19th September
Even two days after the Celtic v Rangers encounter, the papers were still going on about how well Celtic had played;-
Will-O’-The-Wisps in Green
There was also the news – and I’m almost embarrassed to mention that my spirits were lifted by this announcement – that ‘Willie O’Neill and Tommy Gemmell had taken knocks in the Celtic/Rangers clash and were doubtful for the match on Wednesday’. Could it be? Might it be? Just in case the news was true, I went into Celtic Park that morning – while the rest of the players had a day off – and put in a full session, although, much to my annoyance, I do not think anyone from the management came down the tunnel to see the amount of effort I was putting in.
Most of the players, in fact, had gone over to Crow Wood to play in golf competition specifically organised for professional football players. Then, in the evening, all the first-team players were guests of the Central Sporting Club of Scotland at the Scottish Bantam-weight title fight between Jackie Brown, the holder, and Evan Armstrong.
Unfortunately, though, as my time was precious with my final exams coming up, I had to miss out on the invitation.
20th September
There was great news for Celtic fans in the press…..if not quite so good for me;
Celts Winning Fitness Battle
That was the headline in one of the evening papers and the report went on to mention the hard work put in by ‘Bob Rooney and his magic wand’.
As well as Tam and Pumper, whose fitness I was really interested in, Bob was also dealing with Chopper, Jinky, Joe and Bertie. Good for the club, I suppose, but I could sense that my hopes of a place in the side were lessening by the hour.
News had come through that the proposed match against Santos of Brazil was off, as the Brazilian Football Federation had refused to give the club permission to travel to the United Kingdom.
21st September
Catastrophic news on the back pages of the dailies ;
All the Celts Are Fit
I think the polite expression I was looking for was ‘c’est la vie’ but to be blunt, I was absolutely ‘gutted’ at the news. I went into Parkhead and did a full session without really talking to anyone, then made my way to the Dental Hospital, where I can recall more than one colleague asking me why I was a touch grumpy.
Even in the Hospital, when we all should have been concentrating on teeth, much of the discussion was about Floyd Patterson’s class in stopping Henry Cooper in the 4th round of their fight the previous evening.
Caught
Police in New York are holding 13 alleged gangsters arrested in a raid on a restaurant, which apparently followed a tip-off.
Police said they swooped when the men were holding a meeting round a festive table in a basement dining-room. They had thousands of dollars on them but none were armed.
Among those arrested are alleged heads of Cosa Nostra gangs in various parts of the country.
Plenty of Work
In the past six weeks, applications by Scots wishing to start a new life in Ontario, Canada, has increased by 20% and the Ontario Immigration office in Glasgow will need to take on more workers.
Mr James S Carrick, the officer-in-charge in Glasgow, said “We had a 780 capacity audience in the Highlanders’ Institute last night for a film show and had to turn away about 1000 people in a queue which stretched into Sauchiehall Street.
Increased numbers are required to work in Canada’s motor industry, 96% of which is based in Ontario.
Trouble
The Directors of Newcastle United are to discuss at their next weekly meeting what action may be necessary to avert a repetition of last night’s unruly scenes at St James’ Park, when a golf ball and a piece of iron were among missiles launched through the windows of tearooms after the friendly against Hearts.
At the final whistle, hundreds of youngsters invaded the pitch and gathered in front of the Directors box. Then they congregated in front of the main entrance and many of the windows were broken by flying coins and other objects. No one was hurt and no arrests were made.