Well here we go again, another season, another challenge, another chance for European glory beginning tonight against the Hungarians Ferencvaros. Celtic have previous in the not too distant past and honours are even so far.
Celtic and tonight’s opposition go back a long way to the ‘1968-‘69 season when we were drawn against Ferencvaros. The game came just after the Soviet invasion of the Czech Republic and Celtic said they would boycott the game and then some Eastern bloc teams did similar in protest against the re-drawn tournament.
It became rather farcical then but Celtic chairman Bob Kelly was as principled then as he was when taking on the SFA on over flying the flag of the Irish Republic in the early 1950’s and he stuck to his guns.
In the redrawn European Cup game Celtic beat St. Etienne before losing to AC Milan in the quarter final.
Which Celtic will turn up tonight? There are two scenarios to be played out. Firstly we could defeat the Hungarians and then beat the rangers on Sunday and all will be well in the camp.
The alternative scenario sees us losing tonight and on Sunday in Paradise and then we have a similar scenario to Nancy last season. I hope it pans out in the affirmative and all will be well by Monday.
The Celtic back four are not gelling, the midfield was posted missing last Sunday and the big money double strike force of Hogh and Duran have not been allowed to play together up front.
I never question the manager, he’s a genius but I just hope that the season doesn’t prove to be a step too far for him and he leaves like Neil Lennon did in the Covid season with his reputation tarnished.
Tonight is my first game this season. I left Galway at 1am this morning with partner Mary arriving at Dublin airport at 4am before our flight at 7:40am to Glasgow. I bumped into More than 90 Minutes Editor Andrew waiting for the bus to take us into the city. I will need a little rest before heading for Paradise later this evening.
C’mon the Hoops!
Paddy McMenamin was born in Belfast with Donegal and Tyrone parents. He spent the 1970’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.
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