Celtic goalscorer Roy Aitken is congratulated by Mo Johnston and Peter Grant during a Scottish Premier League match at Pittodrie on April 27, 1985. (Photo Mike King/Allsport/Getty Images)
Davie Hay signed him for Celtic
Celtic’s ‘Silent Assassin’, David Hay was still at the helm at Parkhead in Season 1984-85 after a fruitless first term. He bought Alan ‘Rambo’ McInally, and in October he raided Watford for Maurice Johnston. The support was stoked, and, despite missing out on the league to ‘Fergie’s Furies’, Aberdeen, the livewire more than showed up.
‘Wee Mo’, as we affectionately dubbed him, displayed his wares in grounds all around Scotland, proving that Mr. Hay’s eye for a striker was as keen as his tackles when he graced the sacred turf which garlanded Celtic Park back in the day.
April 1990: Mo Johnston of Rangers celebrates victory after the Premier League match against Dundee at Tannadice Park in Dundee. Photo Russell Cheyne/Allsport
The league was lost, but the Scottish Cup came to rest in Paradise in a stirring comeback when Davie Provan’s phenomenal free-kick soared past Hamish McAlpine, and the late, Frank McGarvey somehow squirreled a header past the bemused Dundee United ‘keeper to set Hampden ablaze in a sea of green and white bodies.
Love Street, May 1986
Season 1985-86 became legend, as did Albert Kidd. Having exited the League Cup in the 5th round, and the Scottish Cup in the quarter-finals, both at the hands of Hibernian at Easter Road, Celtic trailed Hearts for the majority of the season.
We diehards turned up at Love Street to say a traditional, ‘Thank you’ for the season in the final match of the campaign. You know the rest.
Celtic thrashed the Saints, 5-0 in a wonderous exhibition, with goals flowing freely in one of the greatest Celtic performances in my lifetime.
Hearts of course needed only to draw up at Dens Park, but an inspired late double by Celtic fan, Albert Kidd sent the maroon majority in Dens into deep despair, whilst we Celtic fans went absolutely mental in Paisley as the news came over the tranny, – that’s a transistor radio circa 1986 – that the league was ours.
This day remains one of the most emotional of my life
This day remains one of the most emotional of my life, and Maurice Johnston’s performance and goals played a significant role in me and my mates getting drunk. Yes, I even blame him for that! Rangers came 5th that year, languishing behind Celtic by an astonishing 15 points, so, I blame them too!
Some player he was.
But, no, zero chance of forgiveness.
I can still picture him wearin the Celtic top and smilin for the cameras as if he’d signed for us again.
Devastated when he U turned.
The hurt we all felt, & still feel, at that betrayal shows just how good a player he was.
Similar to wee MacGeady no playin for Scotland. If he wasnae a good player, we wouldnae care.
Will never forgive that man never
Can never forgive or forget that ultimate betrayal but maybe you go have to admire the coup from Rangers
Good read Eddie, I’m another non forgiver re Petite Merde.
PS. Glasgow to London is about 420 miles, not 800.
Whats with this “Flymo ” pish his name is JUDAS .
It wasn’t really about him … although I detest his type of character… it is what he done to Billy… a more honest man you couldn’t meet … so to see Johnstone sitting sniggering with Souness after back stabbing a man that put his faith in him is what got me… how much of a fool Billy must have felt for trusting him … he’s a weasel and Souness is a con man and Johnstone will always be celebrated by the other side for what he done to a manager, club and fans that believed in him… he was used in as pawn in Sounesses humiliation of Celtic…but I’m sure he can live with hime=self that type always can ???
Not forgiven but the Judas rat is well forgotten.
What sort of man gives his word one week to the legend that was Billy McNeill , then hasn’t got the manners to tell the man he has changed his mind. Made all of the Celtic hierarchy look like fools. Has never apologised for taking the 1 million pieces of silver signing on fee. He will never be forgiven. Utter scumbag
I couldn’t care less about Mo Johnston. I’m sure he has his regrets in life as most of us do. It’s all about the future and, as a Celtic supporter, Mo Johnston is not part of it so there is very little value in going over that whole episode.