In the early years of our re-emergence as a ‘proper’ football team under Martin O’Neill, Celtic were patronised by the suggestion that they ‘don’t play friendlies’, largely as a result of Martin’s ability to win games against teams from south of the border.
That comment is seldom aired these days, as for many years, Celtic have stretched their muscles in friendlies without worrying too much about the score. Gordon Strachan’s teams would lose the meaningless games with regularity but would largely win the important qualifiers which followed. So much so I’d probably feel uncomfortable watching Celtic apply themselves too much when it didn’t matter.
We will get a good measure of how match fitness needs to improve ahead of Champions League qualifiers in two weeks when we face Ukrainian aide, Sevastopol, tonight. Ukrainian football is one of the most sought-after properties in the game at the moment; the Russians have been making amorous overtures to the entire league, as they hope to build a super-league by joining up with the Ukrainians. I’m sure Celtic officials will have an active interest in the subject ahead of the game.
No injuries, please, you can forget about the score.
Delighted to hear Roy Keane is coming up for the Celtic Charity #19 game for Stiliyan Petrov’s Foundation on 8 September. Stan played with some timeless Celtic heroes (Roy’s 13 games doesn’t give him enough material to qualify for this accolade) in his seven years at the club; my money is on the event selling out (ticket details at bottom of page) as they are confirmed one at a time……
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starry nae milky ways, magic stars, galaxys starbars mars bar but maybe some fruit and fibre will help clear Uranus h.h. was that a bit of a clanger?
.
Astor..
I Wrote that before your Post at 4:36am
Maybe we Should Announce that we are Celts (Hard K) that Support Celtic FC (Soft C)..
Who were Founded in Scotland and Play Domestic Football in Scotland..
I Reckon the Scoucers have it Right..
Summa of RiverDividedCityCSC
.
Steven Mouyokolo earns Celtic contract.
The French defender has impressed during his two trial spells with the SPL champions and has done enough to be offered a permanent deal.
The 26-year-old walked out on an 18-month contract at Wolves because the Midlands club refused to let him use his own medical team.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon revealed the club had thrashed out a one-year contract, subject to the player passing a medical and showing he is over cruciate ligament problems.
Lennon, who also expects a new bid from Cardiff City for £12million-rated Victor Wanyama, said: “We have liked Mouyokolo for a long time.
“Things have been agreed more or less. He’s done a medical and we’re just waiting on the reports coming back and if everything is OK we’ll go ahead with it.”
Kenyan international Wanyama is due to fly out to Germany today, but Lennon still expects him to leave the Hoops.
Mouyokolo started alongside Virgil van Dijk last night and they looked solid against Ukrainian side Sevastopol – in a match which the Hoops lost 1-0 after a rare Fraser Forster blunder – at the TechnoMarkt Stadion in Furstenfeldbruck.
Lennon said: “Mouyokolo was really good considering that was his first 90 minutes in over a year.”
It was hard to believe the Hoops were back in action just 37 days after they had beaten Hibs in the Scottish Cup Final.
Yet it was a case of needs must as Celtic, despite last season’s European heroics, are due to kick off their Champions League campaign in just under two weeks against Northern Irish side Cliftonville – with the first leg set to be shown on the BBC.
Mouyokolo was really good considering that was his first 90 minutes in over a year.
Neil Lennon
The hundred or so Celtic fans that made the trip got to see new signings Van Dijk and Amido Balde in the Hoops for the first time.
Lennon had also taken quite a few of his development squad across and gave midfielder Liam Henderson and right-back Darnell Fisher starts, and they didn’t look out of place.
“The kids did well,” said Lennon. “Young Liam Henderson had another excellent game after a similar performance against Crewe last weekend.
“Darnell Fisher also played well at right-back.
“I was really pleased with the two of them and it’s great for them to come and work with the first team. They might stay around the squad a little bit longer now.”
Balde got an early chance to make his mark but he lacked composure and skied his shot well over from inside the box.
But Sevastopol, who fielded former Hearts winger Saulius Mikoliunas, also showed their quality going forward.
Sergey Kuznetsov beat Forster but saw his header come back off the post, while the Celtic keeper had to produce a top-drawer save to keep out Denys Kozhanov.
Van Dijk’s night was short-lived as he was replaced at half-time by Kelvin Wilson, while Gary Hooper came on for Tony Watt.
Balde had looked a bit off the pace but gave a flash of what he could do when he burst into the box and forced Sevastopol keeper Konstyantyn Makhnovskyy into a save, while Wilson also had a header off the line.
The Ukrainian side then got their goal, when Forster made a hash of a Kostiantyn Iaroshenko free-kick which dropped in at the post.
Lennon added: “It was a really good workout. The pitch was heavy and the grass was really long, but we passed the ball well at times.”
Summa
Good morning friends.
After a fair bit of the rain in the early hours, it’s now looking a wee bit brighter in EK although still a lot of heavy cloud in the sky with just a tiny sliver of blue.
Others, far more educationalised than what I am, do say that there’s loads of warm sunshine heading this way over the weekend. Fingers crossed that their predictions are right.
A wee trip down memory lane…
Borrowed from Talfanzine.
Statement from the RST
‘Supporters Trust positively identifies true culprits from Celtic shame game’
‘Following distorted and unbalanced accounts of events at Ibrox on Saturday 20th November, and after receiving numerous complaints from Rangers supporters concerning the conduct of Martin O’Neill and Neil Lennon, the Trust has secured the services of an independent lip-reading expert to analyse the comments clearly shouted at home fans at the end of the match.
‘Regrettably, our worst fears have been confirmed, as the lady concerned, who is often called as an expert witness as a forensic lipreader in the English courts, has confirmed that Neil Lennon clearly shouted the phrase “Orange B******s!” at the home support, as well as other abuse directed towards the Rangers bench.
‘At a time when both The Scottish Executive, and the media seem determined to stamp out religious bigotry from Scottish society, the fact that such a high profile Celtic player shouted such obscenities at the home fans at the end of an eventful match, after other colleagues had also lost their discipline, and particularly in full view of a large live television audience certainly warrants further investigation.
‘The Trust finds it difficult to understand why this incident, witnessed by so many people at the game, and even more on television, has been ignored by the media and now believes that an investigation by the Police, possible reference to the Procurator Fiscal, certainly an unequivocal condemnation from Nil by Mouth, an investigation by the Press Complaints Commission into unbalanced reporting of the whole affair, a charge by the SFA of bringing the game into disrepute, and, most importantly, a full apology from the culprit are all appropriate actions following such misconduct.’
Hilarious and Pythonesque…
Graham Spiers of The Herald highlights the absurdity of the Rangers Supporters Trust’s position
ONE of the hilarious controversies of recent days has concerned the rather unusual business of the Rangers Supporters Trust (RST) – a pressure group of supporters I ordinarily admire – and their hiring of a lip-reader to smoke out Celtic’s Neil Lennon.
You may sense something slightly daft going on here, and I fear you might be right.
There’s been more than a few verbal rammies going on recently involving Rangers, Celtic and the bigotry debate. And, alas, wherever there is the Old Firm and controversy these days, poor Lennon is never far away.
The context of the RST and their lip-reader is a mite peculiar. You may recall the dog’s abuse – racial, sectarian, whatever you wish to call it – which Lennon received at Ibrox recently. You might also recall Martin O’Neill’s arm-around-the-shoulder treatment of Lennon as the two of them left the field following Rangers’ 2-0 win.
Personally, I watched Lennon enter the Ibrox tunnel with O’Neill very carefully that day. I did say to him in Barcelona the following week that I feared he had abused my own cherished Reformed tradition with some sort of verbal outburst aimed at some Rangers supporters as he left the pitch.
Well, the RST decided to take matters into their own hands. They wanted to know precisely what Lennon shouted at Ibrox, and duly hired their professional lip-reader.
The result is quite shocking. The lip-reader decreed that Lennon quite clearly shouted three words towards the progressive, ecumenical denizens of the Ibrox east enclosure. And these two words, allegedly, were “orange bastards”.
I presume I don’t need to refer any neutrals to the hilarious, Pythonesque quality of all this. Just for a moment, picture the scene of that seething enclosure near the Ibrox tunnel. The bile, the sheer venom and opprobrium being showered upon a player like Lennon would make most civilised human beings balk.
Yet football supporters are the masters of two-tier morality. When Lennon, foolishly, decided to retort, why, you had people who had been busy bellowing their abuse for 90 minutes suddenly turning into wounded ballet-critics at the dreadful rudeness – yes, rudeness! – of these footballers.
It’s the sort of script which someone like John Cleese would have a field day with.
I must say, personally, I am convinced Lennon shouted those dreadful, despicable words. Imagine him sullying a beautiful atmosphere like that. I just hope he wasn’t looking up at the press box and at me at the time.
Jobo
I also hope them edumacated guys are right about the weather improving for the weekend.
Need to give my tent an airing before next weekends titp
Last summer was so bad I put my tent up in my living room the Saturday before it… ;),
Regards that last post, does anybody ever remember Neil Lennon being taken to task by the SFA disciplinary panel. I can’t imagine a single reason why Neil Lennon would escape sanction for that particular outburst considering they sent him to the naughty boy gulag for calling a player a fannie.
On second thoughts… one reason just sprung to mind.
TBJ – he he ;)
Off to work (updated report – chucking it down again!)
A stor
I often wonder why. .. when the ibrokes hordes march through july in their orange parades that they declare they are proud to be part of… then indeed why be offended at the word orange being included in any comments about them.
When I am called a fenian bassa I always point out that my fathers name is on my birth certificate but thanks for the fenian compliment :)
Jobo
I was wondering – just going through the town now and could use a cqn brolly and a pair of wellies.
tbj
Now if it raining like this tomorrow……
‘if it was raining like this’
FG
Im not caring about a rainy friday… just need a dry day over the weekend to get my blooming tent aired as its been bagged for 12 months.
Keep the sunshine for next friday saturday and sunday ta
Above was nonsense – off nights and obviously delirious – I of course meant Saturday so the walkers could get as wet as I am at the moment – except for where you plan to air your tent…..
.
Jinks..
Soak the Tent in the Bath..No Chemicals..Then attach it to the Clothes Pulley in Your Scullery..
Summa of CambuslangSteamiesRUsCSC
Just in to say….
__________
Jobo Baldie
06:30 on 4 July 2013
Others, far more educationalised than what I am, do say that there’s loads of warm sunshine heading this way over the weekend. Fingers crossed that their predictions are right.
_______________________________________________________________________
I follow yer weather forecasts religiously but – this time i hope yer wrong :)
Let pour ALL day Saturday !!!
Doing the rain-dance of Friday night – CSC
Off oot.
Morning
So Longmuir is out if a job. I am sure his friends at Sevco will help out.
The Boy Jinky:
I don’t know what it is, but when I am called a fenian b I always want to smile.
oh dear, there is a precedent…
CAS upholds three-year rule decision on Timişoara
Published: Thursday 21 July 2011, 13.54CET
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected FC Timişoara’s appeal against a UEFA decision regarding the three-year rule that forms part of the club licensing system.Thursday 27 June 2013 – 28 June
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has
dismissed an appeal by Romanian club FC
Timişoara against a UEFA
decision regarding the three-year rule, which
is an important feature of the UEFA Club
Licensing and Financial Fair Play Regulations.
Pursuant to this rule, clubs are not allowed
to change their legal form or structure in order
to obtain a licence, simply by ‘cleaning up’
their balance sheet while offloading debts onto
a new entity that might potentially go
bankrupt – thus harming creditors (including
employees and social/tax authorities) as well
as threatening the integrity of
sporting competition. Any such alteration of a
club’s legal form or structure is deemed to
be an interruption to its membership of
a UEFA member association and consequently
three years must pass before a club can apply
again for a UEFA licence. In other words, the
three-year rule is designed basically to avoid
circumvention of the club licensing system.
Finally, FC Timişoara were not granted a
licence by the Romanian Football Federation
(FRF) based on the non-fulfilment of the
licensing criteria and therefore could not
participate in the UEFA club competitions in
the 2011/12 season.
.
WARNING..Dear CQN’ers..Before You read this Article..Please go and have a Wee Ly Doon..a Drink o Milk (Low Fat)..Bowl of Porridge (Unsalted)..and then a Stiff Drink (Low Alcohol)..And then take any Heart Medication you are On..
Then read on..
McCoist has European dream..He has had a Few Nightmares as Well..
Boss Ally McCoist believes Rangers can be back in the Champions League in five years time with the continued backing of their fans..If they Continue to Back.. Hint Hint..
Liquidation and demotion to Scottish football’s bottom tier last year meant no European football for the foreseeable future for the Light Blues..No..Not paying Tax caused that..
But, having completed stage one of their journey back to the top by winning the Third Division title last season, McCoist is confident that Rangers’ rise can be a rapid one..(See Ramsden Cup)..
He told RangersTV: “The five-year plan for us is quite simple – we need to be back competing in the Champions League..Ally You need to get Past the Qualifying rounds first..
“At the end of five years, you would be very, very hopeful that’s where the club can be..Please Mammy Daddy don’t let us get Liquidated again..
“We will need the fans’ help again. They have been absolutely outrageous in their support for this club but we need it again and we will need it continually..But the Season Ticketus to Pay off Errmm Ticketus..
“With their support, I believe the five-year plan will be fulfilled and that will be Rangers in the top flight of this country’s league and at the top of it, winning leagues and cups and getting into the Champions League.” *Hums Sparks Dreamer Your Nothing but a Dreamer*
For now, as well as targeting the Second Division championship, McCoist is hopeful of success in the cup competitions in the new campaign..Again..See Ramesden Cup..League Cup Scottish Cup..
He said: “We go in to win every competition we are in. I’m of the opinion that we are far better placed this year to challenge in the cups..Well after 4 Cups knockouts last Year..
“We should be hoping for a good cup run and success. We are not in a position to say we are going to win this and we are going to win that..Ehhh..Have You Not just said that..
“We are in a position to have far greater hopes and desires to do better in the cup competitions.”..You are Repeating Yourself Now..
Meanwhile, McCoist defended his decision to recruit so many new players ahead of next season, having signed several top-flight standard players last year..We Need to Fill the New Bus..
Seven new faces – Cammy Bell, Jon Daly, Nicky Law, Arnold Peralta, Steven Smith, Richard Foster and Nicky Clark – have agreed moves to Ibrox and McCoist is keen to bolster his squad even further..And Further..And Further..
Asked if the club needs so many new signings, he said: “Of course we do because we are a completely different club to any other club in Scotland..And Wee have a Big Giant Bus..
“As everybody saw last year, when Clyde and Stirling Albion and Elgin play against Rangers, it’s a different Clyde and Stirling Albion and Elgin that will play Berwick Rangers..Right Your confusing Me Noo..
“For that reason, we certainly need to be stronger because we are playing higher tempo games and we need to have a bigger squad..Yea that’ll Work..
“The Rangers fans deserve the best players they can get and the best team they can get. By that I mean the one that we can afford to put on the park.”..Two Points..Glad You are admitting it is a Different Rangers..and If Only Dick Advocatt had said that..
Summa of SallyTalkingTheTruthCSC
Good morning from a bright Nordrhein Westfalen 17*C at the moment with a predicted high of 23*C. I was impressed by some of our younger players yesterday, ie Fisher and Henderson. Van Dijk looks cool and should do the business and big FF dealt with everything, apart from the free kick. Big Balde looked a bit Bambiesque at times but I’m sure, like Bambi, he’ll develop into a fine stag. I’ll be disappointed if he Disney.
The youngest son is going on his first ‘mates’ holiday tomorrow to Malia but he’s still not sure if the wind-up that we’ll be on the same flight is actually true or not :-). He”ll be on the lookout for pubs to watch the Bhoys so if anybody knows any Celtic pubs in Malia he would appreciate the heads-up, there’s only one mentioned on celticbars.com.
I’ll actually be in the company of many ‘Orangemen’ on Saturday when I go to pick up my other son from Holland, I suspect that I won’t witness any marching or evidence of flute in mouth disease.
Starry, you pricked my conscience this morning so I had a homemade fruit cocktail for breakfast, still couldn’t resist my toast and butter to go with it.
Aff oot.
Steven Mouyokolo to earn Celtic contract after impressing on trial
The French defender has impressed during
his two trial spells with the SPL champions
and has done enough to be offered a
permanent deal.
The 26-year-old walked out on an 18-month
contract at Wolves because the Midlands
club refused to let him use his own medical
team.
Celtic boss Neil Lennon revealed the club had
thrashed out a one-year contract, subject to
the player passing a medical and showing he
is over cruciate ligament problems.
@LawTop20: “At the end of my career, I’d rather count my medals than count my money.” Georgios Samaras
HH
.
MARK Hateley has told Hull City supporters they have landed one of the “top five goalkeepers of the modern era” in new £1.8m signing Allan McGregor.
Or..
Like a New Signing..
Modern Top 5 Goalkeepers in the Modern Rubbish era are Certainly Rubbish..
Summa
.
lymmbhoy 08:07 on
4 July, 2013
@LawTop20: “At the end of my career, I’d rather count my medals than count my money.” Georgios Samaras
.
@LawTop20: When Asked to Board David Murray’s private Jet for Glasgow. I Told them l would rather Walk to Paradise.” Summa of Samaras..
Summa of SummaOfSammiCSC
Morning celtic men and wummin. I,ve had a shecht start to the day. Just been charged £77 in excess baggage for my sclaffbaw kit. Then to make matters worse , get on the escalator to find a full blown sevco shop sullying the concourse at glasgow airport.
I,ll be in spain so I hope it pishes from the heavens all over their sectarian marches on saturday.
Are awe the checkin burds huns?
Bah:-(
.
Celtic legend Henrik Larsson in frame for Petrov gala
CELTIC icon Henrik Larsson is desperate to support the charity game to celebrate the career of Stiliyan Petrov.
Henrik Larsson has been right behind Stilian Petrov’s battle against leukaemia
And news that the Swede will move heaven and earth to be present at the star-studded game at Parkhead on September 8 is sure to give another massive boost to ticket sales.
With Lubo Moravcik and Roy Keane also promising to be in attendance, the occasion already had a special feel to it.
But with Hoops ‘royalty’ now revealing he wants to be in attendance on the big day, it is fast becoming a red-letter day in the calendar of the supporters.
The proceeds will be split between Petrov’s cancer charity and good causes selected by Celtic.
The attendance of 41-year-old Larsson – now back coaching in Sweden with his son Jordan’s side, Hogaborg – would be a huge draw, and he said: “If I can make it, I will come.
“I’ve said that all along, but it depends what’s going to happen with my working situation.
“If I get an hour or two, I will fly over and I would definitely like to take part in the game.”
He added: “I’ve always said that Celtic Park is a great place. That’s where I made my name and where I became the player I was. I absolutely love the place.”
Larsson has been a huge supporter of Petrov’s fight to beat leukaemia, the illness which brought the 33-year-old’s playing career to a premature end this year.
The Bulgarian has made a remarkable recovery, and now wants to use his reputation and contacts to raise awareness and funds to help others beat leukaemia.
Larsson said of his former Parkhead team-mate: “I was very saddened when I heard the news of Stan’s illness.
“He’s a player and a man I know very well, and we shared a lot of things together.
“But you don’t think only of him, you think of his family as well.”
Larsson continued: “He’s a strong guy and you just hope everything goes well because he’s a fantastic guy and I’m looking forward to seeing him.”
Meanwhile, with a maximum of just 800 Celtic fans expected to be admitted to the Hoops’ Champions League qualifier against Cliftonville at Solitude on July 17, the news has been welcomed that the BBC will screen the match live in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Ewan Angus, the head of sport at BBC Scotland, said: “It’s great to collaborate with colleagues in Northern Ireland to bring our audiences the first competitive fixture of the new season as Celtic and Cliftonville kick off their European adventure.”
Summa
.
Season’s greetings for Celtic..
ONLY 38 days since they won the Scottish Cup to draw down the curtain on season 2012-13, Celtic were back on display as they lost 1-0 to Sevastopol of Ukraine in the first of four warm-up games in Germany.
Striker Amido Balde got his first Celtic run out alongside defender Virgil van Dijk against Sevastopol
Predictably, the line-up and setting were as far removed from the Hampden showpiece as you could get.
The tree-ringed TechnoMarkt Stadion in Furstenfeldbruck outside Munich had the look of a Scottish Third Division ground.
But the Celtic fans – mostly expats and locals – who managed to find the venue deep in the woods, at least got the chance to see Amido Balde and Virgil van Dijk wear the Hoops for the first time in public.
They could also make their own judgement on trialist defender, Steven Mouyokolo, seeking to win a contract after six months as a free agent.
Neil Lennon chose the occasion to give home-grown rising stars, full-back Darnell Fisher and midfielder Liam Henderson, the opportunity to start.
The new kids on the block did not fail the audition, their enthusiasm and energy – particularly in the case of the pacy Fisher – helping to lift some more established names alongside them.
The four matches – the next is against FC Cluj on Saturday – are designed to raise everyone’s sharpness and fitness levels.
In this regard, the manager will be satisfied to have this one under their belts before they get back to double training sessions at their base camp in Bad Goegging.
It is already clear much work has been done here, and at Lennoxtown before they flew out to Germany.
One aspect of the play which has been high on the to-do list has been working the ball from the back rather than punting it forward whenever Fraser Forster has it in his hands.
Ironically, with the 6ft 4in target of Balde now available up front, the temptation to launch it from deep must be stronger than ever.
However, with the other new Bhoy, Van Dijk, happy to take the ball to feet deep inside his own half, Lennon’s tactics now appear to favour rolling the ball out then advancing it nearer the halfway line before eventually trying to pick out Balde’s head.
With Tony Watt trying diligently to hover around the Portuguese striker, looking to latch on to any knock-downs, the Hoops attack should have had aerial power and pace on the deck.
However, it was not a ploy which offered too much against Sevastopol, a side who appeared to be a few weeks ahead of Celtic in terms of match-fitness on a pitch which was heavy after overnight rain.
Indeed, the Ukraine team had the best chances to open the scoring in the first half, finding space between Van Dijk and Mouyokolo and inside the full-backs.
Fortunately for the newly-acquainted defenders, Forster made two very good saves to keep the teams level at the break.
At the other end, Balde could have grabbed his first goal for the club when Sevastopol’s defenders got into a fankle, but the striker was hustled as he prepared to shoot and blazed over.
As ever in these games, Lennon elected to begin making changes from the interval to give as many players as possible a run out.
And with Gary Hooper and Kelvin Wilson appearing after the break – Van Dijk stayed inside along with Watt – Celtic did pick up the pace.
Indeed, Balde showed his strength to bundle his way into the box before seeing his low shot cannon off the keeper. From the corner, Wilson – who passed up a terrific chance from a Mulgrew free-kick in stoppage time – had a header cleared off the line.
So, it was a disappointment to all involved with the Hoops camp when they went behind on 66 minutes, not least because the goal they conceded was so cheap.
Beram Kayal – who impressed in the holding midfield position – was adjudged to have used an arm to charge down a shot 20 yards out.
Despite the height in the Celtic wall, Kostiantyn Iaroshenko was able to lift the ball over it and evade Forster’s clutches at the keeper’s left-hand post.
The big Englishman was not happy to allow such an effort to beat him, especially as he had looked as sharp as anyone on the field to that point.
However, it is all part of the process of finding your edge in pre-season.
And, by the time 17-year-old Calum Waters, plus another couple of aspiring youngsters, Bahrudin Atajic and Paul George, had been introduced, it was clear the result did not matter as much as the benefit of the exercise in the eyes of Lennon. Players such as Fisher, Henderson, Kayal and Dylan McGeouch can all feel satisfied with their effort.
Likewise, Balde and Van Dijk will be happy to have got to know their new team-mates a bit better.
As for Mouyokolo? He won his fair share of headers, and that would certainly have impressed Lennon.
He could become a useful addition to the squad at very little outlay for the champions.
CELTIC: Forster; Fisher, Virgil, Mouyokolo, Mulgrew; Kayal, McGeouch, Henderson, Commons; Balde, Watt. Substitutes: Fasan, Hooper, Wilson, Waters, Atajic, Lustig, George.
Summa
ACGR, I hope that’s £77 return! Was she wearing a mask and a tricorn hat? Never mind, by the time you get back from Spain the Sevco shop should have gone out of business.
After Quasimodo’s death, the Bishop of the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, France sent word
through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was urgently needed.
The Bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews personally and went up into the belfry
to begin the screening process.
After observing several applicants demonstrate their skills over a long period, he decided to call it a day
and to continue the interviewing process the following day.
Just then, an armless Frenchman approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the bell ringer’s job.The Bishop was incredulous.
‘But, you have no arms, Monsieur !’
‘No matter,’ said the man. ‘Observe me, Excellency !’
And, pushing his way past the Bishop, he began striking the bells with his ugly face,
producing a most beautiful melody on the carillon.
The Bishop listened in astonishment convinced he had found a sensational replacement for Quasimodo.
But, suddenly, as he rushed forward to strike the bells again in encore, the armless Frenchman tripped over a mallet and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street far below.
The stunned Bishop rushed down two hundred and ninety five church steps to reach the street. A crowd had by now gathered around the fallen figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before.
As they silently parted to let the Bishop through, one of them asked,
‘Bishop sir, who was this man ?’
‘I don’t know his name,’ the Bishop sadly replied……..
( scroll down ……..)
……………… BUT HIS FACE RINGS A BELL !’
WAIT ! WAIT ! There’s more….
The following day, despite the sadness that weighed heavily on his heart due to the unfortunate death
of the armless campanologist, the Bishop continued his interviews for the bell ringer of Notre Dame.
The first man to approach him said, ‘Your Excellency, I am the brother of the poor armless wretch
who fell to his death from this very belfry yesterday.
I pray that you honour his life by allowing me to replace him in this duty.’
The Bishop agreed to give the man an audition, but, as the armless man’s brother
stooped to pick up a heavy mallet to strike the first
bell, he groaned, clutched at his chest, twirled around, and died of heart failure on the spot.
Two monks, hearing the Bishop’s cries of anguish at this second shocking tragedy,
rushed up the stairs to his side.
‘What has happened ? Who is this man?’ the first monk asked, breathlessly.
‘I don’t know his name,’ sighed the now distraught Bishop, ‘but…’
(. . .. Wait for it ….)………
(.. . . It’s worth it.. ….)……
‘HE’S A DEAD RINGER FOR HIS BROTHER.’
Morning all. Yet more rain and wind down here.
Still, thankful for small mercies: Longmuir got his jotters. Doncaster has to be a better bet than him.
Pmtya, howdy pal. No that was one way. l,Il need to lose seven kilos of bagage for the return (probably in gowf ba,s).
I canny believe the hun shop is right next to our purveyors of paradise.
HH
SOAL
Pull the other one :-)
Cheered me up anyway
ACGR, does the hun shop have anybody in it that isn’t wearing a dirty mac and a brown paper bag over their head?
£77 one way, that’s an ouch!
SOAL,
The pressure was really on in the pub quiz the other night. It fell to me to answer the tie-break question on behalf of my team.
”What does Quasimodo, the bell-ringer of Notre Dame, have on his back?”
I really wasn’t sure, but I went with a hunch.
I see Celtic are taking a real interest in Mouyokolo.
I thought he showed up well last night as did Vigil although he looked more a cultured mid fielder than a CB, physically anyway. ( my CB template is Bobo Balde shaped)
The left back looked useful but I had Fortune shudders on the other Balde, but a wee bit of work on the Dalgleish art of shielding the ball with his bahooky will help.
My Dublin tickets arrived yesterday .
They have LIVERPOOL ,in massive print ,v celtic in very small print.
Whats that all about? !
Celtic won the big cup before them .
We might not have the budget of the EPL scouses but they will see in Dublin who is bigger.
I wonder if that new sevco shop at the airport is selling signed photos of the bus…
RalphWaldoEllison remembers ALS victims Jimmy Jonstone & John Cushley
01:35 on 4 July, 2013
The original poster of the 1967 photo was DJBEE I think
bamboo
09:07 on 4 July, 2013
My Dublin tickets arrived yesterday .
They have LIVERPOOL ,in massive print ,v celtic in very small print.
Whats that all about? !
Celtic won the big cup before them .
We might not have the budget of the EPL scouses but they will see in Dublin who is bigger.
Got mine too! What section you in! If you don’t mind me asking…
HH