‘The night I first understood what Celtic means,’ @mclovespizza is our Fan of the Week

Next up for our very popular Fan Of The Week feature on The Celtic Star is mclovespizza. She’s @mclovespizza and as the name suggests, one of the big loves of my life is pizza! She’s not allowed too much of it though because when she was younger, she was diagnosed with idiopathic pancreatitis so she tries to keep her diet under control apart from on a Sunday!

The other loves of her life are running, boxing and being in the gym; after being so sick in hospital, she went for a walk one day and was so exhausted that she couldn’t even get to the end of her street. mclovespizza was so upset that day that she started trying to go a wee bit further everyday and before she knew it she was joining a gym and started boxing. She’s now usually always training for something or having to wake up early for a long run so her friends think she’s pretty boring! “As well as pizza and exercising, the other love of my life is Jackie McNamara…Hi Jackie if you’re reading this!” she laughed.

You can follow the good lady on Twitter @mclovespizza

Asking the questions as ever is The Celtic Star reporter Scotty Alcroft. This is mclovespizza #FanOfTheWeek…enjoy!

What’s your first memory of Celtic?
I was really wee and was too wee to go a game yet but the first time I remember being aware of Celtic and what Celtic meant to people was one night just after dinner we’d been watching the 6 o’clock news. My dad and brother started talking about going up to the stadium and crowds had already been gathering all day. Celtic were 24 hours away from bankruptcy and people were scared, there was man on the news being interviewed and he was crying. I think that was the night I first understood what Celtic was and is.

What was the first game you went to?

It was a league game against Hearts which Celtic won 4-0. I went with my older brother. Walking along London Road, he stopped to look at something one of the wee men who sold the scarves and things had. I didn’t notice this and kept on walking. All of a sudden I looked up and was at the stadium by myself. I was in tears and people kept trying to help me but my mum warned me not to talk to any strangers so I kept running away from them which probably just made things worse. Eventually the mounted police found me and helped reunite me with my brother. His first words to me were “don’t tell Mum.”

Who are your top 3 Celtic players and why?

Henrik Larsson – no explication needed.

Jackie McNamara – without a doubt the absolute love of my life and I couldn’t not have him on this list.

I’m struggling for a third because I don’t know who to leave off – I was blessed to grow up during the Martin O’Neill years and now this squad….I think I’ll say Jinky. Even though I didn’t get to see him play live, watching him on old footage I think he’d give anyone a run for their money and the Di Stefanio testimonial is special to watch. My dad’s eyes light up when he talks about it and when I lived over in Madrid once people knew I was Scottish it felt really good that they knew who Jinky was.

Best game you’ve ever seen involving Celtic in your time?

I’ve been lucky enough to see a few and the first one that comes to mind was beating Rangers 6-2. BUT, I’m going to go with the game against Dundee Utd at the start of Martin O’Neill’s first season in charge. I’m picking this one because the previous season had been so grim with that horrible headline ‘Super Caley Go Ballistic Celtic Are Atrocious’ and this game just felt different. I think every Celtic fan felt like it was the start of something special. I remember the referee playing advantage and just shouting it’s a goal, it’s a goal before the ball hit the back of the net. For the first time in my life time, it was really exciting being a Celtic fan!

What’s the worst game you’ve ever seen involving Celtic in your time?

I have to say the game against Lyon where Henrik broke his leg. My dad had his head in hands, my brother phoned from work to see if it was true. It was crushing – crushing for the team to be without its top goal scorer, gutting for the fans and heartbreaking to see Henrik who was like a god lying there on the grass. A horrible night!

Pick your best ever Celtic XI from what you’ve had the pleasure of witnessing?

Rab Douglas – he always looked like he was giving his very best and you can’t fault that. Also just for that game against Valencia alone he deserves to be here!

Bobo Balde – I miss hearing Bobo’s gonnae get ye!

Alan Stubbs – I always felt like he gave it everything every game, I remember him always being pretty consistent.

Rafael Scheidt….just kidding!

Tom Boyd – that rendition of Stand Up for the Champions after stopping 10 in row is iconic.

Didier Agathe – on his day, that pace was a match for anybody.

Paul McStay – imagine his class influencing the young talent in our current squad?

Lubo Moravcik – a magician and we didn’t have him long enough. I remember watching him trap the ball with his bum once!

Scott Brown – captain, leader, legend and a modern day Neil Lennon.

Jinky – The Lord of the Wing.

Henrik Larsson – obvious reasons.

Chris Sutton – there can be no better partner for Henrik than Chris!

Give us a funny or surreal moment from your time supporting Celtic?

My big brother picking me up from primary school and taking me to the Superstore because Jackie and Simon Donnelly were signing merchandise in there. There were teenage girls everywhere and the 2 in front of me had the brass neck to ask for a kiss so obviously I needed one too even though they were about 10 years older than me! He very kindly obliged and I honestly could have fainted! I was deliriously happy all night and remember thinking at that point my life had peaked…little did I know it actually had! My mum had a battle on her hands trying to get me to wash my face!

Give us your assessment on how last season went?

You can’t knock the team spirit or the success we’ve all enjoyed and as I lived through the John Barnes season I can’t really complain too much but there are still some times frailties and we get exposed sometimes. I really liked how Neil Lennon had the team organised in European games. It would be great to see things tighten up defensively next season but to be honest I’m still too happy at securing the double treble that I really don’t think we should moan!

Name us 3 ex Celtic players who would benefit today’s side?

Paul McStay – class, poise, grace, elegance – he would be phenomenal to have playing with younger players.

Jinky – watching him on DVD isn’t the same and I’d like to see him for myself.

Henrik Larsson – He was a god to me and everyone in my class growing up. I don’t really think we have anyone like him in Scottish football anymore.

Finally explain to us what Celtic means to you?

Its hard to put into words how much I love Celtic. My family life revolved around Celtic growing up and the memories I have are even more precious now that my parents are sick. Going to the Gallowgate with my mum the day we stopped 10 in a row to join the street party, getting to spend time with my brother when I was wee since he was much older and it was the only time we went anywhere together, my dad giving me the wee Huddle Club bit from the Celtic View with the poster in the middle while he read the proper bit, all of us watching the 6 o’clock news after dinner to see if there was anything about Celtic on….

Scotty says…

That was brilliant! I was smiling reading your memories there. Your best X1 is a cracker. I think I just favoured big Paul Elliott instead of Stubbsy but I can see why you picked him. It was a toss up between the two. An excellent Centre Half. Rafael Scheidt still gives me shivers every time I hear his name mentioned.
The 6-2 game is one of my favourites too. The recent victories over them recently too haven’t been too shabby. Let’s hope that continues to be the case. The images that filtered through from Lyon with Henrik’s leg break was horrific to watch as well. It just shows you how class he was to do what he did the next season.
Thank you so much for taking part mclovespizza and hopefully I’ll see you at Paradise for a match soon. HH

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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