Winging it – RIP Bertie

Andy Munro pays tribute to legendary Bleus and Celtic winger Bertie Auld.

I was saddened to read of the death of Bertie Auld at the age of 83.

When I started to watch the Blues in the early sixties, he was my hero. A cheeky chappy with immense skill and panache, Bertie took no truck from anyone and famously chinned Johnny Haynes, yet he had a great sense of humour.

Bertie came down from Celtic for £15,000 in 1961. The fee was to prove a bargain as he played in Blues’ famous run to the Fairs Cup final of that year and in the League Cup win two seasons later. Although he is known primarily as a Celtic player, Bertie’s longest run of games with one club was with Blues. He returned to Celtic in 1965 and became one of the immortal Lisbon Lions before a career in management.

He was the sort of character that is sadly missing from today’s sterile, humourless game. He may have found worldwide fame winning the European Cup with Celtic but I for one will never forget his displays in a blue shirt.

RIP Bertie.