08 Sep 2017 11:00:19
Was chatting with some folk about John Kennedy and what might have been had he not got injured. Another name came up which I'm too young to have seen, George Connelly. Did anybody on here ever see him play? Apparently the similarities are there and he would have been a legend had it not been for personal issues.

1.) 08 Sep 2017
08 Sep 2017 11:35:31
The first time I saw George Connelly, he was the 'HT entertainment' against Kiev Dynamo (I think? ) - juggling the ball non- stop around the stadium.
He was majestic on the ball and his close control and control seemed effortless and natural and I remember great personal performances against Rangers at Hamden in the 69 cup final (4-0) victory and in both legs of the EC semi finals against Leeds Utd in 1970 among others.
I was just a teenager then and i remember the early to mid seventies, when 'The Lions' were disbanded and George's career was mysteriously cut short and it was the first time as a young fan that I experienced uncertainty as a fan.

2.) 08 Sep 2017
08 Sep 2017 11:49:04
Before my time but really enjoyed reading the book Lost Legend. It is one of my faves along with Dan Doyle and You can call me Stan. One of my uncles always said George Connelly was immense one of the best he has seen.

3.) 08 Sep 2017
08 Sep 2017 11:49:39
I remember one game in particular the 4-0 Scottish Cup final against the old Rangers around 1969 I think. As usual the impartial Scottish press had the old club as favourites as Celtic were in "crisis" only 2 years after Lisbon .
Anyway Celtic blew them away and were 4-0 up at HALF TIME, Connelly scored the 4th goal taking the ball off John Greig then casually strolling round their keeper to pass ball into the net. That goal summed up the bhoy, calm and methodical with a lovely range of passing.
Sadly George suffered from depression and other mental illnesses which cut short what could have been a great career.

4.) 08 Sep 2017
08 Sep 2017 11:59:47
Just went on to youtube to watch highlights of game and to make sure my memory was still working. My memory got it almost right only 3-0 halftime with Connelly getting the 3rd.
But some things never change just before full time with Celtic 4-0 up the old club's fans wanted a "wee run" onto the pitch to "congratulate" the Celtic players and game was held up until police restored some order.
Some things never change with the fans down Govan way.

5.) 08 Sep 2017
08 Sep 2017 12:59:50
Think I remember him doing keepie uppie in the centre circle as the the half time entertainment, was a domestic game, before he broke into the first team, think George Connelly would have been bigger than Bechenbauer, if things had went right for him.

6.) 08 Sep 2017
08 Sep 2017 13:39:11
George Connelly is my all time favourite player. He was Scotlands player of the year 1973. He rarely lost possession of the ball and his passing was controlled and accurate. Unfortunately the man was hampered by domestic problems and he walked away from football in the mid 70s never to return. I used to asked my grandad where George was but he or nobody else knew at the time. I was 10 years old and my idol disappeared.

{Ed007's Note - This PODCAST is really worth a listen for the older fans that remember Connelly playing and for us younger ones who don't. And as Stan says above Connelly's book, Celtic's Lost Legend, is a great read even if you're too young to remember those days.}

7.) 08 Sep 2017
08 Sep 2017 15:49:04
I think people maybe exaggerate how good JK was. I never saw him being any better than the likes of Stephen McManus. As unlucky as he was with that injury, I think he's been extremely lucky to be part of this club as a coach. Fair play to him for this.

8.) 08 Sep 2017
08 Sep 2017 23:21:11
I'm with you on that HT. I didn't see it. I though he was decent but not top quality. He did have a few great games for us though. It's difficult to say how his career would of went if he had been injury free. Age aside I rated other cbs ahead of him and I think his homegrown status carried him through a bit maybe. He must do a decent job in his current role as he has survived a few managers now, putting the "pity job offer" merchants in their place. Myself included admittedly.