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Tony 'Mogga' Mowbray still proud to see the Celtic huddle

Tony Mowbray
Image: Tony Mowbray: proud that the Celtic huddle is still going strong

Tony Mowbray told Ben and Kammy on this week's Goals on Sunday that he's still proud to see Celtic doing the huddle.

'Mogga', as he's affectionately known by fans, initiated the traditional pre-match team talk when he was club captain of Celtic between 1991-95 and it's still and integral part of the Scottish club's preparation for a game.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 10:  Celtic players in a huddle prior to the CIS Insurance Cup fourth round between Celtic and Rangers at Ibrox on November 10

Mowbray, who also managed Celtic for a season in 2009, says the famous huddle came about as a reaction to rivals Rangers being in excellent form and show signs of solidarity.

"There’s a lot of pride for me when I see Celtic doing the huddle," said Mowbray.

"Rangers were very, very strong when I went to Celtic in the early nineties. We were chasing them, they'd spent a lot of money. It was just after [Graeme] Souness had bought Terry Butcher and Gazza was there when I signed for Celtic.

"In the adversity of that and the negative media attention around the team, I grabbed the guys on the back of the coach coming home from a game once and said: ‘We have to show some solidarity with the fans here. They spend a lot money, they travel all over the country in huge numbers.’

"Together on the pitch before the game I would give a little talk to the group about how important this game was, not for anything other than for the people who were watching and paying their hard-earned money. The fans bought in to it and there was a whole industry built on scarves and everything regarding the huddle.

"There’s a sense of pride that it still carries on today from the middle nineties.

"It’s a great for the club and keeps the fans and club in unity.

"It’s an amazing club with amazing supporters and I’m fortunate enough to have managed Celtic for a season as well as playing for them for four. It’s a life changing scenario for me be fortunate enough to have played for such fabulous club."

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