JOCK STEIN was born on this date in Burnbank, South Lanarkshire, in 1922 – 103 years ago.

Ironically, the Celtic legend played his first senior game as a trialist centre-half AGAINST the Parkhead club on November 14 1942. He witnessed his future team score four goals. Mind you, Rovers were good enough to score four of their own in an eight-goal stalemate.

Alex Gordon, author of fifteen Celtic publications, opens his book files to reflect on the life and times of a genuine club great.

Please enjoy.

SILVERWARE STEIN…Celtic’s legendary boss Jock Stein with the European Cup and Scottish Cup in the club boardroom in 1967.

WHEN Jock Stein swept into Celtic Park on March 9 1965, he was paid the highest compliment by Hal Stewart, the flamboyant chairman of Morton.

He told Big Jock: “You’re a real upstart. There we were, going about our business and getting away with it. Now you are at Celtic and we all have to buck up our ideas and start working at the game.”

Tongue-in-cheek? Possibly, but you just knew Stein was the phenomenon who drove not only Celtic, but also Scottish football, forward into a new era, achieving goals that...