10 December 1966

A few more of the boys in the Celtic End today although some of the others were at the school fundraising Christmas Fayre.  I’d rather go to the game. Anyway I went to some of the fundraising stuff during the week. Our Gerry was in one – he played the tin whistle and some of his mates had guitars. Cost a tanner to get in to go the fund raising. It was in an upstairs class room during the dinner break and it was a good session of rebel songs. – I liked that one – “The Bold Men”. Gerry was singing. He said that he was worried he might start laughing when he saw everyone looking at him. Someone said think of something sad so you won’t smile so he thought about Kaj Johansen scoring in the Cup Final replay.

The start of the game was held up again to let the crowd in. I think a few were there to see how Willie Wallace would get on but it was Stevie who got a hat trick.

24 December 1966

At last I have been to Pittodrie. The final ground in the First Division I had not been to. We got the train. Because it was Christmas Eve not all the buses were going. Some combined. Uncle John works with the Railways and he gave me the train times. He used to get the train to all the games when he was younger.

There was a station at Parkhead. It is still there but not used now. John said we should get the 8.30am train in case the 11.30am was to run late.  I met Joe Haughian, Charlie McAloon and wee Eddie Boyle at the Fountain at 7.00am and we got the train from Sunnyside. It was cold.  Charlie said he had something to keep us warm. In his inside jacket pocket he had a half bottle of Lanliq.

Joe and Eddie had a wee swig on the train from Coatbridge – I had it to my lips but didn’t fancy swallowing it. Charlie took a good swally. When we got to Queen St Charlie had to go to the toilet. He was away for a wee while.  Charlie was annoyed that we had sold Bent Martin to Dunfermline. He reckons we should have kept him because Ronnie Simpson is getting old. Charlie fancies himself as a goalie.

When we got Aberdeen it was really freezing but there was no snow.  The snow stopped not long after Stonehaven.  We went to a 10 pin bowling alley but just to keep warm. I have seen it on the tele but don’t know much about it.  After a while somebody came up and asked why we were not playing so we left.

We went into a Chip shop for a feed. 3 Fish Suppers and a Pudding Supper.  We sat in the back and it was nice and warm.  You had to pay when you went out but the counter was a high one and wee Eddie walked underneath it without being seen so he paid nothing. He said it was fair enough as he was always getting slagged because he is wee.  Then up to the ground.

Pittodrie has a main stand and cover behind both goals. There is also another wee stand behind the goal at the beach end. A bit like an English ground. When the teams came out the cheers for Aberdeen were louder than for Celtic. That is the first time I had experienced that. Wish more games were like that. You really feel like a real supporter when there are more opposition fans.

The snow did come on through the game and the pitch was icy.  Wee Bobby scored but Harry Melrose equalised – he has scored a few goals against us.  Ronnie had some good saves in the second half which we pointed out to Charlie.  After the game we had to belt down King Street and Union Street to get to the station for the last train to Glasgow at 5.30pm.  It was mobbed. No seats left. In one of the carriages there were some empty seats and tables. But there was stickers on the windows saying “Reserved for Queens Park FC boarding at Forfar”. When nobody was looking Eddie scraped off a sticker and we sat at the table. After that some more guys did the same. I felt guilty when we got to Forfar.

I went for a walk up the train. I saw Harold Davis with his QP blazer and I did not feel guilty. John and Brendan have told me he was a jungle fighter in Korea and when he played for Rangers he was a real thug. Then I noticed Malky McKay standing in the corridor. I don’t think he would recognise me after a few years but I hid my face anyway. I did feel a bit guilty then.

The Celtic team were at the front of the train and I met Jock Stein. I asked him for his autograph and he said “Aye son” and signed my programme.  When we got back I thought I should do some Christmas shopping. There was a wee shop open.  That was lucky. Got a wee baby doll for Eileen, a conjurer’s set thing for Jim and some chocolate stuff for mum and dad. I will gave Gerry the signed match programme. Anyway better get off now for midnight Mass.

To be continued…