| Match Pictures | Matches: 1998 – 1999 | 1998-1999 Pictures |
Trivia
- McCann and the club continued to delay paying Croatia Zagreb the transfer fee due for Viduka. It appeared that McCann was doing his best to scrap the complete deal and in this light Viduka and his agent beat a hasty return from Melbourne
- Brian Dempsey launched a £50,000 defamation case against Fergus McCann when McCann accused Dempsey through Celtic View of a "barrage of criticisms and PR stunts”.
- Scotland on Sunday alleged that Celtic were lining up a swap with Dundee Utd for Kjell Oloffsson with David Hannah heading in the opposite direction
- The Celtic squad of 26 flew out to Spain on 12/1/99 to a base near Estepona on the Costa del Sol. The squad included returning-from-injuries Rieper, Jackie McNamara, and Craig Burley, three out-of-contract men Simon Donnelly, Phil O'Donnell and Mark Burchill, long-term absentees Regi Blinker, Morten Wieghorst and Tommy Johnson as well as reserve listers like Brattbakk, Annoni, and McKinlay, and fringe youth John Paul McBride.
- Press reports came in saying that Viduka was fit again after receiving counseling back in Melbourne and was keen to join the team on the mid-winter break in Spain. A farce ensued at Heathrow airport when Viduka and his agent Mandic attempted to join the Celtic party only to be rebuffed by McCann and removed from the aircraft before departure to Spain.
- Celtic were approached to play a live televised game against Barcelona in Spain during the mid-winter break, but turned down the option. Barca were under contract to provide a live television game during the period and after failing to interest Malmo contacted the Hoops knowing that their training camp would be closed to Barca’s winter camp in Malaga.
Review
A kick-fest from a local semi-amateur side.
Teams
Balona FC:
Diaz, A Marvel, Agusta, J Marvel, Carrera, Camacho, Jesus, Puerto, DiLannio, Orcha, Pedro
Scorers: Agusta (6), J Marvel (15), Camacho (80)
Celtic:
Warner, McNamara, Annoni, Rieper, McKinlay, Donnelly, Hannah, McBride, Blinker, Burchill (Brattbakk, 70), McLaughlin
Non Used Subs:
Scorers: Donnelly (65 ), Burchill (23 ), (73)
Bookings: McNamara, Rieper, Hannah (celtic)
Referee:
Attendance: 1,000
Articles
- Match Report (see below)
Pictures
Articles
Jo's pain in Spain
The Sun (London, England)
January 14, 1999
FC Balona 3 Celtic 3. SLOPPY Celtic stumbled at the foot of Gibraltar Rock last night as their mid-season tour kicked off in controversy. Hoops coach Jozef Venglos must be kicking himself after arranging four friendlies during the shutdown if this effort is anything to go by.
Celtic had three players booked – comeback star Marc Rieper, defender Jackie McNamara and midfielder David Hannah.
Norwegian striker Harald Brattbakk was crocked three minutes from time when Juan Antonio saw red for an elbow in the face.
The fussy Spanish referee did little to help as 1200 local fans flocked to the La Linea stadium on the outskirts of Gibraltar.
Napping
It looked as if Celtic were in for an embarrassing evening as the third division part-timers raced into a 2-0 lead within 15 minutes.
Hugo Augustin fired the home side in front with a shot from the edge of the box after six minutes as the Celtic defence were caught napping.
Nine minutes later Brian McLaughlin gave away possession deep in his own half and Juan Manuel fired the second past Tony Warner. Celtic – with five internationals in their line-up – pulled one back midway through the half when Mark Burchill bundled home an effort.
They equalised after the break as Burchill turned provider to set up Simon Donnelly.
Burchill added a third but Pedro Camacho fired a late equaliser.
Venglos said: "We took a few knocks, more than I would have expected, but everyone seems fine."
Brattbakk's face was unscathed after his run-in with Antonio.
He said: "His elbow was definitely not accidental but there is no damage done."
A LOAD OF BALONEY, BHOYS
Daily Record 14/01/1999
FC BALONA 3 CELTIC 3 CELTIC'S
Spanish package deal got off to a poor start last night when they were held to a draw by a team of Fourth Division part-timers in the shadow of the Rock of Gibraltar.
Dr Jozef Venglos' side, two goals down at one stage, came back to take the lead but were eventually held by the local heroes who finished the match with 10 men.
Venglos chose an obviously experimental side, which included fit-again Marc Rieper plus fringe players Regi Blinker, David Hannah and winger Brian McLaughlin.
Before the Scots could find any sort of rhythm they fell behind in the sixth minute when Jose Augustine drove low past on-loan Liverpool keeper Tony Warner from 20 yards.
Things went from bad to worse for the tourists when they lost another goal in the 15th minute.
McLaughlin was caught in possession and when the ball was swept in from the left Juan Manuel lashed the ball home from six yards.
Celtic pulled one back seven minutes later.
Blinker's cross was headed on by Hannah and Mark Burchill was in the right place to score from close range.
The young striker came close again on the hour mark, testing the keeper with a good shot.
It was the lively Burchill who sprung the offside trap midway through the second period, allowing fellow contract rebel Simon Donnelly to fire home from 12 yards.
Burchill scored a stunning third for Celts 15 minutes from the end.
He collected a Donnelly pass, chipped the ball over the head of his marker and then volleyed crisply into the net.
However, the Spanish side had the final say 10 minutes from time when Pedro Camacho rifled in a free-kick from 20 yards. Keeper Warner looked badly at fault.
Balona were reduced to 10 men in the dying seconds when Juan Antonio was shown the red card for elbowing Celtic sub Harald Brattbakk in the face, but they managed to hold on for a well-deserved draw.
Jackie McNamara and Hannah were both cautioned in an ill-tempered match.
Hannah said: "That was a nightmare – I was kicked all over the park all night."
- Manager Interview
"We took a few knocks, more than I would have expected, but everyone seems fine."