Questions and Answers
Celtic Legend David Hay
I remember it was quite a tousy game on a heavy pitch. I didn't score too many goals but I managed to get the second one that day and we ended up winning 3-1. It was pleasing for two reasons - the fact it was against Rangers and also because it was a shot from outside the box. I think, after that game, we went along to a wedding reception in Castlemilk for Tony Mc Bride, who was a player at Celtic Park at the time.
When you left Celtic to join Chelsea, how would the Celtic team of that time fared in the English First Division if they'd joined? JOE McBRIDE
The Celtic team of that time would have been more than capable of holding their own in England. We played quite a few sides in testimonials and tended to edge them in tight games, but the real indicator would have been the fact we beat an exceptional Leeds United side over two legs in the 1970 European Cup semi-final.
Is it true that the old board told you that if you wanted to buy Joe McLaughlan and Pat Nevin, you'd have to pay for them out of your own pocket? PAUL, EDINBURGH
Jack (McGinn) never said it to me, although he was quoted in the papers as saying it. I felt at the time that if we'd strengthened the team, which was already a good team, then we could have consolidated our position in the league, and I'd identified three players Joe McLaughlan, Pat Nevin and Steveie Clarke - who would have been ideal acquisitions. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get them.
The 1986 League Cup final against Rangers was, in the eyes of many Celtic fans, a travesty of justice. How do you feel about that match and refereeing even after all those years? JOHN AND ALlSON MILLER
I'm asked about that game periodically and my biggest complaint concerns the extremely debatable penalty which ended up being the winner. The referee, David Syme, sent Mo Johnston off, which I think he claimed later in the papers that I agreed with. I never agreed with that decision. He also sent Tony Shephard off, but then retracted it because he realised he'd made a mistake. I think at the time, the players felt the game was turning against them because of a few decisions and we lost our shape a bit. A policeman actually asked me to go on the pitch and when I lost it for a few seconds, it was because of the sense of injustice. The older I get, the more philosophical I become, and big Jock always had the right idea - if we score two it doesn't matter about any decisions. In days gone by, when there was less scrutiny, one or two referees didn't favour Celtic, but nowadays, I believe they referee as fairly as they can.
Looking back on your managerial career, would you change anything? ANNA SCULLION
Probably the biggest thing would be the Rapid Vienna game. We were actually through to the quarter-finals and that was taken away from us, and we didn't deserve it. If we'd done well in Europe - and Rapid got to the final that year when Everton beat them - there might have been funds available to strengthen the squad and things would have changed for Celtic and for me. I think it was a quarter bottle of vodka that was thrown on. If only the guy still had some vodka to drink it might not have been thrown. But it's a case of what might have been.
What was your favourite game as a Celtic player? JESSICA DICKSON, INVERALLOCHY
I always enjoyed playing against Rangers and also in European games. I remember going from the elation of beating Leeds United in 1970 in front of a record crowd that is unlikely ever to be beaten, to the disappointment of losing the final against Feyenoord. We were expected to win, and I think everyone underestimated Feyenood. On the night, we deserved to lose, although we were so close to getting a replay and, if we had, it would have been different. Jock would probably have played the team which beat Leeds, which he hadn't done in the final. Old Firm games were always great. I think I only ever lost one game against Rangers at home as a player and, as manager, I never lost an Old Firm game at Celtic Park.
Who was the best player you played with and the best player you played against? GORDON MacDONALD, CALIFORNIA
Wee Jimmy, without a shadow of a doubt. It was an honour and a pleasure to play in the same team as him. I got to see him on a daily basis in training and the thing about Jimmy was, that while some players are talented in training and it doesn't quite transfer to a game, Jimmy took it to a different level when he played. He was also extremely brave as well. I've also got a connection to him in that his wife and my wife are cousins. In terms of opponents, it would probably be Johan Cruyff or Rivelino. They don't come much better than that.
Did the team believe the title was coming to Paradise even before the game kicked off against St Mirren at Love Street in 1986? The swagger of the players that day as they took to the field looked to me as if that was the case? PAT McGRATH, MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY
We had gone 16 games without losing and won eight on the bounce, so I had no doubt we'd win our game. We'd put pressure on Hearts and they were beginning to creak a bit, and I've no doubts that it got worse when they heard the half-time score from Love Street. In fact, it was an ex-player of mine from my time at Motherwell, Albert Kidd, who scored Dundee's goals that day. The thing is, we didn't just win our game, but we did it in style. It was a resounding victory.
Can you describe your emotions on that day at Love Street? LIZ McGRORY
I had a feeling that it was going to come. In the second-half, we were just playing out time, as if the players were just waiting for something to happen, and then obviously the crowd started roaring when the score from Dens Park came through. For everyone who was there that day, it's something they'll never forget.
I remember your famous quote about not having any bubbly to celebrate at Love Street. Did you ever manage to break into an off-sales on the way back to Celtic Park? RAB
We hadn't pre-empted anything but somebody managed to produce a bottle of champagne in the dressing room. I think it was Jimmy Steele (club masseur) who pulled one out of his magic bag.
Why did you leave Celtic and did you ever regret that decision? TONY SHIELDS
In those days, there was no freedom of contract or Bosmans and it was weighted too much in favour of the clubs, whereas it's now too much in favour of the players. As a Celtic player I enjoyed a decent lifestyle but I felt my basic wage should have been higher. I believed I merited more and also that the club could afford it. After the initial dispute I asked for a transfer. I spoke to Desmond White quite a lot about it, and he said that if he paid me what I was asking for, then he'd have to pay the rest of the players the same. My answer was that they deserved it as well. There was interest from both Manchester United and Spurs, and I even went down to speak to Spurs after a fee had been agreed, but there seemed to be a reluctance to sell me to United. I was told that if I went to Spurs the_e would be some money for me, but if I went to Old Trafford there would be none. Pernaps foolishly, I went on strike for two weeks after that. 'n a strange way, it was also brave as well, since everything at that time was _tacked in favour of the club. After the World Cup, I came home and withdrew my transfer request, having decided to stay with Celtic, but I got a call one day to come in to see Big Jock who told me there had been a bid from Chelsea, which had been accepted. I have to say that, during that time, it never distracted me, and I played some of my best football for Celtic during that time. I'm proud and honoured to have played for Celtic at the highest level. The best times and the best feelings in football I had were at Celtic.
How devastating was it to lose out on the second stage of the 1974 World Cup, and did the side regret not pushing for more goals against Zaire? TONY FEARON, PORT ADOWN, CO. ARMAGH
On reflection, yes. But you have to remember that it was the first time Scotland had been in a World Cup since 1958, and the team had been criticised before the tournament for some 'mischievous' behaviour, so the vital thing for us was to win the game. We were 2-0 up at half-time and in the second-half we just controlled the game to ensure we won, not knowing at the time that goal difference would come into play. It was also extremely warm, and we knew our next game was against Brazil- a game we could have, and probably should have won - so we were concerned, first and foremost, to beat Zaire.
I was wondering how you managed to get scouted for Celtic? JORDAN (age 13)
I played for St Mirin's Boys Guild in Paisley at the time and the dad of one of the boys in the team, Chrissy Con nor, was a Celtic scout. At that time, there wasn't the youth set-ups that clubs have now - the talent came from elsewhere - and I was asked to go along to Celtic. I ended up training with them two nights a week, and' signed in 1965.
Was it scary playing in front of thousands of fans at Paradise? KEVIN BARTLEY, CLYDEBANK
It was something you got used to. Jock would break you into the team gradually. Maybe the first time, you'd get 15 minutes as a sub, when you were extremely nervous, anxious not to make any mistakes, and glad just to get the game over. Most times, the game would be won by then - we're talking about the Lisbon Lions at that time - and after that you'd maybe get half an hour, and you built up to your full debut. Once you were in the team, it was the big games - I mentioned Old Firm games and European games already - that you thrived on, and the Celtic crowd definitely gave you a lift when you were playing.