"There are few fixtures anywhere in the world that carry the intensity, edge and passion of the Old Firm derby. For more than 135 years, these encounters between Rangers and Celtic have been a match that is always played at full throttle and generations of players have now passed through the ranks of both sides, each of them left with deeply etched memories of the iconic derby clash."
"What I'd do was run back and just try to knock the ball out of play or hit it back to the goalkeeper, Ronnie Simpson. Willie was a 60-yard sprinter and I was a 200-metre runner, so he would often burst past me, but I could catch him. So I would knock those long balls back towards the goalkeeper and test Willie to beat me there. I used all my pace to tire him out early on."
"I could have asked Jock to swap me with Gemmell and let him kick Willie all afternoon, but I preferred using skill."
The Old Firm derby is one of football's most intense and passionate fixtures, producing memorable contests for more than 135 years. Jim Craig featured in Celtic's greatest-ever side, winning seven league titles and the 1970 European Cup during a seven-year spell that included many Old Firm clashes. Willie Johnston stood out as Craig's toughest opponent due to exceptional sprinting pace. Craig used tactical defending, knocking long balls back to goalkeeper Ronnie Simpson and using his own speed to tire Johnston, preferring skill over physicality. Craig also won four Scottish Cups and left Celtic after a 6-1 victory over Hibs in 1972 before moving to South Africa.
Read at www.fourfourtwo.com
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