8^th December

Celtic had not only beaten the champions of France the previous evening but also received plaudits from the manager and directors ;

Nantes Praise Celtic
‘Les Canaris’ (The Canaries) of Nantes flew back to France today with their European Cup hopes shattered by a Celtic side which showed no mercy at a windswept Celtic Park last night’.

And the French press also did not dispute Celtic’s right to a place in the last eight of the European Cup but still had praise for the way that Nantes fought.

‘L’Equipe’ said ‘ there was no comparison between the way Nantes played in the first leg and their performance in Glasgow.

‘France Soir’ proclaimed ‘last night’s defeat of Nantes was as good as a draw, almost a victory. This really was Nantes’ rehabilitation’.

 

9^th December

There was some news about a possible debut for a recent signing –

Wallace in Celtic Team
‘Willie Wallace, Celtic’s big-name signing from Hearts, will make his debut in the forward line against Motherwell at Celtic Park on Saturday’.

Manager Jock Stein said today ‘”Wallace will definitely play against Motherwell. The position he will fill in our forward line is still undecided but he is certain to play.

Joe McBride, Celtic’s other big-money buy since Stein took over at Parkhead could also be in the forward line against his former club. Report from the Celtic Boss – “Joe’s knee injury is not too serious and he could be available for Saturday’s game. We will see how his knee is and what weather conditions are like before deciding”.

John Hughes will make his return in the Reserve team against Motherwell at Fir Park tomorrow.

 

Glasgow police began investigations into the selling of an ‘obscene’ song book outside Celtic Park at the Nantes match. The police had been called in by Celtic chairman Bob Kelly who said he was unaware of any publication being on sale at the ground apart from the official match programme.

 I had been working hard at training and I also took the opportunity to go in and have a chat with the manager. My theme was that the team might be winning but that it was not playing particularly fluently and that Tam Gemmell was much more useful on the left than the right. I also pointed out that if he put me in at right-back, he could have attacks from both sides. He listened in silence but was fairly non-committal when he eventually did say his piece. Still, I probably got marks for trying, although later that morning, when the teams were announced for the weekend, I was still in the reserves!

 

10^th December

An ‘Old Firm’ Pointer to the Flag Race

‘Celtic are one point UP, Rangers four points DOWN at the present stage in the league championship race compared with a year ago.

Celtic have collected 24 points from the 13 games and they have scored 45 goals and conceded 14, the same goals figures after 13 matches last season.

Rangers in their 13 games have collected 20 points compared with 24 last season, have scored 41 and conceded 11. Last season at this stage, Rangers had scored 45 goals and lost only 8.

Both Celtic and Rangers should be celebrating tomorrow after their league matches, Celtic against Motherwell and Rangers versus Stirling Albion.

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New Men

British Transport Police are hoping to beat their target figure when their nationwide recruiting drive got underway in Glasgow.

In Plymouth recently, the force’s efforts attracted 80 applicants. Now, it is hoped that Glasgow can match or even better that figure.

 

Where?

West Lothian ambulancemen, operating from Bangour Hospital, dread getting a call from the Craigshill scheme in the new town of Livingston. They have difficulty tracing streets and door numbers.

“It’s like trying to find your way through a maze”, said one driver.

 

Trouble

Borussia Dortmund were fined £227 as a result of scenes during their home match against Stuttgart last month.

The fines were imposed by the West German Football Federation under whose rules football clubs are held responsible for incidents at their grounds.

Pandemonium broke out in the Dortmund/Stuttgart match after the referee sent off a Borussia player. The angry crowd pelted the field with beer bottles.