ALAN THOMPSON’s book is now out for consumption and if you lived through the Martin O’Neill era at Celtic Park, it’s well worth a read.
The former Celtic player and coach goes into a lot of detail about his two spells at Celtic and talks through one of the biggest disappointments during that era – losing the league in the last two minutes of the season against Motherwell.
Alan explains the scenario: the Hoops just needed a win on the final day of the season to secure the title. We now know, the Rangers side who snatched the title away from us had players their club could not afford without an illegal tax scheme.
Motherwell and more specific ally Scott McDonald killed Celtic’s title party dead when he scored not once, but twice in the dying minutes.
Writing in his book, Alan branded Motherwell and McDonald a disgrace:
“The last game of the season we played Motherwell at Fir Park with Rangers playing Hibs away at Easter Road. I’ll never forget it as long as I live.
“All we had to do was win the game that day and we’d be crowned champions again.
“Chris Sutton scored, we were in a great position and we missed some great chances to put that game to bed.
“The league was coming back to Celtic Park until the 88th minute when self-confessed Celtic fanatic Scott McDonald scored, then bagged another in the 90th minute to hand Rangers the title.
“It was utter devastation. I’ve had lows in football but this was something from out of this world. I’d never seen or felt anything like it.
“I can understand ex-Rangers man Terry Butcher going nuts as the Motherwell boss, but McDonald celebrated like he’d just won the league.
“He went crazy with joy when thousands of Celtic supporters were on the floor in tears.
“The way Motherwell celebrated was an absolute disgrace. There was no respect. It was like they won that title.
“Back at Easter Road, Marvin Andrews said God was behind us losing the league in the last two minutes of the season.
“I don’t know what God was playing at if that was true. It was a stake through the heart to all of us on that pitch at Fir Park.
“I’m still broken-hearted about it, and it brings a bad feeling to my stomach.
“Now, 16 years on, I still can’t describe the feeling. If we thought losing in Seville and losing the league on the last day in 2003 were bad, this was tenfold.
“Martin O’Neill said after the game, ‘Listen lads, the Cup final next week is going to be my last game’.
It was a heartbreaking day for the Hoops support.
Scott McDonald would sign for Celtic under Gordon Strachan eventually and have a decent run with the bhoys.
His celebrations that day were crazy for someone who said he was a Celtic fan. You can’t grudge the guy for doing his job, but he did go over the score for someone who was playing for nothing other than taking the title away from Celtic.
You can purchase Alan’s book at most Book stores and online.
