HARD to believe the day they dubbed Helicopter Sunday was 10 years ago. Looking at the gap between Celtic and Rangers now it feels like it was in another lifetime.
There isn’t really anything left to say about what happened on the final day of the 2004-2005 season at Fir Park.
It has to rank as one of the biggest disappointments of my Celtic career.
The league was there for us to win, yet in the space of one game at Motherwell, or even five minutes, the entire season turned on its head and we went from title winners again to shattered losers. It was all there for us after I scored and we were in control, only for Scott McDonald to take it all away with two goals.
Such small margins changed everything and that’s the way it was during my time in Scotland.
Two of the leagues we lost were lost on the final day and even when we won quite comfortably in the end it never felt easy. You always felt on edge. My one big recollection from title races was how it used to swing back and forward.
Back then, with the TV showing just a game on the Sunday, it tended to be that either Celtic or Rangers would have their home match at 3pm on the Saturday and then the other team would be away from home for the live fixture of the box the next day.
Vividly, I recall the amount of last-minute winners or late goals both teams used to score to win games in those Sunday matches. They were massive. It changed the entire complexion of the table at times and had a direct impact.
But I suppose in many ways that encapsulates the differences now.
Whether we like to admit it or not the edge is simply not there in Scottish football anymore without Celtic and Rangers going at it until the last day.
The urge is not there for people to get out and watch as many games because we all knew before a ball was kicked Celtic were going to be lifting the Premiership trophy at the end of this season.
In Pictures: Celtic launch their new home kit for 2015/16 season
Aberdeen did well to make it last but they were never really a genuine threat. Not a genuine threat that Rangers used to pose. I don’t care what anyone says, situations like that last Sunday of season 2004-2005 are missed.
It was exciting, just as the build-up was to the Celtic v Rangers League Cup semi-final at Hampden in February.
Even though we knew it was not going to be a contest it still gave a clear insight into the excitement that match can generate.
I’m not just talking about folk in Scotland. When you speak to people down south they are only interested in Celtic v Rangers and nothing else really matters which is a shame.
I’ll tell you something, I’m sure it also makes a difference attracting players.
I’m pretty certain I can recall Joe Ledley saying when he had the choice between Stoke and Celtic he chose Glasgow because of the Champions League prospects but also because of the opportunity to be part of the whole Celtic v Rangers thing and the matches.
Speaking for myself, I had the opportunity to go to Tottenham or Middlesbrough when I left Chelsea but opted for Celtic for the same reason.
I wanted to sample that atmosphere. I wanted to sample the challenge and a big part of that was being within the rivalry.
Had Rangers not been strong, perhaps the other challenges would have been more appealing.
It was nip and tuck, edgy, and got your adrenalin going. You want that as a player.
When we drew a game if felt like a disaster. A possible league changer.
It’s not anyone at Celtic’s fault.
They have been excellent in the second half of this season and things are looking good for Ronny Deila and his team.
They have the Champions League qualifiers to look forward to and that will excite the fans through the summer.
