‘Talk about winning the League in style,’ David Potter recalls the day 6IAR was won

ON THIS DAY in 2017 Celtic travelled to Tynecastle with a smaller than usual away support as the home side had restricted us to half a stand until their new main stand was fully functional. It did little to dampen the atmosphere though as those of us fortunate enough to be there roared the team on to completing 6 in a row and complete the second leg of the treble.

Celtic legend John Fallon was there – he is ALWAYS there! An absolute credit to the Celtic support, a true Celtic Star!

Here’s how David Potter reflected on that wonderfully sunny afternoon at Tynecastle…

Talk about winning the League in style! You simply cannot have a better day than this – well, maybe you can because we still have a Scottish Cup to win – but today was simply a superb performance admittedly against a team which gave up soon after half-time. We have now won the League six years in a row. Jock Stein’s side did that in 1971 en route to 9 in a row, and Willie Maley’s lot did the same between 1905 and 1910. So today’s team are in mighty strong company!

Full credit must, of course, go to the Manager. I was not one of those who disparaged Ronny Deila who did, after all, win two League titles in two years, but it must be owned that things are a great deal better now with Brendan Rodgers proving his credentials as a world class Manager. Neil McCann at the end of the game was doing his level best to get him to go to England again, but Brendan is as Celtic-daft as any of us, and I think he will remain with us for a good few seasons yet. He has a big job to do.

Of the players, Scott Sinclair proved his worth yet again with two excellent goals and a well taken penalty. I was delighted for Scott because he had had a few off games recently, but today the way he teamed up with Pat Roberts was simply superb. And of course Stuart Armstrong, who was a little quieter today than he had been of late, chipped in with a fine goal, and Pat Roberts himself scored a real cracker as well.

Apart from that, we had a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside and Callum McGregor might have done better with a clear chance in the first half. Hearts actually looked quite good in the first 20 minutes with Goncalves looking a threat, but in a way that must have distressed their supporters, they folded soon after half-time.

Their supporters, always a nasty lot in that enclosure underneath the TV cameras, had a go at Mikael Lustig and it was hard to disagree with Andy Walker when he wondered why they allowed some of these people into a football ground. We recall as well that on the day that Neil Lennon was attacked in 2011, they actually cheered!

Remember that?

TV presentation was good, although Dave Crocker does overuse the phrases “Didn’t you just know that…” and “It had to be…” I have never been a believer in predestination, myself. You have to work for everything. Referee Kevin Clancy might have sent that Hearts guy Walker off in the early stages – some of the English referees certainly would have – but then again he was similarly lenient on Deryck Boyata for that silly trip. What on earth were you thinking about, Dedryck? We were winning 4-0 at the time!

The second half was actually a bit of a bore, but I am happy to watch boring football games if we win 5-0. The celebrations were great to watch,particularly the Kolo Toure bit, and how nice it was to listen to Brendan Rodgers talk sensibly and ambitiously about his plans for Celtic. As another Celtic manager might have put it – “this is not the end, only the beginning”.Things will now happen in Europe, I’m sure.

So what about the immediate future? Well, it would be nice to go through the whole season undefeated, but now the main task must be the Scottish Cup semi final on April 23. Last season’s semi against the same opponents was an experience that I would not care to repeat.

We have a lot of work to do yet, although we can, for the moment, permit ourselves the luxury of a little celebration. 2017 may be now added to…

1893, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1922, 1926, 1936, 1938, 1954, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 – and I think, that makes 48.

Fly the flag!

David Potter

Title 49 was won last year and 50 was all but wrapped up on Sunday with the 2-1 win over the Rangers extended the lead to 13 points. We could actually win our 50 title on Saturday if results go our way.

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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