This is one player thatplayed for Celtic in the hard times but the following
letter he wrote to the Etims (www.etims.net) shows exactly what Celtic football
club is all about.
Glasgow Celtic was a Club that I did not know a lot about when I was told that
Liam Brady had been in touch with Middlesbrough about acquiring my services in
1991. I knew that they were a big Club with an illustrious history; the first
British team to win the
European Cup, and to achieve the amazing feat of winning nine championships in a
row.
When I was an apprentice professional footballer at Middlesbrough in the 1980,
my youth team coach
would eulogise about Celtic and the great players who had played for the Club.
The coach in question was indeed one of the very best ex -Celts; his name Bobby
Murdoch.
By the time I left Celtic on 1995, the Club and more importantly the supporters,
had left an indelible mark in my heart, which will never leave me.
I feel honoured to have played in "the hoops" and to have given my all
for the Club at very difficult period in the Clubs history. It was a volatile
time in the East end of Glasgow what with the "sack the board"
campaign and the domination of the field of
the team from across the city. It was a time of change at Celtic, but what
stood firm throughout all
of my time at the Club was the belief the supporters had that good times were
just around the corner and that the Celts would be "singing in the
sun" before too long. Their support of the team on the field was
total and the players strived to reward the fans with performances that made you
feel as if you were part of a huge family unit - and that feeling of being as
one with the supporters could not of been highlighted more than when I was to
lose my wife to cancer on new years day 1995. At a time when my life was
decimated, and I was as low as any human being can get, the love and warmth I
will never forget. Words of support poured in from Celtic folk, from all
over
the world and at a time when my life was empty, they helped fill that void with
their compassion.
So as I said earlier, Celtic will always be 'my club' and I feel very humble
that I played alongside
such great Celts as McStay, Nicholas. Collins, Grant, Bonner and many more, but
most importantly that I know whenever I pulled on the Jersey, I gave my all
because I knew what it meant to the supporter on the terraces, to be proud to be
a Celt.
Take care and God Bless,
Tony Mowbray Hail, Hail FIRST TEAM COACH [Ipswich Town]