Championship win is for Tommy
This one's for Tommy It began and ended with the same, poignant refrain. Tommy Burns' name filled the night air in Dundee last night as an evening drenched in high drama and heartfelt emotion finally ended in ecstasy for Celtic. [The Herald]
Scott McDonald dedicated the team's Clydesdale Bank Premier League triumph to former coach Tommy Burns,he told BBC Radio Scotland: "He was just a gentleman at heart. God rest his soul. We did this for Tommy."
Dundee United 0 - Celtic 1
(SPL, May 22, 2008) Celtic claimed their third successive Scottish Premier League title with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink
heading the only goal of the game from Paul Hartley’s corner. Dundee United forced Artur Boruc into a series of saves without really looking like scoring. Gordon Strachan became the first Celtic manager since Jock Stein in 1974 to scoop three successive championships. (The final minutes of the match, and the post-match celebrations can be seen here
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan admitted winning the SPL title had been a pleasing finale to a season in which he was under incredible pressure.
The Hoops boss was criticised and his side's title hopes written off as Gers surged into a lead at one stage.
He said: "This is a fantastic achievement. I'm going to go away and be with people who have supported and believed in us the whole season."
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell hailed the achievement of Gordon Strachan's team after they won the SPL title for the third consecutive year.
A 1-0 win at Dundee United, coupled with Rangers slipping to defeat at Aberdeen, sealed the triumph.
Lawwell told BBC Radio Scotland: "He (Strachan) goes down in Celtic's history as a legend. It's a wonderful night for this club."
Chairman John Reid paid tribute to Gordon Strachan after he became the first Celtic boss to win three titles in a row since Jock Stein.
Reid, who took up his role in November, was delighted to see the Hoops manager show his team remain the team to beat in the SPL.
He told BBC Radio Scotland: "I think Gordon has answered his critics in the best way, on the football park."
(SPL, May 22, 2008) Second-half goals from Lee Miller and Darren Mackie left Rangers finishing the season in the runner-up spot, after having lead the SPL for much of the season. Rangers’ disappointment was compounded by Nacho Novo’s late and justified sending off for stamping on Duff, ruling Novo out of the Scottish Cup final against Queen of the South on Saturday.
