After I mentioned the Overseas Season Ticket holders last week, Auldheid (an overseas supporter) pulled some thoughts together on what his relationship with our club is all about. Here it is, well worth kicking back for five minutes and reading:
“The phrase “BeCeltic” intrigued me somewhat as we all have different ideas of what that might mean. For me there is something about being a Celtic supporter that goes way beyond football. Every Celtic supporter everywhere feels it to some degree or other and every Celtic supporter demonstrates it to some degree or other according to their circumstances and their life experience.
You meet a stranger in a pub and if he is a fellow Tim he is no longer a stranger. If he is a fellow CQNer he was already your pal even though you had never met before. This feeling of belonging to something greater than self… it ranges from a distant almost spiritual connection to the club and what it stands for, to attendance with fellow supporters at every game the team plays, home and away.
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to BeCeltic (as I saw it) last season when I signed up for an Overseas Season Ticket. You can read more about the genesis (and CQN’s part in it) here on Celtic Underground.
The concept on which the OST is based for me anyway reflects the Celtic ethos which manifests itself in the way we support not only the team but each other both in the official charitable work carried out by the Celtic Foundation and as everyday supporters doing mad stuff like a huddle on top of Ben Nevis for heavens sake!!! In support of our own deserving causes, like the Kano Foundation, which is but just one great example of the caring heart of the support.
The impact such work can have on people’s lives can never be fully appreciated until you meet someone, as I did whilst sitting outside a pub in Spain, overwhelmed by the difference it made to their wellbeing.
Buying an Overseas Season Ticket was almost an act of faith in that I did not know if I had internet connectivity at my Spanish destination to watch Celtic TV. Initially I did not, but “God works” etc and a charitable neighbour gave me WiFi access that enabled me to watch ALL games home and away on TV, via connecting HDMI cable to the laptop, from the comfort of my flat overlooking the beach. (Hence the term life is a beach).
Even better, I had the option of watching games not televised by Sky or ESPN in local bars via WiFi on my mobile phone if the wife dragged me out for lunch in game time. (Bad stuff happens to good guys too you know).
Not all performances were great but both 4-3 victories over Aberdeen and Dundee Utd in the Scottish Cup were truly memorable. Luckily I returned home in time to attend the title winning game v ICT using one of my 4 OST match day tickets, which this season has become FIVE along with a £50 price reduction.
I was also very pleased to get a letter from the Celtic Foundation saying that my seat had been used in my absence by local organisations and as a Calton man I was delighted to see folk from organisations in my old stomping ground amongst the beneficiaries.
Personally I see last season’s OST initiative as simply another indication, along with the recent appointment of a Supporter Liaison and Service Officer, that progress is being made in an ongoing process of bringing the Celtic support even closer together using the wonderful communication tools we now have. I find that something to be excited about as a force for spreading good in a world where ethics (which is derived from ethos) seem to have been forgotten.
But lofty thoughts apart J : At a very practical level the OST is a very good value for money way, especially at £250 for a Season Ticket with the ability to view all games on Celtic TV and attend up to five games when at home, given due notice, of not only being a Celtic supporter but of sharing the load of supporting Celtic across the full spectrum of the support wherever we are. From the Auldheids with grey or no hair to the younger gentlemen with too much and the Celtic ladies of all ages whom I find are even more passionate in their support (if you met my sister you would know what I mean).
So I have already renewed and if you are fortunate enough to be able to afford as well as able to make full or partial use of an OST, I would encourage you to do so via BeCeltic overseas season ticket.”
With fans like Auldheid, we’re in good hands. Trying hard to insist I’m not worried about preseason games……
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djbee
Saw same pic earlier….
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s an Orangeman.
Made me laugh
CowieBhoy, LennyBhoy, it’s always good to see players who have always been fans play for the club.
It is also great to see players come in to the club knowing nothing, or even with a history of supporting another club and become Tims as they spend time at the club.
A couple of the most obvious examples, Henrik and Gordon Strachan.
Do you really need us to list all the Celtic fans that have left us?
No decent footballer would stay with us if they think they can further their career elsewhere.
Thompson has signed for Hibernian FC.
Doc,
I think one the things our team needs urgently is an injection of both Pace and Mobility, both the mentions Bhoys have this, although too late for one of them
Hail Hail
The_huddle,
Sorry mate, but it is not all about furthering careers elsewhere, I’ll refer you back to my last post, Henke may be a rarity, but he stayed with Celtic to further his career when he could have moved to Man U, or many other teams.
fanadpatriot
Hope he does well for them. He didn’t ever seem to recover from that tackle when we were playing them and he should’ve been sent off. He REALLY must have been injured.
CowieBhoy, midfield mobility is something we need, agreed.
Forward mobility I mean.
Another thing, Celtics new sponsor, a lovely drink on a warm summers evening, responsibly drunk.
Cowiebhoy,
Even before the EPL was awash with SKY’s silly money, it still attracted plenty of great Celts over the years, like Davie Hay. Youngsters DON’T get a good football education in Scotland anywhere and very very few of them who could succeed in the EPL will even give us a second thought, even if they reputedly support us. Russell has gone to Derby, don’t forget. And no matter how highly we regard Wanyama, no really big team down there were prepared to gamble on him. (Of course, in a year or two, after playing in the EPL, they’ll be vying for him.)
The likes of Paul McStay, who are class and prepared to play for us, are a rarity. The sooner we are out of the SPL the better.
the huddle
Not sure why you stated that but watching VW in SPL matches last season he was strolling through them he needed to go to a league where his abilities would be stretched on a regular basis. Southampton is a good move because they seem to have a very good manager who I hope will be able to play VW to his strengths and develop him overall.
Unfortunately Celtic in the SPL could not do that.
ParkheadcumSalford, agreed, out of this league, at the minute, anywhere will do.
Not just because of the lack of competition, but also because of the corrupt governing body.
You can’t pull the Henke card :o) who still left and furthered his career total one off.
Only McStay resisted, a true legend, and yet I wish he’d left. If ever a player deserved to play at the highest level it was him.
parkheadcumsalford
Not disputing your comment.
Seen a few comments recently that England isn’t a good education for players either. Hence their awful showing at the u21’s and u20’s recently.
Andy Murray was held up as an example that at 12 years old he was sent away to a different country to train. I’m not entirely sure how this would work football wise as I think there’s a rule that teams (in England at least) can’t sign a player under 16 from more than a 100 mile radius.
parkheadcumsalford
21:56 on 13 July, 2013
Paul McStay, a real Celtic Legend, agreed
I,m sure many Celtic supporting players would rather play for us than some lower league EPL, or championship teams, and do recognise many would take the opportunity to move for money, would still like us to be considering some of the up and coming home grown talent, before projects ( and referring to anyone we have signed, now or in past )
Hail Hail
Doc is Neil Lennon and Cowiebhoy:
On Russell he was on our radar but for whatever reason we did notvsign him.
Yes I agree it is good that Celtic minded people get to live the dream, the most humbling and deserving n my lifetime was Tommu Burns, cutvhim and I am sure he would bleed green. However, yhere have been those that were lije minded that did not deserve to pull on the Hoops both in their lack of ability and true love of the Ckub. You will forgive me for not naming names not my style to slate ex-players.
Therefore we also need other quality Players that were not necessarily brought up in the Celtic Family but could come to love us and learn what they had been missing, Converts if you like.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Paul67 / Auldheid
Ive posted previously that this is a no brainer. Any Celtic fan abroad using this site, who CAN pay, should pay.
No need to ask for “sausages”. Your money goes to Celtic and benefits less well off.
I have seen at first hand the joy of Celtic fans attending CP for the first time in years. Their non attendance is not due to laziness or big game culture or pints with mates whilst publicans reap the rewards, but rather financial restrictions.
The club enable up to 75 school children to attend EVERY home game via The Celtic Learning Centre situated in Lisbon Lions Stand.
The Kano Foundation enables a similar amount for each home game.
However many families cannot attend together. The Overseas Season Ticket enables this.
IF you can afford it, do it!!
IF you can afford it and don’t do it………..Are you a Hun?
The_huddle, yes I can, just did;-) no cards that
I’ll predict another, Joe Ledley, a man who could go and play in the EPL, I don’t think he will leave anytime soon.
No cards that can not be played!
Hoops, meant to say – Not referring to any current or past
Hail Hail
I think we all know and accept our situation about bringing in young guys and when they do well selling them on. The problem is when it’s finally time for them to go it leaves us on a real downer. Victor leaving was a blow and when Gary Hooper goes, as it appears he will, it will be another sickener.
New players coming in will cheer us up though – until it’s time to sell them too! Life’s a bitch, aint it?
LennyBhoy, couldn’t agree more.
Sorry for typos, using my phone
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
LennyBhoy, I thought you were drunk!:-)
Doc is Neil Lennon:
I like you kive the dream but can you imagine either of us playing for the Hoops! Now managing them that is different…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
I thought we were all drunk
Doc,
JL’s dad sits in the seat next to one of my mates, who has seats in exec section.
They get Celtic big time, according to his dad, Joe is settled and loves it
Hail Hail
Doc is Neil Lennon:
Just finished a bottle of White Grenache…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Real money for ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Real players……………..
CowieBhoy, I just get the vibe from Joe, he is happy, his family is happy and he wants to stay.
A Tim.
LennyBhoy, a nice drop, Apples from Clonmel for me tonight.
the_huddle, on the way to being!
If Hoops is for the off
Anyone heard anymore from the initial story of a possible loan deal for Ibrahim Toure of Monaco .
I think that bhoy would score for fun at the TIC .
Don’t know where the link to us came from but would be happy to see him in the hoops
HH
Hooper is going into the final year of his deal ,if he is not willing to sign a new contract then now is the time to sell.
the_huddle
I certainly am. There’s an accordion playing along to what I think is Cher here.
Could be Madonna actually.
fergus slayed the blues
22:21 on 13 July, 2013
no more loan deals for strikers, it never works
Its all kicked off at the Antiques Roadshow! https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/12050_631203846898638_288233770_n.jpg
as_i_thought 21:33
Saved that post, thanks. Look forward to it,.
EN
Kayal33
Although it was a bad season Robbie Keane scored a far few. I think it depends on quality rather than the type of deal. I’d be happy having a great player for a year rather that a average player for 3.
I’m listening to The Tallest Man on Earth, it’s ok but not a patch on Bon Iver
http://youtu.be/x5Swa9CYgRk
http://youtu.be/40aqF7OvQfs