SENTINELCELTS

PART ONE-THIS DAY IN HISTORY

For 27th October, 2018

This is the Day in History:
Constantine had his famous vision of ‘The Cross of Christ’ in 312 C.E.

130 years ago…1888

Following on from their first, and Victorious, visit to Hibs, and a string of wins 7-1 (both home and away to Dundee Harp and an 8 goal win in Scottish Cup against Cowlairs) Celtic made their first competitive appearance against Rangers in a Glasgow Cup-Tie at Ibrox in front of 3-4,000 spectators.

Rangers won the toss and played with the wind, scoring the opening goal in 20 minutes. That would be their last significant contribution to the proceedings as Groves equalised from the re-start followed by Dunbar, Coleman, T Maley, Dunbar (again) and finally Kelly completing a 6-1 annihilation.

The new team from the East End were now scoring freely and had now only suffered one reverse, in a friendly against Clyde 3-4.They had gained revenge by September beating them in another friendly 5-1.

In other news…

The Boston Globe reports serious waves and damage to shipping, with many shipwrecks in Pawtucket. Horrendous loss of life with 15 sailors dead in one incident.

Meanwhile in Nantucket, residents complained about the number of lobsters left stranded in front yards due to huge waves.

70 years ago…1948

Celtic 4 Falkirk 4 League Division A

John (Jackie) Gallacher (sic) scored all 4 goals. The brother of the more famous Scotland International Hughie Gallacher. Was considered by some to be inconsistent and perhaps being unfairly judged as Jimmy McGrory was so fondly remembered. He signed in 1943 and left Celtic in 1951 ( free to Kettering Town) having scored 94 goals in 116 games. His conversion/goals rate is astonishing for any period, and particularly at a time when Celtic won no (0) senior honours.

In other news…

Albert Camus’ “L’Etat de siège (State of Siege)” premieres in Paris. ( Walter Smith is rumoured to have kept a well-thumbed copy in a cardigan pocket throughout his Ibrox career…)

50 years ago…1968

Celtic travelled to the Yugoslavian capital Belgrade, with a healthy 5-1 lead for 2nd leg of 2nd round European Cup against Red Star.

The starting 11 had all come through the Youth system in an unusual 4-3-3:
Fallon; Craig Gemmell McNeill Clark; Brogan Connolly Murdoch; Lennox Chalmers and Hughes.

‘Blow-in’ Willie Wallace replaced Chalmers in the second half and smacked a 30 yard “wonder goal” to ensure 1-1 draw. The 6-2 aggregate taking Celts into a Quarter-Final appointment with AC Milan.

In other news…

BBC Report At Downing Street, Tariq Ali of the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign (VSC) , handed in a petition, signed by 75,000 to ask the government to stop supporting the US in its war against Vietnam. 6,000 protestors attack the U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square. Police repel significant violent charges as protestors link arms and surge towards gates.

Babies born that day have had 1839.9 million heartbeats. ( Babies born in Grosvenor Square that day have had 1840.4 million heartbeats )

Note: The very excellent Celtic Wiki site is the font of knowledge on all things Celtic. Most of the Celtic stuff above is from that site ( not c&p tho’ ). The guys who set it up and, painstakingly, keep it updated; deserve no end of credit, praise and thanks. Dedication of the highest order and a treasure trove for Celtic fans young and old – and new- there are, literally, days of enjoyment, qfree to view, and only a click away.
Respect Bhoys!
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/m/

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PART TWO-IT WAS TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY!!!

Lubo,where have you been hiding all my life? These apparently were the words said to Lubomir Moravcik in the dressing room by Martin O’Neill,having seen him play for the first time.

Martin,I’ve got news for you-a lot of us had asked that question nearly two years earlier!

Lubo joined Celtic mainly because of his personal connection to Dr Jo Venglos. We can all laugh at the legendary description of the move by Hugh Keevinsand others,but if we are honest,few of us had heard of this 33yo from a faraway country of which we know nothing. And we had more on our plates at the time,dealing with our General Manager,Jock Brown.

Lubo cost us between £200-350k,depending on which report you read. By the time he made his debut ten days later,we had just lost 2-0 to Kilmarnock,and 4-2 to Zurich. We were out of Europe,and with only 20 points from 13 league matches-pretty dismal,I’m sure you’ll agree.

Fergus fired Brown,Lubo made his debut-as did our kid goalkeeper,Andy McCondichie-and we trounced Dundee 6-1. Henrik scored a hat-trick,Lubo was largely overlooked. As he was in our next game,a defeat to St Johnstone.

And then this,a link to A Star is Born. Apparently there have been four Hollywood versions. We’ve had lots more than that at Celtic Park!

Lubo and Henrik ran riot that day,scoring two goals each. Lubo took a great delight in trashing the uninformed opinions printed about him on his arrival. Famously telling them “I was never a zero!”

Indeed not,Lubo. You were a one-zero. One of the great No 10s,as no less a judge than Zinedine Zidane put it. Famously,taking the place in the hearts of the fans-and the place in the team-that Michel Platini had occupied for so long at St Etienne,and which had been vacant for nearly a decade. You think I’m resorting to hyperbole here? Try this…

http://www.espnfc.com/scotland/news/2002/0420/20020420featthomson.html

Eighty caps for his country,a goal roughly every four games,and possibly the most two-footed player most of us have ever seen. Lubo had it all,but we had him for four glorious years. I think he’s a legend. A lot of us do. But in his homeland,they think a little more highly of him. They call him Gift From God.

“My favourite time, my most special time, was at Celtic….They said I was a ‘gift from God’ but it was the opposite – Celtic was a gift from God to me…Celtic is unique.”
Lubo Moravcik (2015)

Thank you,Lubo. You gave us great joy,particularly in your early days with us,bringing us out from a dark period. You even inspired BROGANROGANTREVINOANDHOGAN to write one of his most informative and yet whimsical tributes,which he has kindly allowed me to direct you to.

The tale of Lubo and Joe —– and the old man in the park!

I’ll raise a glass to memories of you wearing our colours,Lubo. You were born to wear them.

HH