“You’ve gone from the under 14s, 15s, 16s, then to the Celtic youth team at 17 and 18, we played in the youth league. By that time you’re coached by Davie Provan, Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Murdoch! Bobby didn’t get involved in the games much but wee Jimmy did. What I remember about Jimmy is that he used to wear a black bin liner underneath his jacket. You would hear him rustling about trying to ‘meg’ you all the time’. It was brilliant, especially as a winger being coached by Jimmy Johnstone and Davie Provan.” – David Elliot
Can you imagine not regretting leaving Celtic Football Club?
Not many can say that they lived their dream, but David Elliot did. He can also look back on his career and say that after six appearances for Celtic’s first-team he left the club, for Partick Thistle, at the right time. He went on to play for John Lambie three times and calls him the best gaffer he has ever worked under. Alex McLeish told him after one day at Hibs that he wouldn’t play but denied him a move to Preston North End, then managed by David Moyes.
A career that started off with him playing for a school he didn’t attend, to Barrowfield, to Maryhill, to Paisley, to Falkirk, to Leith, to Wigan, then finally back to Maryhill under the sweary and fatherly watch of John Lambie.
David speaks about a career where the enjoyment of football guided every decision he made.
In this latest episode, Paul John Dykes chats to ex-Celt, David Elliot, where they discuss:
Growing up a Celtic fan and signing for the club;Being coached by Jimmy Johnstone, Bobby Murdoch and Davie Provan;
Winning the BP Youth Cup in 1987;
Breaking into the first-team under Billy McNeill;
Scottish Cup final preparations in 1989;
Leaving for first-team football at Partick Thistle;
Falling back in love with football through coaching. Listen to David Elliot with A Celtic State of Mind here:
Listen to “David Elliot with A Celtic State of Mind” on Spreaker.
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