I was up in Sligo on Wednesday night and reading about Brendan Rodgers’ first game on The Celtic Star, I’ve scribbled up my first experience!…

Brendan Rodgers reminiscing about his first Celtic game after the visit to Sligo set me thinking back to my own first experience.

I actually went down to Dublin to see the Hoops v Shamrock Rovers in April ‘69 along with 10 mates. Six of the Lions were on show in a 3-1 victory in front of 10,000 at Tolka Park! But while that was technically the first time to see the famed green & white hoops it was November ‘69 v Benfica in the European Cup that I recognise as the first game in front of 75,000 as my baptism at Paradise!

I had left school prematurely at 15 and working in a bar in Belfast city centre as the place simmered and eventually exploded. Between April in Dublin and Glasgow in November we had the Battle of the Bogside and the Falls burning, the football was a relief!

Earning £5 a week, the flight £5 and match ticket 50/- there wasn’t much to spend, in fact 50/- in debt already! I arrived at Aldergrove for an 11am flight but there was fog in Belfast so all flights delayed, as each hour passed hundreds of Celtic fans arrived and the bar trade was roaring as were the bhoys in sing song!

At 4am an announcement said we were to board but as fog had shifted to Glasgow we were going to Edinburgh! We got a coach to Glasgow amid rush hour traffic and arrived at six. I met a few older guys from Ballymena including a priest, I told him J was to go to an Aunt’s in Clydebank but he said I’d never make it and just stay with them and we’d get something to eat and a taxi to Paradise.

Arriving at the stadium I lost them amidst the 75,000 but will always remember their generosity as they are probably all passed on. Inside I walked from the old Rangers end to the Celtic end past a bouncing ‘Jungle’, two minutes into the game and big Gemmell burst the net from 30 yards, what an introduction to Paradise.

Further goals from Willie Wallace and Harry Hood and the place was bouncing, a wee old Scots guy handed me a naggin of whisky, ‘get that intae ye son’ as my heart pounded and I knew as being Irish this was home from home!

But the night wasn’t finished, I still didn’t know where Clydebank was? I jumped on first bus into town and then another bus to my Auntie’s place. The conductor said, ‘where you going don’ I replied ‘Glasgow Road’, he said ‘Glasgow Road is 10 miles long’! But thankfully he recognised the address and they dropped me off near Kilbowie Road.

I found the number, 247, but no answer to the knock as I waited at 11pm, 13 hrs after I left home! Then the door blew open, it was the ‘close’ and inside was 247! The Uncle opened the door, Both Donegal people and their boys Celtic to the core.

They were Intrigued what happened me but a cup of tea and a scotch roll in front of a hot fire was very welcoming and then bed where they had a big teddy bear with a Celtic scarf and a hot water bottle, a nice ending to a great day, 55 yrs ago next month!

Last night in Sligo I saw young boys probably at their first match with their scarfs and  hats, they were as excited as I was back then. Also coincidentally I was at the game in 1983 v Finn Harps that was BR’s first game. I remember it was Charlie Nicholas last game also Cesar, and 10,000 in attendance all Celtic people such is the attraction in Ireland as it was in the home place of Walfrid last night in Sligo!

Paddy Mcmenamin

READ THIS…Know Your History – Matt Corr’s Celtic in the Thirties Q&A

Just an Ordinary Bhoy