With
this weeks Champions League match at Celtic Park coming up on Tuesday
between Celtic and Ajax, it had me thinking of a fantastic match that I
had the pleasure of witnessing at Celtic Park between the two sides back
in 82.
As
was the normal back then, I remember
this being an all ticket match so I remember we had to go over to
Celtic Park to buy the tickets before the actual match itself and it was
only £2.50 to get in !
It was the usual lads from school, Jeff, Maff, Dave, Andy, James, Danny, Jamie John and myself.
Now
we were looking forward to this match more than any other at that time
because everyone admired Ajax and the Dutch style of football which most
of us had only seen on TV.
The
Dutch had a fantastic way of playing football, everything they done
back then was a joy to watch and they had a few good players back then
including a player that we all admired, the Dutch master Johan Cruyff,
who made his one and only appearance at Celtic Park that night in one of
the most exciting matches seen there for many a day, a match that is
still talked about till this day.
Ajax
came to Celtic Park with a big reputation and some other star players
including Molby, Lerby, Olsen and a legend in the making on the bench
that night one Marco Van Basten.
Celtic
had one or two more than decent players in their side also, the
fantastic Danny McGrain, the mid-field dynamos of McStay, Burns and
MacLeod with Davie Provan providing the pin point crosses for the
deadly duo of Nicholas and McGarvey, the Hoops would certainly not fear
their opponents just respect them.
Coming
into the ground, you noticed two things, one just how great an
atmosphere it was and two that Ajax would not be playing in their famous
Red and White strip but a natty Blue strip.
Perhaps
Celtic side were shocked at the way the Dutch side came out of the
traps against them but with over 56,000 fanatic fans cheering their side
on, any side would have been up against it that night and on many other
European nights over the years but Ajax dealt with this as they drew on
their years of experience on the European scene
to help them deal with the Celtic threat on the field and the twelfth man of their support off
it.
The Celtic Park crowd were totally stunned after only four minutes when Olsen scored after a fantastic run.
Ten
minutes later, Celtic drew level after a quick Davie Provan corner kick
found Tommy Burns at the edge of the box and as the mid-field moved in
the box, he was fouled by Johan Cryuff and it was left to young Charlie
Nicholas to dispatch the penalty past Galje.
But Celtic would soon be behind four minutes later.
Another
Olsen run caused Celtic problems and he found Cryuff with a pass who in
turn found Lerby with a delightful touch and he lifted the ball over
the advancing Bonner.
This
could have knocked the stuffing out of Celtic but they fought back
again and after a long ball and flick on, McGarvey ran on to bring
Celtic level once again in this simply wonderful and breath-taking first
half .
Despite
both sides having chances to win the game, this fantastic match ended
2-2 and I remember two things from standing at the Celtic end at
the end of the match.
1)
At the end of a match a man said to me, "Ah well that's us out!" I
said, " I think Celtic can win over there ! to which he replied "If
Celtic win over there I will give you a tenner !
I wish I had got his name and number for that tenner....with interest from 82 as Celtic did win 2-1 !
2) The Ajax players
were cheered by the Celtic fans at the end of the match as they had a great deal of respect for their Dutch opponents.
I
hope the match at Celtic Park is half as good as that Dutch of Class by
Celtic and Ajax back in 82, I am just sorry that I won't be there to
welcome our Dutch friends to our city once again.
The teams on the night
Celtic:
Bonner, McGrain, McAdam,
Moyes, Reid, McStay, Burns (Sullivan 84), MacLeod, Provan, Nicholas, McGarvey Subs: Latchford Crainie McCluskey Sinclair
Celtic scorers: Nicholas (14 pen), McGarvey (27)
Ajax:
Galje, Molenaar, Van Veen, Molby, Boeve, Schoenaker, Ophof, Cryuff, Lerby, Olsen, Vanenburg Subs: Schrijvers, Silooy, Van Basten, Godee, Van T'Schip
Ajax scorers: Olsen (4), Lerby (18)
Referee: Fredriksson (Sweden)
Att: 56,229
Celtic scorers: Nicholas (14 pen), McGarvey (27)
Ajax:
Galje, Molenaar, Van Veen, Molby, Boeve, Schoenaker, Ophof, Cryuff, Lerby, Olsen, Vanenburg Subs: Schrijvers, Silooy, Van Basten, Godee, Van T'Schip
Ajax scorers: Olsen (4), Lerby (18)
Referee: Fredriksson (Sweden)
Att: 56,229
Sean Graham
Follow on Twitter @FeaturesSean
"I
am just a guy who has over 40 years of memories of watching various
clubs and
matches since my Dad took me round the grounds in Glasgow each week
before we went to meet my Mum after work and we always went to the Berni
Inn where I had scampi and chips !
From
watching Aberdeen, Celtic, Rangers, Partick Thistle, Maryhill juniors
and Scotland as well as watching Everton and Manchester United, I have
plenty of memories to share for fans to hopefully enjoy
and remember."
Memory added on October 21, 2013
Comments (Add your voice)
No comments have yet been added to this memory.
