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.
207 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
By Joe Sullivan
Share
Here we take the opportunity to revisit some Celtic games and tales from this day in the club’s past.
How did the club fare on this day in the past?
1901
Celtic’s first ever game on this day was in the Scottish Cup final against Hearts at Ibrox which the Celts went into as holders having beaten Queen’s Park by 4-3 at the same venue the previous year. The 4-3 scoreline was repeated on this occasion but, unfortunately, it was the Tynecastle side that scored four goals with Celtic counters by Willie McOustra, Jimmy Quinn and Sandy McMahon not enough to retain the trophy. Indeed, following wins over Rangers (1-0), Kilmarnock (6-0), Dundee (1-0) and St Mirren (1-0), those goals scored by Hearts were the only ones Celtic conceded in the entire tournament.
1910
On their way to lifting their sixth consecutive title, the Hoops welcomed Morton on this day in 1910 and won two valuable points against a side that had surprisingly defeated them at Cappielow earlier in the season. There was no mistake this time as goals from Peter Johnstone, Jimmy Quinn and Jimmy McMenemy (below) gave the Celts a 3-0 win in front of a crowd of 3,000. The win proved crucial as three days later the Hoops recorded their final win of the season in a 2-0 home win over Aberdeen which was followed by a Falkirk defeat and two 0-0 draws with Hibernian and Dundee. The Hoops won the league by just two points over Falkirk
1912
Ibrox was the venue once more for a Scottish Cup final involving Celtic and on this day in 1912 it was near neighbours Clyde who supplied the opposition. Once more the Celtic rearguard were in fine form with two goals lost in a replay against Aberdeen being the only strikes the Hoops would concede in three years of Scottish Cup football. And the Hoops returned to the scene of their victory the previous year to ensure another Scottish Cup win with the 46,000 crowd witnessing a 2-0 win for the Celts. Jimmy McMenemy and Patsy Gallacher were the men who notched the goals that won Celtic’s eighth Scottish Cup as they homed in on Queen’s Park’s 10-victory record.
1968
Celtic travelled to Tynecastle on this day in 1968 to face Hearts and recorded another vital win in their march to the title that year. The Hoops hadn’t lost since the second game of the campaign and would draw only three games all season. This Hearts game was the 12th in a 16-game winning run-in to the title and the 27,000 crowd saw Jimmy Johnstone open the scoring in the 29th minute. In the 38th minute, it was Bobby Lennox who would tie things up for the Hoops by netting Celtic’s second goal of the game, one of 32 he would score in the 28 league games he played that term.
1985
Celtic had an epic battle with Hearts for the title in season 1985/86 but in the previous term things weren’t quite so tight between the teams and Celtic recorded four straight wins over the Tynecastle side. The scores were 1-0 at home in September, 5-1 away in November and 3-2 at home in March leaving the final game to go ahead on this day in 1985. Celtic travelled to Tynecastle and the 14,993 crowd saw Paul McStay open the scoring in the 10th minute while the game wasn’t finally put to bed until the 65th minute when Brian McClair got the second goal in the 2-0 win.
2002
There was a bit of a friendly race between two Celtic strikers on this day in 2002 to see who would get their second league hat-trick of the season. John Hartson had previously scored three against Dundee United earlier in the season while Henrik Larsson had done likewise against Dunfermline. And the reason the race was on was that both had netted first-half doubles against the visiting Livingston side with the Swede’s goals in the third and 33rd minutes sandwiching the Welshman’s strikes in the 19th and 25th minutes. The 59,752 crowd saw the Hoops go in 4-0 up at half-time and, as it turned out, after build-up play by Paul Lambert and Neil Lennon, it was Larsson who notched Celtic’s fifth goal in the 59th minute to take the hat-trick plaudits for the day. Livingston managed to pull one back to make the final score 5-1 but the neither the margin of the win nor the Larsson hat-trick gave cause for the greatest celebration that sunny afternoon – for Celtic also lifted the league title that day and Martin O’Neill’s side went on to amass 103 points
When the huns next come to us let’s see a display of inflatable kangaroos, koala bears, those funny Australian cork slouch hats and we could even chuck a few boomerangs at them and see if they come back. But yes, let them in to see what a real celebration is like.
Big Tam
In terms of pure scoring rate, the Australian’s record in Glasgow Derbies exceeds that of any other opponent he’s faced more than a handful of times (although taking assists into consideration too his personal podium of torment would be Partick Thistle, Motherwell and Kilmarnock).
His sextet of derby strikes have come in 17 games but, due to the fleeting nature of many of those appearances, the minutes equivalent of just over eight matches.
INIQUITOUSIV on 5TH APRIL 2022 9:55 PM
CONEYBHOY.
Derby’s Championship survival hopes dented by Reading victory tonight.
—————————–
Such a shame. I lived in Derby for 15 years and had a great time. The football club is so central to society there.
Good set up at Pride Park as well. Brown field site that ended up with the football ground, sports centre, call centres, retail, Frankie & Benny’s even. Easy access off the duel carriageways and you can walk to the ground from the centre.
I remember going to see them vs Sheff Wed just after Di Canio joined them. Gave him dogs abuse – to the bemusement of everyone around me😎
WHAT IS THE STARZ on 6TH APRIL 2022 7:28 AM
Away fans should always be allowed access to games.
————–
Don’t know if your at the wind up or not 😆
Assuming your serious. Then why.?
If you knew someone was going to cause mayhem, conduct themselves obnoxiously and wreck your house; why would you welcome them back. ?????
Cheers and HH.
WEEBOBBYCOLLINS on 6TH APRIL 2022 9:17 AM
When the huns next come to us let’s see a display of inflatable kangaroos, koala bears, those funny Australian cork slouch hats and we could even chuck a few boomerangs at them and see if they come back. But yes, let them in to see what a real celebration is like.
——–
my wife bought me a new boomerang at Christmas but i can’t seem to be able to chuck out the old one
I told my pal that i failed my Australian citizenship exam. He said ‘did ya re-do it?’
Let the 700 in …
At £1428.57 per ticket.
Publicly state any excess revenue …
…. after deducting the cost of
– processing tickets
– additional stewarding
– additional policing (we pay for that)
– vandalism
– medical bills for acts of violence
… Will go to charity with a focus on Ukraine’s fight against militarism and imperialism.
Publicly lob a bottle of handwash over to their favourite care home for good measure
Loved the Castlemaine xxxx adverts.
Looks like we’ve overdone it with the sherry. 😆
SCULLYBHOY @ 9.20
In terms of pure scoring rate, the Australian’s record in Glasgow Derbies ………
SCULLYBHOY, having missed the original reference I’m intrigued as to who “the Australian” is that scored goals in the Glasgow Derby?
I’m still giggling at the reference last night to Fat Charlie having the same number of goals in all his Glasgow Derby games as Reo Hatate has in 45 minutes. And, of course, that he has one more than Boyd scored against us in his whole career!
right you ready ……………….
https://twitter.com/i/status/1511607663414681600
SAINT STIVS on 6TH APRIL 2022 10:30 AM
Brilliant and sad at the same time. I couldn`t help but compare this oh so Celtic thing with my general view of the Huns. Chalk and cheese are nowhere near far enough apart to describe the gap.
I know we have out nutters but the overall feeling I associate with Celtic Supporters is hope and happiness. With the Huns, it is entitlement and anger.
HS,
I had to stop it, compose myself and go again.
Where to even start to try describe Bertie, gallus but humble, friendly but steely, a leader of the people.
SS
Just a great human being.
Cheerio for now.
PS ….and although Iyou`re not a bad guy, I was referring to Bertie :-)))
SS
That brought tears to my eyes.
aye it does,
like your best ever uncle turning up
Photo of Willie Maley in Lourdres.He died not long after this was taken in 1935
https://twitter.com/tirnaog_09/status/1510155258126815234?t=b6bP4m7FEmiq7J9GHwoK1w&s=19
HH
new article posted.