I Wish I Played For The Celtic Poem by Daniel McDonagh

Wouldn’t it be great to score a goal?
For the team you’ve always supported as a boy,
To wear the team colours, hear the fans chant your name,
To score the winning goal in a Scottish Cup Final game.

Wouldn’t you tremble in the presence of Dalglish?
As he’d calmly pass the ball to your feet,
And the “Jungle” would swell, as you’d run with the ball
At creating a chance or scoring a goal.

Wouldn’t you play with pride in the green & white?
As the stadium is packed in European nights,
When the games of the past brought Parkhead alive,
When teams fell to the Lisbon Lions style.

Wouldn’t you love to have stood at the centre circle?
Where Michael Davitt once planted some Irish soil,
Where it was uprooted and sadly stolen,
Probably by a Rangers supporter.

Wouldn’t you have loved to play under the teachings of Jock Stein?
Where his achievements are historic for the boys in green,
As eleven men from Glasgow made their way to Lisbon,
And came home as European Cup Champions.

Against the Rangers, wouldn’t you love to score a goal?
And run to their supporters and to dance & gloat,
As the Celtic fans would rise in celebration,
A victory for Celtic is a victory for Ireland.

Would you have loved to play alongside Grant & McStay
Who exemplified the term, “playing for the jersey”,
In the 90’s their trophies were but a few,
As the Celtic often fell to the demons in blue.

Wouldn’t you have loved to travel down to Old Trafford?
Where Ryan Giggs’ testimonial was played,
20,000 Celtic fans saw a goal-scoring spree,
As the ’Tic beat Man.Utd by a score of 4-3.

Wouldn‘t you love to stand by Neil Lennon’s side?
And listen to the abuse he takes for playing in the green & white,
But he shows no fear when he runs through players;
Courage & determination is a suit he wears.

Wouldn’t you love to have played in the Bernabeau Stadium?
Were wee Jinky taught Real Madrid a lesson,
The cries of DiStefano were brought to a halt
Every time a Celtic player touched the ball.

Would you loved to have played in the Centenary Year team,
Where McCarthy, McGhee & McAvennie played for the green,
Baird‘s Bar on the Gallowgate, ran out of beer,
As the double was won in that historic year.

Would you wished you played with DiCanio on the wing,
Where his tricks & skill made Parkhead sing,
And Jorge Cadette, the striking Portuguese,
Only spoke on the field with his powerful feet.

Do you wish you were at Ibrox when the Celtic fans were banned?
As the faithful were made unwelcome from a previous game,
But a goal from Collins silenced the Govan crowd,
Only the angels in heaven sang out loud.

Don’t you wish you played with a player in his glory?
As the 30’s saw the rise in a star of Jimmy McGrory,
Do you wish you had saved the life of John Thompson?
Who’s career was cut short from a tragic collision.

In O’Neill’s treble winning team, you wished you had played,
Where the ’Tic that season put on a sparkling display,
With Larsson’s goals & Lubo’s magic,
The three trophies of Scotland stood at Celtic Park.

June'7th 2003