Back in 2006, the then Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc received a formal police caution in Glasgow after blessing himself at a match. It was his established routine to pray and make the sign of the cross at the start of each half of a game. In February that year, in a game against Rangers at Ibrox, he blessed himself in the usual way – and in the usual way, the Angry Bears went mental. Bizarrely, it was Boruc rather than the bigots subjecting him to sectarian abuse, who were then the subject of police action.
The caution didn’t stop him – he kept on blessing himself. The Holy Goalie’s failure to back down further endeared him to the Celtic support. Many considered him to be the best ‘keeper at the club since Ronnie Simpson. As well as sensational saves, his obvious dislike for Rangers and their support, his public declarations of faith and occasional stunts (like wearing a t-shirt at Ibrox with fellow Pole Pope John Paul II on it) all meant that the bold Boruc will long be remembered and loved by the Celtic faithful.
It is believed the chant in his tribute was dreamt up in The Black Cat, a Celtic brasserie in Greenock, after the consumption of generous amounts of a certain tonic wine. It was soon taken up across the country.
Oh-oh, Artur Boruc – the Holy Goalie
He Hates the Huns!
He blessed himself at Ibrox
And the Huns off went off their nuts
He’s off his f*ckin’ rocker
And he sings ‘God Bless the Pope’!
Here is the Holy Goalie himsel joining in with the song in the title celebrations at Tannadice in 2008:
And here’s Homer Simpson teaching the weans the song. It is not known if Police Scotland are seeking an extradition warrant . . .
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the shamrock 