A very personal Celtic

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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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  1. Tony Watt isn’t he a product of the Airdrie youth team. I might be wrong but I think Celtic bought him. Anywho IMO neither he or McGeogh will make it as 1st team regulars, not under Lenny at least. The periphery of the 1st team squad and the occasional seat on bench is the best they can hope for if they stay. Not sure what others see in them to claim, one at least, is as good as PMcS!! Both decent enough young players but a distance away from what we should expect to see in a Celtic shirt.

     

    Just an opinion mind

  2. Watching the naked sectarianism and violence in Ulster in the last couple of days,it is really astonishing that there have been only two arrests.40 police injured,and untold damage to property.We had more people arrested at Dundee for being drunk and singing at a football match.

  3. Margaret McGill on

    whatever happened to

     

     

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22231397

     

     

    all the investigations

     

    all the citations

     

    all the….

     

    aberrations, accusations, adaptations, admirations, affirmations, allegations, allocations, alterations, altercations, amputations, animations, annotations, appalachians, appellations, applications, arbitrations, aspirations, aviation’s, booster stations, calculations, cancellations, celebrations, circulations, combinations, compensations, compilations, complications, computations, concentrations, condemnations, confirmations, confrontations, congregations, congregation’s, conjugations, connotations, consecrations, consolations, constellations, constellation’s, consultations, conversations, corporations, corporation’s, corporations’, correlations, declarations, decorations, degradations, delegations, delegation’s, demarcations, demonstrations, deportations, depredations, deprivations, desecrations, designations, destinations, detonations, deviations, dislocations, duplications, educations, education’s, elevations, emanations, emigrations, estimations, excavations, exclamations, exhortations, expectations, expirations, explanations, explorations, exploration’s, fabrications, federations, federation’s, fluctuations, formulations, generations, generation’s, graduations, hesitations, illustrations, imitations, implications, incarnations, inclinations, indications, infestations, informations, information’s, innovations, inspirations, installations, integrations, intimations, intonations, inundations, invitations, irritations, lacerations, law of nations, legislation’s, limitations, liquidations, litigations, machinations, malformations, medications, meditations, ministrations, miscreations, motivations, mutilations, nominations, obligations, observations, occupations, operations, operation’s, operations’, orchestrations, oscillations, ovulations, palpitations, perforations, permutations, perturbations, populations, preparations, presentations, proclamations, protestations, provocations, publications, publication’s, publications’, radiation’s, realizations, recitations, registrations, regulations, relay stations, relocations, reparations, reputations, reservations, resignations, restorations, revelations, revocations, ruminations, separations, simulations, situations, situation’s, speculations, stipulations, strangulations, subluxations, syndications, tabulations, terminations, transformations, transportation’s, tribulations, ulcerations, vaccinations, valuations, variations, violations, visitations

     

     

     

     

    ….just wondering. Ken?

  4. Haw,Maggie…..

     

     

    Hiv Ye Joined Up Wi’ The Local Chapter Of The New Black Panthers Yet..

     

     

    Tae Beat Up All Them Damned Whiteys..

     

     

     

     

    When (White!?) Hispanic, Zimmerman..

     

     

    Only Gets 30 Years For The Lesser Charge Of Manslaughter…..

     

     

    After Being Assaulted By A Drug-Addled Thug….

     

     

     

    That The Manchurian Candidate Claims ‘As A Son’…..

     

     

    http://frontpagemag.com/2013/matthew-vadum/government-approved-race-riots/

     

     

    ~~~~

     

     

    Nigel Farage….Is Allegedly HUNG LIKE A DONKEY…..

     

     

    And In His Latest Press Release, He Poses The Question :-

     

     

     

    “Where’s Maggie McGill Been All My Life..?”

  5. Margaret McGill, thats my point , when celtic play they give celtic priority, if at other times EPL games are on then fine show them. Irish bars are successful abroad and bars are cash businesses , so with merchandising i can see a good return coming back into financing the club. Without EPL tv money we need to be smarter than them and with our diaspora from Scotland & Ireland in particular i could see this working.

  6. Margaret McGill

     

     

    15:13 on 13 July, 2013

     

    Most Irish bars I have been in show EPL games when Celtic are playing.

     

    ====

     

    That’s because most Irish bars are about as Irish as the Queen of England’s tits. A patroynimic Irish name over the door a couple of old whiskey signs a couple of pictures of James Joyce and Oscar Wilde and someone singing ‘me Donegal mammy’ on the piped musak does not make it Irish.

     

     

    DonaldgaydogoftheglenCSC

  7. Oglach.

     

     

    Watty was bought from Airdrie from under the noses of the Zombies.

     

     

    Yes The Maestro is the standard.

     

     

    Not even the multi millionaire that us McGeady was close to him.

     

     

    TT

  8. Margaret McGill on

    The Singing Dyslexic Demands The Resignation Of Campbell Ogilvie

     

     

    15:22 on 13 July, 2013

     

     

    It was “SUNG LIKE A DONKEY””

  9. O.G.Rafferty on

    Just in and heard the bad news about Nigel Dodds and his sash being knocked unconscious.

     

    Any word about the condition of the brick?

  10. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    DJBEE

     

     

    My Dad was the opposite-wi ten minutes to go he was kicking and pulling!

     

     

    His wonderful luxurious head of black hair never recovered!

     

     

    Congratulations to all concerned but particularly to your new grandchild.

  11. Margaret McGill on

    What is the Stars

     

     

    15:36 on 13 July, 2013

     

    You are assuming that they are Irish bars. “Irish bars” are a misnomer for the myriad of cheap shit holes across Europe that pretend to sell that Irishness rubbish. Problem is Tims keep falling for it…and yes you’re right because most Irish do support EPL teams and consider Celtic a Cliftonville outpost what Irishman in their right minds wants to watch that garbage. :)

  12. 16 roads - Neil Lennon walks on water. on

    Secured a ticket there for The Happy Mondays & The

     

    Charlatans playing @ the Falls Park in August.It only cost £20.

     

    I have seen the Mondays before in Glasgow,but i cant remember much about it.Think it was in a place called Braehead arena or Braefield arena? The Selector were playing in one of the tents outside as well,i can sort of remember Pauline Black singing.There was also a fair with one of those magic flying carpet rides.My foolish friends all made a drunken dash to get on the magic carpet,i had the sense not to get on the thing and looked at them and laughed.One pal stood up on the magic carpet and waved,it swung back and hit him,breaking four of his ribs lol.

  13. What is the Stars on

    Margaret

     

     

    I am assuming nothing

     

     

    Other than that I havent really got a clue what you are on about

     

    “Celtic a Cliftonville outpost” is a new one on me

  14. What is the Stars

     

     

    15:36 on 13 July, 2013

     

     

    Why should Irish bars show Celtic games ahead of EPL games

     

    ===

     

    Absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t. I was simply offering an opinion that most themed pubs know as Irish pubs aren’t really Irish. However if they were ‘Irish’ given oft publicised link between Ireland and Celtic FC one would suppose that a ‘real’ Irish bar may be more pre-disposed to showing Celtic games, in the lounge at least! I guess at the end of the day it is more likely to come down to what the regulars wanted to watch.

  15. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    Did we lose the league on the last day of the season because Neil Lennon,Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond ran on to the pitch to put three past big Fraser,allowing the huns to win the league?

     

     

    FFS,friendlies,short pre-season,and most of the first team missing.

     

     

    Now,that is not ideal.

     

     

    But it’s hardly a marker for our season.

  16. What is the Stars on

    Oglach

     

     

    Yes thats the key “what the regulars want to watch”

     

     

    Whether we like it or not The EPL is a more attractive product than the SPL

     

    Celtic in big european games will obviously attract a lot of interest

     

    but Celtic -V- Kilmarnock/Ross Co/Inverness ??

     

    Dont think so

  17. cliftonville celt from belfast on

    Afternoon all from a lovely warm and sunny Crumlin County Antrim were cliftonville have went in at half time 5-1 up in their final preparation game before playing us. Seem to have full team out and are playing at a high tempo keeping the ball with mostly shirt passes and crosses into box from both wings. Think we are going to need Scott brown on Wednesday !

  18. Margaret McGill on

    I wonder if the Irish bars in Ireland will show the Cliftonville games?

     

    I guess it all depends on what the regulars want to watch.

  19. What is the Stars on

    Margaret

     

     

    Correct this time

     

    Bars in Ireland will show what the regulars want to watch

     

    probably the racing,there certainly wont be a huge demand to see the Cliftonville Celtic game

  20. masty is neil lennon on

    cliftonville celt from belfast

     

     

     

    any sign of spares for wed mo chara?

  21. Margaret McGill on

    What is the Stars

     

     

    16:02 on 13 July, 2013

     

     

    what do you mean “This time” ? and I know.

  22. cliftonville celt from belfast

     

     

    The Reds currently have a striker that used to ply his trade in the Bundesliga is that correct? Please tell me they do not have any others that have played in Germany. Seems we have a wee bit of a Teutonic allergy at present.

  23. 16 roads - Neil Lennon walks on water. on

    Magill – If it is a proper Irish pub,then the won’t be showing Cliftonville,Celtic or the EPL.Horse racing always comes first my learned friend.

  24. masty is neil lennon on

    oglach

     

     

     

    liam boyce had a trial in Germany don’t think much came of it…….I was at the cup final against the glens and he was very poor although he did dislocate a shoulder early on..

  25. Wonder if the rioters in Belfast will get the same sentences that those in London got! Lizzy must be proud to see them pelt her peelers on her highway!!!

  26. as_i_thought on

    Manchester United lose first game in charge under Moyes against a league of THAILAND select. MUQN must be in melt down.

     

     

    #MoyesOut

  27. What is the Stars on

    Margaret

     

     

    “this time”

     

     

    Sorry havent really got the time or energy to explain

     

     

    Its a fairly recognisable phase used regularly by English language speakers

  28. masty is neil lennon on

    16 roads – Neil Lennon walks on water

     

     

     

    cup final week-end I was in the felons, settled down to watch the ross county game and wallop the telly goes over and the bookie sets up in the pool room, the bar man says I had more chance of wathing oranjies walking down the falls than getting it back over…(his words)

  29. Don’t really get the Stokes bashing.

     

     

    For me, he puts in more of a shift than Hooper and is actually more talented with the ball. Not as good a goalscorer but technique-wise I’d say he’s better.

     

     

    Maybe the stats would prove me wrong, I just think he gets involved in play more.

  30. masty is neil lennon on

    from twitter

     

     

     

    Is Cher in coatbridge today? Gypsies,tramps and thieves everywhere

  31. kikinthenakas

     

    15:03 on

     

    13 July, 2013

     

     

    The problem as matters stand is that UK residents fall under the 3 to 5 pm blackout that covers the UK, but I really do think the reasons behind this need to be explored and challenged.

     

     

    I believe it came in at the bequest of Burnly Charirman Bob Lord(?) so how long ago was that? I think the English leagues have a bloody cheek dictating to Scottish clubs when games cannot be broadcast given how English football has free rein to plunder the Scottish game at will.

     

     

    The other point of course is how many Celtic games start between 3 and 5 on a Saturday?

     

     

    What I think might be a bigger deterrent to Celtic to bringing the rest of the UK outside Scotland into the same category as the overseas residents is the possible impact on SB income, but my thinking is most folk would look at the savings on wear and tear and cost of travelling worth a much higher premium than the OST or even SB price.I was talking to a couple of supporters after the ICT game last seasn who said they would be prepared to pay a good premium (although both could afford it).

     

     

    Much would depend on the numbers based in the rest of the UK who are SB holders. When you get down to it logically why not have one price to watch a game whatever the medium or live?

     

     

     

    Paulosboots

     

     

    I have seen the Celtic bars idea before and making those owners with a true affiliation with Celtic into Club ambassors is perhaps a way in. They have to make sure they do not lose other customers as a result though. My pal with a bar in La Carihuela has had folk come in, notice the odd Celtic insignia and leave but horizons do have to be extended.

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