Tony’s got that funny feeling all over again
TONY FITZPATRICK can proudly claim to be the last manager to have led St Mirren to victory at Celtic Park.
It was on April 7 1990 that his unfancied side ran out 3-0 winners, courtesy of goals from Gunni Torfason, George Shaw and a promising young midfielder by the name of Paul Lambert.
YouTube footage of the time shows Fitzpatrick, then impressively moustachioed, talking BBC commentator Archie Macpherson through a performance which had “shut a few mouths”.
“I have fantastic memories of that day,” said the 60-year-old, who will represent Saints at the ground today in his role as chief executive when the clubs meet in the Scottish Cup.
“Nobody gave us a chance. But I had a feeling all that week we could go there and win.
“I was right too because it was 3-0 going on 6-0.”
Seventeen years on, Fitzpatrick tells of having a similar hunch about the outcome of this quarter-final tie.
“I’ve got that wee feeling in my stomach again,” he said.
“I can’t believe I’m the last St Mirren manager to win at Parkhead, so it would be great for Jack Ross if he could take that mantle from me.
“Don’t get me wrong, this is a daunting one.
“Celtic are a machine just now, and have been running over the top of teams, with the six they scored against Inverness Caley Thistle in the last round of the Cup, being just one example.
“But the law of averages tells you they have to be beaten some time, and it is what happens on the day that counts.
“They are human beings and, who knows, Moussa Dembele might have a bad curry the night before or just not feel like it on the day.
“That is what we are hoping and we do have to hope for these things because, let’s be honest, they are better than us. But that is the challenge.”
Should the prolific Frenchman and his fellow Hoops fall short, Fitzpatrick insists Saints are the perfect team to take advantage.
“We are a funny club, as every one of our supporters will tell you. Whenever we are least expected to win, that is when it will happen,” he said.
“That’s always been our story. We have been doing it since 1877.
“Our win over Celtic in the 2013 League Cup semi-final is the perfect example of what I am talking about.
“They had beaten us 7-0 in the league and yet, within a week, we put them out of the Cup.
“That is just life at St Mirren. I am not shouting: ‘We are going to beat Celtic on Sunday’. I am just saying you never know.
“It is a big, big pressure game for them because this Treble is really burning them and they need to beat us to continue on their journey.”
Football is full of Sliding Doors moments and Fitzpatrick’s story includes three near-misses involving Celtic.
“My family were all Celtic mad, and when I was a kid my dad told me to join them. But I couldn’t handle all that so I joined St Mirren, who I supported, instead.
“I remember walking up from Love Street with my dad, all the way to Gilmour Street Station, and he wouldn’t speak to me for going against him.
“At least, not until I said to him: ‘Celtic will buy me from here’.”
“They came in for me again when Alex Ferguson left, as did Aberdeen. But St Mirren wouldn’t sell me to another Scottish club, so I had to go to England and Bristol City.
“Then when I was coming back up the road from Bristol, I spoke to Big Billy (McNeill) and Fergie at Aberdeen – and ended up back at St Mirren.
“I have no regrets, though, because I love the club.
“I first got that feeling at the age of 12, standing at the top of the old Love Street terracings looking down, and I still have it today.”