Celtic Record Breakers

Article by Ryan McCleary

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The champagne poured and the beers flowed, the hangovers have long since subdued, at least for most. On Sunday afternoon with the Sun shining, it was party time in the East End of Glasgow, in fact it has been party time in Glasgow since the 14th February 2012, but yesterday was an extra special day.

It was a day when Celtic Football Club celebrated winning their 45th League Championship in front of a noisy, colourful packed Paradise. And it was also a day when Neil Lennon and Scott Brown made history when they joined an elite band of Celtic managers and captains that have won 3 titles in a row. We have officially been the Champions since we beat our Glasgow rivals Partick Thistle 5-1 in the last derby of the season at Firhill Stadium on the 26th March. We had to wait over 7 weeks to collect it, but Bhoy was it worth the wait.

Lennon joins other Parkhead greats such as Willie Maley, Jock Stein and Gordon Strachan in becoming only the Fourth manager in Celtic's long and illustrious history to win at least 3 Scottish League Titles in a row. Champions! It doesn't get much better, well not until we win the European Cup once again, whenever that day may be. Broony also becomes only the third Celtic captain, after club legends Jimmy Hay and Billy McNeill, to lift 3 League Trophies in a row. And it doesn't stop there Bhoys and Ghirls.

Who can forget, the Celtic defense led by big Fraser Forster, the Brazil bound England keeper, creating a new Club record as well as Scottish League record for the most clean sheets in a row. The big Englishman beat ex Aberdeen keeper, Bobby Clark's 43 year old record of 1,155 minutes in the 2-0 victory over relegation bound Hearts at Tynecastle in February. It is not likely that Forster's record of 1,256 minutes of play (covering over 13 games) without conceding a goal will be beaten anytime soon.

As for the match against the Scottish Cup finalists, ex Celt Jackie McNamara's talented Dundee United squad, well, there was only ever going to be one winner, wasn't there. And the men in green and white certainly didn't disappoint, although they left all the goals until the second half. Leigh Griffiths had a cracking goal chopped off for offside. Which although was tight was the wrong decision, as TV replays later proved that he was onside when he received the ball. Griffiths was then replaced with big Sammy, in what was to be his last ever game in Paradise. Soon after Stokes scored his 21st goal of the campaign when he struck to make it 1-0. Then Samaras went on a run which ended in him being brought down in the box by United keeper Radosław Cierzniak. Samaras stepped up to take the penalty and slotted it home as cool as you like making it 2-0, sending Cierzniak diving the wrong way in the process. It all proved too emotional for him as the TV camera's caught the big Greek shedding a tear at the thought hitting home that this would be his last ever goal he scores for the Mighty Glasgow Celtic. The two - nil lead didn't last for long as The Tangerine's clawed a scrappy goal back three minutes later via an o.g by our young Czech sensation Filip Twardzik. It was unfortunate but not the end of the world, it would take a lot more than this to wipe the smiles from the faces of thousand's upon thousand's of happy celebrating Tims. We only had to wait another five minute's for the Celts to add a third, and from who else but the double Player Of The Year Kris Commons, taking his goal tally to a truly remarkable 32 for the season. Not too bad for a midfielder eh?

And like that, the game finished. 3-1 to the Champion's of Scotland. Played 38, lost 1. Scored 102 goals, and gained 99 points. Brilliant. Well done Celtic, well done Lennon and Mjällby (you will be missed) and well to the players who gave us many great memories and goals over the course of the season. Last but not least, well done to all the Celtic supporters, fans, well wishers and admirers, you all deserve this title. What Neil Lennon done with his winner's medal at the end was truly the mark of a Celtic Legend.

Dedicated to Oscar Knox. R.I.P. You'll Never Walk Alone. . . . .Hail Hail!

P.S, - Georgios Samaras, played for both Celtic and Manchester City, both teams won their league, both teams scored 102 goals. Goodbye big man, thanks for the memories. Good luck wherever you end up.

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