Celtic are back in action tonight at Celtic Park in the Europa League v Roma.
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Another Celtic legend from the 1970’s has left us. John ‘Dixie’ Deans passed away aged 79 this week. Dixie was born just 7 years before me and as our Editor Andrew reminded I’m the only regular contributor to Mt90M who actually seen the hit man in the flesh.
Dixie was a steady Scottish league striker for Motherwell between ‘1965-‘1971. He scored 78 goals in 152 appearances. Jock Stein seen something worth a punt in him and for the next 5 years he hit 89 goals in 126 appearances as Celtic completed their first 9 in a row and Deans became a favourite with the Jungle.
His goal scoring record was dynamic. I can still see him gathering the ball back to goal, his sturdy frame punishing defenders as he turned and in his gallus style made for goal and popped it in the bottom corner. He won 3 titles with Celtic, 2 Scottish Cups and a League Cup during the final years of the Stein era.
He is also the only player to score hat tricks in two cup finals in ‘1972 & ‘1974! But as he said himself many times, he scored 89 goals 126 appearances for Celtic. He will also be remembered for the penalty he missed v Inter Milan in the European Cup semi in April ‘1972. I remember the night vividly, I wasn’t there as the British Government thought it might be better for society if I was interned without trial in Long Kesh so we watched it on TV in the Cages.
Celtic were strong favourites after a determined 0-0 in Milan in the snow. On the night a unique European record was established, two semi finals in Europe in the same city, 75,000 at Paradise, 80,000 at Ibrox.
Kenny Dalglish led the line for Celtic and Sandro Mazzola for Inter Milan also Burgnich, Fachetti and Bedin who had played in Lisbon, Celtic had Craig, Cesar, Murdoch, Jinky and Lennox.
Dixie came on after an hour for Dalglish and as fate would have it he was the man selected to take the first penalty in the shoot out. In his typical style he had his back to the goal and quickly turned and strode confidently forward and sent the ball about a mile over the bar at the old Celtic End. it was so far over it nearly cleared the old stand at what is now the Jock Stein end.
After that each player on both sides scored and Inter went through 4-5 on penalties. It was a devastating result for Celtic and Dixie personally.
John Dixie Deans a Celtic legend RIP.
Paddy McMenamin was born in Belfast with Donegal and Tyrone parents. He spent the 70’s in Long Kesh. He has been going to Paradise since the Benfica game in Nov. 1969. He lived in Donegal for 30 years but now lives in Galway. He returned to University at 50 and became a secondary school teacher of history and English
I had booked my flights and hotels for Saturday for the Hearts game. I thought it was a cert for a 3pm kick off on Sat 06 Dec. After all the rangers were away and we have a big Europa League game at home to Roma on Thursday. How wrong I was Sky Sports decided they wanted it moved and moved it was.
I lost the money on my flights but thankfully my regular hotel cancelled the room with no charge. As the rain poured down on match day I was back in the winter sunshine of Spain and joined the members of Paddy’s Point CSC for the game.
There was so much going on around the game. Wilfried Nancy was taking charge of Celtic for the first time, Martin O’Neill was back in semi-retirement working as a pundit and filling the diary for sold out shows.
The Celtic Collective Protest took place and the Green Brigade who are serving a ban from Celtic games home and away had their annual match day foodbank collection.
Wilfried decided to rip up Martin O’Neill’s script which had steadied the Celtic ship since Brendan Rodgers left the building. He introduced a back 3 of Tierney, Scales and Trusty and brought back Tounekti and Nygren to the starting 11.
A late Kieran Tierney goal was not enough to salvage a point for Celtic and the new manager’s start did not go to plan. Wilfried has been ridiculed for the use of a tactics board which I must admit I thought were for dressing rooms and tactical sessions after training and I was a little surprised to see him showing Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney it during the game. Lets hope he has the last laugh on those so quick to judge and mock.
The game reminded me of life under Brendan Rodgers near the end of his time, plenty of possession but no end product and I know I sound like a broken record but that goes back to failure to invest in a quality striker with further investment needed in the first team in a number of positions.
Before kick-off Celtic fans unveiled numerous banners against the current board and then it was time to back the team after Wilfried Nancy was announced and came out of the tunnel to applause from the Celtic fans including the fans packed into Paddy’s Point.
Celtic had chances but failed to take them in the first half and paid the price with sloppy defending to allow Hearts to score just before half time. It was the Edinburgh’s side first chance and they took it. Boos could be heard ringing around the stadium as the teams went up the tunnel. Celtic were the better team in the first half but had nothing to show for it.
What ever was said at half time in the dressing room had no effect on the performance. In fact Celtic looked well out of sorts and Hearts capitalised on it and scored with their third chance of the game. Which came from a corner from their second chance when Kasper pulled off a good save from Shankland.
Celtic had a great chance with 5 minutes to go but the Hearts keeper made a save to deny Engels an equaliser. Hatate then smashed the ball off the bar.
The reaction from the Celtic fans gathered in the bar after the game, was mixed some were angry while others had a more level view.
On Thursday we are back on the road to Celtic Park and we go again against Roma who may be the best team we will face in the Europa League this season. Lets hope Wilfried can get his message through to the Celtic players from now till Thursday because the message seemed to be lost in translation on Sunday.
Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast
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Aaron McCusker joined More than 90 Minutes Editor Andrew Milne during the recent international break for a catch up and a chat. Aaron was a regular guest when the fanzine hosted Celtic AM in Malones Glasgow before Celtic home games.
The Portadown born actor joined Coronation Street in late 2025 as Ben Driscoll, the new landlord of the Rovers Return pub. Aaron is also known for his roles as Jamie Maguire in Shameless and Jim Hutton in the film Bohemian Rhapsody.
The Bhoys chat about Aaron’s life on stage and screen and all things Celtic.
Wilfried Nancy was unveiled and the Celtic fan media were not invited to the press conference. He cut alone figure with no CEO or Chairman with him in an unusual step by the Celtic board. Only the main stream media got the invite to Lennoxtown instead of the usual Celtic Park. Hiding the new Celtic manager away from the Celtic fans is not a good look.
The club seems now to be run like a dictatorship or a Mafia as a friend commented to me on Thursday morning as we sat in Glasgow airport waiting to board our flight back to Ireland.
When Dom McKay arrived at Celtic Park, remember him? The CEO who replaced Peter Lawell after Celtic failed to deliver 10IAR or a trophy. Neil Lennon got the sack and Peter went on holidays until the Chairman’s position came around and he returned to the directors box.
Dom McKay welcomed Ange Postecoglou to Celtic and invited the Celtic Fan Media to a special press conference and they both introduced themselves to us. Ange’s stint was a successful one. He delivered 5 trophies in two years and his brand of football was exciting to watch. Dom would not last so long for reasons which remain unknown to anyone except those who sit in the Celtic board in positions of power.
Pic: Erin Boyle from More than 90 Minutes at the press conference when Dom McKay introduced Ange to Celtic Fan Media
Maybe a young forward thinking CEO who we were told was headhunted from his position as No. 2 in Scottish Rugby was too much for the old guard in the board room. On Friday for the first time independent Celtic Fan Media were shunned from the press conference since Dom McKay’s forward thinking of embracing fan media. He knew we were not the enemy but sadly now Dermot has said NO those pesky fans will have to go.
As Dom exited his office, Peter Nicholson was appointed interim CEO and with things going well under Ange he slipped into the role on a full time basis and Peter Lawwell came in the back door to take his seat at the top table once again. The old boys club were now back together.
Sadly once again we are talking about the disconnect between the Celtic board and the Celtic fans and not about the appointment of the new manager or what he will bring to the team. We did however get an interview on Celtic TV with Peter Nicholson and he assured us that Wilfried was Celtic’s No. 1 target to replace Brendan Rodgers and they have been aware of him for a while.
Sadly neither the Celtic board or the Celtic recruitment team were aware of a striker in two transfer windows capable of replacing Kyogo. Going into this transfer window let us pray that Wilfried can influence them to replace him after a full year.
Today’s game v Hearts at Celtic Park kicks off at 3pm and will be shown live on Sky Sports and streamed by Celtic TV outside Ireland and the UK.
Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast
By the time we landed back in Dublin yesterday morning after watching Celtic beat Dundee at Paradise Martin O’Neill had left the Celtic Park building and a new era is now underway at Celtic as Wilfried Nancy is in Glasgow.
Celtic’s social media had the Frenchman on the official channels as he arrived at Lennoxtown and not Celtic Park where I would have expected him to meet the media and take the usual picture on the pitch. It was a very low key arrival.
He was greeted by under pressure Celtic board members Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay before doing a walk around and chatting to James Forest and Alistair Johnston.
He then sat down with Celtic TV for an interview. No press conference, no questions and no invite for members of MSM or Celtic Fan Media.
He will meet the media at the pre match press conference (scheduled for 13:30) for the first time but Fan Media will not be present. Fan media outlets have attended pre and post match press conferences since Ange Postecoglou was manager. Celtic are currently reviewing access arrangements for fan media.
There was not a lot to take from the interview but one quote that caught my ear was “I think the connection, with my background and the story of Celtic, fits perfectly with the person that I am and what I want to become.”
He also touched on the relationship with the players and the fans. He can rest assured the Celtic Fans will be 100% behind him and the Celtic players when the referee blows for the start of the game on Sunday. I am sure he has been briefed on the Celtic Fans Collective Protest March ahead of the Hearts game.
His second in command has an Irish contact. Getting off the plane yesterday a Dublin Celtic fan told me our New assistant manager of Patrick Kwame Ampadu was born in Bradford to Irish and Ghanaian parents. He was brought up in North Inner City Dublin. He went to O’Connell’s School
Martin O’Neill will be a hard act to follow but follow he must. Hopefully Wilfried Nancy can kick off life at Celtic with 3 points and top the table on day 1.
Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast
We head back over the Irish sea for a few days after saying a fond farewell to Martin O’Neill. He arrived to steady the ship after Brendan Rodgers left. His departure after a damming personal attack on him by Dermot Desmond, the man who brought him back to the club.
Last night Celtic dominated the game and after Maeda opened the scoring and picking up an injury in the process. I thought we would score a few more goals but failure to do so made for a nervy last 5 or 10 minutes. Kilmarnock’s late goal at Tynecastle also added to the shine of the evening.
Football is a results business and Martin certainly delivered them, 100% win record in Scotland. Celtic were 8 points behind Hearts when he arrived we are now level at the top of the league with a game in hand going into Sundays game with them. The highlight for me has to be last Thursday night in Rotterdam. European away wins don’t come too often for Celtic. Wins like that make all the time and expense travelling to support the team worth it.
As we travelled to the ground last night Wilfried Nancy was finally announced as the new Celtic manager. I think his appointment is a gamble but he will need time, but time does not come easy in Glasgow for football managers. A top of the table clash with Hearts, a Europa home game v Roma and a Cup Final v St. Mirren in his first competitive week is no easy task.
Sadly he arrives at a time when the divide has never been greater since the 1990’s between those charged with running the club and a large section of the Celtic support.
The Green Brigade have had their ban extended and the front section of the North Curve was covered over. There were also plenty of empty seats scattered around the stadium but I expect all of them to be filled on Sunday.
The noise last night came from the opposite corner of the stadium with the Bhoys Ultras section backing the team but also making their feelings known towards the board. From my view in the main stand I could see the Parasites banner and when the chants of Sack the Board started in that corner the Celtic board did not look happy as their heads turned to look over their left shoulders and seemed to be caught a little by surprise.
A protest march is now planned by the Celtic Fan Collective for Sunday before the game. Celtic fans will gather at St Mary’s in the Calton at 1.15pm and march to Celtic Park.
The Green Brigade will also have a Foodbank Collection point, where supporters are encouraged to donate non-perishable food or toiletries to those in need this Christmas.
Another sad point last night was I was not allowed meet friends at my regular meeting spot at the Brother Walfrid statue. Barriers are always there but Celtic fans from around the globe have always moved freely between the statues at the front of the main entrance. Fans gather to view the paving stones, many dedicated to Celtic fans who have passed away and also taking pictures in front of the statues of club legends.
Mediation is much needed between the Celtic board and the Celtic Fans Collective even if it starts with a back channel. For today we have the changing from the old guard and safe pair of hands to a new era and with every new manger coming to Celtic it can bring risks and rewards. Let’s hope its a new era of success.
Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast
While much has been written on the experience of republican prisoners during the conflict from 1969 onwards there has been comparatively less attention paid to writing produced by the prisoners themselves. There was a vibrant culture of education and debate inside the cages of Long Kesh, but while we have many second-hand accounts of this, relatively few copies of journals produced by the prisoners have survived.
Luckily, Paddy McMenamin not only edited one of these journals for a period, but managed, with the help of his family, to smuggle several issues out. Reproduced here, they provide a fascinating snapshot of the debates taking place amongst just one group of Provisional IRA prisoners in cages 10/18 between 1974 & 1976. There is politics of course, global and local, but also history, culture, sport and craic.
Despite the official narrative of the time, it is clear these young men were neither ‘mindless terrorists’ nor ‘criminals’! The author has done all those interested in our history a service by keeping the journals safe. His commentary reminds us not only of the horror and tragedy of the time, but also that these young men were grappling with how to make sense of the conflict they had been thrown into. This book is an important contribution to understanding the politics of modern republicanism.
Harry Hood Tribute
Text David Potter
It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Harry Hood. He was one of my favourites, at a time when I had many favourites and he was certainly one of Celtic’s better goalscorers. Fast, direct and prolific, he was itching to get to Celtic long before he ever got there, and I cannot help feeling that if the McGrory regime had gone for him in 1964, things might have been different.
As it happened, he went to Sunderland instead – that graveyard of many players – returned to Clyde and it was March 1969 before he first donned the Hoops, scoring a vital goal at St Johnstone late in the game to give Celtic a victory.
Of course the competition for the role of the striker was stiff. But Stein knew a good goalscorer when he saw one, and Harry fitted that role to perfection. Several great moments spring to mind. One was the taking of the penalty kick in the replayed final of the Scottish Cup of 1971, another goal in the 1974 Scottish Cup final against Dundee United in 1974, his hat-trick in a League Cup semi-final against Rangers in 1973 – a rare phenomenon – but the best of all was surely the goal in September 1969 at Ibrox which earned us a 1-0 victory over Rangers.
The rain was heavy, the ground was wet, but Harry’s swivel and shot was a thing of exquisite beauty, leading to the birth of the “Hare Krishna” chant – except that the Celtic version ended up with “Harry Hood”. There was also the “We don’t need your Colin Stein, We don’t need your Alan Gilzean, We’ve got someone twice as good, We’ve got Harry Hood!”
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