Until his death in 2021, there were few more popular ex-Celtic players than Bertie Auld. Frequently seen at home games and at supporters’ functions, Bertie was a great entertainer, both on and off the park, and his contribution to Celtic was immense.
Bertie Auld, scorer of five goals in Celtic’s first match under Jock Stein
He first joined the club in 1956 and impressed as a left winger, but the team were going through a bad spell and Chairman Bob Kelly didn’t like Bertie for his somewhat (apparently) flippant attitude and Bertie was off loaded to Birmingham City with whom he won a Football League Cup medal in 1963.
His return in January 1965 was linked to the return of Jock Stein (neither would have returned without the other) and now Stein played him in the left midfield rather than as an old fashioned left winger) In midfield as Celtic transferred to a 4-2-4 system, he teamed up with Bobby Murdoch in midfield and the effect was dramatic in Lisbon and elsewhere as Celtic now swept all before them.
Bertie Auld and Armando Picchi in Lisbon. Photo: imago/Kicker/Metelmann
Bertie won six League medals and three Scottish Cup medals before he was moved on to Hibs. A great passer of a ball, a ball winner, never afraid to shoot, and full of swagger and confidence. In later years he became the Manager of Hibs and Partick Thistle, but he was never really anything other than Bertie Auld of Celtic.
David Potter
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