| Matches : 1981 – 1982 | 1981-82 Pictures | Players |
Celtic, preparing for season 1982-83 –
Caught in time
Sunday Times, The (London, England)
September 3, 2006
Author: Rodger Baillie
Estimated printed pages: 3
For a club used to life on the football roller coaster, 1982-83 was to be another season of ups and downs for Celtic. They won the League Cup, beating Rangers, and recorded one of their greatest European wins when they knocked Ajax out of the European Cup, but lost out by one point to Dundee United for the title and to Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final. Charlie Nicholas won player-of-the year honours but by the end of the season was off to Arsenal. Manager Billy McNeill quit to join Manchester City.
1. Frank McGarvey
Prolific scorer who started his career when he was signed by Alex Ferguson at St Mirren. Moved to Liverpool and cost Celtic Pounds 325,000 in 1980. His goal won an epic Scottish Cup clash against Dundee United in 1985, but the next Monday he turned down a new deal that he described as "an insult". A month later he was back in Paisley. He owns a joinery business.
2. Tommy Burns
One of the top Celtic players of all time, with three separate careers at Parkhead, first as an accomplished player who could unlock defences with his left foot, then as manager, and now as coach. Also No2 to Walter Smith in the Scotland setup. Announced this year that he was battling skin cancer, but has since made a successful recovery.
3. Dom Sullivan
Four-year career with Celtic after spells with Clyde and Aberdeen. Signed by Billy McNeill in 1979 and made 84 league appearances, mostly in midfield. Succession of clubs after that, including the managerial graveyard at East Stirling. Long time publican in Denny, Stirlingshire.
4. Mike Conroy
Made 89 appearances in four seasons. Highlight was the 1980 Scottish Cup final win against Rangers, when the midfelder was switched by McNeill to be an emergency central defender. Now a journalist in Ireland.
5. George McCluskey
Striker who notched spectacular goals, including the opener against Real Madrid in the European Cup quarter-final in 1980 and, two years later, a last-minute winner against Ajax in Amsterdam. He is involved in Celtic's match-day hospitality.
6. Graeme Sinclair
The defender signed for Pounds 65,000 from Dumbarton in 1982. Highlight of his Celtic career was when he man-marked Johan Cruyff in the home leg of the 1982 European Cup tie against Ajax. Moved to St Mirren three years later, but was forced to give up playing because of injuries. Recently retired as a Paisley newsagent.
7. Tom McAdam
Signed from Dundee United in 1977 and spent nine years at Celtic. Had spells on coaching staff at Celtic and Hibs. He runs a franchise for parcel deliveries.
8. David Moyes
Son of a Rangers scout, the central defender had a short career at Celtic, 34 games, before he went on to greater things in management. First came an unglamorous odyssey to Cambridge United, Bristol City, Shrewsbury, Dunfermline, Hamilton and Preston, where he eventually became manager before succeeding Walter Smith at Everton.
9. Pat Bonner
Jock Stein's last signing for Celtic, although Bonner never played under him. Made 642 appearances for the club. He quit as development officer of the Football Association of Ireland this year and is a television presenter in Ireland.
10. Peter Latchford
Spent 12 years at Celtic. Joined from West Brom and won a Scottish Cup medal in his first season. Involved in drama in a European tie in Alves, when he felt a Portuguese soldier put a gun to his neck, warning him not to time-waste. Now a goalkeeping coach.
11. Roy Aitken
Another who revealed this summer that he was battling cancer. Picked for Celtic when he was still at school, Aitken, equally effective in defence or midfield, went on to make 667 appearances before quitting in 1990 to join Newcastle. Spell as manager of Aberdeen and assistant to David O'Leary at Leeds United and Aston Villa. Left Villa when Martin O'Neill moved in.
12. Charlie Nicholas
Nicholas was the darling of the Celtic fans, who were heartbroken when he moved to Arsenal for Pounds 650,000. Highbury loved him too, although the Gunners never got the best out of him. Back to Scotland with Aberdeen, then a second spell with Celtic. Now a pundit with Sky TV.
13. Paul McStay
Like his great uncles, Jimmy and Willie, the superbly talented midfielder captained the Celtic side, 60 years after them. Works in youth development schemes for local councils.
14. Davie Provan
The right-winger cost Celtic Pounds 100,000 from Kilmarnock in 1978 and played a significant part in their revival. Quit because of illness in 1987. Now a columnist and TV pundit.
15. Murdo MacLeod
One of the hardest dead-ball kickers of his time, he was a powerful influence in the Eighties. Moved to Borussia Dortmund in 1987, then returned to Hibs and on to Partick Thistle as manager. Now involved in the media.
16. Danny McGrain
One of Europe's finest defenders, he spent 20 years at Celtic, surviving diabetes, a fractured skull and a career-threatening ankle injury to win every domestic honour and 62 caps. Now back with the club as reserve coach.
17. Mark Reid
Made his first-team debut in 1980, three years after joining Celtic. A tidy left-back, he left for Charlton Athletic in 1985. After returning to Scotland with St Mirren, he retired in 1992. Now a driving instructor.
18. Danny Crainie
Right-winger failed to win a regular first-team place and moved to Australia.
Coaches Celtic youth side.