I'm a Celtic centenary double winner who told punter in Rangers pub to f*** off when he asked me to remove club tie
Mick McCarthy has revealed how he once visited a Rangers-daft pub with his official Celtic outfit and told a local to “f*** off” after he asked him to take it off.
The former defender spent two years at Parkhead as a player after he was signed by Billy McNeill and won three trophies, including an integral part in the memorable double success during the club’s centenary season in 1988. McCarthy spoke of the intensity of the Glasgow goldfish bowl during an interview on the Under The Cosh podcast and told a story of visiting his mate’s Rangers boozer in Cambuslang on the outskirts of Glasgow wearing his Celtic suit and tie.
The 65-year-old names Billy Cowan, who runs the Black Bull in Cambuslang, as his friend at the time. The former Republic of Ireland manager, who joined Celtic from Manchester City, said: “Celtic is so pressurised - it’s everywhere. You go out. You’re in a pub, you’re in a restaurant. It is everywhere, one or the other. If you aren’t seen by a Celtic fan you’re seen by a Rangers fan.
“When you’re born there and lived there it’s hard. It’s hard for the lads up there - far greater than it was for me. I loved my two years there but there was that element. There’s Rangers pubs and Celtic pubs.
"My mate Billy Cowan had a pub in Cambuslang. He asked me if I wanted to go round one night and - Hello Mr Stupid here! - I did with my grey slacks, green blazer, white shirt and green tie. Full Celtic clobber.
“And as I walked in everyone turned round. I sat down and this guy came across to me and said ‘Hey big man, you cannae wear your colours in here!’ He said you have to take your tie off. I said really? He said ‘you can’t wear your tie’.
“I said you can f*** off. This is my club clothes, my work clothes. I go to