Mcneill memory

My own special memory of Billy Mcneill and, indeed, the Celtic team of that era, came in August 1967.

As a 12-year-old schoolboy, I was visiting my grandparents in Glasgow. Celtic had arranged to play the English cup winners, Tottenham Hotspur, in a pre-season friendly. The powers that be correctly anticipated that Parkhead would not have the capacity for the game, so it was switched to Hampden. I recall standing with my late father and an incredible 91,000 others watching the full Lisbon Lions team and the classic Spurs side of Greaves, Gilzean et al put on an unforgettable 3-3 draw.

Still my favourite memory of Scottish football. It’s on Youtube (in black and white with a Montford commentary) but don’t wait for the action replays – they hadn’t been invented.

Happy days and, sadly, very much in the past.

DAVID EDGAR

Main Street Symington,biggar