Celtic TV wisely upload nostalgic Seville film ahead of Betis clash

By Euan Davidson

September 14, 2021

Celtic TV had uploaded ‘The Road to Seville’ for subscribers, ahead of the club’s return to the city to play Real Betis.

With the Bhoys set to face Sevillian opposition in the form of Los Verdiblancos, Celtic minds have been cast back to 2003. For the UEFA Cup Final, Celtic faced Porto, with 80,000 fans visiting the historic Spanish city.

The former UEFA Cup may be called the Europa League now. However, Hoops fans subscribed to Celtic TV can watch the club’s heart-stopping run to the final.

Wins over Liverpool, Stuttgart, Blackburn Rovers, Celta Vigo and Boavista saw Martin O’Neill’s team make their first final since 1970. And there were late winners, shocking moments, thrills and spills along the way.

Some Celtic legends, including Jackie McNamara, have spoken at length about that famous European run. The former Bhoys captain even contributed to a series on 67 Hail Hail’s YouTube channel.

Celtic TV well within their rights to remind us of last Seville trip, with Betis ahead

If we were playing Benfica or Sporting Club de Portugal, you’d expect some Lisbon Lions nostalgia from the club. If we played in Rotterdam, Leeds or Prague, fans would be waiting for the glorious footage.

So, it makes total sense to re-broadcast the most exciting European run this century. We have to admit, the prospect of a trip to Seville has us feeling a tinge of nostalgia, too. Even without Celtic fans this time, after a hasty U-turn from Real Betis [Celtic FC].

Of course, what we really want is the club to make new memories in Europe. We haven’t progressed past the Champions League group stage since 2012-13, nor the Europa League round of 32 in its current form.

For a club the size of Celtic, with the fanbase it has, new legends need to be made on the European stage. Nostalgia is well and good – great fun, even – but for a new generation of Bhoys talents, some new memories have to emerge.

Still, now you know about this, you’ll probably watch it, won’t you? Us too.

In other news: Celtic opponents Real Betis on best home run since 2002