Training
The Celtic players reported back for normal training today and everyone seemed to be fit and raring to go. There would have been a ‘buzz’ around the place and everyone would have felt buoyed up by the club’s appearance in the forthcoming League Cup final.
Certainly, that was the case in the evening, when the part-timers came in. As we had a match on the Friday night, the evening before the Cup Final, this would have been the only training session that week and I can still recall the lively debate, when, as soon as the coaching staff was out of the dressing-room, the players discussed the game and picked the eleven they would have chosen. Dare I say some catty comments were made about certain players…..and would it surprise you if I mentioned that the players in question played in the same positions as the ones making the comments!
Transfer News
There was another topic of discussion that night, one that most of the guys found a little surprising. In the press that morning, under the headline…..
Wanted Men
…..it had been reported that two players who had taken part in the League Cup final replay had been specifically watched by representatives of English clubs. Jimmy Johnstone was the subject of interest from Northampton; while Sunderland were apparently keen on Hibs striker Neil Martin.
It would be fair to say that dressing-room was stunned by the possible implications. Jimmy Johnstone might be leaving Celtic Park?. The Wee Man was everybody’s pal. It would be like losing a brother. Surely no way!
Cup Final News
From what we gleaned from the coaching staff – and read from the papers – Celtic did not seem to have any injury worries for the big match. However, across the city, two Rangers players were still having their problems;-
Henderson’s Hopes Rise
Willie Henderson did some light training today and said afterwards that his pulled muscle injury reacted well.
McLean’s Hopes Fade
On the other hand, George McLean’s ankle problem was still causing problems.
In the world outside football, quite a number of Scots were feeling slighted as their country received another blow to its prestige ;-
No Scots in Royal Show Line-up
There is not one Scot in this year’s Royal Variety Show line-up. Instead, the honours go to England, France and the USA.
On the funny side, there’s Ken Dodd, Spike Milligan and Peter Sellars. On the musical front, there are no Beatles: the beat spot is taken over by the Dave Clark Five.
Shirley Bassey, Dusty Springfield, Frank Ifield and the Kaye Sisters will be appearing; as well as Johnny Hallyday and Sylvie Vartan from France and from the USA, Tony Bennett, Jack Benny and Peter, Paul and Mary.