From the end of my street I can look across the city of Glasgow and see Celtic Park. It dominates the whole East End. On a clear day I can see the huge portraits of the players that surround the stadium. Behind every photo there is a story.
About a month ago I went for a walk around the outside of stadium with Pat Woods, who has followed Celtic for over 60 years. His knowledge of the history of the club is better than anyone I know. His book The Glory and The Dream along with Tom Campbell, is one of my favourite Celtic books. I have looked up (never look down on a Saturday) many times on match day when walking up to Celtic Park, and it bugged me that I did not recognise some of the older photos. That is why we went on a walkabout. I think we counted about 60 huge portraits hanging from the walls, most in colour, but some in black and white. Of course Pat recognised everyone and told me their stories.
I’ve been a Celtic supporter all my life, my first game was in 1965. I still sit in the same seat at the top of the tunnel where the players come out, for over 25 years. But some of the stories behind the photos were an education for me. To play in the first team and represent Celtic most players have had to overcome obstacles and disappointments along the way. They are a special group of people. I was very grateful to Pat for his storytelling. I love that Celtic supporters are generous and share stories. Every Celtic supporter has a story to tell. Do not worry about repeating old stories. There is always a new generation of Celtic supporters who have not heard them before. Just like me when I talk to Pat.
It is amazing to me that a photo can trigger so many powerful memories. We live in an age where there are approx 90,000 people living with Dementia across the country. Thousands loved their football. It played a big part in many lives. Memories are who we are. To lose your memories must be so difficult.
I am a volunteer with the Football Memories Scotland project in Glasgow and have seen many times how football photos can open up conversations that people thought were gone. I have sat around the table with supporters from all the Glasgow teams and it never ceases to amaze me what people may remember. The images start the conversations and opens up communications that may not have been otherwise possible. I know from my own family’s personal experience that dementia can isolate people from family groups. Loneliness also isolates people in modern society and there is no reason for it.
If you have never been to a Football Memories session you should go along to your local one. See some great photos, or memorabilia, and join in with the group, men and women, if you enjoy talking football. Everyone is welcome. There are now approx 230 groups across Scotland, all run by volunteers. Football Memories Scotland is a partnership between the Scottish Football Museum & Alzheimer Scotland. If you are interested in more details see www.footballmemoriesscotland.co.uk
Do you know an ex Celtic player named Bill Corbett? He was a centre half. Michael White, a football historian, met Bill in a care home about 10 years ago. Bill became an inspiration for the Football Memories Project. He could look at old photos and became an amazing source about war time football memories and players. Bill was only 20 years old when he played for Scotland against England at Wembley in 1942. He was Man of the Match in a no scoring draw. The half back line was Shankly, Corbett, Busby. As Bill used to say to Michael, “ Not a bad half back line son, eh ? “ and smiled. He loved football and he loved reminiscing. They became very close through the sheer enjoyment of football photos. When a University researcher was assessing the effectiveness of the Football Memories Project, Bill said it all, “ See this “ he said pointing to his handkerchief, “it’s soaking wet with tears. Tears of joy”. He has passed away now, but touched all those who met him.
Of course, there is no known cure for dementia yet, and a Football Memories session is not a silver bullet. It is a stimulus to provide some happiness and some quality for people who need it, even if it’s only for a couple of hours. It allows some people to re-connect with their lives. There is a lot of football banter, but the photos also start 101 other types of social memories, from school days to first jobs, from dance halls to how they got the money to go to Lisbon, and much more. You will not find any of this stuff in a book. It is personal memories.
One of my favourites was from Tommy who is in a care home. He always chuckles as he tells how he used to skip his work as a van driver, and sit on top of his van roof and watch the Lisbon Lions train at Barrowfield. There was no mobile phone in those days for his boss to keep track of him. On occasions he used to give some of the players a lift back to Celtic Park after training. He is very proud that he had Jinky and Tommy Gemmell sitting beside him in his van cracking jokes.
There was also a gentleman who I had just meet for the first time at a meeting in the local library. He was looking at a photo of Jock Stein. He looked up, “I put Jock Stein’s windaes in” he said in a gruff Glasgow accent. I was really unsure what he meant by that. He smiled and said “Don’t worry son, I was a glazier”. Andrew also turned out to be a huge Celtic fan. At the end of that meeting he said, “I am so surprised what I can still remember”.
I have also learned that some men with memory problems may struggle to remember their wife’s first name, or can’t remember what they had for breakfast, but they may not forget the names of the eleven players who won the Scottish Cup in 1965, or the player who scored the last goal in the 1957 League Cup Final, or the name of the player who took the corner kick against Vojovidina.
I am often asked what is my favourite photo. It is Bobby Murdoch celebrating after scoring against Leeds United at Hampden Park in the semi final of the European Cup in 1970. I was a fourteen year old schoolboy in the huge crowd and I was standing down near the corner flag at the Rutherglen end where he jumped in the air to celebrate. He is still the best player I have ever seen in a Celtic jersey.
My second favourite photo is the lap of honour around Hampden after beating Leeds United. As you can see Bobby Murdoch would not swap his jersey. An image can be more powerful than any words.
I don’t know who the inspiration was behind hanging the banners/photos around Celtic Park, but I hope he/she got a few extra pounds in their pay packed that week for that idea. They probably don’t even realise how powerful these images are. Using photos is a different but powerful way to show the club’s history of great players, managers and founders. Celtic have always been much more than just winning three points on a Saturday.
My mother had Dementia for many years. She was in a care home, David Walker Gardens in Rutherglen, towards the end of her life. The carers were fantastic. One sunny day I decided to take her a drive up to Celtic Park, and go for a walk outside the main entrance. We were walking along, she had my arm, she was content, we walked in silence and communicated to each other through smiles.
Her family came to Glasgow from Ireland many generations before. She was having a good look at everything around her. We stopped at the statue of Brother Walfrid. She was having a good look at it. I was wondering what she was thinking. Then she said,“ He brought happiness to thousands of people”. I had a lump in my throat. It was such a surprise to hear her speak again. (Many people with dementia eventually lose the ability to speak). It was never said again. It was gone. To this day every time I walk past the Brother Walfrid statue going into the game, I think of my mother. I often wonder what the trigger was that made her remember and say this.
And finally, my Dad who used to tell both me and my young brother Gerry his stories about Celtic. On a Friday night after he had a few beers, the stories would come out. He talked about the players he liked – Jimmy Delaney, Bobby Evans, Bobby Hogg, Jimmy Johnstone, and many more. He always thought the brave players were the ones who took the kicks, got up, and just got on with the game.
I see a lot of that in the players in the present Celtic team. It is a sign of strength, not weakness. I still remember him celebrating the night Celtic won the European Cup in 1967. We had an old black and white four legged TV back then and the picture kept breaking up. My young brother, who was seven years old then, was told to stand in the corner holding up the aerial near the window to make sure we got a good picture. I never let him forget that to this day.
Memories are wonderful things.
Wedding Day – Robert (Snr) and Ellen Harvey (nee Holloran) 1953.
THE END.
Robert Harvey
Robert Harvey is a volunteer with the Football Memories Scotland Project. He played with Clyde for a few years in the 1970s. He once missed a sitter of an open goal against Celtic ( photo below).
