'You Canna Beat the Celts!'
Dear Editor:
Well the World Cup has come and gone and as I sit here with my cup of tea and The Celtic Connection in my hand, I wonder what my father would have thought of it.
Tensions and troubles are nothing new. I would like to tell you of one incident in my Dad's colourful career (mind you this is long ago, in the early 1900s).
The Hearts Football Club had received a good sum and transferred Dad to Everton. An agreement was made with the directors who had promised Geordie that his brother Dave would also be transferred from the Hearts to Everton Club along with himself.
Well, when David appeared to sign up, he was told to go back to Portsmouth. Crisis number one. Then, the players on Everton chose Geordie to represent them over disputes on living and wage conditions. Crisis number two.
The boiling point arrived for Geordie when the directors refused to allow him to live in Hoylake. Director Sir ***** said, "Geordie, if you do not conform to our wishes, we shall ban you from the British Football League."
Geordies' reply in his Fife tongue was, "Weel, that's fine wi' me. I hae a pick an shovel and I'll awa back tae the pits."
Geordie returned to Kirkclady and his hometown of Luchgelly to let things simmer. It was all over the sporting news.
But, who should come to the rescue? That wonderful band o'brothers from across the Irish sea. Geordie got a call to meet a representative from Belfast Distillery Club in Glasgow. Off he went to Ireland.
A cheer from all the fitba' fans. He loved Ireland and made a lasting friendship with the great Irish tenor John McCormick.
Newcastle made an offer to Belfast. The highest transfer payment ever made at that time. Geordie returned in glory to Newcastle where he had a wonderful 19 years playing a game he so dearly loved.
How many wonderful memories. Oh, while in Ireland, he was twice chosen to play for the Irish League against England and became the first Scot to win an English Cup medal playing for Ireland!
You canna beat the Celts!! This canny wee Fifer? George Williamson Wilson, or better known as "Wee Geordie." My brothers are gone now and it's just Wee Jean as Dad called me.
Sheena (Wilson) Smith
Burnaby, B.C.
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