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.
Absolute nonsense. Scott McDonald had every reason to celebrate. That had nothing to do with Celtic. Quite simply Thompson & his teammates blew it and basically let the supporters down on the day and ultimately cost us the league , what McDonald did had nothing to do with us .
We/you weren’t good enough Alan. Scott McDonald did his job that day to the best of his ability. Celtic didn’t do theirs. As for the celebrations….. never had a problem. It was a sickener but if others hadn’t missed their chances….
Bollocks he’s 100% right
Albert Kidd anyone ?
What a load of crap, did he expect Motherwell to roll over for us? It was our title to lose & we gave it away, why doesn’t he look at himself as to why McDonald was able to score 2 late goals? He sounds like a spoilt wain writing stuff like this! Just trying to sell a book which no one will be bothered to buy (hardly a Celtic legend was he?)
As for costing Celtic, wasn’t it him who headed the ball to Henrik to score against us when he came back with Barcelona?
Celtic missed 2 many glaring chances that day was at the match with my son I had over 6000 pounds coming from a bet and I agree he went crazy at both goals that his call I did not like it but he paid us back with vital goals
A very sad day took me a long time to come to terms with that defeat painful talking about it
Mon decided to take off John Hartson. BBJ, was dragging two or three Motherunwell defenders in circles most of the game. Mon decided to put on a defender. And the smallest bloke on the field scored two late goals.
I left early, and almost crashed my car on the M74 when the second went in. I cried a river later, on my return to Glasgow that night. Munkie mofo’s.