In a day of transfer deadline chaos, private jets and £189m bids being rejected for players soon to be out of contract – today’s photo of the day escapes the madness and gets back to purity of football. The image below shows fans, young and old, enjoying themselves on a tightly packed Tynecastle terracing. Hearts goalkeeper, John Brough, can be seen pleading for the ball back from the crowd as the kids at the front tease him, much to the amusement of a certain older gentleman in a suit!
The photograph was taken during Celtic’s 2-0 Scottish First Division victory over Hearts on 13 September 1980. Goals on the day came from Davie Provan and Charlie Nicholas, much to the delight of just under half of the 18,000 fans in attendance. The Hoops also had to play with 10 men after the 70th minute, as Roy Aitken was sent off for a second bookable offence.
It may not be 1980, but thank goodness the Scottish game retains a semblance of credibility and purity in the mad world of modern football.