Unlike Lou, Tiern and Dembele won’t be sent on a Magical Mystery Tour

“I loved playing for Celtic and wanted to stay. I had signed a three-year contract and it was for £50-a-week.

“When my contract ended, I went to see Jock – and I was offered £55-a-week. I wasn’t pleased.

“I told the boss I couldn’t accept the new terms as my father had died and I was supporting my mother. I was also getting married.

“I wasn’t being greedy, but I knew boys down south were earning upwards of £180-per-week. I knew Celtic couldn’t match that, but I did expect there to be more than a fiver increase on the table.

“Of course, players didn’t hold the power back then, and it was in the hands of the club. Agents didn’t exist.

“One night Jock phoned me at home and told me to be ready to travel to England the next morning to speak to a club. I daren’t ask Jock the name of the club.

“Sean Fallon picked me up and off we went. We passed Carlisle, Preston, Blackpool and Blackburn, so I knew I wasn’t signing for any of them.

“We then stopped at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Southport for a cup of tea. I was wondering if Southport had a team!

“I asked Sean where we were heading, but he wouldn’t crack a light. We got back in the car and we ended up at Anfield.

“Bill Shankly wanted to sign me. Liverpool played Burnley that night, and word got out that I was there. That’s when Manchester United came in for me.

“I signed and it was a great move. I had a fulfilling career at United.

“The way it was all handled wouldn’t happen now. Days have changed, for the better, I may add.”

There’s no doubt things have altered dramatically at Celtic Park from the dark days of 1994, when the club were in danger of going out of business while Macari was manager.

Fergus McCann changed all that – and sacked Macari within months of assuming control.

That cut the lifelong fan deep, but like all Hoops supporters, Lou is enjoying the club’s current success and looking ahead to the future.

“A couple of the current Celtic players are being linked with the top-six clubs in England and they deserve to be,” he said.

“Tierney is a fine full-back and has a lovely left foot. Dembele scores goals and has all the attributes to go all the way.