The Walk with Shay team sent me the next in their series on living club captains and their incredible raffle. The first can be found here, goo luck to all participants.
“The countdown is now on for the Walk With Shay Green Raffle Army prize draw on 25th May 2017 at Paradise. There is still time left to purchase raffle tickets to win our Club Captains of Celtic Away Top, covering 53 years of our Clubs unbroken history and a host of other amazing Celtic prizes, but don’t leave it too late.
Here is the next part of the club captains story”
Captain No 3: Tommy Boyd-November 2014
Tommy was an inspiration as Club Captain and still raises the bar high amongst the Celtic family as a Club Ambassador; giving up free time, and taking part in numerous fundraising events within the club and with the supporters, always taking time to talk to fans, signing autographs etc. Indeed, when we had a few beers in Mollies, he spent the entire night happily being interrupted by fans asking for photos and signatures. He obliged them all without a moan or groan. His wife told us that he loved the attention and was in his element. I had gone to the toilet at one point and a Chelsea fan who was standing next to me as we passed the time of day, asked “Who’s that you’re with? And I said to him joking, “Imagine, not knowing that! That’s Tommy Boyd, he played for your team”. I thought nothing more of it, until the boy appeared beside Tommy, ten minutes later asking for a photo. I later told Tommy, that I had chatted him up in the toilets earlier, for him.
For Tommy’s signature, I got in contact with Tommy’s CQN buddy who agreed to put the wheels in motion to assist with Captain number 3. A couple of days later, I was in the Kerrydale Bar having a pre-match beer with CQNer, TTTT. It was very busy, but who appears in front of me, as if by magic, Tommy Boyd. We had a brief chat and I said to him that I needed a favour as I was looking for him to sign the two tops. He said” Sure no problem”, and gave me his mobile number and told me to call him. The next week after a call, there was Tommy Boyd in my office at work signing the two tops. Tommy still claims to this day that he was the only Club Captain that came to us, to get the Tops signed… At this point, I had told Andy F about my plans and had enlisted his support and help in the search for the 11 club captains. There was still a long way to go and I started to realise that to complete this momentous task, that I would need help.
Captains No 4 and 5: Danny McGrain and Scott Brown-May 2015
Thanks to Andy F, this was a breeze in the park, as he got in touch with Tony Hamilton, CEO of Celtic FC Foundation who agreed to help. We duly and slightly nervously handed the tops into Celtic Park for signing in due course. The tops had never been out of possession up to this date, but we knew that they would be well looked after by Tony.
Danny had taken ill at the time, so we knew he had not been working at Celtic Park, but Tony went out his way to get both Danny and Broony to sign the tops, within a short space of time. The significance and uniqueness of the tops started to dawn on everybody now involved in collecting signatures, but we still had a long way to go to achieve the dream.
Captain no 6: Billy McNeill – March 2015
Billy, I had thought would be one of my easiest signings to obtain given his previous assistance on the Bringing Martin Home and Wee Oscar 4 Life campaigns. It was a joy to be invited into the McNeill household and for Billy to recall various Celtic stories. His wife, Liz was also lovely and they both knew my youngest daughter, Niamh who went to the nursery ran by Billy’s son. In fact, there was many a day when Billy popped into the nursery with lunches for the kids and I would have great delight in telling Niamh, just who the man, that regularly brought her lunch was.
I contacted Liz via text shortly after I had come up with the idea of the tops, but there had been no response. Billy was struggling with his illness and was going through a difficult time at this period. I had sensed that all was not well, and decided to put Billy’s signature on the back burner. It was actually not until the following March, that Liz got word to me, that they were waiting for me to pop in, so Billy could sign the tops. I arranged to pop in and since it was March 17th (St Patrick’s day), I bought 4 cans of Guinness for Billy and some wine and flowers for Liz and took them across. You could tell that Billy was struggling, but as they always did, the McNeill’s made me welcome in their house and we chatted for ages. Billy signed one top and Liz told him that it was a poor signature. I jumped in and say it was wonderful, Billy proceeded to sign the other top. He still regaled some great Celtic stories from years ago, but you could see at times how he struggled to remember and that he had a tear in his eye when he talked about Jinky. I gave him the four cans and he said thank you, to which he then said to Liz, “Am I allowed these?” She replied “You can have one can tonight, due to your medication”. I smiled as here was the legend Cesar being closely marked and had little or no room for manoeuvre.
Little, did I realise, that the signatures I had received that day were probably one of the last signatures given by Billy, due to his deteriorating condition which would restrict him from signing in the near future. It says a lot for the McNeill family that they had went out their way to help us, when this should have been the last thing on their minds at this difficult time, but this was the McNeills’.
Club Captain no 7: Neil Lennon-August 2015
We took a few months out in the quest for the Club Captains signatures, and started to push it again in August 2015. My Dad’s friend was Neil Lennon’s agent’s father (less than six degrees of separation!!) and I had previously pestered my Dad to speak to him to see if his friend could help. Eventually, it all came good and I was to pass the tops over to Lenny’s agent, Martin Reilly, as he was travelling down to Bolton to catch up with Lenny and Johan Mjallby. The tops were duly passed over to my Dad, with the instruction “Lenny only please” and he passed the tops over to his friend with the same message.
I got a call a week later to pick up the signed tops from my Dad’s friend house, and popped in after work as he lived just around the corner. As he brought the tops out, he said there was a little problem and told me that Johan had signed the tops as well, but it was ok as he was a Captain as well. I tried to hide my look of horror and not trying to sound ungrateful and I said “Thank you, but he wasn’t a Club Captain though, but never mind”. I thought “How am I going get around this one? Can I hide or cover it up, perhaps? Maybe even rub it out!” It is amazing what runs through your head at times. I was also struggling to get hold of Roy Aitken, and a crazy thought came into my head for an instant; “Perhaps I could kid on it was Roy Aitken’s autograph?”. As I looked at Johan’s signature more closely, I saw the number 35 next to his signature, I thought “Nope!” And dismissed the mad thought in an instant. This was going to be our Celtic kinder egg!
Part 3 to follow soon.
The countdown is now on for our amazing draw on 25th May 2017 at Paradise, but there is still time left to purchase (or sell) raffle tickets to win our Club Captains of Celtic Away Top, covering 53 years of our Clubs unbroken history, and a host of other amazing Celtic prizes.
Contact us now via:
email walkwithshay@yahoo.com
Twitter @walkwithshay
369 Comments- Pages:
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I don’t like Madden and I certainly don’t trust him, so naturally would prefer he is nowhere near Hampden. However I doubt it will matter, we will win anyway. In the meantime, there is only one thing for it, pile the pressure on him.
Hey Reggie
If you don’t mind What’s the next verse to this song
Come all Ye young Rebels
And listen while I sing
Wanyama got a red card for going too fast to tackle…-copyright A Walker
As for banning Celtic shirts at golf tournaments, my goodness, that takes hurting to a new level.
Songs debate?
Again?
Why?
..
Reggie. Are you new here?
Why not just ban golf.
Start by banning all golf related topics on Celtic blogs
Taliban CSC
What is the Stars on 16th May 2017 2:06 pm
Why not just ban golf.
Start by banning all golf related topics on Celtic blogs
Taliban CSC
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Woah, golf ok, but why are we banning TallyBhoy???
A reminder for those who can make it, the Archbishop will be con-celebrating Mass with Fr Tom White this Saturday (20th May) in St Mary’s at 11:00am with good representation from the Lions and the Club.
A big CQN turnout would be great!
KTF
Reggie on 16th May 2017 1:56 pm
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 16TH MAY 2017 1:01 PM
I think we both know that it is songs that specifically mention the IRA that many people take offence to. Take that out the repertoire and there would be no issue.
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Ok, list those that
youthe wider support find offensive. Any on the list I provided for you?KTF
Wits
got it down to a tee – putt it in the bunker with songs and poppy debates. This will go a fairway in knocking the rough edges off the blog. We should stick to the green issues of our club and putt everything else out of bounds and keep par for the course. No links allowed :))
DESSYBHOY on 16TH MAY 2017 1:09 PM
Off topic I just heard a journalist Martin Webster on Radio Scotland who is the golf writer at the Scotsman, saying that the wearing of football and rugby tops while spectating at golf should be banned, I guess seeing the Hoops on several spectators at Sawgrass at the weekend got right up his nose. Good.
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Bu tit’s okay for him to sit there on the radio in a basque, sussies and his wife’s knickers?
Typical Hun…
Sorry sir, you’ve paid $80 but that’s a Celtic shirt, so no you cant come in. I mean, honestly, the mind boggles.
Michael Barrat is a keen golfer…shake news. ;)
Gene on 16th May 2017 2:13 pm
Wits
got it down to a tee – putt it in the bunker with songs and poppy debates. This will go a fairway in knocking the rough edges off the blog. We should stick to the green issues of our club and putt everything else out of bounds and keep par for the course. No links allowed :))
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Careful or you’ll get my puns banned too. What wood I do if I wasn’t allowed to pitch in with my puns. It would drive me mad. Puns and CQN weretaylor made for each other.
Imatim on 16th May 2017 2:03 pm
My favourite version of that is Judy Collins on “Whales and Nightingales”. First heard it close to 50 years ago and still get goosebumps when I listen to it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5djVrVsI7W4
KTF
DAVIDOPOULOS on 16TH MAY 2017 1:56 PM
NatKnow
Living in Edinburgh, I can see where he’s coming from. There’s nothing makes a mans blood boil more than seeing a Heriots FP top when you are a Watsons man… What a cock.
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Enough to send one into Fettes of rage.
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I know. The guy needs a kick up the Erskines
NatKnow
You can bet your bottom Dollar he’ll get it.
Paul 67,good stories regarding all the signatures .shine box fc:-))) brilliant:-)))
DAVIDOPOULOS
Puns can be a bit of an albatross but we could nibblet away with the issues and iron out any hazards
School run beckons – off to pick up the grand daughter
Gene on 16th May 2017 2:20 pm
DAVIDOPOULOS
Puns can be a bit of an albatross but we could nibblet away with the issues and iron out any hazards
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As long as everyone has good grip of the facts and doesn’t try to put their own spin on them. Some people really cross the line when they lob in ‘alternative facts’.
so a season ticket holder at Ibrox (a well known fact by now) stands between Celtic and a historic treble and unbeaten run. A man who should’ve reduced Sevco to 10 men in the opening few minutes at Parkhead, and futher down to 9 men but let the wild challenges and dangerous lunges at our players carry on regardless.
A man who’s own performances were so generally bad this season he was given a few weekends off and sent down to the lower Leagues until he learned the rules of the game again. All of a sudden he gets te plumb end of season gig… If this is a last ditch attempt by the SFA to stop our treble then they’ll have to do a lot better than this.
If Celtic turn up (which I expect them to) the referee wont matter, just like Jock Stein said all those years ago
CLINK\O/ on 16TH MAY 2017 2:04 PM
Again?
Why?
———
Because BT turned the audio down on our support on at least 2 occasions on Friday night due to IRA chanting. It was the 1st time I had noticed it but a few others said they had saw it before on Sky as well. They’re treating us the same way they treat the huns anti catholic songs. I find that pretty humiliating. I haven’t noticed this consistent level of IRA chanting since maybe the mid to late 90s. At ibrox and Tyncecastle maybe, but not week in week out. Now it’s starting to creep back into Celtic Park as well. I fear the Celtic manager is going to be asked to address it as L̶e̶n̶n̶o̶n̶ Neil Francis had to. I fear getting Chelsea in the Champions League next year. Not because of their team. But anyone who was at the ‘friendly’ at Stamford Bridge (2006 I think) can attest to the poisonous atmosphere in the ground and around the stadium before and after the game.
Top Tips –
Always take two Celtic tops to the golf -you might get a hole in one..
South Of Tunis
:)))))))))))))))))))
Wits
:-)
I agree.ban golf,waste of walking, free welders helmets to put up with loud garish and unmatched clothing.baseball bats instead of clubs….
HH
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 16TH MAY 2017 2:17 PM
Imatim on 16th May 2017 2:03 pm
My favourite version of that is Judy Collins on “Whales and Nightingales”. First heard it close to 50 years ago and still get goosebumps when I listen to it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5djVrVsI7W4
KTF
………………….
Many thanks
A beautiful rendition to an emotive song
UTLR
Fore It’s A Grand Old Team To Play For.
I see our newly self appointed appeasement troll is continuing its claim that our heritage and culture of fighting oppression is humiliating
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 16TH MAY 2017 2:13 PM
Ok, list those that you the wider support find offensive. Any on the list I provided for you?
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You could start with the IRA will set you free which has made a notable comeback. The Boys of the Old Brigade never really went away. Add ons to the Willie Maley song never really went away. From your list Merry Ploughboy and the Broad Black Brimmer. There’s probably one or two more.
What songs apart from Get the Brits out now do you not like? Presumably you would add Go on home British Soldiers to your list?
Malorbhoy
Hope you enjoyed your cruise.just spent couple of hours in Belfast, but need to head to boat now.Will cross paths next week no doubt.hope your well and enjoying Celtic
HH
Jesus Reggie, I thinks its time to let it go now mate
Well done and thank you to Scott Brown
10 yearat the famous Glasgow Celtic.
till later all
wee mhan to pick up
To sport-loving Tims everywhere, some advice……please ensure your Celtic top is well ironed…….
While we’re on about Celtic songs we don’t like, I don’t like it when Celtic fans sing about gong “over Andover”.
I hate Hampshire…
Reggie still smarting about the British empire being handed its arse on a plate by the IRA then Provos 80 years later eh, must be great source of humiliation for you, get over it Reggie the Provos won
“When travelling abroad,
Tims should always pack a Tee shirt…..”
We should stop singing songs that reference the IRA.The good,civilised,caring,honest British people have said the IRA were big bad bogeymen and were just ISIS with different places of worship.And we should do what the Brits say because they invented civilisation.
If I was in Syria,Iraq,Afghanistan,Libya et al i’d probably want ‘the Brits out’ and would have absolutely no beef with the IRA.