The changes over the last decade have been so profound, and are now so established, it’s difficult to recall how different the balance of power was back then. In 2004, a small handful of people had complete control over the Celtic media narrative.
Was Martin O’Neill going to Leeds United? He was, you were told he was, live on the country’s most listened to radio programme. By a former Celtic player, too. Objectivity and the opportunity to challenge was controlled by the very people who were writing the headlines.
For years, this was the way it was, and it was poisoning Celtic. The ‘old board’ were worthy of little better, but Fergus McCann was brutally attacked. He was the man who would bring equality and respect to our club and fans, but he was demonised by lazy hacks who cared little for truth. So much so, he was booed by the very people who celebrated the league title his vision brought. It was a bitter experience for many.
Martin O’Neill, in some respects, like The Man 35 years before him, brought a force of personality so strong, the gaggle of critics could only stand back in awe, but the system had a flaw. Stein brought unimaginable success with little more than unimaginable brilliance. O’Neill used money, lots of it. More than Celtic were earning. His whirlwind high-spending start at Celtic ended with the £6m signing of John Hartson in 2001, little over a year after he took the job.
Martin would spend another four years working within a budget; not one that brought expenditure into line with income, we continued to lose millions each year, but one which limited signings to a fraction of what was spent on Hartson, Lennon and Sutton.
While those four years were among the most exciting in our history, it was an unhappy era.
Put yourself back in time for a moment. Celtic are champions and have beaten Ajax to qualify for the Champions League for the first time. We were imperious, had beaten Rangers 6-2 and took to a field in Turin to final take part in a tournament which for so long appeared out of our reach.
Juventus went 2-0 up but back came Celtic. I worked with a Rangers fan who was at a lower league game that night. When we equalised, his friend text “I don’t think I can take this anymore”. We had come from nowhere, an irrelevance in Scottish football, but here we were, champions of Scotland and level against Juventus.
At that moment, anything was possible. For the first time in decades, we thought, maybe just…
We soon learned that it takes more than honest endeavour to win in Italy, and visits to Portugal and Norway provided a rude awakening. This was not ’67 all over again, there was a lot of work to do, we just needed to keep the pedal to the metal.
Two years after that defeat in Turin we came close to winning our second European trophy in Seville, with a team which had, pretty much, been in place for three years. We were getting the hang of European football, but the team was aging.
For reasons that defy logic, history records the Seville season as the highlight of that team, but the achievements of season 2003-04, with 25 consecutive league wins, and eliminating Barcelona from Europe, were vastly greater.
Then the party was over. The Great Swede left, we’d lost £35m in a few short years, and reality was acknowledged; all clubs need to live within their means, or face liquidation. The climb-down was necessary, but I’m not going to tell you it wasn’t hard.
Back then few people read football clubs accounts, even though Celtic posted copies to over 20,000 shareholders, but all the clues were there, Celtic had to stem the flow. We lost £7m in the Seville season alone; wages to players and coaches were unsustainable.
Despite this, Celtic were regarded as cautious. We lost £35m over five years; Ranger lost £35m in a single season. If they could pump debt up to £80m and survive, why wouldn’t Celtic? We would learn the answer to this question in 2012, but think back to 2004, thoughts that one of Scotland’s major clubs could be liquidated were ridiculed – often, on CQN.
So how did the media deal with our club in 2004? I was driving to work one morning and had heard “What the Celtic fans want to know, is where is all the Seville money?” once too often. “Where is all the Seville money?” was a toxic question. There was no Seville money, only higher debts.
When I arrived at work I ranted about such lazy reporting. This was calculated reporting of the most pernicious type. A Rangers supporting friend suggested, “Why don’t you start a blog and challenge what they’re saying?” I’d never heard of a blog, but he sat me down and got me going.
The first CQN article, written 10 years ago today, was a modest call to “Ignore the Press”, but just before I pressed publish, I had to select, ‘Allow comments: Yes or No’. I’d no views either way but ‘Yes’ was default, so I left it.
The whole thing, the millions of comments, the hundreds of thousands of pounds raised for those in need, the friendships made, the golfers, the slimmers, those helped in bereavement, the thousands of kids attending our school kitchens each day in Malawi and the countless hours of enjoyment we’ve had, are all down to a default position on Blogger. And a Rangers fan telling me to start the fight back online. Who’d have thought it?
Now, people stop me in the street to talk about Celtic. Can there be a greater joy in life? Thanks for all the help and support.
Celtic yesterday, today, forever.
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Guinness going down a treat. Cheers CQN.
Don’t read any other Celtic blogs. This is surely numero uno.
Congratulations Paul in your effort and stamina in keeping CQN going for 10 years. While I don’t post every day, I’m certainly lurking. A great blog.
HH
Gerry
125 years
Final score
Dublin 3-20
Meath 1-10
WEEFRATHETIM
The only good thing about jealousy is its colour.
Green.
Think of hun faces every time we receive the trophy,and every time we raise the flag.
Marvellous!
green fuz,
Used to read Keep the Faith religiously and E-Tims and I loved the eccentric but brilliantly named ‘Henrik’s Tongue’ but CQN has outlasted those and is where I come for my fix.
AR
Captain Beefheart..
at 15.26
well. thanks.. Pally..
N..
Ah Dae Enjoy Your Efforts oan Here.. Aloater.. Tae!
You HIv a Keen Mind.
it’s
Razor Sharp!
Kojo
Still,Laughin
Congratulations on reaching the 10 year milestone. Here’s hoping the next 10 Years brings a decade of achievement for Celtic and CQN.
BMCUW
Aye indeed. Hehehehe.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
…..still miss them shoes though!
HH
End London rule. YES
Brother Walfrid
Another infrequent poster, but just wanted to say congrats Paul, and a big thank you!
Here’s a wee 60-yard strike to celebrate, check the fans’ reaction afterwards too, brilliant!
https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/no-just-irresponsible-selfish-shoot-isn-t-104153892.html
Congratulations Paul – a considerable achievement although I sometimes wish I didn’t spend quite so much time here!
For me your most insightful blog was the one in which you pointed out that a club open to all could not predict how it would be culturally defined in the future. If it was open to all by definition its future was open.
So who knows how it will all look in another ten years?
Green fuz
Keep the Faith was indeed one of early great Celtic blogs that whilst offering something different couldn’t last the pace. I was a keen fan.
I remember even earlier when there was a website called Henriks Tongue(very very late 90s, early noughties) which had lots of pics of stars mocked up in hoops and plenty pics of Henrik with his tongue oot!!
Highlight of my Friday back then was logging into the rumour mill on Etims. it has also lasted well!
HH
CRC
Congratulations on 10yrs Paul – here’s to plenty more
NEILMCCALLUMLENNON, it sure has.
croppybhoy, thank you.
mayanman, I will do.
pheersy, cheersy.
blantyretim, 10 in a row. It’s coming, this time.
Dj67YNWA, thank you.
Bada Bing, cheers.
JimmyK, you’re welcome.
WeefratheTim, thank you.
meansong, take care.
Dick Byrne, thank you.
Kojo, delighted to hear that.
leftclicktic, thank you for that.
Lennybhoy, irony indeed.
quantum, I am sure we will.
Seville67, ah, GL2’s reading list! Of course.
Tamrabam, indeed it is.
CRC, it better be.
jimbo67, indeed.
Vinny, green thumbs up back at you.
warszawabhoy, you’re welcome. Getting excited at the prospect?
Terrymac, aye, indeed. Best.
DavieL, and thanks for your support over the years.
dessybhoy, it sure has been.
Cubist Funk, aye, so many lost friends.
tully57, I know you were. I knew you were at the time. I was trying to fit him into the team when I knew he was no longer fitting up front.
The lesson is to cut them the moment they slip.
praecepta, I’m glad you were too. Best.
ayrshirtim, I sure will, thanks.
bhoys3, indeed.
lionroars67, it sure will.
pabloh, ha!
sdstim, me too.
corrib04, thanks for your kind words.
FourGreenFields, ah, unbroken history. Like it.
yorkbhoy, indeed.
antipodean red, thanks.
mickbhoy1888, *!*!
fritzsong, thank you.
Rioskorrie, well said.
Captain Beefheart, you’re back!!
CRC, pusher since 2004.
green fuz, meeting a Norwegian journo tomorrow to fill him in on things here.
ger57, cheers.
Kojo, that wee dug Collie is a remarkable creature. Throw him a bone, from me.
Drambowiecelt, borrowed phrase feels good, thanks.
jmccormick, indeed.
Cowiebhoy, good story.
boondock saint, cheers.
bournesouprecipe, cheers.
Rocket Man, aye, there’s a question.
notthebus, I’ll dig it out. V modest stuff, honestly.
kingsnake, thanks. My first stop in the morning is the wee room. Hmmm.
call me Gerry, cheers.
Dallas Dallas, I will do.
thomthethim, like it.
Burnley78, yes, I’ve had many fond times as a result of CQN, but being in the Blue Room, during the Kanus debacle, was one of them. Good to know my Rangers supporting friend was once able to come along with me there one day.
johann Murdoch, cheers.
tomtheleedstim, thank you.
Greenpinata, well said.
BigYinMilan, it sure is. Best.
Jonny the Tim, ha!
TimJim, you’re very welcome.
GerryBhoy, the energy comes and goes. And then comes again.
Croftcelt, cheers.
Henke’s Flowing Locks, you’re very welcome.
BrayStreet, yes, we cannot nor should not close the club to new influences and ideas. Only a few values can be retained. An interesting thought.
Numbskull, cheers.
Well done Paul. 10 years of blogging on t’internet is a fantastic achievement.
Chris
Amortisation CSC
bournesouprecipe: Brilliant photo
CQN Christina Quick News
HENKE’S FLOWING LOCKS
60 yards and the rest,mate!
Some shot.
Nearly as good as the disallowed Andy Ritchie goal against us back in the early 80s.
Anyone know of anything cool happening at the Holy Ground first 2 weeks of August? Coming to the UK with my bhoy who’s never been to Celtic park would love to show him the Celtic way (never seen it myself by the way)
Thanks for any input.
my first important post on here was in January last year, the day after I stopped smoking. my son Charles had been in a car crash, the support I got from here was overwhelming, however Charles survived his frontal lobotomy and is now back at work and being a wonderful father to wee Charlie….I sit here thinking how important CQN was to me, and for that paul67, I will always be in your debt. thank you, and as I sit with a bottle in front o’ me, I say cheers……..and here’s to the next ten years
CQN = one reason why its great to be a tim
Paul,
Happy tenth anniversary to you, and to all on CQN.
Thank you for all you have done, for giving we Celtic supporters something different, something unlike anything else that was available at the time.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet some fine Celtic men and women. I have debated, argued, celebrated, cried, pleaded, laughed, and been through just about every emotion with them. I have spent many a day in the company of some great people thanks to CQN.
We have lost some of the finest among them; Pablo, Celticlover, Miki67, and more. Each of them has left a mark on our hearts, and a feeling that we have been fortunate to have met them on here, or even luckier to have met them in person.
Through CQN, I have had the privilege to meet some of the greatest to have graced the hallowed turf at Celtic Park, to shake hands with superstars, who behaved as though they were mere mortals. To a man they have all been so modest, so unassuming, so ordinary almost, if that makes sense?
So, thank you for the last ten years, here’s to the next ten, and to CQtweNty!
Hail! Hail!
Cyrul
BMCUW – aye it’s a ping and a half mate, thought I’d err on the side of caution and just go with 60 though!
Paul67
A Rangers supporting friend suggested, “Why don’t you start a blog and challenge what they’re saying?”
===================
Is he still your pal?
Paul67: “kingsnake, thanks. My first stop in the morning is the wee room. Hmmm.”
Okay. Second, stop in the morning. First is ridding myself of Jim Traynor …
PS
Congratulations and many thanks.
CHARLIEBHOY
Clever wordplay,and delighted that yer lad is still going strong.
I remember your first post,wow,did it make an impression!
What a man yer Dad was,and proof of nurture v nature.
I’m gonna send you a link to a book of boys’ names cos I canny help thinking that yer not shoeing much imagination.
Then again,I won’t. Because it is just a way of showing respect and gratitude.
Here’s to CHARLIEBHOY the XXIII and beyond!
Paul67 – great achievement. Congrats to you – well deserved
Cheers Paul
So yoda gets the podium today!
Quite fitting. Very fitting.
Perhaps only matched by an EK weather observation from Jobo or an update on the chooks from Weefra ….. or indeed any number of the myriad weird, wonderful and unique posters on CQN (gents cited above, ‘weird’ not applicable in your cases. Honest!)
Paul. A thousand thanks for creating this place and tending to it.
Hoopy Birthday CQN
C’mon the Hoops!
HH jamesgang
Yes, Paul67, I think your next article should be about “amortization”. There’s now a generation on here who won’t be aware of how that has had such a profound effect on our finances…….
GettingoldandgrumpyCSC.
Ah feel a Predo Coming Oan!!
Oh! Oh!
Whit’s a Predo.. ??
Ah thought ye’d wanna Know.. So Ah wull Tell Ye..
A Predo is a…
VATICINATION..
Whit? Whit’s that ?
Well… It is Something like a
AHARIOLATION.
Whit.?
Ye know.. A BODEMENT..
Anyway.. Enuff o’ that stuff..
Here is Ma Predo..
” St. Pat’s wull No Be defeated .”
That’s It??
Yes.. That’s It!
Kojo
Still,Laughin
JAMESGANG
Maybe PHILVISRETURNS will return from his self-imposed exile?
I live in hope.
Paul,
10 years? – goodness me!
Thank you for all your time, effort ,not forgetting cost, in providing the Celtic support with this vehicle to discuss, debate and inform.
Also on this day (20th July) in 1987 – Celtic sold Alan McInally to Aston Villa. He scored 22 goals in 85 appearances.
In 1994 Carl Muggleton was sold to Stoke City for £200000 after he had made just 13 appearances (six of which were shut-outs).
Also in 1994, Charlie Nicholas signed for Celtic for the third time.
None of these events of course were as significant as the birth of CQN :)
Congratulations.
We’re on the road again
Read the opening line, what do they mean one of the most prominent :-)
Nearly two years ago one of the most prominent CELTIC websites, Celtic Quick News predicted that the owners of new Rangers club, Sevco 5088 were planning a ‘sale and leaseback’ of Ibrokes and Murray Park.
The notion of that happening has been laughed at, ridiculed and dismissed several times over by various parties connected with both the Oldco and the Newco. What we have learned in the last couple of years, at least, is that the ‘internet bampots’ on the Celtic side of cyberspace know more about the South Side club than their own support do.
In fact, there’s even a best selling book about it!
Maybe it’s because the message is coming from the Green side, excuse the pun, that they don’t want to believe what’s going on. So, will they take it as ‘gospel’ when one of their former chairmen, they had so many, admits that the ‘sale and leaseback’ of the two properties is a possibility?
Malcolm Murray, remember him, the one that pisses himself and gets helped into waiting motors whilst being filmed by ‘colleagues’, has now broken rank and admitted the S&L IS on the agenda of the current board, although I’m sure he denied it when he was chairman.
His former ‘mates’ are running out of cash and he knows it. So, in an effort to regain his club tie an blazer, he’s decided to hook up with the Sons of Struth, a fans group that can boast of Nacho Novo and John Brown as their poster boys. This will give him a platform to put the boot in to the current incumbents, although his own actions as chairman leave a lot to be desired.
In all honesty, his choices were limited. He might have leaned towards the Union of Fans, but they’ve disbanded after the Lying King disappeared back to south Africa…I think. So it was the aptly named SOS, or nothing…
All this backstabbing leaves another unanswered question in the Sevco civil war. Who will Super Salary come out and back?
My money is on anybody who’ll keep paying his ludicrous wages
Occasional poster but long time reader, congrats on the 10 years! Its been a rollercoaster lol!
HH