Albatross Baxter was half cut for the 1967 match. Stevie Chalmers who was teetotal , slipped away during their pre match walk and bought a bottle of Scotch and hid it in the toilets. Simpson and one or two others had a wee drop, they went back it was all gone. Baxter was prancing around in dressing room juggling with ball. In the second half he started the same juggling and nearly lost the game.
I didn't know the story about the Scotch, but I do recollect Law and Bremner remonstrating with Baxter over the ball juggling, as they feared he was allowing England back into the game. Jimmy Greaves confirmed on several occasions and in his book that the England team, contrary to SMSM stories that they were outraged were actually glad to see Baxter take the pace out of the game. Wilson and jack Charlton said the very same thing. English media had Bremner man of the match and have never referred to it as Baxters Wembley. Takes us back to the age old supremacist attitude WATP and all that ****e.
I read the story about the scotch in one of the Celtic players books. I think It might have been Bobby Lennox. I don't know about the English team but the Scottish players were mad with rage. Interesting we extra In spite of what happened in later years wee Jimmy Johnstone did not drink at that time.
If you mean specifically at that game, then fair enough but if you meant during those years then that would be bollox - My Gran owned a pub during Jinky's time at Celtic, in his neck of the woods (where I'm originally from) and he was a frequent visitor... many Celtic and Rangers players frequented the pub. It's well know that Jinky's drinking got him into trouble many times...
Anytime I turn up for five-a-sides pished, my justification is that if it was good enough for Johnstone, Baxter and Best then it's good enough for me <hic>
Jimmy 's drinking didn't start to after Celtic won the European Cup, acc or ding to Bobby Lennox both Lennox and Johnstone spent the night celebrating with orange juice. Wee Jimmy hadn't started drinking by that time. He certainly made up For his late start and had a major problem for the rest of his all to short life. He gave it from time to time , once through Alcoholics Anonymous when he Would virtually travel all over Scotland to help anyone in difficulties.
When much younger and more foolish, I turned up once for a cup game, still under the influence after a heavy session the previous night, was violently sick at half-time but ended up getting man of the match. Never did that again ... and never got man of the match again either.
I wish ... would that have made me not long out of short trousers now like your good self, young sir?
Was that the game Espaniacelt that you were marking that young pup Messi and Messi was substituted after 30 mins. SteIn once got a phone call that wee Jimmy was carried out of a pub at about five in the morning. Stein arranged the most arduous training he could think of , wee Jimmy did everything to the last detail.
The very same sh - he obviously couldn't take the stench of stale alcohol so close to him - imagine, if I had kept up a routine of drinking the night before a game I might have made the big time. I've never heard these stories before, of Scottish players 'drinking', though it was hardly surprising in the old days as players had too much time on their hands and little to do after training but head to a pub.
Ronnie Simpson use to have a wee half before every game. Wee Jimmy was playing for Dundee whilst Tommy Gemmell was manager. He was Staying with Tommy. Johnstone and WGS went on a all day bender, they finished up totally plastered at Gemmell's pub both unable to speak. That practically finished WGS from drinking
