It was great to see two grand old teams of Scottish football play tonight, and to watch them put on an exhibition in front of a massive TV audience. So well done, Dundee and their real character of a Manager who rightly earned plaudits for keeping his bawheid fringe away from Owen Coyle, a man whom I also wish well in the play-offs. It is a pity he did not have better central defenders.
Dundee have some morons in their support. I think I saw a banner which said “Dundee Derry”. What does that rubbish mean? But there are also an awful lot of decent people there as well who have seen their old club thrown away by a succession of Directors and Chairmen who have given a new dimension to the word “crazy”. Some of us are old enough to remember the year (1963) when they reached the semi-finals of the European Cup, and might even have won it with a bit of luck. So, “who were the first Scottish team to reach the semi-finals of the European Cup?” is not a bad quiz question.
🔵 "Just delighted we can put smiles on faces"
It's party time for Dundee and manager Gary Bowyer after they secured a return to the Scottish Premiership at the first attempt 🔽 pic.twitter.com/4YbLay9IhT
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 5, 2023
Celtic could never win at Dens Park. Some great player of both sides and some great tussles, but Dundee tended to emerge victorious, usually by the odd goal. And the highlight was usually the battle of the two Yogis – Ian Ure v John Hughes, while at the other end Alan Gilzean v Billy McNeill was a counter attraction.
Sadly for Dundee, the money grubbing transfer of Ure and Gilzean precipitated the decline of this great team, although they did have one moment of glory in December 1973 when they won the League Cup on a pitch that only referee Bobby Davidson thought was suitable. Our own Tommy Gemmell was their star that day, but for Celtic it was a dreadful occasion.
So welcome back, the Dee! Queen’s Park managed by Owen Coyle (“a Celt who never was”) have change a lot recently, not least by going professional. And yet I recall three times in 1965, 1967 and 1986 where they might well have put Celtic out of the Scottish Cup. They might yet get to the Premier League by means of the play-off. Still a lot of football to be played yet.
PILING ON THE AGONY, PUTTING ON THE STYLE
On another subject, perhaps worth mentioning that John McCue who co-authored the Willie Fernie book with me, was today elected as Labour Councillor for Skelton West in the Redcar and Cleveland Council Election. In a two member seat, he and a woman unseated the two Tories! I am really proud of him!
David Potter
