A bonus second Diary post today from Lisbon Lion Jim Craig on The Celtic Star…
On this day in 1978, Davie Provan signed from Kilmarnock for a fee of £100,000, making his debut against Partick Thistle five days later. He was soon to show his worth.
At the end of that first season, Davie had an excellent match as ten-man Celtic beat Rangers 4-2 to win the league at Celtic Park. One year later, in the 1980 Scottish Cup Final, he took on a new very effective role through the middle as Celtic won 1-0, again against Rangers. And Davie also played his part in the Championship-winning sides of 1981 and 1982.
In the 1985 Scottish Cup Final, it was Davie Provan’s bender of a free kick which brought Celtic back into the match against Dundee Utd, a game they won 2-1.
In November 1985, Davie began to feel listless and lacking energy. He missed the latter half of the title winning season of 1985/86 but was there in the dug-out on that famous day at Love St when Celtic clinched it.
Shortly afterwards, Davie was diagnosed as suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or M.E. and he was forced to retire from the playing side of the game in July 1987.
Alex Rollo, who was born on this day at Dumbarton in 1926, joined Celtic in 1948 from Ashfield Juniors and over the following six years, made 59 appearances in the left-back position.
Alex died in Workington on 5 October 2004.
Jim Craig
