This is the way to start the season. A competitive match, albeit one which is no longer puts us in direct jeopardy, to open what will be a lush green Celtic Park for the first game of the season. Neil Lennon will correctly press his team hard tonight, Elfsborg are reportedly the fittest team in Sweden and are only a week away. That prospect, is enough to get the blood pumping.
Kris Commons and Georgios Samaras took the plaudits in Belfast last week, just as they did in the European qualifiers last season. They are players who can be relied upon to deliver for the team, but it’s the new guys who always attract the most attention in front of the Celtic Park crowd, and tonight, that is likely to mean Amido Balde.
I’m not going to waste your time listing the considerable number of great Celtic players who have taken more than a few games to settle into life at the club. If we see him tonight give him your support. There will be plenty time to judge next month.
I’m delighted to hear John Keane has been asked to unfurl the league flag this season. John was one of the ‘rebels’ who stepped in when the old board collapsed but few in the Celtic support know him, he declined to be photographed on the steps with the others. In many respects he was merely one of the many Celtic supporters who stepped forward when we needed them, but in one respect, John did a whole lot more.
In 1994 the Bank of Scotland informed Celtic that they had to bring their account back under the agreed overdraft limit that same day, or the bank would call-in the overdraft and appoint an administrator. We’re not talking Duff and Phelps-type administration either, the bank’s men would have shredded the playing staff in an immediate attempt to bring costs in line with income.
The old board had no money but John Keane stepped forward. Without any security from Celtic, or from the Bank of Scotland, he paid £1m of his own money into Celtic’s account, bringing the account back inside agreed terms. The bank could still have called in the overdraft and John would have lost his money. We covered it here last year, when aghast at the lack of anyone stepping forward elsewhere.
Within hours Fergus was on his way to Scotland and in the days which followed the old board agreed to sell their shares (with the worthy exception of Kevin Kelly, who told Fergus he could rely on the support of his shares without needing to pay for them).
John has attended board meetings and AGMs for the last 19 years; I can think of no better hand on the tiller. In future, when our history is written, he’ll have a page to himself. Unfurling the flag will be a proud moment for one of the most significant fans in our history.
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Paul67 (and others),
Made y’all read the article didn’t I? That’s what I was trying to do … honest … (anyone believe me?)
Apologies.
We get John Keane……………..
…………….they get Jack Anory
Doc is Neil Lennon
12:46 on 23 July, 2013
__________________
Hail Hail M8
I think that old ghuy – Lubo
was the bench mark. imo
God Bless
this is the link for CharlotteFakes2, looks like she has plenty more docs to unfold too.
http://www.scribd.com/CharlotteFakes2/documents
.
I Remember the Olde Days when Gordon J..Use to Criticise Podium chasers instead of Trying to Better them..
Modern Gordon J Critiques are Rubbish..(And No very well researched)..
Summa
Paul67
______
Thanks for that boss :)
Stuff tae dae so – Off oot
Hail Hail
Can I assume that the game will not be live on any channel tonight
A richly deserved honour for John Keane, well done big mhan; the type of figure notable by their absence in the south-side of Glasgow!
HH
Good Luck St. Nic
And Thanks…
Gordon J true to form starting an argument in an empty room … just like the olddays in BBs :-）
KevJ, Pirlo would be up there with Lubo I think.
WishfulthinkingCSC.
First game of the season should be to raise the flag, it is a nonsense that the champions of a nation, previous winners, and a last 16 from last season has to go through 3 pre-qualifying rounds.
I won’t let it spoil my enjoyment of tonight’s though.
COYBIG.
St Stivs, if you’re lurking will you be there, or will I bring the badge on the 3rd?
God Bless John Keane…….he ‘delivered’ where others ‘talked a good game’ ………a TRUE Celtic Supporter….!!!!!!!!
Doc not the Bus you’ll get your fingers burned
Kev J john gordon sinclair had a dream 1982 I think:-)
Gordon_J, aye, sure.
John Keane – a fine Celt who stepped into the breach during the darkest period in CFC’s history.
Also…
Much respect to Andrea Pirlo – a fabulous player, model professional and a gentleman.
HH!!
John Keane, what a man. A complete contrast to Mr Dempsey who sold his Celtic soul to the tabloids. Delighted for John.
Sir Paul
Great Story..Kiddo!
Ye sure are a Fountain-of-Stories-That-Should-Be- Popularized… but, fur
whitevah reasons.. Ur No!
Mr. Keane wiz Trewly.. wan of They.. Legendary… Friends In Need..that ye Hear aboot but, because YOU are Nevah Approached by Wan.. When .. YOU ..Need wan.. Ye are Inclined tae Disbelieve in Thur Existence!
Kojo
Still Laughin’
But..
How does this Jack Irvine get away with this, he must have a lot of shit on very important people, someone needs to reign this guy in and soon, the thing is if he runs around knowing what other people’s shit is, you can bet he is up to his neck in some sort of shit too, goes with the territory.
Doc
You still hoarding that badge? :)
SangriaCSC
thats an awful lot of sh1t ..tony
I’d like to think that if I had £1m in the bank, I would be as unselfish as John Keane. He put his money where his heart was and, without doubt, saved our club. No headlines or jostling for a position; just action. We are truly blessed to have such fans among us. HH
Paul67,
A Wonderful article.
I loved Roy Keane but was less enamoured about Robbie Keane. John is a Real Deal Celt.
Onwards and upwards.
What’s the weather like over there?
Lovely here – scorchio.
The Italian (ladies) beach volleyball season just starting. Only watch it if there is nothing else on!
HH!!
Shit happens pfayr ;)
I knew some of that lead post, but not all of it.
John Keane step forward again, and raise the flag of Champions, a worthy Champion of the Celtic support..
HH
Can anyone sumarise Charlotte’s latest tweets? Link won’t load on phone or PC, Ta.
Looking forward to giving John Keane the recognition he deserves on flag day.
Tom McLaughlin 06:52
Tam, first and foremost, I sincerely hope you are with us for many many years, yer articles aboot Celtic are incredible.
Medication is what you need.
If the Rumblings that are..well.. Rumbling, Thru the Grape-Vine ,turn oot tae be Trew..
Then… Then.. Then…
Then.. Ah am gonna Hivtae be forced tae Mak a Threat.
No much of a Threat,really..
But, Whit else kin Ah dae but Mak,wan o’ They Dreaded?( Who Ya Kiddin’, Midden?…ed)… Empty Wans?
Well.. Even and Empty Wan is Bettah than .. Nane?
Right?
Ah guess it is aboot time that Ah let you Folks intae whit the Hell ..Ah am Oan Aboot?
O.K.
Ah am oan aboot the Disheartening(Awfy .. Disheartening,tae) Rumour, that Neil,in his Un-Wisdom, is Hell Bent oan Bringing in.. that Fellow Irishman of his and Corkcelt’s.. as his Next Replacement Striker.
You Know the Guy?
Ah hate tae even say his Name.. but, Ah wull Hold Ma nose.. and Dae it,anyway.
It is..
Kevin Doyle.
Aye, According tae the Talk, Below Decks …There Be… Mutterings, o’ His Name.. As Neil’s Next Grandiose .. Faux Pas.. which is French fur.. Bloody Blunder!
Honest tae Betsy!
If Neil is Even Contemplating ,Even the Thought of Bringin’ in, that Big Stiffy… The Goalie’s Friend…
Then…
Ah wull Be forced tae Turn In Ma Membership tae Steverino’s… Shadow Lane Golf Club!
And.. Fur youse who Don’t know how Big a Sacrifice that Is…
Well..
Let me Tell You .
It is!
Kojo
Still Laughin’
‘In 1994 the Bank of Scotland informed Celtic that they had to bring their account back under the agreed overdraft limit that same day’
Was that the same BoS that gave oldco an unlimited overdraft? Just asking like…
Guys – forgive my naivety, but what do the references to square sausage mean?
good afternoon cqn
Paul 67 Thankyou for fixing password problem,
going tonight,will get SB next season as I will reach THAT age.
golf fees are enough at the moment says Mrs WT.
Some one mentioned Brian Dempsey,my son was at St Als with his son,
also at his wedding,nice lad
COATBRIDGE PAPER BHOY
I’m late on parade today,congrats on yer second place.
BRISTOL BHOY
London Saturday,Bath yesterday,on the train to Cardiff at the mo,and dooooonthedocks at your place tomorrow.
Nice gold…
The Honest Cover-up
From:
Jack Irvine
Date: 21 March 2011 14:27Subject:To: Craig Whyte CraigI sat one of my staff down today and quizzed them in detail as to how the Rangers Marketing and PRDepartments perform and their relationship to senior management.
I won’t bore you with the minutiae but two messages came over loud and clear:
-1. Often the department learns about developments affecting the club when they readabout it in the papers. The reason for this is that Sir D. sees fit to brief all his journalist pals.This results in utter chaos and an erratic corporate philosophy .2. The department, which encompasses Press office, marketing, TV and publications(Rangers News, website, match programmes, TV channel ), Community (soccer schools,education etc) and Charity (£2million gifted in 10 years) is often in disarray because of confus
ed leadership from the CEO’s office i.e. Last minute decisions, no decisions,
contradictory decisions etc.I had forgotten this additional aspect but apparently every week there is a deluge of mail for theChairman of the day and the CEO from the mad,
disgruntled fans. I don’t know whether they respond
to these lunatics but I would advise binning the offensive ones and sending a stock reply to theothers. I was also reminded that the Chairman and CEO can expect to be shouted and spat at inGlasgow streets and restaurants which makes your decision to stay in London most of the time verywise and possibly life saving.I was about to suggest that you wear a balaclava in Glasgow until I remembered that you might bemistaken for one of these fine chaps who sport the tricolour at Parkhead.Yours ayeJackJack IrvineExecutive ChairmanMedia House International Ltd
PAUL67
Enlarging on Mr Keane….
http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/celtic/behind-the-scenes-of-fergus-mccann-s-takeover-of-celtic-exclusive-book-extract-1.993288
BT you no answering your phone.
KTF
HH
And in relation to the legality of e mails….. ……. blah blah blah….! The End.
HH
Bhoys I’m sure tttt was going to post info about a horse today??? Have I missed it? HH
Elfsborg are sitting 5 points off the pace in Sweden. Played 16 winning 7 and drawing 6. They have scored 29 goals and conceded 15 in those 16 league games.
Clearly they will be a shade sharper in respect of match fitness to Celtic, but they don’t have the quality of player we do, so, if we turn up with our A game, we should be ok.
If Neil has done his homework, he will be acutely aware that Elfsborg seem to be a very dangerous team in the 15 minute period between the 61st and 75th minute, scoring a remarkable 12 of those 29 goals (41%) in that period. Indeed, if you look at the last 30 minutes of their games, 61st to 90th minute, then 58% of their goals are scored in that time period.
Don’t be falling asleep Celtic in the last half hour!
Nilsson and a certain Mr Bangura are their scorers. Also worth noting that they have scored at least once in every away game this season. Encouragingly for us is that their last 8 game form isn’t great.
I believe if a professional Celtic side turn up, we should be too good for the Swedes.