Another incredible Celtic year

What an amazing year, glorious and tragic in equal measures as we enter 2009 with 4-in-a-row in sight and our city rivals on the brink of more upheaval as we strengthen our domestic dominance.

HAPPY NEW YEAR VIDEO

Winning at Ibrox was the perfect way to end the year, a win that meant much much more than three points, welcome as they were.

Earlier this year we were way behind Rangers, back-to-back defeats at Ibrox and at home to ten man Motherwell seemed to be the end of the road and a long painful close season in the shadow of a Rangers treble win and a possible UEFA Cup triumph to eclipse the joys of Seville held dear by a generation of Celtic fans.

How could that happen?

Thankfully it never came to pass, Rangers drew away to Dundee United, the door opened a little, we hammered Motherwell at Fir Park, beat Rangers back to back and after the horrible death of Tommy Burns and his uplifting funeral we were partying from Tannadice to Paradice and beyond as an unlikely championship was warmly greeted.

Perhaps you need to stare despair in the face to fully appreciate triumph but I wouldn't recommend it.

Again this season we've had our trials, watching Rangers win 4-2 at Celtic Park, a flattering scoreline on the day, was grim and scary as even Arthur Boruc lost his edge and a testing season loomed ahead whilst Rangers concentrated on the SPL as we faced the additional challenge of the Champions League.

The manager, the team and the squad have answered the challenge, 3-in-a-row hasn't made them complacent, it's made them hungry and the desire to avoid dark days is fresh enough to keep the team winning.

Twelve SPL wins on the bounce through autumn was a great achievement but there was still one question lurking over most of the present team... can they win at Ibrox?

Despite the title wins and Champions League qualifications there was still a cloud over the side cast by three straight defeats at Ibrox without even a goal scored.

Walter Smith's derby day record had taken a jolt in April with back-to-back defeats at Celtic Park but that 4-2 win gave legitimate grounds for concern and questions to be asked of the current team.

Did they have it in them to win at Ibrox against Rangers?

Were Hartley, Brown, McDonald, Caldwell, Robson and Samaras capable of winning at Ibrox, especially when the side is depleted?

Without Aiden McGeady, Shunsuke Nakamura, Shaun Maloney and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink fit only for the bench Celtic emerged winners, deserved winners with the players reputations enhanced by the result.

It wasn't pretty but the team held firm, limited Rangers chances and when the moment came Scott McDonald showed class in his finish to join that elite group of Celts to have scored the winner at Ibrox.

The new year promises much, a squad hopefully returning towards full strength homing in on the title and perhaps domestic silverware as well to cushion the blow of no European football.

JANUARY

Begins tragically with the death of Phil O'Donnell, never the greatest of Celtic players but a local boy that lived the dream, wore the hoops and refused to buckle despite the constant injuries that hampered his Celtic career. On 9 May 1998 Phil played his part on a great Celtic day as St Johnstone were beaten 2-0 to secure 1-in-a-row and end a near decade of misery. Barry Robson and Georgios Samaras join the club after the earlier signing of Andreas Hinkel from Seville.

FEBRUARY

Two impressive 5-1 away wins to begin the month away to Kilmarnock and Aberdeen with some special magic from Aiden McGeady the highlight at Pittodrie. Barcelona called and truth be told they wiped the floor with us, after six straight Champions League wins at home Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and the rest give us the runaround despite the 3-2 scoreline.

MARCH

I'd rather forget. Out of the Champions League after a 0-1 in the Camp Nou is more acceptable than losing a Scottish Cup replay at home to Aberdeen after snatching a draw right at the death of the first match. A miserable month ends with a 1-0 defeat at Ibrox as the SPL slips almost out of sight.

APRIL

More misery as Motherwell win 1-0 at Celtic Park but two wins over Rangers keep the SPL race alive although help is required from elsewhere... assuming that we're capable of winning our remaining matches. Nakamura and big Jan score wonderful and contrasting goals in the 2-1 victory with McDonald and Robson the matchwinners in the 3-2 game.

MAY

Sadness and shock as Tommy Burns loses his fight with cancer just months after being part of the dug-out, an incredible turn out in Glasgow's East End mourn the loss just two days before the league is won at Tannadice with Jan the man again as the celebrations kick-off. Tannadice was a great setting to win the league, the United supporters concerned only with football matters and perhaps a little appreciative of Celtic's win after some rough decisions against Rangers in recent months.

AUGUST

Back for more but no big name signings, Shaun Maloney returns, Samaras's loan becomes permanent but a 4-2 loss from Rangers wasn't predicted whilst the Champions League draw pairs us with Manchester United, again, Villarreal, again and Aalborg.

SEPTEMBER

The start of a recovery, a devastating first half at Motherwell with four goals scored, another convincing win away to Kilmarnock but just one point from six in the Champions League ahead of the double header with Manchester United.

OCTOBER

Another clean sweep of SPL wins but nothing yet in the Champions League as we lose 3-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Striking situation getting very concerning with McDonald left on his own at Old Trafford although Cillian Sheridan emerges from virtually nowhere to score in his first SPL start against Hibs.

NOVEMBER

Champions League, and European exit, after losing disastrously away to Aalborg after taking the lead. Six minutes from a home win over Manchester United thanks to a brilliant Scott McDonald goal but deep down most of us knew that we weren't equipped for the Champions League, however a UEFA Cup run would have been a decent consolation. Another clean sweep of SPL wins.

DECEMBER

Arthur has a wobbler at Hibs, Aiden and Gordon go bonkers against Hearts, Koki Mizuno scores on his debut at Falkirk and delight as Scott McDonald's goal beats Rangers to spark a flurry of text and emails involving McDonald's and 7up.

Hail Hail and here's to 09

A wonderful Christmas time

How good was that?

Skippy's Christmas special video

As a game it was woeful, barely anything of note, hardly any goalmouth incidents, not many outstanding performances and few incidents or controversies.

But we all know that it's not just a game, it's not 90 minutes and three points. Winning at Ibrox is simply wonderful, in the mid eighties we had a regular run of it and again in the first half of this decade the wins came fairly regularly as well, even inspiring the stat the Neil Lennon won more SPL games at Ibrox than the messiah known as Paul le Guen.

Lenny was back at Ibrox again yesterday but a new generation of Celts added the label of 'Won at Ibrox' line to their cv.

SPL winners, some two or three times over, Champions League qualifiers, again achieved twice by some of the players.

Last season's title triumph was awesome and we're still feeding off it. The dark scary days that followed that home defeat from Motherwell are history as seven wins on the bounce, two over UEFA Cup finalists gave us a fantastic and unexpected league win on that strange, glorious and emotional night at Tannadice as our dreams came true.

Those league winners are now getting cocky, strutting their stuff and even a 2-4 loss to Rangers in August hasn't dented their confidence. A punishing Champions League campaign saw them bounce back domestically to overtake Rangers who had the benefits of a full week to prepare for SPL action as Gordon Strachan attempted success on two fronts against an injury list that almost became overwhelming.

The build up to Ibrox was dominated by who wouldn't be playing, no Shaun Maloney or suspended Aiden McGeady, Marc Crossas still short of match fitness, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink missing for three months and doubts over the match fitness of Barry Robson and Paul Hartley.

Pre-match and Shunsuke Nakamura is also out of the picture with flu and by half-time Andreas Hinkel has been kicked off the park. Despite those circumstances the resolve was solid stemming from a battle hardened core of Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell through Hartley, Robson and Scott Brown to the magnificent Scott McDonald.

Our moany faced goal machine wasn't getting much support from Georgios Samaras whose going through an infuriating spell of almost always making the wrong decisions whatever the situation.

Remaining on the ball too long, passing when he shouldn't, beating one man too many and losing possession are all features of Sammy's play recently and they were in evidence again at Ibrox.

Until, until until the 57th minute when he got in a header in front of Davie Weir; with his back to goal McDonald knew exactly what he was doing.

With one touch on his chest to tame the ball, McDonald teed things up as he turned around to leave Kirk Broadfoot catching flies before skelping the ball over Allan McGregor into the net from 18 yards out before spinning away to celebrate in front of the Celtic support.

It was a moment of class and composure and richly deserved for McDonald who quickly corrected his scoring record against Rangers to 'three in two' from 'three in five' when he was interviewed on Setanta after the match.

Darren O'Dea was ready to come on before the goal was scored, Strachan stuck with his convictions and sent the Dubliner on in place of Koki Mizuno with O'Dea moving to left back pushing Lee Naylor further forward.

There was little threat from Rangers, although fraught with tension and fear of an equaliser there was no real panic with the central defenders dealing easily with Rangers crosses into the box and protecting the still shaky Artur Boruc.

When called upon the keeper was up to the challenge, blocking purposefully from Kris Boyd early in the second half when the striker was sent through on goal.

After the match the reaction from Celtic was sensible and restrained but after turning around a seven point deficit last season the same group of players are unlikely to throw away a seven point advantage on the back of a win at Ibrox.

The depth and determination of the squad has been tested and came out on top with a seven point advantage through the trickiest of circumstances.

The Aiden McGeady incident has strengthened the hand of a manager who will never please a large section of the Celtic support but his stubborn desire to succeed can never be doubted.

The next game with Rangers is only five SPL games away. The gap between the top two is more likely to be extended rather than trimmed, if that is the case Celtic have the ideal opportunity on February 15 to put the SPL beyond Rangers.

Having fought and scrapped their way into this position it's highly unlikely that complacency will be an issue, especially with a squad of 20 players all capable of playing their part and entitled to think of themselves as first team starters.

Happy Christmas Hoops.

A Grand Wee Read

At this time of year there is never a shortage of books about the hoops, inevitably of varying quality.

VIDEO REVIEW

Histories of the club tend to be rehashed versions of previous books with little original content aimed at the Christmas market where an easy present can be bought.

There are a few exceptions of course and The Celtic Miscellany is certainly that- exceptional.

There is no real theme to the book but there's something worth reading on every page, some new information, an explanation or a reminder of issues from the past.

Almost everything is in the book but it's random nature and meandering style gives the book a character of it's own.

All the main personalities in Celtic's fantastic history are covered, Murdoch, Johnstone, Tully, Auld and Hay etc, Brother Walfrid through to Larsson, Boruc and Nakamura, the supporters, the strips and the events that shape the club and as you read it and get thinking there is without doubt other areas of the club that a follow-up book could drift into.

The content isn't all sanitised, controversies are looked at refreshingly and honestly... I could go on.

If Santa doesn't drop The Celtic Miscellany your way then treat yourself to it and enjoy a grand wee read

11-in-a-row Celts ready for Europe

Another good solid team performance in the 3-1 win over St Mirren continued Celtic's domestic dominance as attention turns towards Europe.

VIDEO REPORT

Tuesday's game in Aalborg is huge, we could be on course for the Champions League or out of Europe altogether by the end of the game but I'll settle for the middle option of being on course for a UEFA Cup spot.

I can't see beyond a 0-0 draw between Villarreal and Manchester United which suits both teams and gives them a relaxing matchday 6.

Meanwhile Celtic have as good a chance as they are likely to get for a number of years to finally win away in the Champions League.

The regular pattern of three home wins and three away defeats has been broken this season and while the away record is poor there are very few teams that can match our home record and NO-ONE comes to Celtic Park in the Champions League full of confidence.

An interesting point that I've picked up is that we've rarely had 'must-win' away games in the Champions League. With our home record losing away has never been a disaster and there's no shame in losing to AC Milan, Barcelona, Manchester United or Benfica... FC Kopenhagen and Anderlecht however surely come into the winnable category.

The team looks to have the measure and maturity to see off the domestic challenge with 20 wins from the last 22 SPL fixtures as they again demonstrated in the 3-1 win over St Mirren.

It was scrappy at times but after having players involved in all sort of international games during the week they still had enough in the tank to hold off St Mirren in a lunchtime Saturday kick-off, two days after returning from international duty.

St Mirren had a few chances and near things but when you bring on Shaun Maloney as a substitute and have a German internationalist crossing to a Greek internationalist to find the net you always stand a chance.

The magic of Shunsuke Nakamura put the game beyond St Mirren before Cillian Sheridan scored his fourth goal of the season with the type of chance that strikers thrive on.

There's no time to rest before Tuesday's game in Aalborg but hopefully the importance of the match against a manager-less side in the bottom half of the Danish league should see our expensive talents rise to the occasion.

Getting a win in Denmark will give everyone a lift and guarantee European football after Christmas for the third year running, a tremendous achievement.

Put together the impressive domestic form and the confidence of being able to compete with the best in Europe and we should set ourselves up nicely for the challenges ahead knowing that our squad has the depth to cope and the experience of knowing what it takes to be domestically dominant.

Solskjaer set for Airdrie

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is heading for Airdrie with his Manchester United reserve side to take on the 9-in-a-row-chasing Celtic reserves.

SOLSKJAER VIDEO

Unlike some supporters Celtic fans aren't short of big matches to enjoy at the moment with the Champions League in full swing alongwith the SPL.

The game at Airdrie's Shyberry Stadium kicks-off at 3pm on Wednedsay November 5

A reserve team clash between Celtic and Manchester United should be a game to savour with both clubs fielding teams comprising of players brought through their academies from basically worldwide scouting networks.

Solskjaer himself was spotted as a teenager by United to add to the intake that included David Beckham, Paul Scholes, the Nevilles and Ryan Giggs whilst Celtic have brought through Stephen McManus, Shaun Maloney and Aiden McGeady in recent years with Cillian Sheridan, Darren O'Dea and Paul Caddis await the chance to impress.

A fortnight ago Celtic drew 2-2 with Spurs reserves at Lennoxtown with the 'London' club fielding a couple of million pound youngsters.

With supporters travelling from far and wide for the big match in the evening a trip to Airdrie wouldn't really be recommended but there are exceptions.

VIDEO PREVIEW

Celtic 4-2 Hamilton SPL Reserves

One of the youngest, and certainly one of the smallest, Celtic sides eased their way past Hamilton Accies tonight at Airdrie.

VIDEO REPORT

Willie McStay's side were three goals up after an hour and although they lost two goals in the last ten minutes that won't distract too much away from the quality of their performance.

Only Paul McGowan and Ryan Conroy had any real experience whilst Koki Mizuno looked lively and inventive joining McGowan in attack.

With Cillian Sheridan and Ben Hutchison with the first team squad in Manchester it was a case of keeping the ball on the deck as the midfielders fed McGowan and Mizuno.

From left to right we had Mario Conti, Richie Towell, Mark Millar and Kevin Cawley across the centre of the park and it was from a 5th minute cross from Conti that Celtic took the lead with Trent McLenahan deflecting the shot past his own keeper who wasn't shy at letting McLenahan know what he thought of things.

The unfortunate Trent almost added a second own goal shortly afterwards before McGowan showed his class to put Celtic two in front.

Jason Marr's perfectly weighted pass tempted Hamilton 'keeper Sean Murdoch off his line but McGowan lifted the ball over the advancing keeper then volleyed home before the retreating defender had the chance to intercept.

It was a classy strike from Gowser who was a cut above the rest of the players on the park but finds himself in limbo in being too good for reserve team football but unlikely to get even a chance of first team football.

Just before the half hour mark, with no other options open the impressive Conti decided to try his luck at goal and found the net with a well struck 25 yard drive.

After the break Celtic tended to play one or two passes too many but that's forgiveable in young players keen to impress and all clearly comfortable on the ball.

Marr popped up in attack in the 65th minute to knock home the rebound from a McGowan shot.

McStay used the remainder of the game to give three substitutes a run out with Graham Carey making a welcome return to action after eight months out through injury.

Hamilton scored twice in the last ten minutes taking advantage of some slack defending but the result and performance again demonstrated the depth of talent that Celtic have at all age levels.

VIDEO REPORT

TEAM: Fox, Marr (Gardner 71 min) Gaughan, Lafferty, Conroy, Cawley, Millar, Towell (Gallagher 85min), Conti (Carey 73min), Mizuno, McGowan

Oh Hampden in the sun... 7-1!!!

Fifty one years ago the Celtic-Rangers derby match produced an incredible scoreline as the teams served up an eight goal thriller in the League Cup Final.

VIDEO OF THE GOALS (well 7 of them anyway)

Thankfully Celtic banged in seven of them with Billy McPhail leading the way with a hat-trick.

The Celtic team contains some great names, Charlie Tully, Bobby Evans, Bertie Peacock, Sean Fallon and Neilly Mochan are all still fondly remembered by older supporters but amazingly it was to be the last Celtic trophy win for all of them.

The celebrations must have been special but it was to be a long eight years before Celtic lifted another trophy which perhaps adds to the charm and mystique of the 7-1 match... not to mention the BBC 'losing' footage of the match before it resurfaced about 30 years later!

Bertie Auld had played for Celtic in both legs of the quarter-final win over Third Lanark as well as the semi final win over Clyde but wasn't selected for the final.

Bertie's story is great enough, signed three times by Celtic, a Fairs Cup Final appearance for Birmingham but nothing would have topped playing in Lisbon and also the 7-1 game... although Bertie is hardly short on talking points.

Enjoy the GOALS

How unlucky is Simon Ferry

The unluckiest player at Celtic or is that his mate Charlie Grant?



VIDEO REPORT

Simon has barely played a game in the last two years but was in the reserve side that started against Aberdeen last night.

Typical of his luck he was sent off after 25 minutes from a dubious decision from the referee with a 'last man' call as it's known but in reality it's preventing a goal scoring opportunity.

Not only did he miss out on last night's match but he's suspended for the reserves next game, at home to Hamilton Accies on Monday October 20!

I suppose on the bright side it'll only be a one match ban since he hasn't had the chance to build up a longer ban since he's missed so much football over the last two season's.

Ferry can be a great player, a box to box midfielder that knows how to tackle, how to pass and to break beyond the strikers to find the net.

He was the youngest player on the park, and man-of-the-match, when Celtic won the 2005 SFA Youth Cup Final against St Mirren thanks to two goals from Jim O'Brien and was at his best the following year as Celtic retained the trophy beating Hearts 3-1.

With a four year contract signed the future looked assured before ankle problems kicked in denying him the chance to move up.

Hopefully this suspension will be his last hurdle towards recovery and we'll soon get the chance to see him develop from youth team player into first teamer, he's up there with Liam Miller and Aiden McGeady in terms of ability shown at youth team level.

VIDEO MESSAGE

Crosas leads Celtic squad to Derry

New bhoy Marc Crosas will lead a strong looking Celtic XI into Tuesday night's friendly with Derry City.

The former Barcelona midfielder is included in the Celtic squad as well as Glenn Loovens, Massimo Donati and Paul Caddis who've all played first team football this season.

Adding an Irish dimension to the squad is Darren O'Dea and Cillian Sheridan while Pat McCourt makes a return to the Brandywell after his summer transfer.

After the match O'Dea will travel to Dublin to meet up with international manager Giovanni Trapattoni for Thursday's night's challenge match in Dublin against Notts Forest in a match arranged to give the Italian a look at the players on the fringes of his international squad.

Tuesday's match is to celebrate Derry's 80th anniversary and it's certainly been a colourful history with the club leaving the Belfast based Irish league in the early 70s before making a spectacular return to football with the League of Ireland in the mid 80s.

Crossas made another telling contribution in the 4-0 win over Hamilton Accies that took Celtic to the top of the league ahead of Rangers defeat at St Mirren.

The young Spaniard has missed out on both Champions League games this season but could well be in the team that faces Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 21.

VIDEO REPORT on the weekend action.

MATCH REPORT on the Hamilton Accies game

Reserves too good for Rangers

The young hoops continue to dominate with a very well deserved 3-1 win over Rangers today.

VIDEO REPORT

Despite falling a goal behind on the stroke of half time Willie McStay's side stuck to playing football and deservedly got their rewards with a double from Paul McGowan and Ben Hutchison winning the points.

First half injuries to Michael McGlinchey and Joe Doumbe disrupted Celtic's style with only some touches from Paddy McCourt and bursts from Hutchison threatening the Rangers defence.

In the centre of the park Mark Millar and Kevin Cawley put in a great shift with their natural flare and style being compromised for a more workmanlike approach.

At the back Darren O'Dea was commanding and assured while putting in some meaningful challenges and helping to steer Danny Lafferty through the game.

Rangers took the lead on half time with a header from a corner but after the break Celtic dominated.

McGowan should have levelled after 61 minutes when he was put through on goal by McCourt but shot at the keeper before making amends 4 minutes later by heading home from a Koki Mizuno cross.

In the 77th minute a great passing move involving McCourt and Cawley set up McGowan to tuck the ball away with Hutchison showing a great strikers instinct to lob Rangers keeper Graeme Smith from an angle to seal a well deserved win.

VIDEO REPORT

Goals goals goals!

Don't we just love it when the ball hits the back of the Rangers net?

LOADS OF GOALS ON VIDEO

How good was Naka's strike from 30 yards that had McGregor tied in knots, the elation of Jan Vennegoor's of Hesselink's injury-time winner, Barry Robson's straight down the middle penalty, Andy Thom's belter past 'the goalie', Paul McStay's in the Centenery season, Henrik's chip in the 6-2 game, Sutton's opener, Sutton's whitewash, Billy Stark's centenery strike, John Collins predator efforts, Lubo's double at Ibrox, Petrov's diving header that came off both posts behind Klos, Maloney's belter, Bobo frightening Klos into an own goal by smiling at him, Archdeacon's bonkers goal, Murdo's goals against Rangers (every one of them) big Roy silencing them at Ibrox in 77, Joe Craig's winner in 76, Joe Miller's cup final winner and add in unlikely scorer's like Rudi Vata, Paul Byrne, Brian O'Neill, Paul McGugan, Andy Peyton and it's all enough to get you all worked up for some more magic on Sunday.

We've been having a great time since the double win in April leading to the title, Kaunas and another Champions League campaign.

Until that double win in April it had been grim, four defeats without a single goal and of the team that started on April 16 only Aiden McGeady had experienced the joy of scoring against Rangers.

Now the players know what it's like, the despair of losing at Ibrox, the league being almost written off before that double win that transformed everything and gave us a dressing room full of winners.

It's not to be recommended but the hurt and pain, the fallout of losing makes players appreciate the wins over Rangers and the effect it creates on both winners and losers.

We're back on top just now but have to capitalise on our 3-in-a-row status, to put doubt back in the Rangers players minds, remind them that Kaunas can't be airbrushed away as we set the pace whilst also enjoying the Champions League.

Celtic are likely to be without last season's first choice strikers in Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Scott McDonald but that presents Shaun Maloney and Georgios Samaras with the perfect opportunity to become hero's.

It'll be tight, nervous, probably controversial and likely to be nasty in places but after battling back last season Celtic have to keep the upper hand.

International football will soon be taking the spotlight but let's hope that it's against the backdrop of the 4-in-a-row bid being well under way

Young hoops just keep on winning

Dundee United 1-3 Celtic

VIDEO REPORT

The names change but the results and style remains as Willie McStay gears Celtic's reserve side towards 8-in-a-row.

There was no Evander Sno, Bobo Balde or Scott Cuthbert in the side but with Paul Caddis and Mark Miller becoming increasingly prominent the show goes on.

Kevin Cawley, just promoted from the under-19 side opened the scoring and continues to mix great passing and positional play with confidence in front of goal.

Joe Doumbe, yes remember Hampden, put Celtic two up before half time and although Dundee United pulled a goal back with ten minutes left to play Ryan Conroy added a third before the end to ensure a second succesive win for the reserve side.

Pat McCourt looked increasingly comfortable showing the skill and touches that earned him his transfer from Derry City.

There's bound to be a few clubs looking at getting some of our reserves on loan before the transfer window closes but whoever moves on it's fairly certain that there'll be another young player itching to get their chance to prove their worth.

VIDEO REPORT

TOMORROW: Some interesting news about Billy 'Offside' Baxter and another lesser known controversial incident involving the controversial linesman, funny how this controversial incident didn't attract so much controversy... or maybe not.

Welcome back Shaun

Well we all make mistakes, some silly ones and some whoppers.

Some VIDEO CLIPS of Shaun from 2005/2006

Usually we don't get the chance to correct them and live in regret but Shaun Maloney is now back at Celtic and hopefully ready to develop into the player that he has threatened to become.

The baby face that emerged at Ibrox in April 2001 straight out of the youth team was never going to break up the Larsson/Sutton/Hartson axis of Martin O'Neill's team and was bound for Aberdeen or Livingston until thrown a proper chance by Gordon Strachan.

In the autumn of 2005 a brand new team emerged with Artur Boruc and Shunsuke Nakamura starring alongside some forgotton talents called Maloney, Stephen McManus and of course Aiden McGeady.

The title was won in a canter as Rangers crumbled into third place in a two horse race never recovering from back-to-back hammerings at Celtic Park in November when Maloney led the way with an amazing 25 yard effort that Stefan Klos is still trying to locate.

Not unusually for Celtic some contract issues were burning away in the background, the emergence of three prominent home grown players being a novelty as they expected hefty increases to match the wages of their illustrious team mates.

In the final year of his reserve team contract McManus was sorted out but Maloney's contract issue rumbled on ominously into the new season as Thomas Gravesen and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink joined on big bucks with even Derek Riordan taking home more than Player of the Year Maloney.

Riordan took advantage of circumstances just as Maloney 'suffered' from having signed a long term deal. Whether Celtic took him for granted or not we'll never know but in the January 2007 transfer window Maloney was off to Aston Villa for £1m while Paul Hartley avoided Ibrox to join the champions.

Villa was a very strange destination for Maloney, some games here and there, some great free-kicks scored and a double against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge showed promise but when push comes to shove O'Neill will always go for brute force in the shape of Carew/Hartson/Sutton over the craft of Maloney.

He gave it 18 months, was linked with a return in virtually every transfer window but is now thankfully back in hoops, ready to resume where he left off or perhaps an even better player after experiencing that the grass isn't always greener elsewhere.

Offering cover to both wide midfield positions, competition for Scott McDonald or creating a new role tucked behind two strikers Maloney is a welcome addition to the Celtic side and can hopefully spark some action into a team that has started the season looking as stale as they were for large spells of last season.

WELCOME BACK SHAUN.

Opening day nerves?

The build up was great... but there was little to get excited about by the 90 minutes that followed as the season got underway in tired fashion.

CHAMPIONSHIP CEREMONY AND SINGSONG

No new faces in the team, not even a left-back, and an unbalanced midfield due to the injury to Shunsuke Nakamura saw the champions stutter and stumble to victory.

Barry Robson struggled badly out on the right wing, continually turning inside where Celtic already had Paul Hartley and Scott Brown as St Mirren retreated to stifle the play.

All of this put the onus onto Aiden McGeady to provide some magic but with little space to operate in and few team mates to provide him with any sort of options it was a tough afternoon all round.

Brown was possibly the best player but I couldn't help but feel that the balance of the team had been disrupted to accommodate the former Hibs midfielder.

On recent form, last season, Robson and Hartley provide the best central midfield pairing but maybe Gordon Strachan is taking a medium term view and trusting his judgement that Brown is going to raise his game to a level that Robson and Hartley can't match.

If you throw in new signing Marc Crosas and the return of Nakamura there should be enough options coming up to provide the spark and excitement missing from the win over St Mirren.

Paul Caddis belatedly got a run out yesterday, replacing Robson late on despite being ready to come on just as Celtic were awarded the decisive penalty.

Caddis had less space, and time, to operate in than he had enjoyed against Manchester City. I like Caddis a lot, he has loads to his game but is largely untried defensively. Going forward he has everything, he has pace, intelligence, tackles and passes well but isn't yet ready to displace Andreas Hinkel.

The return to Tannadice next Sunday should be interesting and testing, picking up all three points will set us up nicely for two home games including the eagerly anticipated visit from Rangers when we should have a great chance to inflict a Kaunas type blow to Rangers season by emphasising our superiority and putting some daylight into the two horse race that is the SPL.

Shelbourne 1-1 Celtic

The reserves three match tour of Dublin ended tonight with a 1-1 draw with Shelbourne.

Rocco Quinn scored the second half equaliser with Scott Cuthbert, Simon Ferry and Mark Millar the top performers.

VIDEO REPORT

Newry 1-2 Celtic XI

The reserves just keep on winning making it four out of four today with a 2-1 win over Newry.

Derek Riordan and Mark Millar got the goals in the first half before the team eased up after the break allowing Newry to score a consolation.

Reports from my man at the match are sketchy but in the first half Celtic turned on the style and really put Newry to the test with Michael McGlinchey impressive in attack alongside Riordan.

On Wednesday the team moves on to Dublin where they face Shelbourne on Wednesday night at Tolka Park.

VIDEO REPORT

Celts beat Celts

Celtic made a long awaited return to Belfast, 24 years to be precise, as Willie McStay took a youthful Celtic XI to Suffolk Road to face Donegal Celtic.

The 1,500 capacity ground was packed with over 5,000 fans as Derek Riordan's goal gave the Glasgow side victory.

On Saturday Celtic face Newry Town before heading to Dublin to meet Shelbourne.

Livingston 0-2 Celtic

Effectively Celtic's third team beat Livingston 2-0 at Almondvale with Kevin Cawley and Danny Lafferty scoring the goals.

VIDEO REPORT

With the first team squad calling up Paul Caddis and Cillian Sheridan, Willie McStay had to dig a bit deeper into his resources to face Livingston but once again came up with a win.

At this level winning is important, that's what is required of Celtic teams, but it's great to see the development in players and continual emergence of new faces that are ready to take their chance.

Into that category falls Ritchie Towell and Danny Lafferty. Towell is a central midfielder that adapted well at right back while Lafferty looks both commanding and imposing in the centre of defence whilst also showing a good eye for goal.

Thomas Gravesen and Derek Riordan again played with Gravesen looking out of touch as a sole striker during the first half with Riordan playing just off the Dane.

Michael McGlinchey and Mark Millar were kept busy in the first half and put in a power of work in the centre of the park tracking back and pushing forward.

The first half looked certain to end goal-less until Celtic took the lead two minutes from the break through Kevin Cawley.

Rocco Quinn threaded a great ball through for Cawley who, coming in off the left flank, showed a real striker's instinct and composure to slot the ball beyond Livi's trialist keeper as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do.

Simon Ferry replaced Gravesen at the break and Celtic really had to dig in and work hard for their win.

The second goal came in the 66nd minute when Scott Cuthbert headed down a Riordan corner, Cawlet sent the ball goalwards with Lafferty cheekily back healing the ball into the net.

I had my first look at Ryan Marshall in goals and he looked the part with a couple of good saves, one point blank header and another acrobatic effort that was touched over the bar.

I've no idea what age Marshall is but he's agile and looks a real natural keeper.

The reserves now head over to Ireland where they face Donegal Celtic in Belfast, Newry Town and Shelbourne.

VIDEO REPORT from Livi

Tommy G and the trialist goalkeeper

To call last night's side a Celtic XI interesting is an understatement.

Albion Rovers 1-4 Celtic

Up front we had the dynamic duo of Thomas Gravesen and Derek Riordan while on the bench newly signed Matty Hughes got on to make his debut in front of trialist goalkeeper Daniele Giordano.

How those four players will be remembered in Celtic history is anyone's guess.

There is one consistent aspect about the Celtic reserves and that's that they play good football, it's hard not to when you have Paul Caddis, Mark Millar and Kevin Cawley in your team.

Miller and Caddis have been outstanding for a while now and take every challenge in their stride, getting better week by week.

Caddis is really developing into a great full-back. Sharp in the tackle, pacy and comfortable moving forward he's got everything needed to make a big name for himself with the only variable being how he will develop.

I'd guess that every SPL team would take him on loan in a minute which probably would be best for his development because chances will be limited with Andreas Hinkel and Mark Wilson pushing for the right-back spot.

With Joe Doumbe also around there's plenty of cover and it looks unlikely that Caddis will get much first team football in the first half of the season.

Millar is developing at a great rate, has a good engine, essential for any centre midfielder, and can get himself forward into the box and knows how to find the net.

Two years ago Millar found himself behind Simon Ferry, Charlie Grant, Michael McGlinchey and Teddy Bjarnason in the u-19's midfield but injuries and Teddy's departure has given him a chance that he's taken with comfort.

Predictably both Millar and Caddis were in great form against Albion Rovers as Celtic raced into an early three goal lead with goals from Gravesen, Danny Lafferty and Millar.

Riordan scored early in the second half with Rovers getting a consolation from Pat Walker.

In goals for the night was trialist Daniele Giordano, a 17-year-old who has been on the books of Lecce.

He looked a bit older than 17 and had a fair bit of presence without having much to do although that will probably change in Saturday's game against Livingston.

Finally, Matty Hughes played most of the second half after an injury to Scott Cuthbert after signing on Tuesday from Rochdale who Celtic appear to be setting up some sort of informal exchange system with.

VIDEO REPORT

Bernabeu to Cliftonhill

Thomas Gravesen... where did it all go wrong?

Two years ago Gravesen was a Real Madrid player that some deluded Celtic fans thought might become a Celtic player.

As the summer transfer window closed in 2006 Gravesen was a Celt as we prepared to defend the SPL title and make our mark in the Champions League.

The title was won in a canter and we qualified with a game to spare in the Champions League only to be knocked out by eventual winners AC Milan after extra-time in the San Siro.

Before then the wheels had started to fall off the Gravesen bandwagon, by the end of the season he couldn't even get a place on the bench in the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline while Teddy Bjarnason picked up a winners medal.

After a failed year loaned back to Everton Gravesen is back and set to play for the reserves against Albion Rovers and Livingston.

Another years salary, perhaps a loyalty payment at the end of it awaits unless an expensive pay-off can be sorted out.

It'll be a mystery how the transfer came about and a bigger mystery how the deal fell apart but for the 1,000 fans at Cliftonhill on Thursday the once Great Dane will be the star attraction.

VIDEO REPORT

Good guy Tommy Johnson

I had the pleasure to catch up with Tommy Johnson at the Masters football at the weekend where the Geordie Genius was the top Celt.

VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH TOMMY JOHNSON

TJ finished up as joint top scorer but once again Celtic lost out in the final, this time to Rangers with goalkeeper Kevin McKeown hardly covering himself in glory.

As ever it was good to see some old faces, Mark McNally, Darren Jackson, Regi Blinker and a real blast from the past with Jim Duffy called into service.

Johnson had a strange Celtic career, playing under Tommy Burns, Wim Jansen, Dr Jo, John Barnes, Kenny Dalglish and Martin O'Neill.

It was certainly a lively time at Celtic Park with TJ almost always playing with a smile and capable of the occasional spectacular goal.

He'll be best remembered for the title-clinching goal in 2001 against St Mirren and he's happy to laugh about mishitting the ball.

After Celtic he moved onto Sheffield Wednesday, Kilmarnock and others, at Rugby Park he scored a couple against Rangers before winding up his career playing for Sheffield United, Gillingham and Tamworth.

Tommy is now coaching at his first senior club Notts County and doing whatever he can for a local charity that is helping to educate kids in Guatemala and elsewhere.

Enjoy this VIDEO INTERVIEW with Tommy Johnson

Reserve pre-season friendlies

While the first team head off to the Algarve via Southampton and Fulham and onto Rotterdam it's a little less exotic for the reserves and youths.

Albion Rovers, Livingston and Berwick Rangers will all be facing Celtic XI's as well as a visit to Ireland taking in Donegal Celtic, Newry Town and Bohemians.

Glentoran will be visited at some future date, but not in July I suspect.

FULL PRE SEASON LISTING

That's why we're champions!

Yesterday somewhere in Europe lots of wee teams were put in the draw for the Champions League dreaming of battling all the way to the real competition, picking up a few euros before getting turfed out as the big bhoys make their way into the last 16 and the proper knock-out.



TITLE WINNING VIDEO



When we won the league the euphoria and joy was real, an amazing comeback from the seemingly dead as Rearangers wilted as they finally caught up with those pesky away fixtures that they had been avoiding.



Behind the sheer joy of winning the league was a very attractive prize, straight into the Champions League without having to visit Moscow or anywhere like that.



Twelve months ago the season's build up was all towards being ready for the Champions League qualifier and despite being seeded it couldn't have been any tougher than getting CSKA Moscow away.



Remember the tension? Artur Boruc out injured, John Kennedy playing on a plastic pitch, the joy of Paul Hartley's header, the dismay as CSKA murdered us down the left at home, cancelling out our away goal, Boruc and Lee Naylor squaring up (a bit one sided), Skippy's equaliser, extra time, Derek Riordan appearing, Maciej Zurawski and Riordan scoring, Boruc saving and we're through.



Well this year it will be nice and quiet as others scrap and battle to join the real teams in the Champions League, even Arsenal and Liverpool face qualifiers and we won't face AC Milan for the third year running because their in the UEFA Cup.



Every title win is sweet, demolishing big Eck's dream team and Hearts in 2006, seeing Paul LeGuen across l'channel in 2007 but 2008 was very very special, especially after too many scary home performances against too many teams to mention (such as St Mirren, Hibs, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Hearts and Motherwell)



There was no more margin for error when Walter's gladiators came calling, and twice they were turned over losing their cherished discipline as they ended both games with ten men.



Barry Robson and Paul Hartley were on fire, Gary Caldwell playing out of his skin, Aiden McGeady and Shunsuke Nakamura dazzling as we rattled of win after win and on to Tannadice.



Remarkably it was in our own hands, no outside help required and bhoy did we deliver as the other lot crumbled with another red card collected as they feebly fell at Aberdeen as the party started down the road at Tannadice.



It's six weeks now since we won the league but the dividend continues through the winter as we enjoy another Champions League campaign.



Enjoy the VIDEO FROM TANNADICE and sit back and prepare for a third consecutive Champions League campaign.

Welcome to Celtic Paddy

There's something about Pat McCourt other than the Davie Provan 70s haircut.

VIDEO THOUGHTS

He's confident not arrogant, assured and very talented.

How that develops at Celtic is anyone's guess but he seems a sensible sort and at 24 knows that he's not going to get another crack at the big time.

Rochdale seems a strange place for a great talent to develop at, so it proved with the early promise fizzing out and ending in a free transfer to Shamrock Rovers via an unsuccessful stop off at Motherwell.

The not so shy Dublin duo of Roddy Collins and Stephen Kenny restored Pat's belief and set him on track for the move that few Rochdale free transfers ever make... to Celtic.

Genuine wingers have been thin on the ground at Celtic where wide midfielder have been the norm or win-backs, it's difficult trying to recall the last Celtic winger... was Davie Provan ever replaced?

Steve Guppy and Ross Wallace were both sort of wingers but mainly noted for crossing the ball, usually outswinging from the left.

McCourt seems to offer more, a directness, ability to cut inside with an eye for goal and two footedness.

It'll be interesting to see if he fits in, how he develops, if he can flourish like Didier Agathe and Evander Sno two recent bargain signings that went on to make an impact in the Champions League.

It's a lot to ask for but from his demeanor and from the clips that I've seen of him he won't feel intimidated or out of place, welcome to Celtic Paddy.

VIDEO THOUGHTS

Title winning days

How the month of May turned around.

Remember the feeling, hitting some form, winning back-to-back games against Rangers but still having the league out of our control.

VIDEO lap of honour

Sure they had a lot of games to play but after the McCurry-inspired 3-1 win over Dundee United we knew that Rangers would continue to scrape by and get the points needed to win the league whatever it took and whatever we did.

Our home defeat to Motherwell was so costly, if only we had won that, or beaten St Mirren or Hibs at home in December, if if if if.

And horror of horrors as well as losing the league our Seville experience was under threat from the most boring, defensive, miserable collection of anti-football as somehow Rangers had snarled their way to the UEFA Cup Final where all they had to do was bore Wee Dickies Ruskies to death, win on penalties and life in Scotland and beyond would be unbearable.

As we went to the final home match of the season we only had hope, hope we could beat Hibs, hope that luck would run out in Manchester and hope that they'd trip up in one of their three remaining games but with the season over for Motherwell, St Mirren and Aberdeen there really wasn't much to hope for.

A 2-0 win over Hibs delivered some more points but it still felt a bit empty, out of our hands as the players made their way around the park, not so glorious failure to a poor Rangers team or a preparation for celebrations to come at Tannadice?

Thankfully, oh how thankfully, it all fell into place, Zenit won the UEFA Cup, more Rangers points were slipped away to Motherwell then gloriously at Tannadice Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink's header brought us a title that we could only have dreamed of a few weeks earlier as a nightmare unfolded.

The summer has been a joy, complete pleasure basking in the pleasure of three-in-a-row, reliving the highlights whilst trying to blank out the scary bits.

Enjoy this VIDEO of the premature lap of honour after beating Hibs 2-0 on May 11, little did we know that some real celebrations were just around the corner.

Reserves to tour Ireland

There's been quite a lot of internet debate about a Celtic XI playing against Glentoran on July 23 but I believe that a few other, perhaps more appealing, Irish fixtures are being lined up.

VIDEO REPORT

With the first team squad over in the Algarve and then moving on to Rotterdam it will almost certainly be a very young side that travels to Ireland.

Newry Town on July 26 and Bohemians on July 30 gives the Irish based Celtic support a chance to look in on the next Aiden McGeady or Stephen McManus.

The reserves have won seven titles in a row providing a platform for emerging youths and competitive environment for first team squad men looking for fitness and sharpness.

After two lost season's due to injury this season will be crucial to Simon Ferry and Charlie Grant, hopefully they can get off to a good start over in Ireland.

Not much fun for the Euro 2008 Celts

Poor old Artur, he more than did his bit, but the Poles just weren't at the races as they departed Euro 2008.

Likewise with Georgios Samaras, Greece put up a poor defence of the trophy and our bhoy was unable to get into the side.

Big Jan looks as if he's in an Alan Gow position with Holland, how a striker breaks into that team is beyond me but it's a great achievement to make the squad.

And onto tonight, is it the last hurrah for the King of Kings or will Henrik take Sweden into the last eight of the competition?

He's only been playing to 99% of his best, time has taken something from his game but during the first half alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic Larsson made the Spanish defence look fairly ordinary.

Let's hope that Sweden make it through tonight to retain a Celtic link through to the last eight.

VIDEO REPORT

New Ibrox dream-team emerges

Yikes

They've signed Kyle Laugh-at-me from Burnley, the prolific 5 goals a season marksman for £3m or thereabouts.

Add that to Kenny 8-goals-a-season Miller and it looks like Rangers have got themselves a strikeforce capable of scoring half the goals that Kris Boyd does for £5m!

It's a laugh seeing these signings coming to Ibrox, I almost forgot Lithuanian goal-machine Andrius Velicka. The former Jambo is at least half decent by SPL standards but these signings, plus Andy Webster indicate the direction that Rangers are moving in.

I'm looking forward to our own Champions League signings, with a gentle start to the SPL season things are looking good for the 4-in-a-row bid and if we can again reach the last 16 of the Champions League it'll put further daylight between the hoops and the rest.

Welcome to Rangers KENNY n KYLIE VIDEO

The Celts at Euro 2008

EURO 2008 VIDEO REPORT

Poor old Artur, he's doing his best to get Poland through but his team-mates just aren't of the same calibre.

The holy goalie was again at his best with three great early saves to keep Poland in the match against Austria but after taking the lead a dodgy injury-time penalty left Poland with one point out of six.

It looks like an early exit for Poland with Artur likely to be heading back to Celtic unless a monster bid comes in and the current climate doesn't suggest that that's likely, it seems that only Premiership clubs could afford Artur with only the top four holding any appeal to the 'keeper.

Elsewhere the King of Kings continues his magical career, forcing Sweden to a 2-0 win over Greece and showing Zlatan Ibrahimovic how to score again.

Georgios Samaras never really stood a chance in comparison to Henrik but then not many can be compared favourably to the King of Kings he's in good company, who can compare with the magnificent 7.

Kenny Miller joins a MASSIVE MASSIVE club

Kenny Miller always wanted to join a massive massive club.

One day he got his wish and although he didn't score massive massive amounts of goals he did win an SPL title medal.

Kenny's career unfortunately tailed off after that but he did maintain his record of scoring every five or six games whilst running about with all the poise of a carrier bag on a windy day.

Kenny Miller... where are they now?

MASSIVE MASSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW

No joy for Artur but the King of Kings prepares to enter the fray

Poor old Artur, he never stood a chance against Germany with a dodgy defence in front of him.

The holy goalie did pull off a couple of decent saves but I don't think that the Poles really believed that they could win.

Maciej Zurawski was substituted at half-time and perhaps has seen his last international appearance.

Holland brought the tournament to life with a brilliant 3-0 win over Italy and today marks the return of the King of Kings, Henrik back in the limelight as Sweden play Greece.

Enjoy this VIDEO REPORT as we bask in the great afterglow of three-in-a-row.

At last Euro 2008 gets underway

It doesn't really begin to compare with the amazing end to the season that we enjoyed but our footy fix comes in the way of Euro 2008.

There's a few Celts around here and there including Henrik of course and the schedule looks entertaining with a competition that four or five teams could win with most teams at least aspiring to the semi-finals.

We watch it as Celtic supporters, looking out for links with the past and perhaps for the future as another Champions League campaign awaits.

EURO 2008 Day 1 Video Diary

Tommy twists Tommy turns Tommy Burns

Tomorrow is going to be a tear-stained day for Celtic fans as Tommy Burns funeral takes place bringing the area around Celtic Park to a standstill.

Celtic without Tommy will be a strange place, he hasn't been high profile for a number of years but it's always been comforting to know that he was hard at work with the club he loved.

Every now and then there would be a reference to him from a first-team player, he'd be involved in the dug-out or seen celebrating wildly at a victory.

I first saw Tommy playing in the Eastercraigs Tournament at Celtic Park, soon he was in the reserves and breaking through to the first team at the same time as Roy Aitken.

Tommy played a part in the 76/77 double winning side, missed out on the famous 4-2 league decider in 1979 but really came into his own from 1980-1982.

The left side of midfield was his beat as he introduced us to the double-shuffle and other tricks that left defenders chasing shadows as Frank McGarvey, George McCluskey and Charlie Nicholas bagged the goals.

Throughout the 80's Burns was a fantastic player with the added edge of being a lifelong fan appreciating the honour of wearing the hoops and playing for the supporters he identified with.

Victory against the odds in 85 against Dundee United in the Scottish Cup Final was followed by the equally memorable and unforgettable title win at Love Street. More than most players TB appreciated and savoured the very Celtic nature of those successes.

The Centenary double winning season saw Burns a pivotal figure as a new Celtic side emerged from the shadow of Souness to be champions again. Alongside Paul McStay, Peter Grant and Aitken, Burns helped bring out the best in Andy Walker, Frank McAvennie, Joe Miller and others as the club's Centenary was celebrated in style.

One more Scottish Cup success was to come Burns way, a 1-0 win over Rangers in 89, before he left for Kilmarnock then returning as Celtic manager.

The Celtic that Burns inherited was a shadow of the club that he had played for but despite a season in exile at Hampden and the gutting defeat to Raith Rovers in the Coca Cola Cup Burns finally broke a six year trophy drought by winning the 95 Scottish Cup Final against Airdrie.

That Hampden season is best forgotten but with a new look Celtic Park rising up so to did a new team full of excitement, goals and skill, the ingredients Burns knew were essential to any Celtic side.

No tangible success was to follow but with The Three Amigos of Pierre van Hoojidonk, Jorge Cadete and Paolo di Canio around demand to watch Celtic went through the roof whilst most of us wondered about the wisdom of building a 60,000 seater stadium.

Burns the manager left Celtic as Rangers prepared to make it 9-in-a-row but no-one would have cheered louder when Wim Jansen's side stopped the 10 to the relief and delight of every Celtic fan.

Spells at Newcastle and managing Reading never seemed quite right for Burns who returned to Celtic in the aftermath of the John Barnes fiasco.

As Celtic celebrated a fairly worthless CIS Cup win over Aberdeen in 2000 the fans chanted for Burns above all others as silverware returned to Celtic Park.

Under Martin O'Neill and Gordon Strachan Burns has been a key member of staff with Strachan adding his former adversary to the first team coaching staff as well as retaining his role alongside Willie McStay as head of Youth Development.

Cancer struck in 2006 but TB bounced back to enjoy back-to-back titles alongside Strachan before cancer returned again in the spring of this year.

Losing a man of Burns calibre has been a horrible blow to Celtic but the team has battled on with Neil Lennon returning to the dug-out to continue Burns work.

Horribly last Thursday the news we hoped that we'd never hear was announced, Tommy Burns had died in the early hours of the morning.

Since then the legend of TB has grown, a tearful Gordon Strachan spoke to the media on Thursday of how we had visited Burns on the Wednesday before he had died, how Burns had talked football and wished Strachan all the best knowing that his death was around the corner.

Peter Lawwell spoke of his last phone call with Burns of how it was business as usual as Burns continued his work on nurturing the next generation of McGeady's and McManus's.

He'll never ever be forgotten by Celtic supporters but sadly a family has lost a husband, father and grandfather, that's where our sympathies should be.

We were lucky to know TB the Celt, but how painful must it be to have a man of that character and strength taken from your family at the age of 51?

Rest in Peace TB, we're all the poorer without your presence.

Celtic Park video tribute.

Tommy Burns 1956-2008

Tragically today Tommy was taken from us, from his family and extended Celtic family.

The sadness was obvious around Celtic Park, quietness, people stunned that Tommy, someone that we've all grown up with, has passed away.

Two years ago we were shocked at his cancer, he recovered and returned to enjoy more success at Celtic.

Cancer returned, Tommy battled on but this morning he was taken from us, tragically at the age of 51, a husband, father and grandfather gone far far too early.

Words will never do Tommy justice, every Celtic fan has their memories of Tommy. The player, the manager and always the Celtic supporter.

RIP TB

Video from Celtic Park

Scotland's shame shames Scotland

It's all over now

VIDEO REPORT

It's another championship for the Bhoys

Congratulations to Willie McStay and the reserve side on winning the title for the seventh year running.

Lots of players have been involved, consistency is hard to find but whatever the team they play good passing football and know how to score.

Mark Millar has probably been the best player over the season with Paul Caddis and Scott Cuthbert not far behind.

Derek Riordan, Evander Sno and Chris Killen would rather have been playing in the first team but have given 100% to the reserves.

VIDEO REPORT

Craig Levein stands firm

This morning on Radio Scotland Craig Levein remained furious.

He's not for backing down, it wasn't heat of the moment, he was telling things straight after four clear cut decisions went against his side in the second half of the game with Rangers.

Noel Hunt didn't get a penalty, David Weir wasn't sent off, Weir had a good own goal unfairly disallowed and Daniel Cousin was only yellow carded for head-butting Lee Wilkie.

And to add to it all Mark deVries was booked for scoring against Rangers and daring to hold back his celebrations in case the goal was mysteriously disallowed.

And Neil Alexander jumped in to the Copland Road stand to celebrate Rangers third goal while Kirk Broadfoot punches Hunt while Weir puts the ball in his own net.

VIDEO UPDATE

Celtic end of season singalong

It's been an incredible home season, more lows than we'd like but plenty of high's as well.

AC Milan, Benfica and Shakhtar Donetsk were all beaten in the Champions League, Barcelona provided us with a genuine thriller and of course Rangers got memorably skelped twice in quick succession.

After the 2-0 win over Hibs the players took a well deserved ovation from the supporters, whether they win anything this season is in the hands of Mike McCurry and friends as much as anyone.

ENJOY THE FINAL CURTAIN CALL VIDEO

"We'd be as well not turning up today," Craig Levein's verdict on Mike McCurry.

After being cheated out of a point or three by the Rev Mike McCurry in today's game against Rangers Dundee United manager Craig Levein exploded in rage.

VIDEO REPORT AND SETANTA INTERVIEW

Levein didn't hide in his post match comments calling things straight from the heart as McCurry kept Rangers SPL hopes alive with a string of dishonest decisions.

LEVEIN SUMS UP THE MATCH: "We'd be as well not turning up today, we couldn't win today, no matter how well we played."

LEVEIN ON MCCURRY: "I think that he knew the importance of the game to Rangers, it's all about Rangers, it's important that Rangers don't lose, it's important that Rangers don't go down to ten men. Absolutely ridiculous decisions, not even doubts, ridiculous decisions."

Davie Weir crunches Noel Hunt in the box, should be a penalty and a red card but McCurry waves play on.

LEVEIN SAYS: "It is a red card, if that's not a goal scoring opportunity I don't know what is. It's a sending off."

A perfectly good own-goal from Davie Weir from a Danny Swanson shot is disallowed for no reason, whilst Kirk Broadfoot punches Hunt in the face

LEVEIN SAYS: "The ball hit Davie Weir. The linesman started off by saying that it hit Davie Robertson, then he realised that it hadn't him him all off a sudden it's Robertson ran across the line of the goalkeeper, 20 yards from goal. It's ridiculous.

Hit man Daniel Cousin headbutts Lee Wilkie in front of McCurry with both players yellow carded.

LEVEIN SAYS: "Hunt got punched in the face when Danny Swanson shot and Lee Wilkie got head butted.

Looking back at the CIS Cup Final when Kenny Clark denied Utd a clear cut penalty whilst 1-0 up.

LEVEIN SAYS: "Nobody bothers about Dundee United, it's all about Rangers. We played in a cup final, there was a penalty decision, a definite penalty decision and we didn't get it and we lost the cup final. Today at Ibrox it was important to Rangers and we didn't get anything, you don't get those important decisions. It's disgraceful."

On Scottish referees in general

LEVEIN SAYS: "The sooner that we get referee's coming in from another country the better, they don't understand the pressure that's on.

Well said Craig Levein, by no means a Celtic man, those views expressed by Levein will carry added weight, he's not an ex-Celt, but has came out and said it exactly as he saw it with his team cheated out of point/s in order to assist Rangers.

The SFA must take action now against Levein for these comments, he's been stubborn before, should be very interesting to see how these incidents are dealt with.

The quotes are from Levein's interview on Setanta, they have been repeated on Radio Scotland and in the general press conference afterwards.

NO SURRENDER to an extended extension

At last the SPL and SFA have stood up to the lobbying on behalf of Rangers and told them to stop squealing and get on with it.

Already this season they've been given a winter break and an extension to the detriment of six other clubs to suit their own needs.

Today with the Daily Retard as cheerleaders they approached the SFA and SPL for yet more help, could this be linked to the crashing of bottle evident against Hibs on Sunday?

Thankfully the authorities stood firm against Rangers, the Scottish Cup Final and the remaining SPL fixtures will go ahead as scheduled although Mike McCurry has been handed Saturday's game against Dundee United

VIDEO REPORT

When the going gets tough... the Celts get going

That's more like it, I love those weekends when Celtic win and Rangers don't.

We got the points on the swamp that is Fir Park against a team playing for a UEFA Cup place, not pretty, it was nervy but we got the points to go 8 points clear and turn up the heat on Rangers.

How would they respond at Easter Road? As they usually do with another 0-0 thriller, their fourth 0-0 in the last six games with only two defeats by Celtic to break the boredom.

Walter Smith is starting to get a bit touchy about the SPL not helping his side out, perhaps he's trying to forget the winter break they were awareded in December to prepare to face Lyon, 0-3 by the way.

The sun is shining on the Celt's today, let's hope that this month continues in the way it has started with Celtic rattling off two more wins whilst Rangers keep on drawing 0-0.

VIDEO REPORT

Game on

The Celts are back in the race.

Yesterday's win over Rangers covered the season neatly, let's hope that there is a similar happy ending.

Going in front, falling apart, getting level then ahead and seeing the game out to claim the points.

Congratulations to all of the team, they did what the support wanted/demanded by beating Rangers twice.

Whatever happens in the SPL we've made a fight of it which is something that didn't look likely a month ago.

Enjoy this VIDEO REPORT

Let the people sing

Celtic Park was rocking good style today as the hoops beat Rangers for the second time in a fortnight.

It was squeaky bum time as we went in front, fell behind, got back into it, went ahead the hung on waiting for the final whistle.

And we got to see Amdy Faye although Alan Gow still remains as a bit of a mystery.

Another day of Celtic joy followed, whether we win the league or not we'll certainly make Rangers sweat for the championship and two derby wins in a fortnight is never to be belittled.

Enjoy this VIDEO as The People Sing

The forgotten St Mirren-Rangers fixture and memory loss

The build up to Sunday's match has been given an extra edge by the SPL's decision to extend the season for the benefit of Rangers should they reach the final of the UEFA Cup.

VIDEO REPORT

By granting an extension Celtic, Hibs, Motherwell, Dundee Utd, Aberdeen and St Mirren will have their season extended with Celtic, Hibs, Dundee Utd and Aberdeen having an 11 day wait to play their final match.

After being granted a winter's break in December that no other club even considered, a month that proved very costly to Celtic, Rangers are now bleating about not getting the extension that they require.

Yesterday Walter Smith brought up the forgotten St Mirren-Rangers fixture postponed on November 12 for the benefit of the Scotland-Italy game on November 18. Smith mentioned that that fixture should have been arranged ahead of the Celtic-Rangers game postponed on January 2.

It certainly should have, with December 5 and 19 free why wasn't the postponed St Mirren game played then?

While Celtic played their postponed game against Falkirk on December 11 Rangers, with or without the approval/support of the SPL forgot all about their game with St Mirren.

The free Wednesdays of December 5 and December 19 passed with the St Mirren game forgotten, perhaps Rangers didn't fancy a trip to Love Street before facing Lyon on December 12 or before the visit to Aberdeen on December 23.

In most circumstances the St Mirren and well publicised Gretna games could be played quite easily later in the season but due to a variety of reasons such as the death of Phil O'Donnell, the poor condition of Rangers relaid pitch, Scottish Cup replays and reaching the CIS Cup Final Rangers have fallen three fixtures behind.

Nothing could be done about the circumstances above, these things happen in football, but there would be just two games to be arranged and Rangers would have played one less fixture since the turn of the year if the Gretna AND St Mirren fixtures had been played during December when there was free midweeks.

Meanwhile Celtic were playing fixtures left right and centre without whimpering or looking for a winter's break.

Shakhtar Donetsk and AC Milan were played within seven days in the Champions League with a trip to Hearts inbetween proving costly with two points dropped.

Returning from Milan Celtic played their rearranged game with Falkirk at the first opportunity, December 11, inbetween drawing at home with St Mirren and losing at Inverness.

These things happen, that's the consequences of success we accept it but how would the SPL table look if we'd been able to forget about the Hearts or Inverness away games and played the Falkirk match at a time that suited us better?

If Celtic had been able to side-step tricky looking fixtures in December for the benefit of 'the co-efficient of course' how would they be sitting in the league table?

Whilst Celtic were dropping nine points during December Rangers lost two points while playing two less fixtures.

WAS THAT FAIR?

DID THE SPL OPERATE SPORTING INTEGRITY?

On the subject of integrity we now have Rangers squealing about the need for an extension of the SPL, with that being granted, should they reach the UEFA Cup Final, they would now like a longer extension to the season.

What has caused this? For long enough we were told that Rangers didn't want an extension to the season, as Walter Smith confirmed on April 3: "But I would like to clarify something right now. Nobody from Rangers has ever asked the SPL to extend the season and we will not ask the SPL to extend the season."

Roll the clock forward three weeks and it's extensions all round, whether it's Martin Bain with: "Why is the season simply not extended to conclude on May 27 regardless?" or Walter Smith with: "Actually, they had no alternative but to extend the season if Rangers reach the UEFA Cup final.
"What they have done in the other scenario is put us in a situation where we could play four games in a week. We accept it, but is it right from the league's point of view to force a club to do that?"

Celtic's win over Rangers on April 16 has changed everything. A point for Rangers in that game would have made the league a formality, games could have been fitted in at any time without having any effect on the title race.

Now Rangers and the SPL have a problem and if Rangers reach the UEFA Cup Final it will be Celtic, Motherwell, Hibs, Dundee Utd, Aberdeen, Motherwell and St Mirren that suffer with their season extended to accommodate Rangers.

If the SPL had made Rangers play through December, as the other 11 SPL clubs did, then there would be no backlog or controversy. The problems have all been caused by the SPL allowing Rangers to select their fixtures through December whilst Celtic played on to their cost dropping nine points during the month.

A win for Celtic tomorrow will really kick things off, any other result should see Rangers win the league quite comfortably.

Delaying the final game of the season to suit Rangers is unfair and distorts the sporting integrity of the SPL as Peter Lawwell rightly highlights.

Walter Smith rightly points out that Celtic and Lawwell are looking after themselves. Correct. 100%. And extending the season to accommodate a club that has already enjoyed a winter break is unfair.

Rangers are entitled to their break in December... provided they catch up with the fixtures later on.

Expecting six other clubs to extend their season to suit Rangers is unfair and should be resisted by all those that wish to compete on equal terms.

Centenary Celts clinch the title.

Can you believe it? It's now 20 years since 80,000 squeezed into the old Celtic Park to watch the league being clinched against Dundee.

A double from Andy Walker after Chris Morris opened the scoring gave Celtic the first leg of the double with the Scottish Cup clinched a few weeks later against Dundee United.

It was an amazing time, an amazing season packed with memories: Billy Stark's winner against Rangers, Souness getting sent off, last minute winners at Dundee United and Dundee over Christmas, McAvennie's double against Rangers at New Year, McStay's goal at Ibrox, Walker's winner at Ibrox (thanks Anton), coming back from the death against Hearts in the Scottish Cup and McAvennie's double to beat Dundee United plus various others.

CLICK HERE for Centenary video

SPL extend the season to accomodate Rangers

It's official, if Rangers reach the final of the UEFA Cup the SPL will extend the season to yet again accomodate Rangers.

Depending on the outcome of Rangers games with Fiorentina Celtic's season will either end on May 18 or May 22- incredible.

Two fixture schedules have been produced CLICK HERE to view with special provision made for Rangers outstanding games against Motherwell and St Mirren.

St Mirren players have a holiday booked for May 18 but will be required to postpone that to play Rangers on May 20 if Rangers go through to the final.

This is the same SPL that excused Rangers from facing the mighty FC Gretna in December and also decided against scheduling the St Mirren-Rangers match, postponed for the Scotland-Italy game, whilst Celtic played their postponed fixture with Falkirk.

The lesson here is to avoid difficult looking fixtures claiming to be working for 'the co-efficient' and at the end of the day the plans of Celtic, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Motherwell, Hibs and St Mirren will be disrupted to accomodate Rangers

VIDEO REPORT

Bhoys on top again

It wasn't pretty, it was pretty ugly, but we're back on top of the league again thanks to the 1-0 win over Aberdeen.

Georgios Samaras wasn't exactly a hero, like most of his team-mates his performance was below par, but he got the goal that turned a draw into a win.

Four more wins like that and we could be champions as Rangers squad falls apart with another two casualties stretchered off at Hampden as they limped past St Johnstone into the Scottish Cup Final.

VIDEO REPORT