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
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Mcinnes saying – look it’s no ma joab to beat Celtic – it’s up to you pedro
EMBRAMIKE SUPPORTING RES 12 4:27 PM
Agree,
No of course they wouldn’t but this is only wee tiny Scotland although we’ve even had to rely on Belgian etc referees before when the SFA cabal was getting it tough up here in unhappier times.
We can’t pick the referee and even if we could it would likely only be a lesser of two mibbery’s.
The fact that we’re better and favourites to win doesn’t take away the relevance of who the SFA appoint, especially not before the match has unfolded.
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 16TH MAY 2017 5:04 PM
Big Moussa is back in light training!
KTF
………………
Why was he training in the DARK previously…its an Health and Safety outrage !…What’s the Heid Office phone number I want to complain ?
Back in the good old days, whenever our Electricity meter ran out and all the lights went off…my Granda used to ask me ” Jimmy…where was Moses when the lights went oot” ?
Me..” I dunno granda..where was he” ?
Granda..” In the Dark” !
Wonderful…Magical..HH
IF Celtic Jerseys were to banned from Golf…Is it okay to wear Celtic Bunnets…shorts….socks…shinpads…Celtic Pyjamas…Celtic bathrobes ?
Especially all at once..just to make yer point ?
haha
HH
Almore
You around ?
BIG JIMMY
Where was moses when the lights went out
he was up Sauchiehall Street smoking a dout
the dout was wee and so was he
where was Moses when the light went
out
KTF
JNP … still not seeing any reason to take umbrage …. sevco talking about Aberdeen…. he responds trying to deflect/keep pressure off his team … and, as I said before, he is right …. given the respective fan bases, Sevco should be miles ahead of the dons, and fighting us …
if anything, he is highlighting how badly the zombies have done in comparison to us ….
there is lots said that we can take offence at…. for me, that was not one of them …
but, as always, a pleasure chatting pal.
Good evening, friends
Celtic have the ability and skill to take ANY Ref right oot the equation….however surely that is NOT the point ?
Celtic fc AND THE SUPPORT should NOT be going into ANY game worried about Cheating by any match official…sadly it is what it is…and that’s the feckin disgrace !
Jeremy Corbyn spoke very well today again at the Labour Manifesto LAUNCH, however in relation to people earning over £80,000 being subjected to pay a bit more in income tax…I feel that Labour have missed a trick here, because I think this proposal is wrong, as I don’t know many that earn that kind of money…maybe it should be extra income tax for those earning £40,000 or more…..income that I never came close to earning despite my undoubted feckin talents !
haha
HH
Twists
I can send you Almores number if you like
WITS
Thanks bud. ( and his name please:-)
WITS
My btinternet e mail please
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 16TH MAY 2017 5:58 PM
I forgot that one ! haha.
My old Granda used to always Proclaim…….” I’ve seen a Garden Fence………i’ve seen a Window BOX………….but I’ve never seen an Orange Walk ” !
Wonderful..Magical RIP Bobby.
HH
Tom Boyd does the hospitality in the number number 7 in all the times I go he is yet to predict a correct score, I gave up years ago backing his predictions.. ;)
Saying that a nicer bloke you could not meet and so proud he was lucky enough to play/ captain the hoops.
I drop programmes off at the Cqn corner and hand them out to kids when I’m lucky enough to get an invite. He has always signed them with a big smile knowing I take them down for the kids.
A true gentleman.
Twists & T: I’m around for an hour so it maybe later tonight or tomorrow before I get back to you
Almore
The tickets yours mate. My son will meet you at the ground. I’ll get his details to you. Stars is sending me your number. I’ll be in touch.
Apologies for the delay. My eldest son is on holiday and took a while to check his phone messages.
Almore
North Stand 408 section
M.I.T.
A pleasure too.
It would be a very boring blog if we all agreed.
Hail Hail.
The mib can derail our treble. Weve lost finals and semifinals in recent years due blatent “honest mistakes”. Weve been cheated out of 4 points in the league . The last 2 draws would have beens wins if we hadnt been mibbed . Cant remember about the Caley draw.
Twists: Brilliant. I’ll be heading over to stadium from Coias -pity there isn’t a fan’s café- so can meet up anywhere along the way or at CQN corner.
Any spares for the Thistle game on Thursday. I’m looking for a couple.
KTF
Almore
I’ll get his number to you. He’ll no doubt meet you at Jinky statue.
Or at superstore or thereabouts
Tobago Street on 16th May 2017 3:56 pm
What about the ubiquitous ‘NY’ yankees cap?
T
================================
Exactly. Ban that Yankees guff.
NY Mets – fine. Boston – should be de rigueur.
Oh Wits
Whatsapp will do!!
Are the Huns still flying Snake Mountain flags at half mast in remembrance of Ian Brady?
OneoftheirownLoyal.
BurninhellCSC
Glaser family paying themselves 18.3 million dividend this year following 15 million last year. Man Utd still 366.3 million in debt, which has slightly increased this year. The debt is the Glazers original borrowings plus,bank charges and interest.
I don’t care about Man U, but what the Glazers are doing fascinates me, borrow 525 million, then put it on the balance sheet, then take a dividend, then own an asset worth more than you borrowed, without paying a penny.
Minty should have taken advice from the Glazers.
Hail Hail
floating restaurant in manchester
https://lovinmanchester.com/news/a-floating-restaurant-is-planned-for-this-much-loved-manchester-building
BIG JIMMY on 16TH MAY 2017 5:23 PM
With respect I was asked to let it go.
Out of courtesy
1. No, if it doesn’t contain the word IRA I generally don’t have an issue, with a few exceptions I suppose Get the Brits out etc. People know what songs the club don’t want, you don’t need me to provide a list.
2. That’s not what I said. I said one of our previous managers had to come out and condemn IRA chants. I don’t want our current manager put in that position. If he is, anything other than unequivocally condemning them would make him virtually unemployable in England, certainly as their national coach.
3. Please don’t be ridiculous.
========
A STOR MHA CHROI on 16TH MAY 2017 3:46 PM
Since I’m here. I would have to research the Dresden bombing but I don’t know why you would single it out. Genocide in Kenya / India, carving up of the Middle East etc etc etc. The list of British atrocities is endless.
I’ll leave you all to it
WITS,
How very noble and magnanimous of you, on both occasions the goals of the Irish rebels were achieved, no ?
An independent state and a guarantee that the rule of the ballot box will decide the fate of the North of Eire not Westminster.
As for losses on both sides, that was never raised or questioned however I at least do not consider it a humiliating embarrassment in any context. I may be an issue for you, Reggie has made it clear it is for him and his version of the club, I don’t and never will and the day his opinion becomes the majority will be the day the club killed its heritage and culture, more than a football club is already all but dead on its feet.
Just my opinion.
Good Evening.
Here is something new. This one is about the Pedro-McInnes ‘spat’…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/pedros-aberdeen-wish-list/
It may
I read that article a couple of times, the IRA was not mentioned once in the whole article, there were other potentially offensive chants that day like orange iligitimates and proddy blah blah blah, I expect these were the chants/songs Lenny referred to.
BAMBOO on 16TH MAY 2017 6:28 PM
I think we could and should still have won the semi final v ICT but I felt that the players let the cheating officials get to them.
IMO if a similar thing happened in the final ,Brendans team would react differently.
BAMBOO
Madden prevented the Sevco season whitewash and he’s more than capable of more mibbery.
Big Jimmy,
Tax rises to 40% at anything above 37,500, I expect Corbin wants to make another increase say at 80,000 it rises to or above 50%.
Madden the ref eh? Hope Celtic can return those 5000 treble winners t-shirts….
Almore,
We have never conversed before – but kind of randomly, I was thinking about your café the other day given that I will be making a rare trip to CP this weekend.
If Celtic get the go ahead to develop the area around the ground, I would like to see them build a café similar to the “Social Bite” initiative in Glasgow and Edinburgh – whereby the café becomes somewhere that those a wee bit down on their luck could get a cup of tea, a sandwich and a bit of social interaction of an evening.
In fact, it occurred to me that although fitba supporters generally get a bad press, I reckon that it could almost become a non-profit franchise that supporters of other clubs would like to ‘brand’ in their own clubs image.
If Peter Lawwell ever has a wee read at these pages – maybe something worth considering?