“Once A Celt, yer always a Celt,” Bertie Auld.
As one of the famed Lisbon Lions Bertie Auld will always be remembered by Celtic Fans the world over. Playing almost 300 competitive matches during his time at Celtic Park, he witnessed some lows but enjoyed many more highs.
A tough tackling, hard working playmaker in midfield, he was at the heart of our greatest ever triumph. He played 25 matches in Europe for Celtic and scored one goal. That came in March 1970 against Fiorentina.
Celtic had been drawn against the Italians in the quarter final of the Europen Cup after eliminating Benfica in the previous round.
Fiorentina came to Glasgow for the first leg in what would be the biggest attendance for a European match a Celtic Park, with just over 77,200 people there to watch a masterclass from wee “Ten-Thirty”.
After six weeks out of the team due to injury, Jock Stein had no hesitation in throwing Bertie back into midfield for the big match. Bertie didn’t let the manager down, he took control from kick off and powered Celtic into attack with willing support from both Tommy Gemmell and Davie Hay.
After 30 minutes Celtic got the breakthrough, Bobby Murdoch crossed the ball from the right wing, John Hughes headed the ball back to the edge of the box where Bertie Auld was in acres of space, he took a touch to control and powered a low shot passed keeper and into the bottom corner of the net. Celtic were one up and in control of the match.
In the opening exchanges of the second half Auld had the ball in left midfield and delivered a cross waiting to be attacked, in the panic Carpenetti connected with the cross only to see the ball loop over his own keeper and double the advantage for Celtic.
Celtic continued to dominate and got the reward of a third goal in the final minute, Once again Bertie Auld played his part. Picking up a loose ball in the final third of the pitch, he drifted wide left and crossed the ball for Harry Hood to set up Willie Wallace who was on hand to seal an inpressive victory 3-0 victory over the Italian Champions.
Celtic would loose the 2nd leg 1-0, but the tie was effectivley over after Bertie Auld & Celtic had produced a flawless performance at Celtic Park.
Martin Donaldson
Martin has been writing about special Celtic goals over the past few days on The Celtic Star. Bertie Auld’s goal, described above, is the fourth to be featured.
First up was Frank McGarvey’s Scottish Cup winning header from a Roy Aitken cross in the 1985 Final at Hampden.
Then Chris Sutton’s delightful chip against the old Rangers to complete the Whitewash in 2004 was covered before Martin recalled Shunsuke Nakamura’s league winning free kick down at Rugby Park in 2007.
More very special Celtic goals to follow on The Celtic Star, the that is site Obsessed with Celtic.
If you would like to write for The Celtic Star, on any Celtic related subject of your choosing, please sent your submission to editor@thecelticstar.co.uk and we’ll do the rest…
