And if you know the history

Sceala Philosopher Location: Glasgow

And if you know the huddle history

Paul Cuddihy
Thirteen years ago today, on July 23, 1995, a little piece of Celtic history was made when the very first Huddle took place.
It was a pre-season friendly in Germany for Tommy Burns’ Celtic side against Kickers Emden, the game taking place at VfB Jheringsfehn’s ground because of renovation work at Emden’s stadium.
The 3,650 people who were there at what looked more like a public park than a football ground, watched the Hoops go down 2-0, but probably didn’t pay too much attention to the new pre-match ritual.

It was Tony Mowbray, skippering the side in the absence of Paul McStay, who had stayed behind in Scotland to receive treatment for an injury, who came up with the idea of the Huddle as a show of togetherness by the players.

Over the years it has become an integral part of Celtic’s identity, a sign of unity among the men who wear the Hoops as well as a source of inspiration and pride to every Celtic supporter.
And the Huddle is now carried out by Celtic teams of all ages, from the young Bhoys and Ghirls in the Celtic in the Community programmes right through to Gordon Strachan's first-team.
And while he never imagined that the Huddle would have caught on so spectacularly, Tony Mowbray remains proud of what he started.
Years after that first Huddle on July 23, 1995, he said: “Every player likes to leave something that people can remember them by and maybe the Huddle is mine at Celtic.
“I’m delighted to see it’s still going strong, because it’s a brilliant way of uniting the players and the fans. It’s in the fabric of Celtic now.”
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