CELTIC have a tough Europa League opener against Ajax tonight in Amsterdam, and they will be hoping to get a similar result to what they earned against the Dutch side in the European Cup in 1982…

STUART (Crookston) – I remember Celtic playing Dutch champions Ajax in the European Cup in 1982. I think we drew at home but managed to win in Amsterdam. Can you give me the details of the tie?

On Wednesday, September 15, 1982, Celtic drew 2-2 at Parkhead. Charlie Nicholas and Frank McGarvey scored for Celtic and Olsen and Lerby were the Ajax scorers.

Two weeks later at the Olympic Stadium, Charlie Nicholas scored a magnificent goal to give Celtic a half-time lead. Vanenburg equalised midway through the second half and Celtic were heading for defeat on the away goals rule.

With only two minutes left on the clock George McCluskey scored to send Celtic into the next round.

DAVIE CONNORS (Anniesland) – Can you confirm that Paul Gascoigne once played in a friendly for Spurs against Hearts at Tynecastle?

Yes indeed, just five weeks after ‘Tears in Turin’ and World Cup heartache, Gazzamania arrived in Edinburgh as Hearts and Spurs, who also featured Italia 90 hero Gary Lineker, played out a 1-1 draw in an enthralling encounter in front of over 18,000 fans at Tynecastle in an August 1990 friendly.

After picking up an obligatory booking, Gascoigne showed some delightful touches and provided an assist for David Howells to equalise for Terry Venables side after Wayne Foster had given Hearts a deserved lead.

Interestingly, Gazza had actually featured in a pre-season friendly at Tynecastle three years previously, scoring a last-minute winner in a 1-0 victory for Newcastle over the Gorgie men.

ROBERT (Lochwinnoch) – Back in the Fifties and Sixties Stirling Albion used to be Celtic’s bogey club. Did any of the Albion players who played in wins over Celtic go on to play at the top level?

The wording of your question is a bit ambiguous. Stirling Albion defeated Celtic 5 times between 1949-50 and 1965-66 seasons.

All matches were in the top division of the Scottish League, so Albion players were already playing at the top level. One player who did find fame after leaving Albion was Henry Hall, who played in a 1-0 win against Celtic on February 26, 1966.

Henry went on to play for St Johnstone between 1968-69 and 1974 -75 seasons. He played in the Saints team that lost narrowly to Celtic in the 1969-70 season.

He was also part of the Perth side that had a fine run in Europe, reaching the third round of the Uefa Cup in 1971-72. He later played for Dundee United and Forfar Athletic.

In 1970 he played for the Scottish League against the Football League at Coventry. The English won the game 3-2.