The Old Firm Match Still in the Headlines
A few days after it had happened, the papers were still writing about the Old Firm match. Even the headlines were about the one-sided contest ;-
RANGERS STILL WONDERING WHAT HIT ‘EM
CELTIC WERE BRILLIANT
IT’S NOT THE END AT IBROX
Under the latter headline, the writer offers some thought-provoking information ;-
‘It is true that Rangers may not be the team that they once were. But the facts are that, good or bad, Rangers are 2nd top of the league table.
Back Training
You might have thought that after a week during which we beat Morton 8-1, Clyde 3-1 and Rangers 5-1, everything in the training garden would be rosy.
Unfortunately, that’s not how it happens in football and as the part-timers reported back for training on the Tuesday night, all the talk from the backroom staff was about the first-team’s forthcoming games against Dundee United (H), Aberdeen (A), Motherwell (H) and Hearts (A), plus the home leg against Dynamo Kiev,
And just in case the guys from the reserve side thought that they were being left out of things, they were reminded about the poor result in the friendly against Ayr United and how they would have to pull their socks up – although not literally – in their up-coming matches!.
Out of Puff!
Probably because the reserve squad had not played since Christmas Day, we were once again put through the mill that Tuesday evening, trackwork being the only type of training on offer, not a popular idea with most of the guys. One slightly older midfield player, struggling down the back-straight on a 440 yard run, muttered “snooker players train by playing snooker; golfers by playing golf, so why…..?
Unfortunately, as he had run out of steam, we never quite found out the next line or two of his argument. However, many of us could have made a very good guess!
Final Warning
Celtic sent a 48-hour ultimatum to their opponents in the European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final. If Celtic have not heard from the Ukrainians about the club’s travelling arrangements within that time, then the proposed away tie on the 19th is definitely off.
Our Next Opponents
At that point of the season, Dundee United were lying in fourth place in the league table, just behind Dunfermline and ahead of Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen
The Press Conferences
It was reported – in big headlines – that the Dundee United manager was in some difficulty ;-
Jerry Kerr Takes His Problem to Celtic Park
It later transpired that his problem – which he was keeping to himself at that point – was that he had only 15 available players.
By contrast, Jock Stein was full of good humour, remarking that John Hughes and Charlie Gallagher were being treated for minor injuries but he expected that he would have a full pool to choose from. There was one thought, though, in the minds of both players and supporters ; would he really make any changes to a side which had beaten Rangers 5-1?
The Hi Hi
It was reported that Third Lanark were considering selling their ground and moving to East Kilbride. The Hi Hi had been relegated at the end of the previous season and the players had reverted to part-time status. This season, they were lying well down the 2nd Division table with severe money problems. Two other clubs – Clydebank and Clyde – had in recent years also considered a move to East Kilbride.
As soon as Third Lanark’s proposed move became public, however, it was immediately opposed by their fans, who set up an action group with disgusted shareholders.
Question
The answer to the previous query – when did Celtic first play Kilmarnock in a league match? – was in season 1899-1900, when the teams met down in Ayrshire on 26th August 1899, the match ending a 2-2 draw.
This time round, the question is about that same Third Lanark mentioned above. When all these behind the scenes shenanigans were going on over at Cathkin, in January 1966, who was their manager?
A Dental Question
On a free vote last night, Dundee Town Council decided by 20 votes to 12 against putting fluoride in the water supplies.
Accidents
68 people, including 15 children, were killed in road accidents in Scotland in October, one fewer than in the previous month.
Success for Scottish Boxer
Walter McGowan, of Hamilton, the British and Empire flyweight champion last night beat Nevio Carbi, Italy’s number one bantamweight, in the 6th round of a scheduled 8-round contest in London.