Back o the Net! E-Book

• Herausgeber: Luath Press
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

This book is a reminder for those who have stood and suffered, sat, and celebrated, argued, fought and struggled as well as kept coming back, that supporting is more than just a game. I can assure you – it is much more important than that! DONALD C STEWART, Ayr United It doesn't matter where you are in the world or what stage you're at in life – you never forget when you first set eyes on your football club. Back o the Net! is an ode to the unwavering love that every football fan has for their club, comprising voices from many different walks of life. The devoted, the long suffering, the hometown fans, the ones who didn't grow up living in the same town as their team, the winners and the losers. All with the same underlying tie – they are dedicated and devoted to the very end. Whether it's in the back o our net or theirs, we'll always love our team. I'm a firm believer that supporting your local team, the team you've been brought up with, is very important, and I always will. I'm a season ticket holder, have been a shareholder and, like thousands of Fifers, the Raith Rovers result is the first one I look for every week. GORDON BROWN, FORMER P.M. (2007-2010), Raith Rovers You may change friends, you may change wife, but you never change football team. Always a Warrior. DAVID McVEY, Stenhousemuir We support our team, but we always remember the first time, the first place, the palace of the arts where we first watched them perform. GEORG MATHISEN, Kirkintilloch Rob Roy

Leseprobe

PAUL GOODWIN is the co-founder of the SFSA, an organisation which aims to provide fan representation, support community ownership and lead campaigns and research to improve the state of Scottish football. Since 2016, the organisation has run the SFSA Fans Awards. Paul has featured on BBC Sports, Sky Sports, A View from the Terrace, and in Nutmeg and various other sports publications both in the UK and abroad. He is the Manager of Kippen FC, a team that he resurrected after it ceased playing in 2018; he also coaches Balfron High School’s senior football team.

DONALD C STEWART is a battle-scarred veteran of Somerset Park where, at the age of 8 in 1973, he watched his hometown team draw with Peter Shilton’s Leicester City in the Texaco Cup (some fella called Alex Ferguson, playing for Ayr United at number 8, seeing out the twilight of his playing career). Since then, Donald C Stewart has enjoyed an eclectic career. Author, broadcaster, writer of note and reviewer, he is also a fully qualified nursery school teacher. A theatrical background has seen him review shows for over ten years – some of which were even worth going to. He writes two weekly boxing columns for RingSide Report. In his two weekly columns for the Scottish Football Supporters’ Association, he covers hot topics of the day and reimagines fitba fowk who have something to say, saying it in a different context – from drag competitions in Millport to dodgy pubs in Stirling.

All royalties generated from sales of this book will be donated to Play Soccer Malawi’s Fishing for Football project http://www.playsoccer-nonprofit.org and to Fans Supporting Foodbanks Scotland https://twitter.com/fsfscotland

The Scottish Football Supporters Association

The SFSA provides a platform for the ordinary Scottish Football Fan to have a say in the running of the game in Scotland. We are a voluntary organisation funded by donations from fans and other interested parties who believe that it is essential that the interests of the key stakeholders are represented and that football clubs and the football authorities are held accountable to those stakeholders. Our organisation is free to join for fans groups and for individuals who have a common aim of ensuring that Scottish football thrives for future generations to enjoy.

WHAT WE DO: We see our role as being split into four key areas which may expand depending on what our members wish us to do in the future.

1. Fan Representation

We believe that having a strong vibrant fans movement allows us to act as a focal point for any organisation to hear the views of Scottish football supporters, be it the media, the Scottish Government or national and international football authorities. Whilst we accept that fans views differ on a range of topics we do hope that we can bring a consensus opinion on the subjects that matter.

2. Supporting Community Ownership

We believe that our football clubs are best served by having the interests of their community at heart. This means the key stakeholders in the game – the fans – must have their views heard. We believe that the long-term future of our game is best served with football supporters playing an ever increasing role in the management and ownership of their clubs. We have a vast experience of the various models across Europe and we will work with any fans group in Scotland to further the democratic aims and ownership objectives they wish to achieve.

3. Campaigns

Orchestrated campaigns have been sadly lacking in Scotland for many years and the football authorities and many clubs have regularly ignored the will of the paying public when it comes to the implementation of changes in our game. The very fact that there has been no one fans’ organisation to unify the supporters has allowed the football authorities to treat the fans with disdain. It is our intention to campaign as a group on key issues that effect not only how the game is currently run but look to exert pressure to get the authorities to take our views into consideration when they make decisions.

4. Research

We believe that if we want to improve our game we need to constantly evaluate it and research ways it can improve. Who better to provide the answers than the fans of each of our football clubs. The knowledge, commitment and love that we have for the game has so much value and yet is often dismissed by clubs and those in authority at Hampden Park. Already we have proven our worth by consulting in a Parliamentary survey that looked at gathering fans views on community ownership and in the coming months and years we will ensure that all aspects our game are reviewed and analyse.

PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: A truly unique partnership opportunity… SFSA is a not-for-profit members’ organisation that has been created to build long term success for Scottish football by enabling the involvement of thousands of ordinary Scottish football fans in its development. We need strong, committed partners to work with us in delivering the voice of the people – the fans of Scottish Football. To join SFSA or to enquire about partnership opportunities, please visit https://scottishfsa.org

First published 2023

ISBN: 978-1-80425-142-3

The author’s right to be identified as author of this book under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 has been asserted.

Typeset in 11.5 point Sabon LT by

Main Point Books, Edinburgh

Text © the contributors 2023

Images © Stuart Roy Clarke & Homes of Football 2023

This book is dedicated to the fans we lost during the pandemic

Contents

Introduction

Paul Goodwin

From the Editor

Donald Stewart

Love Letter to Scotland

The Tartan Army (AKA Andy McArthur)

The One Constant

Andy Smith

THE PREMIERSHIP – SEASON 2022/23

ABERDEEN

So Many Legends

Gordon Duncan

Celtic

Hail, Hail, the Celts are Here!

Paul Lincoln

DUNDEE UNITED

First Love, Enduring Love in Tangerine

David Fox

HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN

Why I Love My Club

Hugh Carter

HIBERNIAN

Choose Life, Choose Hibs

Neil Renton

Home and Away

Alex Tough

KILMARNOCK

Miracles Do Happen

Gary Kirkpatrick

Cherished Memories

Claire Morrison

LIVINGSTON

A Committed Crew

Hannah Bardell MP

MOTHERWELL

A Unique Club

Scott McClure

RANGERS

How Lucky Am I?

Tom Miller

ROSS COUNTY

Truly Special

Ramsay Banks

Feisty Encounters

Robbie MacDonald

ST JOHNSTONE

Dad and Lad Reflections with the Saints

Ed Hodge

ST MIRREN

Why I Love… St Mirren

Tommy McAllister

THE CHAMPIONSHIP – SEASON 2022/23

ARBROATH

Awesome Days

Paul Gray

AYR UNITED

It Means So Much More

Donald C Stewart

COVE RANGERS

Getting the Buzz

Richard Clowney

DUNDEE

Once a Dee, Always a Dee

Stuart Murphy

GREENOCK MORTON

Why I love Greenock Morton

Ian MacGillivray

HAMILTON ACADEMICAL

Quality Time

Ben Paterson

INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE

Mighty Performances

Ken Davidson

September’63 (Oh What a Start)

Andrew Smith

PARTICK THISTLE

But Who Do You Really Support?

David Petrie

QUEEN’S PARK

A Fan-Run Club

Keith McAllister

A Tantalising Prospect

Scott Strain

RAITH ROVERS

A Matter of Life or Death

Liam Wallace

Supporting My Local Team

Right Hon. Gordon Brown

LEAGUE ONE – SEASON 2022/23

AIRDRIEONIANS

Cocky Wee Diamonds

Colin Campbell

ALLOA ATHLETIC

The Magical Wasps

Catherine Conoboy-Reid

CLYDE

The Bully Wee

Declan Lewis

DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC

Rollercoaster Ride

Ross Philp

FALKIRK

In My Blood

Kenny Jamieson

EDINBURGH CITY

Part of City

Kenny Jamieson

KELTY HEARTS

An Ambitious Young Club

Morris Brand

MONTROSE

One Common Goal

Graham Christieson

PETERHEAD

Never Outfought

Stephen Donovan

Part of Something

Connor Buchan

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

All the Highs and Lows

Colin Rutherford

LEAGUE TWO – SEASON 2022/23

ALBION ROVERS

Exploits of the Rovers

John Smith

ANNAN ATHLETIC

A True Supporter

Martin Richardson

DUMBARTON

On the Terracing

Jimmy Cormack

EAST FIFE

A Special Place in My Life

Henry McLeish

ELGIN CITY

Dream Come True

Craig Stewart

FORFAR ATHLETIC

Like a Second Family

Wilma Kader

STENHOUSEMUIR

Always a Warrior

Georg Mathisen

STIRLING ALBION

My Football Journey with Dad

Tricia Chillas

STRANRAER

Sticking with Them

Laurence Nelson

AND FROM THE WIDER LOVE AFFAIRS

BERWICK RANGERS

Did You See That Goal?

Alan Thompson

BRECHIN CITY

A Well-Preserved Hedge

David Dooker

A Real Affinity

Graham Donald

COWDENBEATH

Programme Notes

Andrew Mullen

CUMBERNAULD COLTS

Everyone Can Chip In

Angus Paterson

KIRKINTILLOCH ROB ROY

Rob Roy, Me, and Adamslie Park

David McVey

WHITLETTS VICTORIA

Quite a Journey

John Dalton

Introduction

Why We Love Scottish Football

I HAVE BEEN involved in football for as long as I can remember. I have had some amazing memories playing, watching, working in the game, coaching, managing a team and of course being involved in fan’s affairs for over a decade. What has always amazed me is the absolute dedication and love that we have for our teams and the wider game. In this wee book we wanted to share some of the special moments and highlight that no matter the colours or the size of the club, the passion, loyalty and dedication we all share really is a special love. So, I hope no matter who you support that you enjoy this wee collection of stories that makes our game so special and that you will feel a little bit of love for the rest of our clubs.

My thanks for delivering this project go to Donald C Stewart who was our chief editor, Paddy Hainey and Murray Napier for finding our volunteer writers, to everyone at the Scottish Football Supporters Association for agreeing to back the project and Gavin and his team at Luath Press. Last but not least, we know without the fans football is nothing so thanks to all our contributors for sharing the love they have – this really is your book.

What we all have in common is our universal love of the game whether it be players, coaches, referees, or us, the loyal spectators.

For those of us who are privileged enough to work in the edges of the football world it can sometimes surprise and delight you in equal measure when it comes to sharing a wee moment or two with the stars of the game. When it comes to meeting some of the legends of the game who you have idolised from the terraces, or just watched from the edge of your sofa, it can often be an experience that can become a special memory. Only occasionally have I ever been left disappointed. Just sometimes there is the experience when a star of yesteryear turns out to be a grumpy old sod or worse still, not capable of translating the skills displayed on the park to the real world.

Like most kids, I was tongue tied and frozen when the first opportunity came to talk to a football star but was / (forced) to do so by my father who saw it as some type of rite of passage for me to ask for an autograph. I have stuck in my brain one of my very earliest childhood football memories. It was an away Scottish Cup tie at East End Park where I was first pressed into action to trophy hunt for an autograph and get a fleeting hello with a player. As my sixth decade has now arrived I, like most of my generation see the years blend into each other as we struggle to remember the specifics of a particular game or try to remember what year that a particular song was number one. Yet for some reason this very early memory is etched like my first day at school or the delivery of my first new bike (sadly not a Chopper). I recall that it was snowing and that the game was in doubt and that it took my dad ages to navigate to Fife in our old black Austin Somerset car. How the car made it that far I don’t know as this was a world before the vehicular health and safety of an MOT existed. I sat up top next to my dad who had a reflex action like a fine goalkeeper that made his left arm come out to act as a seatbelt to protect me every time he braked or slowed down. It was not often I was privileged to be in the front seat pretending to drive and making all the car noises along the way.

I was usually confined to the back seat when I would do what any curious five or six-year-old would do. I stared at the rusty hole in the car floor and was mesmerised to the point of wanting to throw up as the car picked up speed. But not this winter’s day, where there was snow on the ground, singing of Cup songs, optimism in the air and rosettes purchased as the mighty Partick Thistle rolled into town for the usual early exit from the National Cup tournament. Nothing from the action on the park is in the memory bank. No doubt Dad would have said that we missed too many chances and the Cup dream would have to wait for another year. However, what did stay with me for all these years was my first encounter with a first team player. Before we went into the ground Dad recognised the Thistle keeper George Niven loitering at the player’s entrance. Niven was out injured and would miss the match. Despite the fact he had an arm injury (not his writing arm I presume) I was lifted up to have my hair ruffled and manged to get his autograph on a piece of paper, which I think was a used envelope that came out of my dad’s pocket. I recall feeling embarrassed by it all and really uncomfortable but that was probably feeling that dad and I were both out of our comfort zone making small talk to the man we were used to cheering. Afterwards the score was an irrelevance as all I wanted to do was get home and more importantly get to school on Monday to show off my autograph to everybody who would listen to my story.

As I grew into a wee football obsessed boy I would cling on to that excitement and for a few years I would come down off my barrier at the Firhill City End and head for the wall to secure more autographs. My Dad and his old workmates from the Barclay Curle Shipyard would watch on to see how the players would react to me. I concentrated on my favourite players and shunned many who came over to offer a signature. Tommy Gibb a midfield maestro, Joe McBride who scored for fun and a speedy winger Arthur Duncan all took sympathy and provided a chat and a scribble. Then I stopped when I was sure that I was jinxing the team. No sooner had I bagged the signature they my favourite players than they seemed to disappear to bigger clubs, making my collection and affections obsolete in the process.

Since then, autograph hunting was never my thing, but I did see it from the other side of the fence many years later when I worked for Scottish & Newcastle Breweries. I was asked to take a new employee out in trade with me visiting my pubs. It was an interesting few days having the recently retired Rangers, Hearts, and Scotland defender Sandy Jardine as my sidekick. I am sure he helped increase my orders significantly that week as he spent time dispensing autographs to publicans, staff and punters. The love shown for Sandy was amazing from folks, no matter what team they supported they seemed to recognise that he was a legend and a special player and worthy of the love they gave. I got to know him well and eventually I did get his autograph on a Scotland shirt that I still have. Typical of Sandy, he only agreed to sign it if I signed my book about the community purchase of Stirling Albion for him. He said fair was fair!

During the campaign to buy Stirling Albion I was on BBC Radio Mersey with Motherwell, Liverpool and Scotland legend Ian St John who was interested in the campaign we had to save the club. A couple of days after the radio interview I got an unexpected call as The Saint Ian St John called me to say he was so impressed with what we were trying to do to buy the club for the community. Given the connections between both clubs (both red and white, Annfield/Anfield and Bob and Bill Shankly) he wanted to see if he could help. Not only did he give me his number and ask me to call if I needed any help, but he also sent us an old retro Liverpool shirt, duly autographed, at his expense. It raised a good few pounds for our campaign.

There was one other occasion where I nearly asked for an autograph but didn’t as it just felt a bit daft to do so. When I was Marketing Director at HMV, I was part of the team that set up a Music and Football extravaganza that had a huge dinner in aid of Nordoff Robbins. It was held every year at the prestigious Grosvenor Hotel in London. One of the main backers was Alex Ferguson before he got his knighthood. On one of the event nights, I got there ridiculously early and decided just to head to the bar for a pre-event drink. I was the only person in the reserved bar area. Next in was Sir Alex who was also on his own. He walked right up to me and said hello and as soon as he heard my accent, we started talking fitba. Everything from schools’ football, Harmony Row, his brother Martin playing for Thistle, getting the Scotland team winning again, and Gordon Ramsay swearing all the time. It was all so ordinary and yet so amazing to share some time with the man at the peak of his powers. Like an itch that needed scratched I had to find a way to ask for his autograph but by the time we were joined by Alan Curbishley, Alan Shearer and Kenny Dalglish, it seemed a ridiculous thing to contemplate given that Sir Alex was introducing me as Paul the Jags fan who created the event (a fair bit of exaggeration with this point). As the night progressed, I shook all the hands (Kenny invited me to a round of golf with Alan Hansen – still unclaimed) and retreated to the relatively cheap seats with no autographs. A few hours later at the auction someone paid £30,000 to go to Sir Alex Ferguson’s house and have Gordon Ramsay cook for eight invited guests. I bet they all got autographs that night.

Of course, if this had been in more recent times I could have asked for a selfie or maybe I wouldn’t have been brave enough. No autographs in my collection of fitba stuff but some amazing memories from stars who love the game just as much as I do and are so willing to share the love that it brings.

PS I would love a Sir Alex Ferguson autograph if anybody wants to send me one as I still have that itch for the one that got away.

Paul Goodwin,

Co-founder of the Scottish Football Supporters Association

From the Editor

TO SAY THAT this has been a labour of love, is perhaps a bit of a cliché. When a former Labour Party First Minister and Labour Party Prime Minister have contributed, it is doubly so. A form of political balance is perhaps restored when a sitting MP from another political party is also a contributor though these contributions have reduced everyone to the same level – a fan with a love of the game and of THEIR club.

I was delighted to have been given the job of editing, as well as providing my own contribution. All the contributions, within our given timeframe, we have received have been included. This has meant a few clubs have double the love. I can claim absolute fairness as I have included two from Kilmarnock!

But the joy of reading these first, has come when I was in receipt of contributions from the son of a Scottish footballing legend, my former neighbour from across our street, the mother of another legend of the game and an under-15s player who wrote with such genuine charm and passion that it showed maturity beyond years. Envisaged during lockdown, the initial list of 42 senior clubs has since changed and we are without any Rosey Posey love – a gap, we genuinely feel.

But with nostalgia being a favourite Scottish pastime, and with the years rolling on, we think back on the generations alongside whom we have stood; sat; cheered; smiled; shaken our heads at; delved into depressions with; and slopped off into cold winter nights alongside after yet another loss, believing next year we achieve European success due to our one win against the champions of somewhere; this is for all of them. It is a reminder for those who have stood and suffered, sat and celebrated, argued, fought and struggled as well as kept coming back, that supporting is more than just a game. I can assure you; it is much more important than that!

Donald C Stewart,UTID, The Lucky Editor,SFSAResident Writer and Salvador Dali of blogging, allegedly…

Love Letter to Scotland

Dear Scotland,

We’ve been together for over 50 years. We’ve had our ups and downs, and at times I’ve asked myself, ‘Why are we still an item?’ Come to think of it, I’ve been asking myself this every couple of years for the last 20.

In fact, there’s been an underlying problem in our relationship that goes back much further than that. It’s to do with summer holidays. Have you got an issue spending a decent length of time with me at that time of the year?

Remember the great times we were having in West Germany back in ’74, then in Argentina, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Sweden, and France? We even enjoyed a short summer in England in ’96. But you always insisted on coming home too soon. You just pulled the plug. One day we’re looking forward to at least another week. The next our bags are packed and we’re homeward bound. We just can’t go on like this.

OK, apart from the short summer holidays, we have been pretty damned good together. We make a great team, do we not? Falling in love was easy. I remember our first dates back in the early ’70s when you took me to Hampden – the crowds, the flags, the deafening noise, your gallus pals in the dark blue. It was just magic.

And of course, we went to London every couple of years in those days. It felt like the rest of the country came too. That all went pear-shaped in ’77 when we decided to bring some of London back home with us. Our southern neighbour didn’t like that. They were happy to take your oil, but they didn’t want to share their national stadium.

Our summer holidays were too short, and we’ve not had one for such a long time. But you have taken me on some other wonderful trips. And the people we’ve met. I didn’t know I had so many relatives. We must have the biggest family in the whole world. Although many of them are a bit strange, they have good hearts. Or maybe it’s more about how travelling with you brings out the better angels of our natures.

I remember when Paddy from Dunfermline drove all the way to Sarajevo in Bosnia in a kit-build, open-topped sports car, stopping in small mountain villages in the middle of the night to distribute cans of Irn-Bru and Scotland flags to the local kids. The car got a lot of attention parked outside one of the Tartan Army’s boozers of choice when it was not giving small parties of foot soldiers a spin around the war-damaged city.

And Singing Phil in Tbilisi, Georgia, who took it upon himself to sort out a whole orphanage’s footwear needs. Phil had already established a bit of reputation for himself as a purveyor of charitable deeds. And when he announced that for his 50th birthday he wanted no presents, but cash that would go to a good cause on a future trip, we knew another kindly gesture was in the making.

So, we’re heading to Georgia. Phil gets himself out to Tbilisi ahead of the advance party. He identifies an orphanage in need of help, establishes the shoe sizes of the 60 or so children – all orphans from the war in Ossetia to the north – then spends the best part of three days sourcing the required footwear from shoe shops around the city. I remember Donny from Islay, in full Highland regalia, piping a group of us into the orphanage – the children were more excited by the Scotland shirts and balls that accompanied the shoes, but even more still by the skirl of the pipes.

Yes, the local people we’ve met on our foreign trips together have been great. Many have become adopted members of our family – they’re not from Scotland, but we look forward to having a beer with them whenever and wherever Scotland plays. Of course, not every effort to engage and charm the locals when overseas has worked out as intended.

Here’s Singing Phil again, still in Georgia and taking a short culture break with his pal Scott. They decide to have a day off the beer to travel up into the mountains in search of a famous monastery: which they find. The welcome from the head monk is warm. Visitors are rare and they are invited in to look around. Phil recalls the great sense of peace and tranquillity. It did not last. Scott had just signed his name in a book he had found and left a friendly message on behalf of the Tartan Army.

But the book was no common tome. It certainly was not a ‘visitor’s book’. It was, in fact, a priceless religious artefact. As the head monk went off his head, Scott looked back at the book to see what all the commotion was about and recalled seeing a signature he recognised – Saint Francis of Assisi. So, that dates the book at about 800 years old, at least. I know it wasn’t in the boys’ minds at the time, but it may be of some post-event consolation to know that, apart from other notable things, the bold Saint Francis was also renowned for drinking and partying in his youth.

And what a party it has been Scotland. Hopefully, there will be many more adventures together just around the corner. When I feel a bit sad and down about our relationship, I just think of the many great times, and I tell myself ‘We’ll always have Paris’ – that certainly helps.

But I’m looking forward now, not back.

Love, and will support you ever more.

The Tartan Army

AKA Andy McArthur

Andy has followed Scotland since a life-changing experience on Saturday 27 May 1972. England’s visit to Hampden in the Home Internationals kicked off a lifetime in the Tartan Army. He would have had a more successful professional career, could be living in a bigger house, and probably would have had a longer life expectancy had he gone to the pictures instead on that Saturday. But Andy would not change a thing.

The One Constant

Ups and downs, ins and outs, comings and goings and toings and froings.

That’s football.

This book is a snapshot of the myriad of reasons why some of us fell in love and have lifetime bonds with our clubs.

It has been written for fans, by fans.

And indeed already some of what we have written is already history because players, managers and owners come and go.

But fans don’t.

We are the constant in Scottish football despite the ever-present churn at our clubs and throughout the game.

Collectively fans in Scotland are the key stakeholders from grass roots to the marble staircases, even if our clubs and the authorities sometimes forget that. If you are not a member of our growing Union of Fans, please join the SFSA. It is free, always will be and we will always fight your corner. Fans need a louder voice.

This book is a celebration of football at a moment in time and is a joyous tribute to all that makes football great.

Enjoy.

Andy Smith

Chairman Scottish Football Supporters Association

The Premiership

SEASON 2022/23

ABERDEEN

So Many Legends

WHERE DO YOU start when you have to say what your club means to you? I guess at the beginning. I remember vaguely as I was seven my dad going to the 1970 Scottish Cup semi-final at Muirton Park, Perth (for the younger reader St Johnstone haven’t always played at McDiarmid Park!) against Kilmarnock and then to the Scottish Cup final at Hampden where we beat Celtic 3–1; King Joey and Cup tie McKay. This was a Celtic team who were in the European Cup Final that same season. I was deemed too young to go to either game.

My first game however was a final, the Drybrough Cup Final, against Celtic at Pittodrie in 1971. Strangely in those days, and I can’t remember why, it was my mum who took me. I remember clearly the atmosphere as Pittodrie was full (I was eight, mind), and we won with a Joey penalty – I know you are thinking a penalty against Celtic in a final – WOW! Also, I was to discover 12 years later an atmosphere which put it very much in the shade against a small German team from Munich. Another game which sticks in the mind from my early days was against Hibs in 1976 which was effectively a relegation play-off. We won and were part of the new top ten League.

So that was me hooked from my primary school days and it was then a constant through the rest of my life; accompanied by numerous ups and downs. Its importance to you can never be underestimated. One point which is interesting for someone of my vintage is when your club has had so much success when you are relatively young the success you then get in later years when it has been harder to come by means so, so much. I clearly remember crying at the end of the 1990 Scottish Cup final when Theo saved Anton Rogan’s penalty and then Brian Irvine scored the winning penalty, as we had waited a whole four years for that success. And then again in 2014 when we won the League Cup, again on penalties. That time we had waited a whole 19 years, 120 minutes, and the ‘f****** penalties’, as our then chairman, famously said to Chick Young. These finals were much more tense and emotional than the Scottish Cup final against Hearts in 1986 and the League Cup Final against Hibs in 1985.

There have been so many legends over the years, far too many to mention, and a fair number of unsung heroes as well. Most fans would agree however that top of their list of legends would be the one and the only Willie Miller. To watch Willie over his 20 years was an absolute pleasure – what a winner. So many moments flash back into your mind – Willie scoring the goal with his head at the Merkland end in 1984 against Celtic to win the League that year and then his manic celebration as he ran along the front of the South Stand fist pumping before he was caught up and dragged to the ground. His celebration with Fergie at Easter Road when we won the League for the first time in 25 years, the way he lifted all those trophies with one hand, and all those last-ditch tackles in the penalty box – he really was the best penalty box defender in the world at the height of his career. He also was a legend for Scotland and should have won so many more caps but being with a provincial club it was so much more difficult to get established in the team. I think Willie was 25 before that happened for him.

So, there you go, and I didn’t mention the most famous date in our 117-year history once, 11 May 1983!

Gordon Duncan

CELTIC

Hail, Hail, the Celts Are Here!

MY LOVE FOR Celtic Football Club, started as a young boy on the streets of the Gorbals and Castlemilk. Attending my first game at age 7 in 1970, a 4–2 Celtic home win over Hearts, was like finally fulfilling an all be it short-lived, lifelong dream. I had watched as the boys and men around me regularly performed the matchday rituals before every game and the excitement and anticipation they felt before going off to support their team – the mystery and lure of Celtic Park had me near hooked before I had even been.

Having been a regular attendee at almost every match day home and away in the years that followed, the fantasy of the club and dreams of standing in the Jungle watching the likes of Johnstone, McNeill and my personal favourite Kenny Dalglish, became my weekly reality.

Reality soon turned to my own ritual as week in, week out me and thousands of other dedicated Celts would travel to watch the ‘bhoys’. It became memories of making our way to Parkhead on the 46 bus from Castlemilk to Dalmarnock; climbing over the embankment by the old East End Saw Mill and walking along the abandoned train line; hoping to avoid the uglier side of football and dangers of walking through Bridgeton as a young Celtic fan in those days; bringing us out at the back of the ground by the old Celtic end of Celtic Park; making sure to arrive early to be hoisted in and cement your place down the front of the Jungle; and watching the same loyal faces make their way in behind you.

Soon there were similar memories of similar faces gathering at Queen Street station to travel all over Scotland on the football special train following the bhoys, announcing ourselves at every station with a chorus of ‘HAIL, HAIL THE CELTS ARE HERE!’ while continuing to try to avoid the troubles and trials of travelling to rival cities and crossing paths with rival fans. Though dangerous at times this all added to the sense of excitement, adventure, and devotion I felt towards my team.

Great wins that stick in the memory as a Celtic supporter in the ’70s are the 6–1 demolition of Hibernian in the 1972 Scottish Cup final and the 1–0 victory over Rangers in the 1977 final to secure the double that year; not to mention the famous 2–0 win over the European giants Real Madrid in 1980, contributing to a long list of famous Celtic European nights of the past and of the days yet to come.

For me, it was always the defeats that hit the hardest. The genuine heartache felt off the back of European semi-final defeats to Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid in 1972 and 1974 coupled with the true devastation of my footballing hero Kenny Dalgleish leaving the club in 1977 to write his name into the history books of another giant of the game, were some of the most memorable moments for me as a Celtic fan.

I believe it was moments like these throughout my time supporting Celtic that have made it especially clear to me the love I hold for the club and the value it has in my life. As seen throughout football it is the hard times that test the devotion of supporters and, as I reflect, I realise it was the hard times that proved to me my devotion for Celtic Football Club.

Paul Lincoln

DUNDEE UNITED

First Love, Enduring Love in Tangerine

I FELL IN LOVE for the first time with Dundee United as a boy in the late 1980s, when I was about 8 or 9. I grew up in Glenrothes, but my dad comes from Dundee. Even without the family connections, with regular European adventures and Scottish international star names in the team, the ’80s were an easy time to choose United as your team.