While attending a music festival in Murcia, Spain at the weekend for the first time in years I listened to a Celtic game on the radio. We could not locate a bar showing the game or get it online so we enjoyed a few beers on the balcony of our hotel.
Still buzzing from the bands we had danced to at the festival the night before we settled onto the balcony to listen to the game with Packie Bonner for company on commentary. Rene my big Celtic supporting Norwegian mate joined me for the game and even brought the beers.
The usual conversation took place between us that most fans have before games when you see the team sheet. James Forest was the surprise getting a rare start on Livvy’s plastic pitch. Would there be a European hangover? Would it be another plastic pitch disappointment?
Thankfully none of the above happened and Celtic ran out 3-0 winners with 10 men after Joe Hart got sent off after Reo Hatate opened the scoring from the penalty spot. On form Matt O Riley and Daizen Maeda added to the tally.
When Hatate opened the scoring a loud roar could be heard from my fifth floor balcony only to find out that a wedding was taking place underneath us in the early afternoon sunshine. The staff gave us the signal to be quiet and we had to be a bit more reserved in our celebrations for the other 2 goals.
After the game I noticed a hooped top at the swimming pool in the distance and when I arrived down for a swim it was the famous hoops of Celtic alright. It was Jackie Stewart and his lovely wife Sandra who I had met at the Las Vegas Celtic Convention last year.
It’s a small world and if I had met Jackie before the game we could have watched the game as he had it on his room. Celtic fans are everywhere, This is how it feels to Celtic.
Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes and host of the Celtic Soul Podcast
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