These things put football into perspective

The 2002/03 season is a strange one. We achieved so much, yet had no silverware to show for it.

The season will always be remembered for the amazing run to the UEFA Cup Final in Seville. That moment when the Celtic fans younger than 45 could actually say we saw our team reach a European final.

The route to the final saw us take on some famous names from the top nations in Europe and as we progressed through each round, fans were checking dates and location for the final hoping to see our heroes bring home another European trophy.

Making our way to the final by knocking out FK Suduva, Blackburn Rovers, Celta Vigo, VFB Stuttgart, Liverpool and Boavista. Every team with a V in their name, was it a sign?

Personally I only made it to one match through the entire European campaign as I had become a dad for the first time, so my time and money were being spent in other ways, but I did see Celtic defeat Blackburn Rovers at Celtic Park. All other matches were watched at home with my wife and new born.

My brothers made the trip to Stuttgart and borrowed my Celtic jersey for the trip, I found out about 2 weeks after they came home that my jersey was left pride of place in a bar in Germany. The bar owner was amazed by our fans and the club, so the jersey created a new group of fans in that town.

An amazing result in Liverpool put us into the Semi-final, our first in nearly 30 years. Boavista would stand in the way of a trip to the final.

Late in the second leg in Portugal Celtic needed a goal to progress to the final. Henrik Larsson scored what is probably my favourite goal. That was the moment I could say I had watched Celtic reach a European final. The goal wasn’t in the same class as many of his others for us, but this one took us to the UEFA Cup Final.

After frantically looking to try to book a trip, any trip to the Final, I finally accepted I wouldn’t be able to go, so I made plans to watch it with my wife, my oldest brother and our nephews.

After an early finish at work, we made our way to the Tollbooth at Glasgow Cross, then on to Lynch’s down at the Barras. We walked into my brothers house to see the build up and watched a nerveshredding match unfold.

Sadly 2 great headers from Henrik Larsson were not enough to bring the cup to Celtic Park, but the team performance and our fans there in Seville ensured Celtic were being spoken about in all the right ways across Europe.

A few days later further frustrations in the league saw us come up short in the title race.

I phoned my Dad after the last league game and he was gutted. All he’d wanted was to see Celtic win another trophy, he passed away after a long illness just before the 2003/04 season started and never got to see us win another trophy.

That season had so many highs and lows. I became a dad for the first time and then lost my own Dad. These things put football into perspective.

In a footballing way though Fergus McCann said it best “being a Celtic supporter is not always easy, but it is always worthwhile.”

Martin Donaldson

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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