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Balde and an incredibly significant Celtic fan

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

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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  4. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    JOHN O NEILL

     

     

    Your efforts last night were a disgrace.

     

     

    Attempts to justify them via the Nazi route just about sums them,and you,up.

     

     

    For you then to give Dempsey grief is frankly hilarious.

     

     

    BTW,remind me,what was your reason for misspelling your name.

     

     

    Cos that had about as much truth and reason as the garbage you have been spouting here for a fair wee while.

  5. Kilbowie Kelt on

    gherrybhoy57

     

     

    13:16 on 23 July, 2013

     

     

    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

     

    ______________________

     

     

    We would ALL like to think that we would put that amount of money into a troubled Celtic,..in the unlikely event of us ever having it in the first place.

     

    But we all also know that we would NOT do so.

     

    Only a man of exceptional selflessness would be capable of making such a gesture, knowing that there was every likelihood that his money would be lost.

     

    When the need arose there were a few men who were in a position to act as John Keane did.

     

    Only one stepped forward & did it.

     

    Celtic are rightly honouring our ‘saviour’ ( & I use that word deliberately ), but we all know that that was not what motivated him. Nor did he do it as an investment.

     

     

    There is only ONE John Keane.

  7. unionbearBhind on

    leftclicktic

     

     

    might be able to get it on catch up tv if you put NI as your region, worth a try for anybody who cant get to game?

     

     

    HH

  8. LiviBhoy on

    leftclicktic

     

     

    The game is not on BBC NI. I just checked the listings.

     

     

    LB

  9. An Fear Dearg on

    twists n turns

     

     

    11:25 on 23 July, 2013

     

    Are Cliftonville training at Murray Park today in keeping with tradition?

     

     

    Jist askin like

     

     

    ——————————————————————————–

     

     

    We trained at Barrowfield on Sunday and at Parkhead yesterday. When we played at Stirling Albion in July 2011 Celtic also gave us a tour of the Lennoxtown facility and let us train there too. Nice people.

  10. THE EXILED TIM on

    John O Neil

     

     

    Your comment last night was directed at my post re the royal baby, there were no other posts that your post could have been directed toward.

     

     

    I made no detrimental remarks against the infant itself.

     

     

    You continually make disparaging remarks against the Celtic support, and against fellow posters, you have done in your last few posts, closed minds etc………

     

     

    Are you some sort of genius ?

     

     

    You know we have closed minds from a few posts, wow, if I had that talent !!!!!!

     

     

    I ask you again…are you mingwall ?

     

     

    Go and show me/us a positive post you have made toward the Celtic support.

     

     

    HH

  12. quonno on

    LiviBhoy

     

    14:15 on

     

    23 July, 2013

     

     

    I don’t know if you can get all programmes but you can get NI local news.

  14. kikinthenakas on

    The bhoy from uncle

     

     

    Been here almost two weeks there are loads my fav is 5 euros in a taxi, in metagordo, the auld triangle, great pub..

     

     

    Kikinthenakas

  18. John O Neil on

    Will do Kojo. Cheers. Likewise Whitecrook. Am sure Mr Dempsey had his reasons. I also agree he did some fine work initially. However his vendetta against Fergus caused much damage to the perception of The Bunnet.

  21. tonydonnelly67 on

    How thick are they, they should be no where near any trees or out open spaces during lightning storms, sais it all really, and have a look at McCulloch when it happens you see him in the background, elbows up right away, an clocks the guy beside him….quality, hahahaha

  22. TinyTim on

    Livibhoy 14.52

     

     

    It will be easier,than trying to find a Virgin on BBC NI.

     

     

    TT

  23. fanadpatriot on

    TBB.

     

    Following on from yesterday regarding holiday reading.RachelJoyce has a new book out “Perfect” may be worth getting,I picked up a copy today.

     

    Don’t know if you seen my recommendation yesterday,but I think you would also enjoy “The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out The Window And Disappeared “by Jonas Jonasson..Easy holiday reading.

  24. twists n turns on

    An fear dearg

     

    when you say “we” do you mean you play for the reds, or you are a supporter? Cheers

  25. Kojo on

    Neil, says he is looking at a Striker..

     

     

    And .. Ah take this quote of his.. as being.. Verra Significanto…( Ur those woids… Italian?..ed)

     

    (‘course No… They’re.. in Standard.. Kojoese)

     

     

    Neil,his Said..

     

     

    “one who scores goals ,like Gary Hooper..”

     

     

    Diz that let… Mr. Doyle.. OOT??

     

     

    or Dis..Mr. Lennon Mistakenly really believe .. that.. Kevin Doyle Diz.

     

     

    Diz Whit?

     

     

    Well… Score Goals.. Like Gary Hooper, Diz.

     

     

     

    Hmmmmmmm

     

     

    Kojo

     

    Still Laughin’

  29. corkcelt on

    Kojo, You didn’t disappoint me with your tirade against Kevin Doyle, it was just what I expected. If he is signed and I accept it is a huge if, I will take the greatest of pleasure in reminding you of it when Kevin steps up to the plate and does the business for us.

     

     

    re The “Royal Loyal” baby, I wish the infant good health as I would any ordinary infant, however I’d have a thousand times more interest & regard if any Tim on this site had an addition to their family. All the fawning and nonsense that’s going on about this mite makes me want to puke.

  30. The Token Tim on

    BT,

     

     

    even Dr Frankenstein couldny bring them back……although afew of them looks like he tried!

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  31. Tamlaghtduff Bhoy on

    Looks like its back to listening to the radio tonight if your not at the game.

     

    Rem the days on a saturday afternoon when they started commentating 30mins into the match? They were the days!!

  33. Kojo on

    corkcelt

     

     

    And ..if .. Yer .. Unexpected Scenario.. A La Mr.Doyle..

     

     

    Dis.. Actually, in All Actuality… come tae Pass..

     

     

    Ah wull Be Delighted tae Eat.. that Big Plate o’ Crow..

     

     

    which..no Doot.. YOU wull be .. Shoving, Triumphantly… In Ma Face!

     

     

    Kojo

     

     

    Still Laughin’

  35. The Token Tim on

    Sun making an appearance in ML1.

     

     

    here’s hoping he comes out to play in time in G40 for 1945hrs tonight!

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  38. LiviBhoy on

    Tamlaghtduff Bhoy

     

     

    I’m sure the commentary started 5 mins before half time.

     

    Crazy days though. One match commentary and shady goal updates from other games.

     

     

    LB

  40. weeminger on

    Govt driving billboards round London that declare “Go home or face arrest”. Sounds a wee bit familiar.

  41. Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Kano 1000 on

    Good Afternoon.

     

     

    I know this is off topic but I have been trying to get this tale out for a fortnight by bleeding holidays and work kept getting in the road!

     

     

    However, as I am not really working today I thought I had better get it off my chest so to speak.

     

     

    Andy Murray, The Man on the Moon and another Brick in the Wall — PLEASE

     

     

    http://wp.me/p1G95H-X9

     

     

    Away to do something that is far more germane to some earlier posts!!

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