The night before the 2017 Scottish Cup Final I'd organised a night down at the Greenock Celtic Supporters club. On the stage were Willie Wallace, John Hughes, Charlie Gallagher and John Fallon. Jim Craig was scheduled to have been there too but got called away at the last night to do a favour for Celtic.
There was one other guest coming along but no-one else knew except me. He wasn't going to be there as the start or indeed for most of the night but he told me he'd be there. The night was brilliant, the questions and the answers were being enjoyed by everyone - the supporters and the Lisbon Lions, a 10/10 night for everyone, except me who was anxiously awaiting the mystery man's later arrival.
Then true to his word he arrived. Told me I owed him a tenner for his petrol and then instructed me to go in, the tell compere up on the stage to ask for everyone's attention...the place was mobbed, buzzing with the Lions there and the anticipation of the cup final the next day, so I reckoned that was a tough ask...
But it worked and for about 5 seconds the noise subsided and all eyes were on the stage waiting for something to be said, for about 2 seconds anyway. Because at the back of the hall at the far right hand corner a human tornado entered the room holding aloft a replica of the cup he first lifted 50 years before and he roared at the top of his voice HAIL HAIL THE CELTS ARE, WHAT THE HELL DO WE CARE NOW...FOR IT'S A GRAND OLD TEAM TO PLAY FOR....
Every head turned around in surprise then delight and Bertie's personality flooded into the hall. Supporters weren't on their feet they were up on the tables going as crazy as they would be the next afternoon when Tom Rogic scored that fairytale winner.
Bertie Auld then went up onto the stage and held court, loving every second just as much as the rest of us. What a man Bertie was, a gentlemen, the funniest guy you could ever hope to meet, loved the club and loved the support. He was Mr Celtic and was loved by every single one of us. God bless you Bertie, God bless you. YNWA.