When a young Celtic supporting Dundee United hopeful wore a pair of Celtic shorts to training back in 1983 Walter Smith was less than amused. This morning he hear from that player, some thirty years after the incident in question and what a remarkable picture he paints of Walter on this saddest of days for his family.
“In my opinion, he was a true gentleman in a pretty vicious environment at the time and he never lost that common touch,” the ex-Dundee Utd boy said told The Celtic Star this afternoon. “I was honoured to know him even slightly and he deserves every tribute which will come his way.”
So here’s the story, with just one or two words changes so we don’t get in trouble with the swearing police!
“I had the pleasure of knowing Wattie when I was a tender youth starting out in the world of football with Dundee United. He was the good guy to wee Jum’s bad guy act (which wasn’t actually an act).
“One of the things that made United an attractive proposition at the time could be found in the fact that you got the opportunity to spend a lot of time with the senior pros during training sessions and prior to matches. Wattie was instrumental in that and had a dry sense of humour and a friendly disposition. I wouldn’t have recommended crossing his path as he had a tongue on him as well, but I have nothing but fond memories of him and he treated me extremely well.
“Two wee things spring to mind:
“Back in 1983, I got my boxed Umbro Celtic replica kit for Christmas. Wee silky short shorts and it had the badge embroidered on the shorts. We used to train at Maryfield on Monday nights and were issued Adidas gear at the start of the season which we were expected to use.
In my eagerness to premier the tighty-whiteyness of my sexy silky Celtic shorts, I decided to buck the trend and wear them to training.
Think I got as far as the first step when I heard a voice booming from about 50-yards away to: “get that mince (he didn’t say mince) aff your bottom (he didn’t say bottom) or get tae…” (he did use a four letter word at the end).
“I never made that fashion mistake again.
“Second thing is this and the true measure of the man:
“After being diagnosed with an illness and having to spend quite a bit of time in hospital. I received a card one day. It was the standard ‘get well soon’ card, but it had a very personal handwritten message inside. Doubt you have to guess who sent the card considering this thread, but this was from a man who I only knew for a relatively short period 30-odd years before.
“I have nothing but love for Walter Smith and my heart is a little bit sore just now. My thoughts are with his family and my considerations are with true Rangers fans who have the values of decency which Walter embodied.”
Spherical Planet – a well-known poster on Celtic Noise.
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has paid tribute to former Rangers boss Walter Smith who has passed away aged 73. pic.twitter.com/cPKyVRspSF
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 26, 2021
Nice one, respect for putting the rivalry aside
I remember having a letter published in the Daily Record lamenting the over-reaction to some childish antics by Alan McGregor and Barry Ferguson while they were on the bench for the national team. I can’t quite remember exactly what they were responding to but I do remember the two-finger sign by one of them, rubbing his fingers up and down his nose to half-disguise his gesture. The media fallout was excessive, suggesting that neither player should ever be allowed to represent Scotland again. I wrote to the Daily Record about it pointing out that what they did was infantile and hardly worthy of punishment.
The day after publication of that letter Walter Smith phoned me in my car (on hands free) to thank me for injecting some reason and sanity into the conversation. How he got hold of my number I’ll never know, but I spent a full 30 minutes talking to the man on the phone about various things and I can testify that he was the nicest of men, very level headed and hugely courteous. We laughed at the end of the conversaion when, as a Celtic fan, and only days before an old firm match, I signed off by saying that while I our conversation, I sincerely hoped his team would be humped that weekend. He took it in the spirit it was intended and we parted on excellent terms. He was a true gentleman and a great manager. R.I.P.