a player at this time), we hung around for autographs, it was taking ages we were giving up when they came out but they all darted onto the bus quick smart, we got a few stragglers and the bus was full, Tommy was at the window on the bus, i gestured my autograph book to him, he stands up waving me and my mate to come on the bus, he came to the front to take us onto the bus and we got his and every other player on the buses autograph, one of the many million great things about the great TB, and one of my fav memories as a young Celtic Fan. RIP Tommy

Wee Bertie
8 years ago

I used to be taken by an older cousin to all the games as my dad wasn’t really that interested in football. We went to Celtic Park for a match against Clyde around about the late fifties and the match was called off as the park was waterlogged. As we were about to go home Jock Stein who was friendly with my cousin came over and asked him if he fancied giving him a lift over to Ibrox where Rangers were playing Hearts when he agreed he went away and came back with Bobby Evans and Eric Smith and we went across to Ibrox. When we got there Bobby Evans who would have been the most famous at that time went in and came back with Stand tickets for all of us. When I look back my cousin who ran a small business was the only one with a car and was probably better off than the players in these days. I got them to autograph my ticket but lost it over the years but the memory lives on.

8 years ago

I once went to a pre season game down in cork and enjoyed a refreshment or two after the match in the same hotel as the celts were staing at ( unknown to me of course ) and enjoyed a chat and drink with Rambo chocky and rhino , decent guys and very courteous each and every one of them listening to my half scooshed chat hail hail to them all

yestim
8 years ago

Good story: I was getting a ball signed for charity outside the doors at Parkhead. WGS appeared and I asked him to sign it, which he did. He asked if I had all the players signatures, I replied that I was waiting on Neil Lennon. WGS says Lenny has went back to the gym but give me a couple of minutes. He took the ball and disappeared inside, came back out five minutes later with Lenny’s signature. Then says he couldn’t find Lenny so he forged it, haha!!

Bad story: I took my son and nephew to a pre-season friendly can’t remember who it was against, ut it was the same days as Oasis were playing at Loch Lomond and the Celtic team were going to the gig on a coach that was parked up the side of Parkhead. My son spotted Di Canio, his hero at the time, coming out the side door and going straight onto the coach. We discretely made our way to the coach and knocked on the window, Di Canio ignored us. I went onto the front of the coach up a couple of stairs and asked him if he could sign their Celtic autograph books, the f####r completely blanked us again. My son, who was about seven at the time shouts over heh Paulo, yir a f###ing prick!!! couldn’t give the wee fella into trouble, cause it was the truth.

CarllJungleBhoy
8 years ago

There’s a few, but the onssthat sticks most in the mind…..

1. We had a fmmily re-union type w/e in late summer of ’98 at the Seamill Hydro when the Celtiic team arrived after trnaining for dinner. Afterwards Wim Jansen & Henke Larrsson where chatting away in Duthc in the bar when this Scottish bloke (me) turns up and starts talking to them in Dutch. They were a bit taken aback, but very gracious – I was allowed to bring my nephews for autographs.

2. I once shared a dug-out with Clarence Seedorf. Ou football club SV Buitenveldert once played (& won) a youth tournamnet in Milan and -becsue of the Amsterdam connection – Clarence came to the final to support us.

CarllJungleBhoy
8 years ago

Btw. My spelling’s not as bad you’d think. The font I see here is so small/feint, I can’t see my dyslexcic mistakes until after it’s posted

highseastim
8 years ago

Heading to Madrid for the European cup quarter final in 1980, we flew from Inverness to Heathrow where we had a few hours to spare, so we got the train into Hounslow and an Irish bar called the Green Tree. On returning to Heathrow we came across Phil Lynott and the boys from Thin Lizzy. They happily posed for photo’s with us, decked out in our Celtic scarves, they were a great bunch and would quite happily have come out to Madrid with us……..if they didn’t have a US tour starting!!

joe
8 years ago

i live in london and a friend of mine worked for the cab company who picked up the sky sports pundits he told me he picking up big rambo and i asked him to get me his autograph i was sitting in later that night and the phone rang it was big rambo i was into fishing at the time he asked me what was the biggest fish i had caught when i told him he called me a fucking liar not many people get told they are shite at fishing by an ex celt he is quality

Ralph malph
8 years ago

Theres been a few but Lou Macari stands out. We asked him to be the guest at our csc do maybe 2005 ish. He was taking his inlaws to the airport that night but came charging back for our do. We raised about 500 quid or so for a wee boy who wasnt well. Lou asked how much we raised and matched it. Said not to tell anyone. So I won’t.

EHa
8 years ago

In early August 1996 we were at a very smart Chinese restaurant in Rouken Glen park in Glasgow. We were celebrating my Scottish Italian friend’s birthday and his wife and two young kids,along with me and my wife, were seated round a large table. We were on our main course when I noticed Tommy Burns and Paulo Di Canio ,whom we had just signed, arrive. They sat at a table further down but within eyesight.
By the time they had been served their starter we had finished and my friend’s 4 yo required a comfort break. I urged my friend to say something in Italian as they passed their table. I think he said to Di Canio, ” Should you not be eating a plate of pasta?”. I could see Tommy’s face light up and a short conversation commenced.
On returning from the loo my friend said that he had invited them to our table for a a piece of birthday cake.
Five minutes later I found myself with Tommy sitting next to me and my friend prattling away in Italian to Di Canio. Burns explained that he had already eaten at home with the family but felt that DiCanio ,who was staying at the nearby McDonald hotel,may be lonely and that he should go and take him out for a bite to eat.
A lovely half hour or so was spent listening to Tommy and with him being very thankful to my friend as Di Canio’s English and Burn’s Italian were of the same standard, very poor! My friend, as Tommy said,”had taken the pressure off him”. Before leaving Tommy provided us with a couple of briefs for the away game v Aberdeen that Saturday.
If I remember correctly we drew 2-2 with big Pierre and Andy Thom on the scoresheet.

Gavin
8 years ago

I was working in Oslo in 2000 and Vidar Riseth’s brother was on one of the excavators. One morning he turns up at the digs, wraps a Celts scarf round my neck, puts me in the car and drives to Oslo city centre, to the hotel the Norwegian national team was staying. Ended up in Vidars room chatting with him and Stefan Iversen. Saw Hunning Berg but ignored him!!

Franco Baresi
8 years ago

Playing at Strathaven golf club one day and we go for a beer and the legend Bertie Auld is there. We start chatting and he tells us a few stories.They were all good but the best one was a new years day game at Ibrox and they are in the tunnel ready to go out. Greiggy (as Bertie called him) John Greig the rangers captain says to Bertie “what’s the win bonus today wee man?” Bertie says £60 quid, Greiggy says we are on £100.
Bertie says “aye but ours is guaranteed!” We humpted then 2-0!
Magic!!!

Honest Hoops
8 years ago

I was golfing with a mate at Cramond, it was mid week, I said to him, ‘ i think we have the course to ourselves today’ as we approached the next tee, there is big Jan and Neil waiting to tee off, we have a great chat and Neil suggests we play the rest of the course as a four ball, we talked about the upcoming game against them, I gave Neil my tactics and formations, he laughed and said ‘just keep to the golf!!, ‘best golf day of my life,

Charlie Saiz
8 years ago

I was in the building trade in the late 80’s early 90’s and was working in on a job in Oxford.
Any way we used to play fitba at dinner on a field behind the job at half time.
Nothing serious as we all had work gear on and a fucked bladder with half the panels missing.
Anyway there was one guy who even in a pair of work boots could bend and pass the ball to feet over 40 yards.
Turned out to be Pat McCluskey who was working on the site.

JRB1
8 years ago

I’m at a ‘Billy Connelly’ gig in the mid 1990ies and he’s telling the Story about being at a pre-season friendly at Roker park – early 60ies – where we hump Sunderland 5-0.
After the game he’s in a Catholic Clib in Whitley Bay and eventually they all pour intae the Buses around midnight, for the homeward journey back tae Glasgow. On headin’ oot the toon they stop tae pick-up a poor, Green & white’ clad lad who’s absolutley blootered. A’ they get oot o’ him is an adress im Maryhill, and he sleeps it aff in the back o’ the Bus for the next 5/6 hours.
On arrival at his Mother’s address in Maryhill early on the Sunday morning, Connelly and his Mates are castigated by the said Mother, for dragging him away fae Whitely Bay; where he was on his Honeymoon!…..
Turns oot, I wis in the same Club, same time, only I was with my own dear Uncle Billy [Nau Connelly, Robb] on a Port Glasgoe Supporters Bus…..Any ither readers there that year?

JRB1
8 years ago

I’m wi’ CarllJungleBhoy; font’s too wee…Too many FU’s…
Mibee we’re gettin’ too fckn aul for this?!

Apologies for ‘typos’……….

Chris McMahon
8 years ago

My old man won the first ever Paradise Windfall. We didn’t know to go onto the pitch as you do now so we waited until the end of the game. John Highest presented us with the cheque. It was the week after the 3-2 game at Pittodrie (Donnelly,Collins and Thom) where Yogi saw red. I said “great game last week big man” and he growled. I said no more.

Chris McMahon
8 years ago

Hughes not highest

Carl Bigginslater
8 years ago

Before the 1990 cup final I was drinking with my brother and cousin outside the pub across the road from Hampden (along with several hundred other tims). We noticed TB parking his car and getting out to go to the match. My cousin immediately suggested we stop him for a photo. We ran over and surrounded him. Within seconds us and Tommy were surrounded by all the other tims from outside the pub. Everyone is bouncing singing Tommy twists Tommy turns Tommy Burns but I still managed to get the photo. 3 years later I met TB again at the Tommy Burns Supper in Edinburgh and having time to talk to him I reminded him of our previous encounter. Quick as a flash Tommy’s reply was: Were you the guy that stole my wallet!

Raymobhoy
8 years ago

I used to be in a band nearly 30 years ago.

We played a Celtic Supporters club in Ormistone I think.
They had Tommy Burns there as a guest. we had him up dancing and
had a brilliant night. A true Gent and hero.

We also played a Ranger Supporters club in Rangers a couple of weeks later and they had a third reserve goalie i had never heard of.

As usual the gulf in class between the 2 clubs was obvious.

elcormaco
8 years ago

When we played our seaon at Hampden tried to get tickets to the last derby game (league already lost sadly)
In a pub run by Caesar full of tims drinking before the game. Billy’s coming round lifting glasses. “Know any where we might get a ticket?” Billy thinks, “dunno lads, leave it with me” “five minutes later he’s back over ” Them boys over there have some spares, they;ll sort you out.” Which they did, a 3-0 win and great memory of meeting the big man, just oozed class.
Just before another derby cup final (we lost) saw Lubo and a bird in a bar near central station, drinking his coca cola (at least i think it was just coke) Left him be til we were leaving, then asked if he d be fit for the final “we’ll see” he said,, wished him good luck and got a wee hail hail back. He played the game but was clearly unfit, hope I didn’t persuade him to play against his better judgement.

Living in Hyndland, saw Regi blinker driving his big 4×4. Another car coming down the road, and quite tightly parked cars either side, but Regi had right of way. Neeldless to say he stopped and let the other car come through. Where have we seen that behaviour before!! (thats not true btw, did see him driving about, but didnt witness any cowardly backing out of 70-30 driving situations)

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