The eight-year-old me realised that there was something going on amongst the grown-ups which I didn’t understand.
In fairness, it wasn’t a new feeling.
My grandfather was holding me on a crush barrier at Celtic Park.
It was 1966, and a man not far from us shouted, “FEED THE BEAR!”
Other men (there were no women present, as I recall) joined in with the command to provide food for the said bear.
They were, of course, advocating a strategy for the Hoops to triumph against the opponent that day.
Simply that the ball be given to John Hughes out on the left wing.
I do not know the origins of why he was likened to the lovable rogue in Jellystone Park.
What they both had in common was that they often tormented a Ranger.
In the era before the inverted winger was a generally understood position, Big Jock often deployed Yogi on the left wing.
From my boyhood, I have a little video in my memory of him teasing the fullback and then darting inside.
On his game, he was devastatingly effective as a right-footed number eleven.
Yet his finest hour in the Hoops was at Hampden in an entirely different role.
Jock decided that Yogi would be deployed as a battering ram centre forward against Don Revie’s Leeds United.
The Elland Road outfit was dubbed England’s team of the decade by the English media.
The sage opinion in London was that Celtic simply had no chance.
The twelve-year-old me, still sitting on a crush barrier, was high up in the uncovered Celtic end watching a real live Subbuteo game.
Yogi’s near post header sent the record crowd of 136,505 into orbit.
John Hughes has gone to his eternal rest, and he will always be in our hearts.
Looking back, I now know that it was the Bear who was feeding us with an entire menu of moments and memories that will never die.
Meeting John in later years was an honour I will cherish as much as watching him in the Hoops as a wee Bhoy.
He was a quiet, humble man with no side to him.
My buddy Alan Morrison caught it beautifully.
To the very end, he was part of the Celtic Family.
My thoughts are with Theresa and the Hughes family.
Thanks Yogi.
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Many memories of Yogi but the one that sticks in my mind, Dundee at Dens, don’t remember the date nor the score but I can still see Yogi thunder down the left, cut inside, cut inside past Hamilton I think then unleash an unstoppable shot past the keeper. I was a keeper and not great playing outfield but was asked to play left wing one day, was in my early twenties and not getting on the ball much. Late in the game I got a ball on the left and started to run, I was Yogi, cut inside past one, cut inside past two, one more inside the unleashed a shot to the same place as the big man only for the keeper to spoil it with a save. Rest easy Yogi, you will never be forgotten by those who watched you play.
Alex Hamilton did say that he personally found John Hughes a nightmare to play against as he could not anticipate what he was going to do. High praise from someone who found Bobby Charlton no problem to play against
Loads of memories of the bear. 2 pens past Billy Ritchie to win the league cup. (What was Hugh Phillips thinking?) Kneeing Willie Johnston in the R.S. McColls to set up the chant of “Die!Die!Die ya hun.” to the tune of Mary Hopkin’s, Those were the days from all sides of Celtic Park. My favourite memory is from a match at Tyncastle with a 7 yr old me sitting on the perimeter wall only a few feet from Yogi as he burst down the wing. Johnny Hamilton the Hearts right winger tried to stop him by grabbing his sleeve. Yogi just kept running. Soon Hamilton’s arm was fully extended and Yogi’s sleeve was way up past his bicep. Still he kept running until Hamilton, unable to keep up despite getting a tow, fell on his face as Yogi continued his charge. What happened to that attack I don’t remember. It is just one of those wee cameos lodged in my brain. R.I.P. Yogi.
As a schoolboy I first saw John playing at centre forward when he was still a teenager. He was finding the net regularly with his bustling robust style and I can remember him being likened to a certain Jimmy McGrory by some of the older fans.
As optimistic as we were in John’s goal scoring exploits success still evaded us.Two replayed Scottish cup finals in 1961 and 1963 in which John played all four finals must have been heart breaking for all concerned. As we all know things were very soon to change when the cup was won in 1965.
Was at the Leeds game at Hampden too but my best of many Yogi memories was in January 1966. The pitch was frozen with sand on top. Yogi wore trainers and ran riot. The game is remembered for Stevie Chalmers hat trick but, for me, this was a game where Yogi was unstoppable. RIP
Nice tribute Phil….
” Tormenting a Ranger ” ??…..Outstanding.
I only met Yogi once…and that was part of a pub crawl in Coatbridge….when we visited his pub.
I spent about 10 minutes chatting to him about ” the good old days “….and he was lovely to talk to.
I also have the great memory of the Leeds Utd…game….and I remember asking my brother Jim (RIP) how many he thought were in the ground…He replied…” I don’t know the number…but I’ll bet it’s a world record “.
Thanks for the memories Yogi…
May you Rest in Peace.
My understanding is, he was nicknamed YOGI because he regularly took the piss out of the Rangers. Just as the TV cartoon bear did to the Jellystone Park rangers.
My late brother John would not go to a game if his hero was not playing!! I remember him going to the final in Milan (1970) with his banner ; “FEED THE BEAR” RIP big man.
I was lucky enough to see him make his debut for Celtic, v Third Lanark in a League Cup Match. Great comments in ‘the Jungle’ such as, ‘look at the size of him, I would rather feed him for a week than a fortnight.’ He quickly became a fan’s favourite creating a buzz every time he headed towards the penalty area. One fond memory is making the long journey to Aberdeen on a cold and snowy January Saturday and “Yogi” scored a hat trick in a 5-1 win. A true Celtic legend and a lovely person R I P big man.
My favourite Celtic player as I was growing up.I was a left winger and tried to play like Yogi,like him l
didn’t score many goals with my head,but did score a good few from a fair distance as he did so often.I have a pal who is a huge Crystal Palace fan and he loved to see big John in full flight.
R.I.P.
Big John stayed up the road from me in Mitchell Street in Coatbridge for a time. He must have dived into the Milan dressing room after the game cos he blagged the strip of Bicicli. He let my pal John McClements who stayed below John take the strip down so I could see it. My late mother insisted on trying it on. Hopefully it wasnt to badly out of shape. A legend. RIP John
First player my father told me about and having done my homework on the man himself he was not wrong.LEGEND
I was blessed to see Yogi in his prime.
A lovely, modest unassuming superstar .The big man was truly a gentle giant who loved the Celts with all his heart. Totally gutted to hear this terrible news. RIP Yogi , the original feed the bear .
RIP Yogi. I was fortunate to be there when he scored 5 against Aberdeen in an 8 goal rout wearing a borrowed pair of Big Billy’s sannies as the park was bone hard and icy.
His unique bar in central Coatbridge was a happy meeting place for myself and other St Pats bhoys to discuss the performances post match over a beer or three. Happy days indeed.
Feed The Bear.
Michael Boyle from Hamilton. Ontario……..Hail Hail Joe. Please drop me a line at [email protected]
Such sad news. I was also at Hampden that evening when Celtic defeated Leeds Utd. It was often said that big Yogi got the better of defenders because they didn’t know what he was about to do next. It was also suspected that Yogi also didn’t know what he was about to do next. I have received messages today from a couple of Crystal Palace supporting pals who are also mourning his death as big Yogi was also a great favourite when he moved to Selhurst Park.
Finely worded tribute Phil, Big Yogi has given the club so many everlasting iconic memories, may he
RIP John Hughes.
A great Coatbridge man who i watched regularly playing for the Great Glasgow Celtic. I remember Yogi playing against Aberdeen and scoring 5 goals wearing a pair of gutties ( if you are to young to no what gutties are they are a pair of trainers ). My thoughts and prayers are withTheresa and all the family, Big Yogi R.I.P. you are going to meet up with the rest of the Lisbon Lions. God Bless.
Smarter than the average Bear.
Smarter than the average Ranger!
God bless yogi may you rest in eternal peace HH bigman 🍀🍀🙏🙏