Remembering the Heroes of '74

At last, the day had arrived!

This time, the meeting was in Glasgow, and it was the first major trip organized by our new supporters’ club. A good number of members decided to attend a match that was expected to be historic: it marked the 50th anniversary of the famous “Battle of Glasgow.” Our flight departed very early from Cologne to Edinburgh. There, we met up with Rubén and Maribel, who did land from Madrid two hours later. To make the transportation easier, we decided to rent a car, and the four of us set off for Glasgow, arriving around 2 in the afternoon.

On the way, we agreed to park near the stadium to make it easier for us to pick up the car after the match. We parked in a neighborhood with a noticeable smell of marijuana, which caught our attention. To ensure there would be no issues, we asked a neighbor who assured us that it was safe to park there without fear of fines or damage. After a brief conversation with him, he spontaneously decided to take us to Merchant Square, the designated meeting area for Atlético Madrid fans. Gratefully, we accepted his offer, and he dropped us right at the door of the meeting place.

There were already some fans there, and it was a joy to see some of them again. Gradually, the venue and the street became filled with red and white colors, and the Atlético chants grew louder. The walk to the stadium felt endless, but fortunately, some decided to take a taxi and wait for us there.

The atmosphere at Celtic Park was just as we had expected: spectacular. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is an anthem that is emotional, no matter how many times you hear it. Combined with the fact that our players were wearing the same kit as the heroes of ‘74 (red shirt, blue shorts, and red socks, something that didn’t sit well with the locals in Glasgow because it revived bitter memories), it made us realize that we were witnessing a very emotional moment in the history of the Club. The stadium was packed to the brim, with some pro-Palestine displays (despite UEFA’s express prohibition) and a republican flag reminding us that we were in Scotland, a supportive nation.

From a football perspective, the first half was forgettable; we saw an Atlético side nearly nullified by a Celtic team that came out all guns blazing. Luckily, in the second half, we improved our game and ended with a bittersweet 2-2 draw, leaving everything open for the return leg at the Metropolitano.

We left the stadium just as it began to drizzle, and when we reached the car, we received the surprise of the day. Someone had left something in a bag on the windshield. The uncertainty made us open it cautiously, and what we found inside left everyone present speechless: it contained a Celtic shirt and pin, a travel cushion, a souvenir tile from Scotland, and some sweets. We assumed that this gesture came from the kind neighbor who had taken us to the fan area, but we’ll never know for sure. Scottish hospitality didn’t end there. The police, upon seeing Pedro walking in the rain with his crutches, invited him and his wife, Rosa, to get into the police van and took them to the city center.

It’s beautiful to see things like this, which make us understand that in our travels, it’s not just about football…

• trip