Brazen Head to the end as epic unfolds

their north. But enter the Brazen Head pub and admire the gallery of Celtic legends on the wall, the loving paintings of Jock Stein and Tommy Burns and the signed photos of Martin O’Neill and Henrik Larsson. A flyer for a special Paolo Di Canio tribute night sounded good – “You’ll Never Drink Alone”.

A lively game of pool was going on. Above the ledge where the cue chalk was kept hung the programme for that momentous 1967 European Cup final against Inter Milan, containing wonderful pen pics of Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Lennox and the rest of Jock Stein’s Lisbon Lions.

Estadio Nacional, where history was made, was used by England as their training base at Euro 2004. One of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s training sessions was interrupted by a Celtic fan, conducting a footballing pilgrimage. Oblivious to Eriksson or the players, he marched to the centre-circle, dropped to his knees and kissed the turf, much to the bemusement/ amusement of Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and the rest of Eriksson’s squad. Homage paid, he resumed his family holiday.

Stein’s famous reflection on Celtic winning the European Cup is inked across the walls of Lennoxtown, words that embody the club: “We did it by playing beautiful football, pure, beautiful, inventive football.” The current weaver of Celtic dreams, Brendan Rodgers, would never compromise his positive principles anyway. “We’ll look to attack,” he confirmed.

Rodgers was on good form, stopping for a chat before training, full of enthusiasm, and absolutely loving being in charge of Celtic’s destiny. Raised a Celtic supporter in Northern Ireland, Rodgers understood full well the “more than a game” rhetoric. He described Celtic versus Rangers as “one of the most iconic games in the world” and recalled “as a boy growing up and seeing these games, watching them and feeling the emotion”.

Rodgers has overseen 736 matches, is vastly experienced and focused professionally, but the 51-year-old still feels like that young boy in Carnlough on days like this. “You take yourself back, really, because you’re a supporter really on the side of the pitch when you get the chance to manage the team,” he said. “That’s where the privilege comes from and the honour.

“They are games I’ve watched all my life. Now I’ve been involved in quite a few of them, certainly nothing gets mundane. For me it’s only excitement and sheer passion.

“I’ve been involved in Liverpool v Manchester United, Liverpool v Everton, great games. Swansea v Cardiff was a great derby game as well. But this is different. The feeling, the tension, it really is an iconic fixture. I’m very privileged to manage Celtic in it.”

I asked Rodgers whether there was really more “tension” than in those other passion plays? “Yes, for sure,” Celtic’s manager replied instantly. The Old Firm is more than a game.

A few blue gateways nearby were adorned with stickers declaring support from English clubs like Chelsea, Sheffield United and Charlton Athletic. The Old Firm garner backing from all over. Celtic have 800 supporters’ organisations in 60 countries