7 March 2020 – the last day fans gathered at Celtic Park to see their team in action. You don’t need to attend games to be a committed Celtic fan, many live far from Glasgow and others cannot get to games for a variety of reasons, but thousands of us will not have gone so long without seeing Celtic in the flesh since infancy. We are now all armchair fans.
There are parallels in our personal lives; we are armchair sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and parents, work from home colleagues. We are not all sociable creatures; I know some who are quite happy in their cocoon, but for many, this has been a trying time in their personal lives, even more so without the ceremonies of supporting Celtic.
For me, that means getting together with three generations of the family, it gives us a common currency we can spend in each other’s market. Truth is, nothing else allows us to bond in the same way. It is not the same by text, not even close.
The family thing is all good and well, but why do you and I bond, when do we bond as the Celtic Movement? For some, Celtic speaks to our ancestry, but that’s an influence that is significantly less than when I first stood at Celtic Park. I know there are some who found us through the Lisbon Lions all those years ago. This month I met a Syrian fan. He had worked various grounds as a steward and found a home for his sporting heart in the process. I also know a born contrarian, who from the age of 7 decided the team her (cherished) father despised was the one she would follow all her life.
Whatever brought you to Celtic, Celtic has an influence on our world view, almost without exception. We are a community, formed to help the starving. The more fans you meet, the more influenced you become in adopting this core value. There is not another club in the world (unless some outfit from Gibraltar claims otherwise) that has a call to action as noble as this.
In March, Celtic FC Foundation launched its Football for Good Fund. The world changed, which had two consequences for your Foundation, there would be no badge day, no bucket collection, no mountain top huddle or arctic trek, but the needy, the lonely, the isolated and the vulnerable would multiple.
The Fund raised over £1m, £250k of which came during the Christmas Appeal phase, how this was achieved in these circumstances is difficult to comprehend, unless you consider the values of those who cherish it.
Where was the money spent? You know the kids whose parents do not have a spare penny? 2,272 of them received Christmas gifts for their children and another 376 vulnerable families received ‘an envelope’ to help them through. Another £30k was distributed through 10 children and family charities.
11 homeless charities, four refugee charities, and three women’s aid charities were also given cash. Hampers were given to vulnerable elderly and families, and toys given to organisations who know where to find kids who go without.
The Welfare State is over 70 years old but like any massive apparatus, there are cracks and limits through which thousands fall. You need to be on the ground to find those who cannot be found by policy. The Celtic FC Foundation is a chain linking those of us who have with those who have not. It is relentless in pursuing the values we were founded upon. Staffed by people who endure the delight and turmoil of supporting Celtic, but who know too well the consequences when our community cannot gather, for those who count on us for a Christmas toy.
You can be proud of these values and the community you have fortified. It will outlast all of us and will benefit more lives than you will ever know. But next year, champions again or not, those of us who have, need to do more, because the metrics are not getting better.
With or without your loved ones, take care and have a happy Christmas.
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LC
What is PL’s incentive for huns winning the league & how downsizing gives him a ‘bonus’ ?
HH
Watched prog about Diego Maradonna on Prime.
Good
Adi Dassler.
What’s common sense got to do with it.
Best wishes to Denia Bhoy for a full and speedy recovery, and glad to hear that your wife is on the mend.
HH
Wits
?..
Any Tips for boxing day ?
HH
I can see a stramash an’ digital flounce/ face-off buildin’ up between The Judean People’s Front and
The People’s Front Of Judea (Provisional Wing) ………..
For this Tim, should we fail to clinch the Title, such a denouement will just be the Tin(foil) hat on a bugger of a Season.
As it’s Christmas Eve this old ex Happy Clapper wishes ALL CQNrs a very Merry Christmas and in case I forget or am happy in another way😁, A Happy New Year.
May we all keep free from Covid 19 and the new strain also, just like Huns- nae guid wans- and we can return to shout encouragement or abuse at the players and/or management and not a bloody TV screen.
I got a great wee surprise through my door today.
Gutenberg from this parish had contacted me after my dads passing to say his dad and my dad were old pals along with a few others.His dad had made a comment about another old pal passing and it turned out it was my dad.It really is a small world.Anyway Gutenberg said his dad had photos of them in Dublin when they were all young guys.Well I came home today to find copies of the photos through my door.I know he doesn’t post much now but I hope he still sticks his head in now and again.
Gutenberg thank you, thank you for going to all that trouble for me.💚👍
Everyone, have a holy & merry christmas.
HH & TAKE CARE
Just a thought…. since we have been unable to get pints never mind points…. we should have saved a few bob and we could maybe have the next Hootenanny in Spain!
That’s if they let us in after the Brexit deal today.
Fairhill Bhoy…that was a lovely thing that your friend done for you…Merry Christmas to everyone on CQN..I’m almost finished work looking forward to a few days off and hopefully a resurgence in our title bid.
Fairhill Bhoy
Pleased for you,Gutenberg…some mhan.
I just have a wee sneaky feeling we will do them on the 2nd. Football is rarely straightforward. The incentive for the players has to be the knowledge that taking the 3 points will hit them very, very hard. A simple concept but we all know the best way to force mistakes in sport is to apply pressure. We cannot allow them to canter to this title, we have a huge opportunity to apply pressure and we must take it.
Well, That’s the ole bridge on the river Kwai up in the air again.
Anyone else getting a floating x on your screen ?
Weird.com
Bada Bing , I’m sorry for not replying sooner to your reply earlier today.
I was introduced to Gordon a few times by guys who were slightly older than me who I went to games with and were at school him.
He was a regular selling his Celtic merchandise and rebel tapes , home and away for , many years.
Happy a very happy Christmas everyone or a best as you can if health is affecting you and/or loved ones.
Adi
Yes all the time on refresh and new page. I can live with it and just delete, better than some who have the Ads issues.
HH
Just on to wish each and every CQNer and their loved ones a very happy Christmas and Guid New Year. May we all be safe to return to Paradise when this pandemic is over.
ADI_DASSLER NOT FOR 2ND BEST on 24TH DECEMBER 2020 7:33 PM
‘What is PL’s incentive for huns winning the league & how downsizing gives him a ‘bonus’ ?’
###
Rather depends on what The Great Desmondo decides, don’t you think?
Did He (The Great Desmondo) have anything to say about the huns when they went bust?
How do you think He would feel about history repeating itself?
Evening all. Enjoy your Christmas Eve. And to Melbourne Mick and everyone else who will be wakening up soon for St. Stephen’s Day I hope you got plenty of Celtic gear amongst all your prezzies.
Went to the 6.30 Christmas vigil
Was out of church by 6.52
Really saddened that was that, not even a Christmas Carol
Anyway
May I also take this opportunity to wish you all
A very Merry Christmas
May you all stay Safe and Peaceful through this period
Hoping you can spend time with your families
Many will be missing loved ones
They will be with you, and guiding you on your way through tomorrow, so enjoy
Hail Hail
Deniabhoy
Take care good sir. Good Newson your good lady.
*CQN PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2020-21*
RESULTS FROM GAME #29 – CELTIC 2 ROSS COUNTY 0 (TURNBULL, GRIFFITHS)
Good evening, friends. It’s Christmas Eve and loads other things on the go so can I just get straight to the point on this one without waffling about the actual game.
A really close run thing for this game and a Big thank you to the 56 who voted. The votes cast for each player (with my own choices asterisked) are as follows –
Hazard*: 2
Frimpong: 10
Ajer*: 47
Jullien: 1
Laxalt: 6
Soro*: 46
McGregor: 8
Christie: 0
Turnbull: 41
Griffiths: 5
Edouard: 1
Ntcham: 0
Rogic: 0
Johnston: 1
Ajeti: 0
So, the players receiving points for the Ross County game are –
Ajer – 5 points (and that’s now 3 in a row Man Of The Match awards!)
Soro – 4 points
Turnbull – 3 points
Frimpong – 2 points
McGregor – 1 point
And the overall table is now –
1st – Laxalt – 49 points
2nd – McGregor – 45 points
3rd – Christie – 44 points
4th – Ajer – 42 points
5th – Frimpong – 37 points
6th – Brown – 29 points
7th – Elyounoussi – 23 points
8th – Rogic – 19 points
9th – Duffy and Turnbull – 17 points
11th – Ntcham – 16 points
12th – Edouard – 13 points
13th – Bitton and Griffiths – 12 points
15th – Soro and Taylor – 11 points
17th – Barkas – 9 points
18th – Ajeti – 8 points
19th – Elhamed – 7 points
20th – Forrest, Jullien and Klimala – 5 points
23rd – Bain and Welsh – 4 points
25th – Hazard – 3 points
26th – Bolingoli, Dembele, Henderson and Johnston – 0 points
Next up, it’s a game on everyone’s favourite surface as we travel to Hamilton on St Stephen’s Day for a 3pm kick off.
Hail Hail! Oh and a Happy, peaceful, healthy Christmas when it comes.
Lovely Christmas morning here in the Melbourne suburbs.
Only 20 degs expected today, great, the sweat won’t be running
down my cheeks chasing wee Grace with her new ba lol.
Thank you JOBO for your efforts with the top 3, it’s amazing how
we all differ in our selections, I suppose it’s the same when you
read the blogs, we all have a different view of the players, the club,
tactics, res 12, Neil Lennon, Peter Lawell, It will be forever thus.
So have a great day everyone when it comes, we’re all Celtic fans
that’s special.
Off to open my pressies now, wonder how many are Celtic related.
H.H. Mick
🎄🎄🎄 A very merry Christmas to one and all 🎄🎄🎄
🎄🎄🎄 Paul 67 all the best to you and yours 🎄🎄🎄
Norrie; our first mass in months at St Finbar’s last night – got a proper first half’s worth (45mins)
Two beautiful singers, social distanced congregation; quieter than we expected.
Nat King Cole and Dean Martin Xmas CD playing as we breakfast and glaze the 4kg ham for Xmas meal.
Merry Xmas to all fellow Celts, coaches, execs and players looking in on here.
Wishing you all peace in your world and your hearts. HH
Merry Christmas Quad to you and the good lady.
H.H. Mick
SFTB,
Thanks for your reply last night. It’s been a long day and I was intending to reply but think I’ll finish my wrapping and head to bed.
Merry Christmas all and thanks Paul67 for the site.
Cheers MMICK you too – Perfect day for a wee walk down the Morni harbour after yer lunch. Enjoy!
MJ – good point about thanking p67. HH
Howdy fellow tims hope we all feeling great :)
I was wondering, who was it that had the farm that has great chickens?
Have a great Christmas troop :))
Keep the Faith
HH
WEE BGFC
Said farm was in lanarkshire
Happy Christmas comrades in Celtic.
Peace and joy to all.
Hail Hail the Celts are here!!!
FAIRHILL BHOY on 24TH DECEMBER 2020 7:55 PM
I got a great wee surprise through my door today.
Gutenberg from this parish had contacted me after my dads passing to say his dad and my dad were old pals along with a few others.His dad had made a comment about another old pal passing and it turned out it was my dad.It really is a small world.Anyway Gutenberg said his dad had photos of them in Dublin when they were all young guys.Well I came home today to find copies of the photos through my door.I know he doesn’t post much now but I hope he still sticks his head in now and again.
Gutenberg thank you, thank you for going to all that trouble for me.💚👍
——
I’m really glad that K did that for you but I’m not in the least surprised. A very special guy.
Quad
Will be up your way tomorrow, St Kilda beach, to barbie the
leftovers lol, bound to see a few hoopies on a hot day 29 degs?
Pressies opened now, lovely bottle of TALISKER STORM single
malt, Another bottle of Mc Williams GRAND TAWNEY mmm
That woman must think I’m an alkey and of course my Celtic
pen set, and the ubiquitous Celtic t shirts.
My favourite t shirt for today says.
” My home is in Australia
but my heart is at Celtic Park ”
Thank you so much p67 for a wonderful site.
H.H. Mick
HAMILTONTIM-yip he sure is.
A community right enough 🍀💚
Have a nice day tomorrow for everyone 💚
A very Merry Christmas to all my Celtic Supporters ,all over the World ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️🍀☘️🍀
Melbourne Mick, from oor hoose , to Ur hoose
A very Merry Christmas
Or is it now St Stephens day 🤔🤣🍀🏆
Everyone have as good a time tomorrow as you can 💚