Adam Smith, regarded by many as the father of modern economics, once observed that crop failures caused dearth but that it took “the violence of well-intentioned governments” to convert “dearth into famine.” Throughout the 19th century, governments, social-reformers and subsistence –dwellers learned the enormous human cost that resulted when the poor were left to starve.
Ireland suffered regular famine for more than a century before when what became known as THE Irish Famine first struck the country in 1845. The potato blight travelled across Europe before arriving in Britain and then Ireland, but in most places the links between those who were suffering and those who were in a position to alleviate that suffering were sufficiently established to ensure dearth did not become cataclysmic famine. Not so in Ireland.
The famine lasted until the 1850s, a million starved to death. Nothing would ever be the same again. The blight returned in 1879 but by then the Celtic population of Ireland, who suffered disproportionately in earlier famines, were politically better represented and had structures in place to ensure those in need were assisted. As a result, the 1879 blight caused great hunger but cost fewer lives.
Brother Walfrid lived through the famine of the 1840s. The community who 125 years ago today decided to form a football and athletic club in order to feed the starving either lived through the same hardship, or were the progeny of those who did. All were informed by the actions across the water in 1879. Squalor, disease and starvation afflicted Glasgow, as it did many of the newly industrialised cities of the world. Walfrid and his colleagues were not going to stand idly by and hope for the best.
Celtic Football Club was not the only institution established in those years to cater for the poor. Across Britain others campaigned for clean water, sanitation, better working conditions and occasionally health care, but Celtic were quite unlike any others.
Football had caught the public imagination and benefited from the increased availability of leisure time in the early 20th century. Brother Walfrid could just as easily established a musical troupe to raise funds. If so, there would be no Celtic. Those who met in St Mary’s hall had seen how successful other football clubs were becoming and decided to copy their ways. They watched how successful Hibernian, from Leith, had become and decided Glasgow’s east end would be equally fertile ground.
Hundreds of other football clubs were formed in the 19th century but no others had the unique story of Celtic. If you listen to modern brand consultants you will hear them talk about establishing a legend for your brand. Adorn it with positive, aspirational sentiment that people want to be a part of. Whenever I hear this kind of talk, or watch a business try to position itself along these lines, I think of how getting the foundations right on day one set our club out on this enormous journey.
No one was trying to establish a brand in 1887, in fact, those in charge of the club seemed immune to the concept for over a century, but all of the positive sentiment which is persistently associated with Celtic can be traced back to that meeting at St Mary’s, even down to what might have seemed like small detail. Unlike Hibernian, Celtic would not be a club for members of a church or parish, this would be a club who wanted all members of society to work with, support and play for. From conception, the message of social responsibility was evangelised.
The world is enormously different today than it was back then, and our community reflects those changes, but anyone who counts himself a Celtic fan is a product of the club’s history. You are here for a reason.
Tomorrow night’s opponents proclaim they are ‘more than just a football club’. In their case that is correct, but this is a truism for most football fans. Few will say, ‘Although I turn up every week, there’s nothing special about this place’. Those who understand how much more Celtic are than just a club, know that it is no longer the responsibility of Brother Walfrid, now it is yours and mine. We have the enormous responsibility to take care of that 125-year heritage and, if possible, enhance it. That’s the challenge every time you get your ticket out your pocket, you scribble on a blog, or you’re asked to assist someone in need.
What an enormous privilege.
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Gordon_J
Very many congratulations!
You are becoming a leg-end!
HH!!
CC
BT,
Thanks. It is probably a civic initiative, as the main financial beneficiaries will probably be the rate paying trades people of the area.
Will miss the game tonight, as I will be en route to traipsing my daughter up the aisle in Callander on Saturday.
The only ‘major’ clubs in Europe who do not appear mired in debt are the ones from Germany.
…and CELTIC of course!
HH!!
Have no idea what the weather is like in Glasgow, but over here it is a beautiful cloudless sunny day – 22 degrees!
It is fairly lifting my spirits!
HH!!
Docisneillennon
I agree with you on Celtic and as long as the scouting/ developing conveyor belt does not break down success should continue.
But there are risks.What if we lose half a team in the summer because we qualify for the stages of a competition the likes of Man City struggle to attain? As long as we are stuck in Scotland this will be a constant risk.
In terms of a breakaway I was thinking of one operating outside UEFA jurisdiction and I think that unlikely.
What is more likely is covered by TBB here
http://glasnostandapairofstrikers.wordpress.com/2012/10/12/box-seat-or-back-seat-scottish-footballs-staging-post/
but however it goes how do Celtic ensure that we retain that sense of identity that Paul describes in his blog, if we join the big boys.
Cheers blantyretim, same to you! Hope we both manage to get tickets… I have a couple of leads which i’m following up on, so if I happen to be outlandishly lucky and have more than one offer I shall let you know.
BT
I’m not trying to create mischief but….
don’t you think that, the club would have been better served by re-directing the
£10k of our money to the poppy-appeal and instead – entertainment and stuff for
hoops and Barca fans tonight ?
The reason I ask this is because, as far as I’m concerned….you could count the same amount of poppies on Celtic fans as you would – Scotland tops ?!?!?
Anyway – Whatever your answer – you’ll always be amongst the best ye know :o)
Hail Hail
stolen from the huddleboard..
Remember to hold your card up at the right moment tonight for the GB display!!!
What can go possibly wrong?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zexit7Tk1GA
TBB – Thanks for putting us right on the debts.
Surprised to hear that Real are in good knick as tehy have a very expensive squad.
Barca’s team is mostly home grown. They have Villa and Alves as big signings but nobody else I can recall. Mascherano was a free?
Man U were a profitable business until the Glazers started leaching money out of the club.
Some interesting info on Spanish football finances.
http://www.soccer-spain.com/ssdocs/moneypage.php
Looks like being a HarlemGlobetrotter league for a lot longer. Is the debt of other clubs the result of trying to compete with top boys Barca and Madrid?
Sounds like Scotland and England and many other countries in Europe.
Auldheid:
The bigger we get the more we can help. The more we help the more homage we pay to our founding fathers and their heartaches vocations; the more honour we garner by our deeds the more we acclaim our fathers and our ethos. The more we help the bigger we get… the bigger we get the more we can help.
If only we could break the chains that bind our spirits and hearts.
Whither the cash strapped scrofulous hillbillies the day?
Goooooooooood mornin’!
Off to Glasgow in a couple hours, cannot wait! Hoping the Bhoys can pull of a famous result tonight!
what’s everyones thoughts on team for tonight then?
Foster
Mathews Ambrose Wilson Mulgrew
Brown Wanyama Commons Ledley
Hooper (if fit) Watt
This is what i’m thinking…….
*Forster
No too happy with Broony ” A draw would be a fantastic result”
Feksake Mhan ,we are at home, a win by a big scoreline will do me.
…an Idea for a GB banner the nicht……………
“Don’t Do It Gordy Bhoy”……….
;)
HH.
TBB
From AlJazeera April 2012
‘According to recent government assessments, clubs in the top two divisions owe $988 million in unpaid taxes – a spike of $195 million over the past four years.
Real Madrid, have debts of $773 million, while Barcelona’s stand at $756 million and Atletico’s are $675 million.’
Going by you, there alot of lazy journalists in the world and the Spanish Governemnt obviously making it up as they go laong as well.
hoopybhoy
11:30 on 7 November, 2012
what’s everyones thoughts on team for tonight then?
___________________________________________
Foster
Matthews Ambrose Wilson Ledley
Brown Wanyama Kayal McGeouch
Miku Watt
Lennons Lions 1-0 Barcelona
(Miku)
Hail Hail
Gordon J- we are not worthy…
Hoopy
No Sammy?
This from The Scotsman is topical but could not help getting in a dig about Rangers being unfairly treated by Spanish standrads.
Then again a Rangers in Spain would have found the majority boot to be on the other foot, so to speak.
http://m.scotsman.com/scotland-on-sunday/sport/the-price-of-success-barcelona-are-a-joy-to-watch-but-a-cavalier-fiscal-policy-has-left-them-millions-in-debt-1-2613658
auldheid
Addressing your last point first.
Retaining the existing fan base will ensure the identity of Celtic will be maintained.
At least the essence of that identity.
It will also grow and change through time, as all living things do, if it stayed the same without change it would stagnate. For example the emphasis of the club and support, jointly and separately in engaging in charitable endeavours has grown in the last decade or so.
Is the Celtic support the same as it was in the 1890’s, 1930’s or the 1980’s? I don’t think they are, but the clubs essence is the same.
So I think the Club will retain its identity, regardless of where we play our football.
Hopefully the retention of a strong scouting/coaching team will maintain the conveyor belt.
There is a risk, but less of a risk than overspending on established talent.
There is always a risk, the losses depend on the stake, spreadbettingcsc.
I have scanned TBB article, to refresh having read it before, and the future will be interesting.
The smaller national associations combining may well give them greater collective power as a whole, but individually it will weaken their power in their own league. A bit of an oxymoron, but self interest from blazers across these associations may be the biggest stumbling block.
For clarity, a big fish in a small pond can hold sway, power and influence,put him in a bigger pond…..
I agree a breakaway outside the control of UEFA is unlikely, FIFA wouldn’t sanction it, international football, player registrations, player contracts, it would be chaos.
Well I’d be happy with that Kev… ;-)
Monteblanco
I thought you, like me, had retired?
Forster
Lustig Wilson Ambrose Mulgrew
Commons Brown Wanayama Ledley Sammy
Miku
Hoping to jebus that Sammy is fit, I’d actually play Miku ahead of Watt
Sky, Can’t believe it I actually forgot about Sammy. But if i was to take him into consideration I’m going to say, 2nd half impact sub! :-)
Good day amigos, hope you are all well. Not been on for a while now as I have been flat out at work. Also made an honest woman of Mrs G on the 19th October. Life is good and just wanted to pop in and say hello to you all and wish Neil and the bhoys all the best for tonight. HH
Sannabhoy
I went up to Kilchoan a few times delivering caravans, in my youth.
Stunning scenery and the weather always seemed to be good.
Ardnamurchan Point is the most westerley point of the mainland.
However, as I said recently , yer not wrong for long on this blog.
Always an education. (Copywrite TET)
And a pleasure.
hoopybhoy
11:39 on 7 November, 2012
Well I’d be happy with that Kev… ;-)
______________________________
I know that I can be a -twisted-devious-scoundrel at times :o)
But, I’ve always got hope in my heart.
Hail Hail
Paddy Gallagher
And here was me thinking your good lady had you under the thumb already!
Take care and God bless my friend!
Gordon_J
If that mob are going after you in the virtual world they are no different from the sleekits and the snydes who seek to infect this Dear Green Place – Paul’s played a blinder and no doubt you are too.
Keep at it mate.
HH.
Off oot
till later
take care.
God Bless
Hail hail
Paddy G
Mr Green: you continue to insist that Sevco Rangers are the same club as Rangers IL and that you are debt free.
Rangers, Sevco, whatever reincarnation they may be, will NEVER be debt free until they have paid off every cent to creditors AND paid back EVERY penny they cheated out of every club in Scotland and many throughout Europe.
Mr Murray must also hand back his Knighthood.
Every cheating official must also resign.
Then we can apply appropriate punishments.
Only then can you even begin to consider any notions of having freed your club from debt.
You may consider the history of RFCil precious to your prospects of surviving as a new club but it is forever tied to the debts, both financial and moral, of RFCil.
Take you pick:
1. Wholly new club, completely unconnected to old club, debt free.
2. Pheonixed club, complete with long history of cheating and massive unpaid debts.
One obvious question no-one seems to have asked as yet:
How do you sleep at night?
ASoD
That’s not lazy journalism. It’s downright indolence.
I am surprised you cite it as credible.
TBB
Paddy G
Congratulations.
Kev how come you cant be too busy to post?
I wishI felt more confident about tonights game I know its only 11 against 11 but its the quality of there 11.I am just going to enjoy it if I can as a spectical. The large crowd the singing the banners the greatest club team in the world imo and the hoops and feel priviledged that we are in the same group as them.H.H.