I’m fortunate not to miss many Celtic games right now, but Sunday was an exception. Just over 48 hours after returning from Rome and a very special diversion – more on that if I can steal the time from somewhere else – I had to decline the offer of tickets for the trip to Perth, though a grateful son took advantage of the opportunity to travel up with my ever-present daughter and ensure the Corr CSC was fully represented. “No loss what a son gains,” he grits his teeth!
Why? Well, Nicky Hood had invited me to spend an afternoon with the wonderful Martin O’Neill at the Parkville Hotel in Blantyre, adding the rider that I can set up a Celtic Star bookstall if I fancy it. Three weeks before Christmas. My new book just published on Celtic Star Books. A no brainer.
So, by midday on Sunday, I’m all set up and watching the Celts vs. Perth game on a television in the corner. The stadium is packed and erupts as Celtic grab an early lead, only for an offside flag to sink emotions. The snippets of the game I’ve seen in between conversations with book-buyers don’t inspire optimism that this will be a good day, and the tone has changed by half-time. Perhaps I didn’t need to pack so many books!.
Anyway, all is well that ends well, as a second-half comeback nets us the three points we needed, and the world is suddenly a better place.
A compere keeps the party going with a repertoire of jokes that make my appear suddenly acceptable. Then, around 2.30pm, there is a standing ovation and accompanying singsong as Martin O’Neill, the legend, makes his entrance, like a boxer approaching the ring.
He is still adored, some two decades after his great squad provided me with the best Celtic-supporting moments of my life. What a time it was to be a Hoops fan. Magical.
Martin is on fire right now. Even though I’ve heard many of the stories before, his delivery makes you laugh all over again. And before he begins his routine, there is a rare moment for me, as I have the opportunity to speak with him briefly while he waits for the first of the table groups to arrive for the compulsory photo sessions.
As a modest token of friendship and gratitude, I have bundled a couple of our books. Both are relevant to Martin, and I hope he reads and enjoys them. The official Harry Hood biography, Twice As Good, was written in collaboration with Harry’s family and is highly appropriate given the venue, one of his hugely popular Lisini Pub company venues, and the week we celebrate the golden jubilee of Harry’s historic Hampden hat-trick against Rangers.
What is the link to Martin? Martin’s football hero as a boy was Irish defender Charlie Hurley, who happened to be the Sunderland captain when Harry played at Roker Park between his two spells with Clyde. When I was writing Twice as Good, I remembered that link, and here is an excerpt from it…
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