Free Week
After the travel and tribulations of the previous week, it was something of a relief to get back to training on the Tuesday night, where all the guys not involved in the first team wanted to know the details of the trip to Kiev and I was brought up-to-date with events back home.
The Reserves had been playing Hearts’ second string at Parkhead on the Saturday – while the first team was going down at Tynecastle – and had picked up a fine 4-1 victory, the team being Martin, Halpin, O’Neill, Cattenach, McCarron, Brogan, Connelly, H Quinn, J Quinn, Sweeney and Auld, with Jimmy Quinn (3) and Gerry Sweeney getting the goals.
New Goalkeeper
It was announced in the press that, after pleasing the club with his performances in his trial matches, Bent Martin had been signed up.
Press Comment
During the week, various reports were printed in the press;-
31st January…..Motherwell are interested in Celtic reserve left-winger Tony Taylor. Manager Bobby
Bobby Howitt has been in touch with Celtic, who are prepared to let the player go but
are a-waiting an offer from the Steelmen.
1st February….Centre-half John Cushley got a leg knock at Tynecastle on Saturday and must be
doubtful for the cup tie against Stranraer. Of course, with Billy McNeill available,
Celtic are well placed.
3rd February….It was announced that Jock Stein took a dim view of the Scottish League’s decision
to let the Hearts v Celtic league match go ahead the previous Saturday. Certainly,
Celtic never asked for a postponement but the Celtic Boss had talked with the League
Secretary from Stockholm on Friday, when he merely asked that Celtic’s current
travelling woes should perhaps be taken into account. No action was forth-coming,
though, and the Boss made his feelings clear : “I am amazed that this decision was
taken when Celtic’s players and officials were far away in a foreign country!”
4th February….It was announced by Jock Stein that all his players were fit and well.
5th February….’In the Scottish Cup today, the Old Firm seem to be on easy street, with Airdrie at
Ibrox and Stranraer at Celtic Park’.
The Reserves in Action
On the Friday evening, the night before the Celtic v Stranraer Scottish Cup tie, a selected team ran out at Celtic Park for a Combined Reserve League match against East Fife. It resulted in a comfortable 3-1 win for the Hoops, and the eleven involved were Kennedy, Cunningham, Halpin, Henderson, McCarron, ‘Newman’, ‘Newman’, McGowan, J Quinn, Sweeney, Taylor, the goals coming from McGowan (2) and a McCarron penalty.
Question
In my previous preview, the question was about the name of the very successful boxer whom Celtic masseur Jimmy Steele had attended to in his earlier days? The answer to that was Freddie Mills, world light-heavyweight champion from 1948 to 1950.
This week’s query refers to that reserve side which beat Hearts 4-1 at Celtic Park. The daughter of one of the players in that side became world badminton champion; which player?
Silent Star
It was announced that Buster Keaton, famed comedian of the silent screen era, had died in Hollywood, aged 70.
Back Home
India and Pakistan have exchanged more than 1000 prisoners in the first big exchange since the fighting between the two countries last September.
Two Deaths
The wreckage of an RAF Canberra jet, missing since last Wednesday from its West German base, was found in the Scaraben area of Caithness yesterday.