I always cringe when a prime minster meets the US President and that hoary old phrase, “the special relationship” is wheeled out. It is a relationship without definition, no more or less unique than any other international relationship. I doubt many US citizens are familiar with the term, to me, it feels that the UK is reaching to glow in the reflection of another’s elevated status.
You can therefore imagine my delight when I saw Ibrox livery on Sunday. “Old Firm”, “This is the Old Firm”. All that was missing was the implied, “Celtic complete us”.
Celtic fans campaign to stop using this term predates Oldco’s liquidation by many years. As a guide, I never used it here (since 2004) nor did most others. We knew then the association hurt the Celtic brand and that we needed to put as much clear blue water between us and them. Celtic got onboard in 2012, when Oldco ceased, and Newco applied to join the SFA (as Sevco Scotland).
They were not alone, early match reports featured “The Rangers”, as news outlets struggled to square what happened with what others want to read.
What does it matter to me? Not much. If it was the other way around, I would absolutely claim Newco Celtic were in fact, just Celtic. There is no point pretending otherwise (although I would be wrong). If it was Celtic that liquidated in 2012, Rangers fans would never let the liquidation fact drop. You would hear little else from them, it is the ultimate rivalry banter, why should they ignore it?
If it was Celtic that liquated in 2012, it would not matter to me what Rangers or their fans said about my club. That relationship is a personal thing. The facts are known, we are all free to interpret as we see fit, why should my world view be determined by how others regard what is now an historical event?
In prominently displaying the “Old Firm” livery, Newco were responding to 10 years of trolling by Celtic fans, handing them a victory they could scarcely believe when they saw it. All the club managed to achieve is get everyone talking about why Celtic fans want no part of this phrase. None of those reasons reflect well on the interests of Newco.
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April showers bring……. a wet dog.
Happy Wednesday eve all!
In there
Podium :)
Well done to the Bhoys!!
Champs in waiting!!!
Abbott, abbott….
If CFC ‘trademarked’ (or own) this phrase when its used in event marketing signage etc, does that mean our Execs will take THEMS to task for using it without permission… [or did they seek permission?]
[Tumbleweed whooshes by…]
…naw, didn’t think so.
That may very well be the case among Celtic fans, but, around the globe, most people think the “Old Firm” is alive and kicking. Although the club does state that it isn’t half of anything, neither that soundbite nor any of the others they release are shouted from the high heavens or given precedence in any of their commercial slogans or websites, it is just distributed to sites like this, for Celtic supporters to see. Heaven forbid those soundbites should get out into the real world! por cierto
Just to put the proverbial ‘cat among the pigeons’, Bill Leckie’s latest offering is worth a read too, as many of his previous. He & English are not anyone’s sycophants, and unless you are of the opinion that ‘we’ get everything right, everytime, are always worth a read. I can take justified praise & criticism on any matter from a serious journalist – there are precious few in Scotland; English & Leckie are within that few.
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So let’s have a look at how a tabloid newspaper, two television stations, a radio show and a prominent pundit reported or reflected on the disgraceful events on Sunday at Ibrox.
Have a read at this if you have the stomach for it…
🖊 Bill Leckie: Will it take another RIOT like in 1980 to get action from authorities on Old Firm louts?https://t.co/naqiwaW6X4
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) April 4, 2022
“Old Firm louts?”..not Rangers louts, as Bill Leckie skilfully drags Celtic into this shameful behaviour from the home support in all four stands of Ibrox on Sunday.
What part did Celtic fans play in throwing broken glass onto the pitch?
Did Celtic fans have anything to do with the Celtic physio hit on the back of his head with a bottle as he made his way up the tunnel on Sunday?
Maybe the Celtic fans decided to join in as the home support sang their banned song about being Up to their knees in our blood, a song that has been deemed to be racist?
Did Celtic fans throw coins at and bottles at Jota as he was taking a cornet kick with only the home support over in that particular corner of the ground?
And when the Celtic players and manager went over to that little pocket of 700 Celtic supporters at the game, did they decide that beating the One Season Wonders by just the one goal was unsatisfactory so decided to throw bottles at our own players? (From The Celtic Star)
Well said Paul – now to convince your pals on the board to repeat it.☘
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The huns and the SMSM use the OF tag,to cover up their wanton violence, and tag us in,as they are out of control, and know there is no punishment, no matter how bad wrecking Glasgow becomes. This comes from the Klub actively encouraging Klan gatherings during a pandemic lockdown, the SNP government and Police Scotland are complicit in this.
For CELTIC MAC if he is on today. I wish we would repeat this loud and often and brief all Media on it:
CELTIC MAC on 4TH APRIL 2022 11:10 PM
deniabhoy
Just for the record could you point me towards where Celtic FC/Celtic PLC stated that “we are one half of nothing”. I know Paul67 has said something to that effect in the past, but is there anything official which I could refer to? Genuine question.
DENIABHOY on 5TH APRIL 2022 6:45 AM
CELTIC MAC – March 9th last year the official Celtic FC Twitter account put out a very simple statement:
“We’re not half of anything . . . Not our problem.
One club since 1888″
ScullyBhoy
I think you are on to a loser trying to defend the indefensible about Leckie and English ‘not being anyone’s sycophants. Did the bold English not send an email outlining how he would be exactly that during the whole Murray/Whyte smoke and mirrors attempted switcheroo? Leckie I know little about, but to use the term ‘old firm’ when the violence, thuggery, racism and sectarianism was all about ‘The Rangers’, as our host put so eloquently.
SCULLYBHOY on 5TH APRIL 2022 12:12 PM
you forgot to ask if it was the wee pocket of Celtic Fans on Sunday that caused the riot at Hampden in the Hibs winning cup final. Or in Manchester. Those pesky 700 fair got around!
Dont give Sevco any tickets to Celtic Park for the forseeable, to be reviewed in 10years if they prove throughout that 10 years that they can behave, I’m not joking, who enjoys being abused for 2 hours about their religion or nationality, this is why this is still with us, businesses cowtow to the money made , ditch it and let it wither and die or transfer to something else where they can get away with it.
Having watched the ACC on the TV last night , no wonder they are empowered, the Police do very little to prevent it, act when events happen but study CCTV to catch the culprits later, nonsense, clearly this is the policy of Police Scotland, he was also trying to buck pass to other agencies to deal with the issues this game throws up.
dont act
A club run by knuckledraggers for knuckledraggers.
Ange has driven a stake through their heart. We will go on and win this league and they’re in the toilet. Again. Surely austerity must follow, finally?
McPhail Bhoy on 5th April 2022 12:24 pm
ScullyBhoy
I think you are on to a loser trying to defend the indefensible about Leckie and English ‘not being anyone’s sycophants. Did the bold English not send an email outlining how he would be exactly that during the whole Murray/Whyte smoke and mirrors attempted switcheroo? Leckie I know little about, but to use the term ‘old firm’ when the violence, thuggery, racism and sectarianism was all about ‘The Rangers’, as our host put so eloquently.
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Sorry, McPhail Bhoy – my fault. I didn’t give you the source of the pro Leckie/English stuff.
Here it is:
JHB on 4th April 2022 5:51 pm
HOT SMOKED on 4TH APRIL 2022 3:33 PM
I know I might be seen as the Tom Engliss Fan Club Secretary but as one who has always felt that he is a fine writer but not impartial, I felt I should provide a link to this reasonable piece:
——-
I am not the treasurer of the TEFC, but I concur. It is a fair piece and well-written. Let’s always ‘play the ball'(the actual issues) and not ‘the man’ – it’s called civility, and without it we’d constantly live in a war-zone.
Just to put the proverbial ‘cat among the pigeons’, Bill Leckie’s latest offering is worth a read too, as many of his previous. He & English are not anyone’s sycophants, and unless you are of the opinion that ‘we’ get everything right, everytime, are always worth a read. I can take justified praise & criticism on any matter from a serious journalist – there are precious few in Scotland; English & Leckie are within that few.
bashi-bazouks on 5th April 2022 12:25 pm
SCULLYBHOY on 5TH APRIL 2022 12:12 PM
you forgot to ask if it was the wee pocket of Celtic Fans on Sunday that caused the riot at Hampden in the Hibs winning cup final. Or in Manchester. Those pesky 700 fair got around!
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Sorry I mislead you too.
See above post.
The old phrase “you can kid yourself on all you like but don’t lie to me” seems to fit this scenario rather well.
Hail Hail.
As kojo used to say. Still laughing
Good afternoon all.
SCULLYBHOY on 5TH APRIL 2022 12:41 PM
no problem !
All good
Perhaps the huns use of the OF tag was a Masonic like, sotto voce reminder to TGD about the mutual benefit that accrues, or might accrue, from the association.
😂 😂 The old firm advertising. It’s laughable. Trying to wind us up and reinforce their coming back from the dead. Pity they weren’t so mobile in 2012. Wait a minute, they were. They all walked away.
How silly will their 5 stars look when we have 60 titles and just the one star for the big one.
What is this endless fascination with what the hacks have to say about anything?
It’s like the internet has still to be invented.
Weird.
Dont give Sevco any tickets to Celtic Park for the forseeable, to be reviewed in 10years if they prove throughout that 10 years that they can behave
agree 110%
Great stuff Pablo.
Your use of the USA-UK metaphor at the start of the article is adroit and astute.
Respect.
One is a superpower
(struggling a little bit in comparison to previous but still a superpower)
One is a long since dead empire which cannot look forward with realistic confidence, so instead chooses to comfort itself by looking backwards always.
The parallels are powerful and obvious.
PAUL
If Celtic liquidated in 2012 and a prominent member of the Rangers board held the silver bullet , do you honestly believe we would still have our illustrious history to celebrate, do you honestly believe they wouldn’t have claimed titles back, they would have fired that bullet and well and truly buried us…unlike our board Imho.
If, as has been suggested, Sevco have failed to even acknowledge our physio being the target of bottle-throwing to his physical injury, then Celtic should place a much fuller account into the public domain. There will be something quite absurd if the culprits of the distinct bottle-throwing incidents are not identified.
Much in the way of mealy-mouthed responses to Sundays disgraceful, hate-fuelled loutishness from the police, politicians and the media generally. I’m too long in the tooth though to be surprised by that.
The special relationship. Like poodle on a leash.
Prayers for the Vogue bhoy they wanted dead, reading it was near death, in my thoughts and prayers for full recovery.
BTW, I love the Jerry Maguire comment 😂😂
The world moves too quickly for institutions like them these days. Desperately trying to stay relevant in a global society that shuns hatred and exceptionalism, they will hold on to whatever and whoever reminds them of their past and keeps them relevant. The term “old firm” says it all, old-fashioned superiority even if its only now in a pairing with a group of people who they hate to their very core.
“We knew then the association hurt the Celtic brand and that we needed to put as much clear blue water between us and them ”
————
Maybe not the clear blue water of the Indiana Ocean though…..
Just remember:
“Rangers is a great football club, it has a great history and it’s unfortunate that they have been relegated,”
“We would certainly like to contest with them every week
in injury news I’m still carrying that giggle I picked up on Sunday. Its looking like it might be a bit longer term than first thought
in other news I still think we’re going to win the league
SullyBhoy
No problem at all, you are entitled as I am and everyone else to give your tuppence worth. I do agree with you with English there’s a journalist in there somewhere. I have heard him a few times on a sports radio programme here in Ireland and he speaks well and with joined up thinking, not something that most of his colleagues can be accused of! I just think that his employers both in the print media and TV/radio tell all of them to ‘be impartial’ leading most to meet themselves coming backwards when it comes to Sevco. Some on the other hand are just Huns, I know English isn’t.
Has anyone from Celtic commented on our physio being attacked yet.
The hun fc official site are reporting … That both our goals were , wait for it , bundled home 😂😂…
On this day in Celtic’s history – April 4
By Joe Sullivan
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1891
Celtic’s first ever game on this date was also their first competitive visit to St Mirren’s Westmarch ground and the Paisley side won the match 1-0. The first ever game between the sides was played just two months earlier when the Celts won 3-2 in the East End of Glasgow thanks to goals by Jimmy Boyle, Peter Dowds and Johnny Campbell. Westmarch’s biggest crowd was the 8,000 who saw Celtic beat St Mirren 3-1 there on October 22, 1892
1970
The Hoops played Motherwell on this day in 1970, and the Steelmen were routed 6-1 at Celtic Park. It was a mixture of youth and experience that helped Celtic to victory, although the Lisbon Lions hogged the limelight with all six goals – Bobby Lennox adding a hat-trick to goals from Willie Wallace, Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Murdoch. Motherwell’s goal that day came from Dixie Deans but it was another commanding performance from the Hoops – who finished the season 12 points ahead of second-placed Rangers.
1979
This was a memorable day in Celtic’s history as the less than prolific Danny McGrain scored a rare Hoops goal in an epic 4-3 win over Motherwell at Fir Park. The full-back grabbed Celtic’s first of the game, with Vic Davidson, Johnny Doyle and Bobby Lennox also on target in the seven-goal thriller. One of the best full-backs in the world during his prime, Danny managed just eight goals in 663 appearances. It was to prove a vital win for Celtic come the end of the season, with Billy McNeill’s men finishing just three points above Rangers as they were crowned champions
1987
There were two Brian McClair penalties and a goal from Owen Archdeacon in Celtic’s 3-1 victory over Rangers on this day in 1987. The first spot-kick came in the 33rd minute when defender Stewart Munro punched a McClair shot over the bar, and just three minutes later the striker netted his second from 12 yards. The 60,800 crowd saw the visitors pull one back in the second half but Archdeacon pounced in the 84th minute as Jimmy Nicholl messed up a pass-back to the keeper.
2001
Martin O’Neill’s side were closing in on the championship and knew that a win over Dundee, followed by victory over St Mirren on the Saturday, would be enough. Yet, with six minutes remaining, the game was tied at 1-1. Tommy Johnson had given Celtic an early lead, but Juan Sara equalised. Then Johan Mjallby timed a rare goal to perfection. With Celtic pressing, he stole in at the back post to bundle the ball home and give the Hoops all three points. Johnson’s winner against St Mirren three days later secured the title.
2010
In just his second game in temporary charge of Celtic following the departure of Tony Mowbray, Neil Lennon did his chances no harm with a 1-0 league win over Hibernian at Easter Road. Three Irish internationalists were involved in the 62nd-minute goal as it was Hibernian’s Anthony Stokes who upended Aiden McGeady in the box and Robbie Keane tucked away the spot-kick.