The year that Celtic came back – David Potter

Yesterday was a great Celtic occasion for many reasons – good weather, good goals, tearful farewells, and generally a great occasion for everyone who loves the green and white. The season has finished well, and 2021/22 will be fondly remembered by future historians as the year that Celtic came back. What the future is to bring, no-one can tell, but things are looking good.

Time for a rest. No doubt about it, some of our players look tired. The Japanese boys in particular who have not now had a “close” season for some time and who possibly found the rigours of a cold, miserable Scottish winter hard to take, could do with a break, and in any case, in the same way as the Old Testament says “there is a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing”, we have to say that “there is a time for going mad about Celtic, and a time to refrain from….” Is there?

Don’t you believe it! The team may stop playing for a couple of months, but no-one gives up Celtic ever, and I am not going to believe anyone who says that they do. Celtic are always with us, this summer bringing smiles of happiness and joy rather than last summer where there was a certain amount of pain and despair.

So what does the immediate future hold?

Well, first of all, please don’t anyone go around telling everyone that they don’t CARE what happens in the next two high profile games involving Scottish football. We may decide NOT to put the telly on to watch these games, but make no mistake about it, they will affect our general well being.

It will be difficult to avoid noticing who wins or loses – but we all know who we want to win them (Can anyone tell me what the German for “Jambo” is? Or “the lesser of the two evils”?), and the outcome may well in both cases be distressing, but we can watch these games from a position of happiness and strength, knowing that we won the main prize. Any crowing about “bringing honour to Scotland” can be easily silenced by one word – “Champions”

And there is also the end of the English season as well. Are clubs under orders from their paymasters in television studios to deliberately draw Cup Finals so that the world (even those who don’t like football) can enjoy a penalty shoot-out? But the end to the Premier League will be interesting.

And then there is Scotland and the World Cup. Please, Scotland, don’t fall into the Eurovision trap of letting Ukraine win out of sheer pity for the horrible things that are happening in their country! It would be nice to see Scotland on the world stage once more. Best wishes to Steve Clarke and Scotland!

But the biggest event on our calendar over the next few weeks is Sunday 29 May the Scottish Womens’ Cup final between Celtic and Glasgow City. Do I have to remind you that Celtic are going for a Double, the Ghirls having won the League Cup round about the same time that the Bhoys did likewise last winter? Something horrible happened with the League, but it would be great to see Charlie, Kelly and the Ghirls win another trophy.

The next few weeks will be interesting – and no doubt transfer speculation and activity will keep us going as well! Pre-season friendlies from about the middle of July, then the League starts at the end of that month.

David Potter

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About Author

I am Celtic author and historian and write for The Celtic Star. I live in Kirkcaldy and have followed Celtic all my life, having seen them first at Dundee in March 1958. I am a retired teacher and my other interests are cricket, drama and the poetry of Robert Burns.

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