Brendan told us about his first Celtic game, now tell us about yours

“I can remember my first Celtic game when I was 10. The exact date, the team we played, the score and goal scorers and even the attendance. You don’t forget”…

Jim Carson noted the above on social media today. And he is of course correct. Yesterday Brendan Rodgers told us about his first game as a ten year old. Today we want to hear about your first game, or easiest memories watching Celtic and I’ll start to get the balling rolling.

Last night Brendan Rodgers stated that he remembers his first time seeing Celtic play as a ten year old back in May 1983 when Celtic were over in Donegal and,  as a young Celtic supporter, he got his chance to see the team play for the first time ever.

Getting the chance to see Danny McGrain 

These days you can watch Celtic on television just about every match, including last night’s game in Sligo. There’s also a row ongoing because the Celtic v Aberdeen game is not on TV a week of Saturday.  But things were very different back in 1983 so getting the chance to see Danny McGrain, Tommy Burns, Paul McStay, Charlie Nicholas Frank McGarvey and the rest must have been extra special for the ten year old football daft boy from the seaside village of Carnlough in County Antrim.

For all those having a laugh at Brendan’s expense today, don’t you remember your first game?

Right at the front marvelling at the colour, the crowd, the noise

I clearly remember going to Hampden to watch Celtic play Partick Thistle in the League Cup Final in 1971. I was six but remember being right at the front marvelling at the colour, the crowd, the noise and the surprise that the yellow and reds kept scoring! I also remember at half-time thinking we’d still win!

A freezing half empty Hampden

My first memory of watching Celtic on television, or watching television at all, was the 1970 European Cup Final in Milan. I also remember being at a freezing half empty Hampden when we lost the League Cup final to Dundee a few years later. I am pretty sure my first win was against East Fife at Celtic Park.

At least Brendan’s first memory was a resounding success

The Celtic manager probably double checked the date because he was going to use that in his team-talk to the players ahead of the game with Sligo Rovers. He then explained the significance of that first game to Celtic TV, explaining that today’s Celtic players had an opportunity to inspire just like the team did back in 1983.

Brendan knows what it’s like to be a young boy watching Celtic coming over to Ireland and getting the chance to go to the game. He might be the Celtic manager but he is also a Celtic supporter. So here’s some of the content about Brendan’s first game, courtesy of The Celtic Wiki.

Danny McGrain was the Celtic captain back then and it’s easy to understand why a young ten year old Irish boy would be in absolute awe of this Celtic legend and getting the chance to see him play. Much ridicule came Brendan’s way after he left for Leicester, but meeting your boyhood heroes when you are older is an extra-special. Ask anyone who ever met a Lisbon Lion and found themselves awestruck.

The Celtic team was Bonner, McGrain, Sinclair, Aitken, McAdam, MacLeod  McCluskey, P McStay,  Nicholas, Burns and McGarvey (Crainie). Celtic won 4-0 and the scores were McGarvey (13), Nicholas (33), MacLeod (65) and McCluskey (82).  The match attendance was estimated at 10,000.

That goal by George McCluskey was his last for the club as shortly afterwards he signed for Leeds United, with the old biscuit tin mentality at fault once again. And it was also Charlie Nicholas’ last game for Celtic before he headed to the brights lights of London where his potential as being the next King Kenny sunk without trace.

Incidentally as a future Celtic manager himself Brendan might have been surprised that the Celtic manager that night, Billy McNeill was the fifth highest paid boss in the Scottish Premier League that season, despite having won three league titles, a Scottish Cup and a Scottish League Cup in his time as Celtic manager.  Cesar asked for a pay rise that summer and was turned down. He moved to Manchester City, who in those days quite literally didn’t have the money to buy fish suppers!

More details on the match can be found in these two press cuttings…and remember please tell us about your memories of your first Celtic game, first cup final, first time at Celtic Park or first away match. Whatever you can recall. Peter Grant was saying last night his first game was away to St Johnstone.

Tell us your stories…

Meanwhile Matt Corr’s outstanding new books – Celtic in the Thirties (volumes one and two) are available to pre-order now via Celticstarbooks.com