TIME stands still for no man – so, Pele – the guy we Baby Boomers consider the G.O.A.T. - has heard the final whistle, after losing his battle with Cancer. I was fortunate to see him on his only appearance in Scotland, at Hampden Park, in a World Cup warm-up game against Scotland, in June, 1966.
The truth is, the game, which finished 1-1, was far from a classic and, on the night, Pele finished second in the battle of the number tens, to an inspired Jim Baxter. “Stanley” set-up Stevie Chalmers for a very early Scottish opener, with a pass of quite exquisite timing and weight. There after, in a foretaste of the treatment he would receive in the World Cup proper, in England, Pele was double-teamed by the attentions of Billy Bremner and John Clark and had little effect on the match.
Chalmers did take away the prized number 10 Brazilian shirt, worn by the great man but the real kicker was to come years later.
Celtic were on a pre-season trip to New York when Peter Grant and Clark got into the hotel lift, to find themselves face-to-face with Pele. The great Brazilian looked at Clark and said: “Scotland v Brazil, Hampden Park, 1966 – you very good player.” He then got off at the next floor, leaving Grant gob-smacked at being to close to a living legend and Clark asking him: “Who was that?”
You have to wonder what Pele at his best could do in today's game, with the protection the likes of Messi, Mbappe and Lewandowski get from modern officials, compared to the zero protection Pele had during his best years. As he demonstrated, aged just 17, with that outrageous solo goal against Sweden, in the 1958 World Cup Final, Pele was somehow from a different planet. Those of us who saw him play were fortunate. He was a unique talent. Rest In Peace.
RESTING IN PEACE was not an option for the memory of the 66 victims of the Ibrox Disaster of Ne'erday 1971, after Monday's latest episode of the eternal plook on the face of Scottish fitba.
The minute's silence in memory of the Disaster victims was, not for the first time, spoilt by some childish behaviour from the small number of away fans allowed inside Ibrox. Of course, it has long been known within the game that the Celtic Family doesn't do minutes of silence – hence their own club's preference for a minute's applause, even when remembering their own legends.
Here's a wee left-field suggestion; since a significant minority of the Celtic support has repeatedly demonstrated – the normal rules of civilised behaviour don't apply to them – it's time to get tough.
Given the small number of away fans allowed in, and the massive army of season ticket holders which each of the two clubs has, the clubs themselves must be aware where the precious away match briefs are going.
So, they can tell their fans: any unseemly behaviour around minutes of silence of similar tributes and the ticket holders don't get onto any ballot for away tickets for at least the rest of the season. If one member of an official supporters club misbehaves – the members of that club all serve the ban. That way, the onus is on the fans to self-police and root-out the lunatics who simply refuse to behave themselves. The technology now exists whereby both clubs could afford to go after their lunatic fringe and get rid of them – or, is it a case of, neither club cares, the money the neds bring-in is more important?
After Monday, it's the Celtic support who are in the dock, but, I dare say the neds who follow the other lot are waiting their turn to show how stupid they can be.
MIND YOU, the Celtic support perhaps only take their lead from their club – who, in spite of being nine points clear at the top of the table and in a situation where the overall league title is theirs to lose, they are still not happy at being denied what they feel was a penalty, for hand ball by Rangers. Conor Goldson.
As I have said before, that's just their opinion and opinions are like erse-holes, everyone has one. However, the guys who mattered – the referee and VAR team, they decided it wasn't a penalty, so that's that. Suck it up boys, you're not getting your penalty.
These two clubs are The Establishment in Scottish football. Between them they get more penalties and more “iffy” decisions than all the other teams combined. Yet, Celtic, in spite of having benefited every bit as much as their rivals from “honest mistakes” in recent years, still feel they are hard-done-by outsiders. And the Scottish Media reinforces this lie.
When, like the team I follow, you can go ten seasons without even getting a penalty in a league game – you've maybe got something to complain about. Until then, a period of silence might be welcome.
Those of us who enjoyed a first-rate Protestant education back in the day when Scottish education was seen as the best, well, we were brought-up to believe our Roman Catholic neighbours suffered a wee bit – all those Holidays of Obligation and afternoons leaning their catechism from the local parish priest meant, they missed out on some of the finer things in life. So, I suppose that might be why so few members of the Celtic Family are au fait with the wisdom of Rudyard Kipling and his great poem 'If'.
Had they studied that work, they would perhaps be better able to treat those twin imposters Triumph and Disaster each the same. And life would be quieter without their constant “Poor Us,” moaning.
And for any Bears/Huns reading this, don't forget, the next time you think a referee or the VAR team has robbed you – you will make just as much noise as the other lot are making at the moment. Twa cheeks o' the same erse.
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