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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Evening all,
Heading to the game just now, but craggy senior, who is in Limerick just now, is asking if the game is on any tv channels in Ireland tonight.
Can anyone shed any light on this?
Many thanks if someone can enlighten me sharpish.
craggy
Just received a text from malorbhoy..
He is on a rage.. free daily ranker and current bun being handed out to free in the lounge at Celtic park.. o ((
South Of Tunis
I have 2 great dvd’s of Willie Nelson I recorded from the country channel on TV over here.
“Stars & Guitars’
“Willie Nelson’s 70th birthdy party”
A better collection of entertainers and mucicians would be hard to find.
Read his Bio, when his band came on stage they would position themselves so as to be able to protect Willie if someone jumped on stage, they would have knives or guns inside their boots…….
KK,
Yer right of course.
South Of Tunis
make that musicians, C is for celtic………
The game is on BBC2 Northern Ireland and Beeb 2 Scotland, that’ll do nicely.
V
BT
Don’t get me wrong…won a few bob. With cockney trucker out, I had Ogee and also had the dbl with Tara’s race winner and Ogee doubled up….wasn’t expecting the bad news on my own though.
Got a few quid on Paddy Brennan’s peachy moment tonight. He’s gone from Southwell to Bangor to ride it and I’m on at 3/1. 7.45pm
craggy island gaa
18:21 on
23 July, 2013
See above, fill yir boots!
Not sure if you can pick up bbc 2 Northern Ireland though?
V
canamalar1
Finally got around to AGM resolution. Got a couple of suggestions but will e mail rather than bore folk.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
16:56 on 23 July, 2013
Emdy in Dempseys in Cardiff?
Nephew and I progressing slowly in that direction.
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Have a Great Time BOBBY, I hope the wee lad is, ahem, taking care of his doting Uncle.
He bettah be, or he wull feel the wrath of PETEC:P
blantyretim
18:21 on
23 July, 2013
Just received a text from malorbhoy..
He is on a rage.. free daily ranker and current bun being handed out to free in the lounge at Celtic park.. o ((
BT, they must have ran out of loo paper at CP :¬)
Auldheid,
Bore them :o)
Vmhan
Game isn’t on either of those channels bud.
new article posted.
Ha Paul67
I just came back on to do that
HH
leftclicktic
18:01 on 23 July, 2013
Before I go if this pic doesn’t gladden your heart nothing will :))
https://twitter.com/Wee_Oscar/status/359697092861648896/photo/1
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A wee Legend in the foreground and a wee guy who had a bit of an impact on Scottish Football in the background.
Every Celtic Fan is important.
Stan Petrov is at Paradise tonight, looking great too !!
HailHail
vhan,you sure game on bbc Scotland,not getting it on laptop
A boob, a vagina and an a&&hole are debating on who is the greatest of the three of them.
Boob : I give milk to new born babies and I’m attractive to the opposite sex, that’s why I am the greatest.
Vagina : That’s nothing, I give birth to babies and can accommodate the opposite sex, that’s why I am the greatest.
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Why are you scrolling down ? It’s your turn to speak. hahaha!
can anyone CONFIRM if hoops defo on BBC2 SCOTLAND.HAIL HAIL
stream game on Football Streaming Info.hh
Vmhan
18:26 on
23 July, 2013
The game is on BBC2 Northern Ireland and Beeb 2 Scotland, that’ll do nicely.
V
What sky channels are this?? I cant find anything that resembles our game on TV….