Source: FOOTYMAD
It Was Oh So Different In The Good Old Days
Rivalry has always been a feature of Old Firm games but players attitude seems to have changed Ex- Celt Stevie Chalmers is still very much on speaking terms with his former Old Firm rivals 40 years after leaving the club. Players from that era find it difficult to understand how relations between the current teams have become so strained. The Lisbon Lion felt his generation fused a determination to win on the park with an ability to get on off the pitch. So he was disappointed to see some of the clashes in recent Old Firm games. Chalmers, who is number four on Celtic's all-time scorer's list with 231 goals, said: "I play a lot of golf and there are a lot of the past Rangers players play golf as well. When we come up together, we're like great pals, just like your other team-mates. There is always a big feeling when the two teams come together. They are desperate to win and you only need to look at one side of the park and the other side of the park. You are playing for these people and you really have to work for them. There was always a bit of bumping about but things are bad (now), you just don't know how it comes about when it gets as bad as that. I've seen managers at the touchline shouting and bawling at one another, but immediately when the whistle went for time-up, the managers would go over and the first thing they would do is shake hands. It cooled things down and they would then have maybe a wee refreshment to clear up things." Chalmers today spoke fondly of Rangers great Jim Baxter as he recalled their part in Scotland's first game against Brazil in 1966 in which Chalmers scored Scotland's goal in the 1-1 draw. These memories were stirred as he looked forward to the latest friendly between the football crazy countries on 27 March. The friendships forged on and off the pitch meant tensions rarely got out of hand when they faced each other on club duty. Chalmers said "You did speak, you didn't play like dummies. If somebody did something you would shout at them or say 'hard luck' or something like that. But it wasn't too bad." I recall a story told by Tommy Gemmell about this friendly rivalry. He had just taken Willie Henderson down for the umpteenth time in an Old Firm game. As Henderson was getting to his feet, Gemmell was towering over him apparently berating the winger for play acting. It was the full bawling and shouting scene with finger wagging thrown in for good measure. What the crowd didn't know was that Tommy and Willie were great friend and Tommy was asking if Willie was still going to the pub for a beer with him after the game. Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is Scottish-Fitba Net
