During these difficult times, I do love nothing more than a bit of nostalgia.
Whether it’s playing The Stone Roses on shuffle, watching The West Wing on repeat or in this case, reminiscing over who my favourite players to don the Hoops and grace the hallowed turf were.
Under Tommy Burns, although silverware was lacking, we were spoiled when it came to the influx of foreign talent with Messer’s Thom, Cadete and Van Hooijdonk entering into folklore.
Trying to extract positives from the season 96/97 might seem like I am flogging a dead horse. It was season filled with some gut wrenching disappointments. After the defeat to Rangers in March, handing that lot a Derby Day clean sweep in the league, I had accepted the inevitability of 9 in a row. My own personal trauma was completed when witnessing the Scottish Cup Final semi-final replay exit at the hands of Falkirk. This would prove to be TB’s last game in charge.
I, like many fans, took the departure that summer of John Collins rather badly. Maybe not as personally as Wee Fergus but it was a gut punch all the same. He had been my hero growing up. Who could ever replace him in my affections?
The answer came in what I can only describe as a Tasmanian Devil imported from AC Milan Signor Paolo Di Canio.
The first I had heard about his impending transfer to G40 3RE was a small snippet in the Sunday Mail transfer rumours column. I took it with a pinch of salt. This was a man who had just won the Scudetto with AC Milan after all. Paper talk I hissed.
But sure enough the Sunday Mail sources had got this one right and in the summer of 1996 Paolo was unveiled as our new number seven.
When writing this piece I was thinking how best to structure it and I thought it best if we look back at three of Paolo’s most memorable fixtures. They really do encompass everything that made him the maverick that would leave the fans begging for more but sadly we would only have that one season to cherish. So let’s enjoy this bit of nostalgia together.
DC as I liked to call him, well and truly arrived on the scene at Rugby Park on the 24 August 1996. Most Celtic fans of a certain vintage will remember this fixture well for the unveiling of the much loved bumblebee kit. And boy did the Bhoys do the kit justice that day
It was safe to say summer was over, the weather was horrendous, tipping it down from before kick-off. Di Canio would start the match on the bench and Killie went in at half-time one nil up courtesy of Mark Reilly. DC was brought on as a sub for Brian McLaughlin in the 57th minute and he would make an immediate impact, levelling the scores at one a piece in the 61st minute with a deft flick with outside of the right peg.
A Celtic victory was never in doubt from that moment and Andreas Thom would make it 2-1 shortly after, with Jorge Cadete adding the final polish in the 89th. It was a pulsating thirty odd minute cameo from the Roman and I for one was captivated.
My second fixture would illustrate the self-destructive side to Di Canio that would leave so many fans arguing over whether he was really worth the aggro.
To me it did feel that he was becoming a pantomime villain and you couldn’t help but think his card was marked with the refereeing fraternity.
The game took place on the 30 November at Celtic Park versus Hearts finishing two apiece. This was a game that I walked towards the Barr’s car park at the full time whistle asking myself if only.
Burns set the team up in a 4-4-2 formation and with Van Hooijdonk absent, Di Canio formed the strike partnership with red hot Jorge Cadete.
Poor discipline was a feature of this game. Another fiery Italian Pasquale Bruno was lucky to stay on the park after a callous challenge on Cadete midway through the first half, receiving a yellow card. The on song Colin Cameron drew first blood in the 30th minute against the run of play.
Celtic levelled shortly before half time, with Brian O’Neil heading in from a Simon Donnelly corner. Looking back on that first half performance, Di Canio showed glimmers of his brilliance but also he was simmering underneath.
Hearts again took the lead with recent acquisition from Dundee Neil McCann adding his name to the score sheet in the 64th minute. As the game entered the closing fifteen minutes Di Canio drew in a needless challenge from Neil Pointon. Pointon who was already on a yellow card somehow avoided receiving his marching orders. Would DC receive the same kind of clemency?
Di Canio stepped up to take the penalty calmly sending Hearts ‘keeper Rousset the wrong way. What happened next was anything but calm. The Roman red mist descended as Di Canio got into a scuffle in the goalmouth, eager as he was to get the game restarted. Di Canio began remonstrating with the Hearts players on his way back to the half way line before squaring up to Stevie Fulton. Already on a yellow card, referee Dougal didn’t hesitate doling out a second yellow and with that the prospect of clinching the three points and the opportunity to go top of the league.
My third and final memory is a very special one for me as it was the first time I had witnessed the famous Glasgow Celtic defeat our arch rivals. Doing so under the Parkhead lights made it all the more memorable.
Di Canio would play a part in both goals that night in early March 1997.The first punch landed in the tenth minute. A corner kick from Di Canio was met by fans favourite Malky MacKay with a near post header.
In the 18th minute it was games a bogey. Cadete was brought down in the box by Swedish import Joachim Bjorklund – over to you DC – as he coolly put away the resulting spot kick. Di Canio was replaced at halftime by Thom as much for his own protection as anyone else’s. No matter his work was done.
What a special player Di Canio was, just a pity about his shameful political views but that’s another story. I hope you enjoyed this little trip down memory lane as much as me.
Paul Carroll
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