HOOP HOOP HOORAY…Chic Charnley in his solitary Celtic appearance against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 1994. A History of Scottish Football in 100 Objects: The Alternative Scottish Football Museum by Andy Bollen is out now. If I was playing for a team like Celtic then I would have improved - and I don't mean any disrespect to the players I played with. Better players would have helped improve my game. I was always playing against better teams in my career but I always held my own. Big Jim was fine as well – the turning circle of a small tanker but he made me look fast at times. I did accidentally send him off once but I’ve apologised to him for it!”

The good bit of the story was, my wife was in the hospital,” he added. “I went up for the 2.30pm visit with my hand bandaged, Margaret’s lying in bed and she said, ‘What happened to you?’ Anybody who knew me would tell you that I would have jumped at the chance to go away with Celtic during that pre-season. I then got a phone call from a journalist who was in Canada and they told me that Lou Macari had said that if I wanted to be in Canada then I would have travelled to Canada. That totally destroyed me. Then there are other stories like Bovril, which was invented by a Scot. It was popular in the Napoleonic wars, the Pope was in an advert for it and Rangers had a stand named the Bovril stand. There’s something about football in Scotland. It’s a part of everyone’s lives.” This was a humbling experience for Henrik Larsson, on a day that he would have been desperate to impress the Celtic supporters. History tells us that he then went on to become the greatest Celt of modern times but no one could have foresaw what was ahead of Larsson and Celtic on this dull, miserable day in Edinburgh.They’ve seen that Alan Main save deny James Grady from six yards and secure European football in the late spring Perth sun. There are a few games I remember when Leigh was unplayable. Tynecastle is another one that stands out. Coming on against Rangers at half-time too. This was the biggest moment in my entire career and I wasn’t going to miss out. I reassured him I would be fine. I have a tape of the supporters chanting my name and I still feel as emotional today as I did all those years ago. For me, the crowning moment for Chic in a Thistle jersey came on a rainy May evening at Hampden, a stage rarely graced by Charnley. It was during Celtic’s ‘Hampden year’ as they played at the national stadium while Parkhead was being demolished and rebuilt. Celtic were also being rebuilt as they tried to find a way to stop Rangers romping to another league title and while the completion of that particular piece of work was still some way off, they were easily good enough to take three points off Charnley’s relegation-threatened Thistle on most days. This wasn’t going to be most days.

I looked at the Celtic dug-out and caught the eye of Brian Scott, the club’s physiotherapist. ‘Who does he think he is?’ I said and the Celtic bench dissolved into laughter. It was a magic moment and I was so happy that a snapper had caught the image perfectly. I friend of mine is a bit of an artist and he painted the picture for me and it is now framed and proudly hanging on a wallat home. It’s a constant reminder of the night I played for Celtic.The Celtic-daft boy from Possilpark scored a wonder goal for Hibs against Celtic on the opening day of the 1987-88 season, crashing home a 25-yarder after a loose pass from debutant Henrik Larsson had presented the opportunity. Willie Johnston is accompanied by police on his return to the UK from the World Cup Finals in Argentina (Image: PA) Read More Related Articles

In his book, he talks of how manager Jim Duffy would allow him the occasional Monday off when he was at Hibs. This was one of the best periods of his career, yet at 34 far from thinking that taking a more disciplined approach might prolong his career, Chic seemed to revel in his bad boy ways. A few years ago he said he was glad he wasn’t around during the big-money era as he couldn’t have handled it. That said, he more than held his own in illustrious company in Manchester that night as Celtic put a star-studded Red Devils team to the sword. Charnley himself put on a show to set up a goal for Simon Donnelly and was involved in another as the Hoops swept United aside 3-1.He knew I wouldn’t stand for any nonsense and if he was losing his temper there would only be one winner.” They don't cover the time, for example, when he hit his manager, Alex Miller, with a pair of boots when they were at Hibs together. He was then released from Easter Road. Charnley would have a short spell at Firhill in season 1997-1998 and also took up a player coach position at the Club in 2002-2003.

How did it come to this? Well, 17 sending –offs provides a hint. Just ponder that for a second: 17 dismissals. It’s just a few behind the British record held by another brilliant but flawed flair player, Willie Johnston. Duncan Ferguson has a bad boy reputation but was only dismissed eight times. Messi’s been sent off just once and never for Barcelona. Chic scored his first goal for Thistle on Tuesday, 14th February, 1989, in a 4-1 win at home to Ayr United in the SFL First Division.I WAS still bubbling with enthusiasm and emotion afterwards when Lou Macari pulled me aside and asked me if I wanted to go on tour with Celtic.