Celtic to the core, Graves and your role
Several years ago, long before CQN, I was fortunate enough to be in the company of 10 of the 11 Lions who took the field in Lisbon. It was a great to see them interact with each other. A grinning Jinky walked in late, “Am I in trouble again?”, bringing a playful shout from all the others.
I’ve since met the rest of the squad who didn’t make the field, but Willie Wallace remained an unknown quantity, until this week. I occasionally wondered what role Celtic played in the life of a man who left for Australia circa 40 years ago.
As anyone who read Willie on the blog this morning will realise, he was cut from the same wood as the rest of the team, with a deeply set Celtic grain. When I met him on Saturday he had all the playfulness and spirit the other Lions had, but there was no hiding his sharp competitive edge when talk go around to matters on, and sometimes, off, the field.
Many thanks for chatting this morning, Willie.
If you can make it to Waterstones in Stirling tomorrow evening (late night shopping), I’ll be there with Willie, who will be signing copies of Heart of a Lion. See you there.
I missed out on the preparations and commemorations yesterday by Celtic Graves and so many Celtic fans. Caught up with it late in the day online. Things about this club blow you away sometimes. I know there is some traceable linage from Celtic Graves, though Jungle Bhoys and all the way back to Celts for Change. With supporters like this, your club is in incredibly good hands.
At any other club these events would be remarkable. At Celtic, they are just another chapter in a very special story.
Which takes me onto the next point………
All of these great things are underpinned by you, me and thousands of others buying season tickets each year, no matter who survives long enough to compete in the league, no matter how many times newspapers try to tell you Everton want (and will get) Neil Lennon, no matter if we win, lose or draw.
The Jungle Drums tell me sales are up on the equivalent period last year, which is great news, but it is absolutely necessary. I want to see Celtic back in the Champions League next season, competing as effectively as they did last season. I want to see us mature the development strategy which is already delivering such bounty.
This is your club, claim your seat and make it happen.
Stunning response to our ebay raffle and auction. Sincere thanks to those who bought tickets and bid. You have two days to buy a ticket for the framed Celtic top signed by the Seville squad, and a few days more for the signed and framed Messi top……..
Heart of a Lion available below, or see you at Waterstones, Stirling tomorrow evening (times will be confirmed tomorrow).
