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| Jun 23 2008, 5:13 AM EDT | KingTubby | 2 words added, 2 words deleted |
| May 19 2008, 6:30 AM EDT | auldbhoy | 4 words added |
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[Player Pics]
Quick and elegant Paul Wilson was a fine player who spent more than a decade with Celtic.
Milngavie-bornIndia-born Wilson signed for the Hoops in December 1967 as a 17-year-old from St Ninian’s High School and the left-sided midfielder was initially farmed out to Maryhill Juniors. He eventually made his Celtic debut in September 1970 when he came off the bench to score in a 5-0 League Cup victory at home to Dundee.
On his game he was a wonderful talent and his pace and abilty to beat a man was a joy to watch and he was certainly deserving of the international recognition he received from Scotland in 1975.
Wilson certainly could raise his game for the big occasion and time after time he was a massive thorn in the side of the Rangers defence. He also hit a brace in the Scottish Cup final triumph over Airdrie in 1975.
However he could on occasion try to over-complicate matters and consistency was a problem with Wilson and because of this tendency to blow hot or cold he was never the first team fixture his talent warranted.
Despite this there is no denying Wilson’s significant contribution to the many Celtic triumphs of the early 70s. Paul Wilson left Celtic for Motherwell in September 1978 after 214 appearances and 52 goals in the Hoops. He remains a fondly remembered talent.
Full Name:Paul Wilson
Born: 23 Nov 1950
Place of Birth: MilngavieIndia
Height: 5' 9"
Celtic Career: 1967-78
Position: Left-midfield
Debut: v Dundee 23 Sep 1970 (scored also)
Early Celtic Memories
I was brought up in Dennistoun, just around the corner from Parkhead, and my father used to take me along the road to see Celtic play when I was a boy.
It was during the time of the Kelly Babes. That was a young, young team and I can still remember the club chairman, Sir Robert Kelly, getting a real barracking off the fans at one game because they were struggling so badly.
Schools Football
When I was about 11, my family moved to Milngavie and I attended St Ninian's High School in Kirkintilloch. I played school football in the same league as Danny McGrain and Kenny Dalglish.
Danny played for Kingsridge in Drumchapel and I think Kenny played for Milton. Before long, we were going along to Celtic to train on Tuesdays and Thursdays and got to know each other.
We went on to play together in the Glasgow Schools team. Tommy Craig was in that side, too, and we played smashing stuff, going on to win the Scottish Schools Cup.
Signing For Celtic
I left school around 17, in 1966, and went full-time at Parkhead. I went into such a good group of young lads. As well as myself, there were Kenny and Danny, George Connelly, David Hay, John Gorman and Lou Macari.
The club won the European Cup and it was a real struggle for the young boys to break into that team. But our reserve team regularly used to give the top team a right old doing in practice games. The Lisbon Lions were great with us, different class. I can remember nutmegging big Tommy Gemmell twice in training one day. All the older players killed themselves laughing. Celtic was a real family club.
First Game
My first game for Celtic came in a European Cup tie at Parkhead against KPV Kokkola in 1970. We won 9-0. I came on when we were six ahead and scored two goals.
Gradually, the Quality Street Kids, as we were known, started to get more involved in the first team. Danny and Kenny both broke into the team before I did.
But big Jock always used to say to me: ''Bide your time. You'll get in.'' He was right
Celtic Versus Rangers
I LOVED playing against Rangers. I thought those were smashing games. John Greig was approaching the end of his career at that time and I used to regularly get the better of him. But Sandy Jardine and I had some epic battles. He was a classy player.
When I first joined Celtic I could do a wee Jimmy. By that I mean beat four or five guys at a time. But I was discouraged from doing that in competitive games by the coaches. Looking back, I would say I was fast and could cross and shoot with both feet.
I actually felt those games against Rangers were the only time Celtic were ever seriously tested. They just flew by - the whistle went for kick-off and before you knew it you were back in the dressing room. Celtic should have been playing opposition of that quality every week.
Racism
My mother was Dutch/ Portuguese and my father was Irish/Scottish - I am a real mongrel. After the Second World War, my dad got a job working over in India and that is where he met mum. I was born over there and lived there until I was one. At that time in Glasgow, there were relatively few people like me. I took the sun well.
I suppose I did get quite a hard time because of my colour when I was a player. But it used to upset my mother more than me.
For some reason, I always scored in those matches. But I never once, not once, gestured to the crowd or retaliated. I felt I had made my point on the pitch. I think big Jock respected me for refusing to rise to the abuse. Racism is a terrible part of the game. There are far more coloured players at both Rangers and Celtic now and it still goes on. I suppose you are always going to get one or two halfwits in big crowds.
Teammates
KENNY Dalglish always made himself available for the ball on the park. And you instinctively knew if you got the ball to him and made a move then he would receive it, shield it and get it back to you. Because I had grown up with him, I was not as much in awe of him as many others could be.
Big Jock stuck me out on the wing because he felt my pace could be useful there. But I absolutely hated it. You missed out on so much of the play. It was only when Kenny left the club to join Liverpool in 1977 that I was played through the middle and improved as a player.
Still, in his final season there, Kenny and I scored a lot of goals between us
The Team
Just take a look at the crowds we used to get! Whenever that Celtic team went out on the park we used to think: ''How many are we going to win by?'' It was never: ''This is going to be tough!'' Or: ''It's cold out there.'' It was such a good team. Winning titles and trophies just seemed normal.
Scotland Cap
I was lucky enough to win one cap for my country. I came on for the last 15 minutes of a European Champ-ionship qualifier against Spain in 1975. The game was tied 1-1 and we needed three points to make it through to the finals. I nearly scored but their keeper just got his hands to my effort. I was as sick as a dog.
But that was one hell of a Scotland team I played in. We had McGrain, Jardine, Dalglish, Joe Jordan, Billy Bremner, Charlie Cooke, Martin Buchan and Gordon McQueen to name a few.
I was so proud to get my one cap. I achieved everything I wanted to in the game.
Cup Final 1975
MY mother passed away the week before the Scottish Cup Final in 1975. I skipped training for a couple of days and then attended her funeral. Big Jock and a few of the players came along and I was very touched they made the effort for me.
But I still went back in to training on the Friday. I said to Jock: ''I would like to play tomorrow.'' I had played well that season and felt I could contribute. Often, it is the best thing to keep yourself occupied after a bereavement like that. Anyway, I was duly selected and managed to score two goals in a 3-1 victory over Airdrie.
I joined the lads to have a celebration drink that night for just five minutes and then made my excuses and left them to it.
It was after that game that Billy McNeill decided to call it a day and hung his boots up. There were a few guys waiting to step into his shoes and Roddy McDonald took over from him in defence.
The week after that final, I scored two goals against Rangers at Hampden in, I think I am right in saying, the final of the Glasgow Cup.
Leaving Celtic
The season before he [Billy McNeill] became manager, I was sent off and suspended towards the end of the campaign. The following pre-season I was left out of all the pre-season training.
It emerged that Billy had a chance to sign the promising winger, Davie Provan, from Kilmarnock.
Billy called me into his office one day and told me the situation: ''Somebody is interested in signing you. We want to sell you. If you don't go I'll make things very hard for you.'' I thought to myself: ''Well, you couldn't make them any bloody harder!''
Roger Hynd, the-then manager of Motherwell, was keen on buying me and so I agreed to go, but I was disappointed. I would have liked to stay at Celtic for another couple of years.
Retirement
When I was about 29 or 30 my body, after a lifetime of full-time training, told me to give it up and I retired. I was all set to quit football and get my own pub.
I started working at a bar in Bellshill. One day Jimmy Johnstone came in with a representative of Blantyre Celtic. He had started playing for them and persuaded me to go and join them. I played Junior until I was 31.
Pictures
Quick and elegant Paul Wilson was a fine player who spent more than a decade with Celtic.
Milngavie-bornIndia-born Wilson signed for the Hoops in December 1967 as a 17-year-old from St Ninian’s High School and the left-sided midfielder was initially farmed out to Maryhill Juniors. He eventually made his Celtic debut in September 1970 when he came off the bench to score in a 5-0 League Cup victory at home to Dundee.
On his game he was a wonderful talent and his pace and abilty to beat a man was a joy to watch and he was certainly deserving of the international recognition he received from Scotland in 1975.
Wilson certainly could raise his game for the big occasion and time after time he was a massive thorn in the side of the Rangers defence. He also hit a brace in the Scottish Cup final triumph over Airdrie in 1975.
However he could on occasion try to over-complicate matters and consistency was a problem with Wilson and because of this tendency to blow hot or cold he was never the first team fixture his talent warranted.
Despite this there is no denying Wilson’s significant contribution to the many Celtic triumphs of the early 70s. Paul Wilson left Celtic for Motherwell in September 1978 after 214 appearances and 52 goals in the Hoops. He remains a fondly remembered talent.
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
Full Name:Paul WilsonBorn: 23 Nov 1950
Place of Birth: MilngavieIndia
Height: 5' 9"
Celtic Career: 1967-78
Position: Left-midfield
Debut: v Dundee 23 Sep 1970 (scored also)
Early Celtic Memories
I was brought up in Dennistoun, just around the corner from Parkhead, and my father used to take me along the road to see Celtic play when I was a boy.
It was during the time of the Kelly Babes. That was a young, young team and I can still remember the club chairman, Sir Robert Kelly, getting a real barracking off the fans at one game because they were struggling so badly.
Schools Football
When I was about 11, my family moved to Milngavie and I attended St Ninian's High School in Kirkintilloch. I played school football in the same league as Danny McGrain and Kenny Dalglish.
Danny played for Kingsridge in Drumchapel and I think Kenny played for Milton. Before long, we were going along to Celtic to train on Tuesdays and Thursdays and got to know each other.
We went on to play together in the Glasgow Schools team. Tommy Craig was in that side, too, and we played smashing stuff, going on to win the Scottish Schools Cup.
Signing For Celtic
I left school around 17, in 1966, and went full-time at Parkhead. I went into such a good group of young lads. As well as myself, there were Kenny and Danny, George Connelly, David Hay, John Gorman and Lou Macari.
The club won the European Cup and it was a real struggle for the young boys to break into that team. But our reserve team regularly used to give the top team a right old doing in practice games. The Lisbon Lions were great with us, different class. I can remember nutmegging big Tommy Gemmell twice in training one day. All the older players killed themselves laughing. Celtic was a real family club.
First Game
My first game for Celtic came in a European Cup tie at Parkhead against KPV Kokkola in 1970. We won 9-0. I came on when we were six ahead and scored two goals.
Gradually, the Quality Street Kids, as we were known, started to get more involved in the first team. Danny and Kenny both broke into the team before I did.
But big Jock always used to say to me: ''Bide your time. You'll get in.'' He was right
Celtic Versus Rangers
I LOVED playing against Rangers. I thought those were smashing games. John Greig was approaching the end of his career at that time and I used to regularly get the better of him. But Sandy Jardine and I had some epic battles. He was a classy player.
When I first joined Celtic I could do a wee Jimmy. By that I mean beat four or five guys at a time. But I was discouraged from doing that in competitive games by the coaches. Looking back, I would say I was fast and could cross and shoot with both feet.
I actually felt those games against Rangers were the only time Celtic were ever seriously tested. They just flew by - the whistle went for kick-off and before you knew it you were back in the dressing room. Celtic should have been playing opposition of that quality every week.
Racism
My mother was Dutch/ Portuguese and my father was Irish/Scottish - I am a real mongrel. After the Second World War, my dad got a job working over in India and that is where he met mum. I was born over there and lived there until I was one. At that time in Glasgow, there were relatively few people like me. I took the sun well.
I suppose I did get quite a hard time because of my colour when I was a player. But it used to upset my mother more than me.
For some reason, I always scored in those matches. But I never once, not once, gestured to the crowd or retaliated. I felt I had made my point on the pitch. I think big Jock respected me for refusing to rise to the abuse. Racism is a terrible part of the game. There are far more coloured players at both Rangers and Celtic now and it still goes on. I suppose you are always going to get one or two halfwits in big crowds.
Teammates
KENNY Dalglish always made himself available for the ball on the park. And you instinctively knew if you got the ball to him and made a move then he would receive it, shield it and get it back to you. Because I had grown up with him, I was not as much in awe of him as many others could be.
Big Jock stuck me out on the wing because he felt my pace could be useful there. But I absolutely hated it. You missed out on so much of the play. It was only when Kenny left the club to join Liverpool in 1977 that I was played through the middle and improved as a player.
Still, in his final season there, Kenny and I scored a lot of goals between us
The Team
Just take a look at the crowds we used to get! Whenever that Celtic team went out on the park we used to think: ''How many are we going to win by?'' It was never: ''This is going to be tough!'' Or: ''It's cold out there.'' It was such a good team. Winning titles and trophies just seemed normal.
Scotland Cap
I was lucky enough to win one cap for my country. I came on for the last 15 minutes of a European Champ-ionship qualifier against Spain in 1975. The game was tied 1-1 and we needed three points to make it through to the finals. I nearly scored but their keeper just got his hands to my effort. I was as sick as a dog.
But that was one hell of a Scotland team I played in. We had McGrain, Jardine, Dalglish, Joe Jordan, Billy Bremner, Charlie Cooke, Martin Buchan and Gordon McQueen to name a few.
I was so proud to get my one cap. I achieved everything I wanted to in the game.
Cup Final 1975
MY mother passed away the week before the Scottish Cup Final in 1975. I skipped training for a couple of days and then attended her funeral. Big Jock and a few of the players came along and I was very touched they made the effort for me.
But I still went back in to training on the Friday. I said to Jock: ''I would like to play tomorrow.'' I had played well that season and felt I could contribute. Often, it is the best thing to keep yourself occupied after a bereavement like that. Anyway, I was duly selected and managed to score two goals in a 3-1 victory over Airdrie.
I joined the lads to have a celebration drink that night for just five minutes and then made my excuses and left them to it.
It was after that game that Billy McNeill decided to call it a day and hung his boots up. There were a few guys waiting to step into his shoes and Roddy McDonald took over from him in defence.
The week after that final, I scored two goals against Rangers at Hampden in, I think I am right in saying, the final of the Glasgow Cup.
Leaving Celtic
The season before he [Billy McNeill] became manager, I was sent off and suspended towards the end of the campaign. The following pre-season I was left out of all the pre-season training.
It emerged that Billy had a chance to sign the promising winger, Davie Provan, from Kilmarnock.
Billy called me into his office one day and told me the situation: ''Somebody is interested in signing you. We want to sell you. If you don't go I'll make things very hard for you.'' I thought to myself: ''Well, you couldn't make them any bloody harder!''
Roger Hynd, the-then manager of Motherwell, was keen on buying me and so I agreed to go, but I was disappointed. I would have liked to stay at Celtic for another couple of years.
Retirement
When I was about 29 or 30 my body, after a lifetime of full-time training, told me to give it up and I retired. I was all set to quit football and get my own pub.
I started working at a bar in Bellshill. One day Jimmy Johnstone came in with a representative of Blantyre Celtic. He had started playing for them and persuaded me to go and join them. I played Junior until I was 31.
Pictures
