TRIBUTE TO PHIL O’DONNELL AND TOMMY BURNS

Yesterday was a fantastic day for all the people who went to the Paradise: Celtic legends who won the Spl title in 1998, in fact, returned to dress the Hoops and to play a match on the field of the Celtic Park. They met again not only to remember a team-mate, who passed away tragically at the beginning of the year, but most of all, a great man: Phil O’Donnell.

Yesterday the memory of Phil wasn’t the only one, because another memory came across with it: the memory of another great legend of the Bhoys, Tommy Burns, who passed away only few weeks ago. To these two magnificient people, everybody wanted to give indeed a special farewell. In a “sold-out” Celtic Park, everybody was able to admire the deeds of these champions who faced Phil’s last team: Motherwell.

People could also admire King Henrik Larsson, once again on the field of the Celtic Park dressing the hoops. The same Larsson, despite he isn’t a youngster anymore, will defend the colours of his national team during Euro2008. Also our honorary president, Enrico Annoni, participated in this marvellous day. The match, for the chronicle, ended with the victory of Celtic legends 5-1. Goals were scored by Weighorst 10, Larsson 24, Brattbakk 30, 36 and Jackson 91.

These are the line-ups:

 

CELTIC LEGENDS (4-4-2) Gould (Kerr 41, Marshall 62); Boyd (McNamara 62), Reiper (MacKay 36), Annoni (Reiper 51, McLaughlin 56), Johnson (McKinlay 46); McNamara (Donnelly 36, Brattbakk 75), Burley, Lambert (McKenna 67, Johnson 82)), Weighorst; Larsson (McKenna 7), Brattbakk (Jackson 36).
MOTHERWELL LEGENDS (4-4-2) Woods (Dijkstra 30); Griffin (Wishart 10, O’Neill 62, Boyd 70), McCart (Martin 3), McKinnon (Angus 84); Clarkson (Leitch 46), Angus (Dolan 38), Patterson (Philliben 15, Patterson 25), Nijholt (Balmer 56, O’Donnell 67, Ferguson 82), McFadden (O’Donnell 6, Kirk 28); Arnott (Coyne 30, Clarkson 67, Kirk 82), Ferguson (McGrillen 34, Arnott 73).

On our spaces (http://theitalianceltscsc.spaces.live.com) you can admire a lot of photos of this wonderful day.

WHO WOULD HAVE SAID IT!THOUGHTS OF A CHAMPION PRESIDENT

Who would have said it! Raise his hand who was among the protesters and doesn’t hide himself.. Because everyone can be wrong, but the main thing is to admitt to be wrong. Especially in our great family of Celtic supporters. It isn’t in my nature to speak badly of someone:most of all, if that someone is someone who belongs to our loved club. Chapeau to wee Gordon, to whom goes the greatest worth; behind him all the players who have contributed to this great come-back that only on March 29 (so, less than 60 days ago) seemed a chimera. It remembers me the come-back of 1986 on the Hearts. Even that year, it ended in this way: our rivals defeated 2-0 and the Celtic supporters rejoycing on the terraces. And who would have said it. In 1978 when for the first time I took coscience of the “Celtic world” reading, for curiosity, the Panini football almanac? Who would have said it, that after 30 years, I would be still here, rejoicing with a community of “crazy” Italian Celtic supporters? Who would have said it, that, only few days ago, I was nearly crying because of a player who dies during the best years of his life? Who would have said it, that this morning I would be able to see the joy, the happiness of my 4-year old daughter that embraces me, wearing her Celtic jeans and tells me: “Daddy, Celtic has won. Do you know?”. Sometimes I think about the strangeness of certain passions, but then I think a little bit more and I am happy because strangeness has in itself the joy of sharing something, of knowing new faces, of living new experiences, of laughing, suffering, even crying all together as a family. A great family. The great family of Celtic.

  

  Boretim – HAIL HAIL THE CELTS ARE HERE

CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONS CHAMPIONS 3 IN A ROW

                                                                             

Football is a wonderful sport: football gives you joys and satisfactions, but football can also take away titles you think you can conquered. We were crying at the end of the 2004/2005 Spl season, when a gol scored by Scott McDonald gave the title to the Rangers. Last night, on the other hand, we were shouting all our joy for the title, the third in a row, for our beloved Celtic. The Bhoys were playing their last match at Tannadice Park, against Dundee United, while Rangers were playing at Aberdeen, at Pittodrie. We won 1-0, they lost 2-0 and the title come back to Paradise. What a night…

Celtic played the match with the same eleven players who defeated the Hibs. Celtic began the match trying to score with McGeady and Barry Robson, but also Dundee United played pretty well. After the first half the result was 0-0, but also at Pittodrie Rangers didn’t score. So Celtic were still ahead, because of a better goal difference, of the rivals.

At the beginning of the second half Celtic tried again to score the goal which could secure the third Spl title in a row. The goal, however, didn’t come from Tannadice Park, but from Pittodrie: it was munute 66 and the goal we are talking about wasn’t scored by the Rangers, but by Aberdeen. 1-0 for the men in Reds and, at Tannadice Park, Celtic supporters could express all their joy. The title, at that point, was very near: and to bring the title even nearer for Gordon Strachan’s men was an impressive header by Vennegor of Hesseling, at minute 71, after a corner beated by Paul Hartley. The joy at that point was complete, and the party was already starter when Aberdeen at minute 77 scored the second goal. Celtic supporters at Tannadice Park began singing, shouting and jumping till the final whistle and (obviosly) also after the match. At the end of the match also the players’ party could start: and the first thought of all the players, Gordon Strachan and all the Celtic people went to Tommy Burns. Strachan called all his players in a big, wonderful huddle and thanked them for the season and the Spl title. It’s three in a row, the Spl number 42 in Celtic history, and it comes after a great come-back (with seven victories in the last seven match) against Rangers. And who was one of the heroes of this came-back? Scott McDonald, the same Scott McDonald who “stole” from Celtic’s hands the Spl title in 2004/2005. A come-back, and a victory which are dedicated to the memories of Tommy Burns and Phil O’Donnell, two of the great Celtic family.

And, last but not least, this is also the first Spl title for us, The Italian Celts, and so our joy is a double joy. Thanks to everybody, because, at the beginning of the season, nobody was thinking that, in the end, he would have been here celebrating the Spl title with a lot of other people who love the hoops.  

 

GOOD BYE TOMMY

This morning Tommy Burns has passed away.  Tommy, a true Celtic Legend and wonderful man will be sadly missed by us all.

RIP TOMMY

 

this is the video tribute of the Celtic for Tommy Burns

mms://play.wm.celticfc.servecast.net/celticfc/Freeview/2008-05-15_Tommy_Burns2.wmv

this is a video tribute of supporters

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=uY_vmmUBIDs