Celtic travel to Tynecastle on Sunday to take on Hearts in an eagerly anticipated clash, one of our most vital games in recent years, and hopefully it will be a happy occasion from a Celtic perspective, one that will sit alongside numerous memorable victories we’ve enjoyed down Gorgie way over the years…
One such occasion was back in August 1989 on the opening day of the season as we took on Hearts in front of a capacity 25,000 plus crowd, and a certain Celtic striker made all the headlines, endearing himself in the hearts of the Celtic supporters, and that man was Tommy Coyne.
Signed towards the end of the previous season, Tommy had yet to make his mark on this Celtic side, indeed he was still looking for that illusive first goal in the hoops. After losing the services of Frank McAvennie a few months earlier, and Andy Walker failing to rediscover his centenary year form, the onus was all on Tommy and the recently signed Darius Dziekanowski who who would partner the former Dundee man upfront on that August afternoon in the capital.
There was also still a deep sense of rage hanging over the Celtic supporters due to the recent backstabbing antics of Maurice Johnston aka Judas, who had done the dirty on his boyhood team and the legendary Billy McNeill to sign for Rangers (1872, RIP), all down to pure financial gain.
Billy McNeill had recruited well during the summer signing Paul Elliot, Darius Dziekanowski and Mike Galloway for a combined fee of £1.7 million, with only Elliot absent from the starting XI in Gorgie.
Coyne was the man who got the ball rolling after 30 minutes when he calmly slotted home from the spot to register his first goal as a Celtic player, and oh how he enjoyed it. And rightly so, as he was living the dream as they say. Celtic supporter scoring for Celtic, the stuff of dreams.
It would get even better for Tommy and Celtic just six minutes later when he slid home a Roy Aitken cross to secure his brace and double the hoops advantage and see us take a 2-0 lead into the interval.
Tommy would grab his hat trick ten minutes into the second half after a superb bit of play that seen a fantastic ball from Steve Fulton find Paul McStay in the penalty area, and the maestro in turn instinctively back heeled the ball to the waiting Coyne who fired past Henry Smith in the Hearts goal.
It was a truly well worked goal, and Tommy celebrated with the huge travelling support, once upon a time he was in there with them, and now he was on the pitch, living each and everyone of their dreams. A hat trick in the hoops, what a feeling that would have been for the Bhoy from Govan.
Celtic should have made it four through substitute Andy Walker who had replaced the Injured Dziekanowski, who shot straight at Smith despite being clean through on goal.
It was such a comfortable afternoon, and the jubilant large travelling Celtic support rubbed their Jambo counterparts noses right in it by mockingly celebrating Davie McPherson’s consolation goal with just minutes remaining.
A fantastic memory for those who can remember, especially Tommy Coyne, a fine Celt and a very good Celtic striker.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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I was at the game as 12/13 year old. Remember seeing my English teacher Miss O Donnell at the game and she gave me a smile and sshhh gesture. I have never mentioned that again until now!