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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P67
There are two achievements today … Blog running ten years … Your marriage still intact despite your time and efforts
Well done mrs 67 ;)
Come on Donegal
Wee Rory beginning to drop shots, c’mon wee man get your dads bet up.
Paul
As a daily reader of this fine blog, I also echo the comments from fellow CQNers.
Roll on the next ten years, what changes will we observe and debate on this the best blog on Planet Celtic
Paul67
Thank you for this great site. It has greatly enhanced my life over the past few years.
It transposes me from Manchester to EK in the morning on wards to Hamilton, Blantyre, CP on the field and in the Bored Room. All over the rest of Scotland and even a glint of sun from a lyrical Las Vegas and golden Oz.
Swindon, London, Leeds. all over Ireland and the glorious Fylde Coast. To
Switzerland, Warsaw, Barcelona and Sicily the words type.
The charitable acts from all over the world that hark back to our founding fathers
fourgreenfields
May the best team win…
…and may the best team be Monaghan
Happy Birthday CQN and congratulations Paul67 on reaching the 10year milestone.
Well done Paul, 10 years of not lazy journalism and a deserved place in Celtic’s wonderful history.
HH
call me gerry
Hope its a good game mate , each to their own :-)
Well done Paul 10 years and counting , thanks for not barring me for posting
God bless her majesty
TIMABHOUY
Always made me laugh,that!
HH
Thank you Paul for this fantastic facility. In particular thank you for the great friends I have met through this wonderful site.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/489992/Celtic-to-take-Latin-class-in-Javier-Aquino.
Don’t know anything about this guy,but I think we should have given Paul McMullen some game time in our friendlies.The answer might be right on our doorstep.
S’ Revenue & Customs
( ps they won’t give up )
Just wanted to add my thanks to Paul for all he has done these past 10 years.
Seem to remember finding it after Shaktar Donetsk game at Celtic Park. Not knowing how to see more comments until someone else was brave enough to ask and found out about f5 button, Logged in via my wifes blogger account so we had serious gender confusion issues at the start :-)
Strange Apparition
Congratulations and thanks Paul. This blog has been a comfort and vent, a friend and soundboard for God knows how many Celtic fans, before you even start on the catalyst for good it has been for various charities and good causes.
bournesouprecipe
16:13 on 20 July, 2014
Strange Apparition
………..
Where is that ?
Sincere congratulations Paul.
10 years is no mean feat in no mean city.
Keep challenging the lazy journalism.
CQN is my first stop for genuine news. Often humorous, often frustrating, often thought provoking and has often brought tears to my eyes.
I hope that the many posters who have added their congratulations today will feel able to post more regularly.
The charitable acts from all over the world that hark back to our founding fathers defines CQN at its finest.
Keep it up Paul and all with CQN in their heart.
Paul well done on a magnificent 10 years, I probably have been on the journey with you the last 5, very seldom post, but have to have my fix at least several times a day, thank you for what you have created and nurtured, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank your family as I am sure sacrifices have been made by them also, so well done and hail hail.
Paul,
It’s hard to believe it has been 10 years. There have been a lot of changes to the club and to Scottish football in that time. I’ve been lurking for most of those 10 years since I discovered this remarkable place and the gifted, opinionated and occasionally annoying people who make it such an oasis for (mostly) intelligent debate and conversation.
I’m 8 hours behind you so generally catch my daily fix when having breakfast. This blog has become, long since, the go-to place for Celtic news.
Many, many congratulations on all your achievements, especially the truly amazing charitable work that’s been carried out by so many on here.
Des
Cheers Kojo.
Let’s hope we get as many supporters as possible for the game against Legia. Afterall there will be a Polish invasion.
I would love to see Ronny thump them and give us a terrific opportunity to progress to the CL.
Forget Commonwealth games exposure, the exposure comes from the CL.
Just got a 3cd Johnny Cash compilation. This life ain’t so bad sometimes. Take careeveveryone.
Paul
Still a piece of history, it would be good to see where it all started
bournesouprecipe
CQN Secret HQ somewhere in the wilds of Lanarkshire!!
Tricoloured
Sent via cyberspace from the emerald isle!
SP
Irish HQ.
bsr,
Not guilty pal!!
Paul
You’ve done an incredible job. A privilege to know you and many other fine fellas on CQN.
Paul67
Can I just add my thanks and appreciation for the time and effort you have shown in setting up and running this blog. It remains a credit to your commitment, determination and enthusiasm.
I have met many fine people through CQN although I do not get as involved in the social side as I would like. The blog also give me one of the finest experiences I have ever had, I.e. The cycle to Belfast to raise funds for wee Oscar. Without CQN I would never have experienced cycling four miles uphill out of Ballantrae in a snowstorm, and I wouldn’t have missed it for a second.
Hopefully by the time we are celebrating CQNs twentieth anniversary we are also celebrating 13 in a row.
Back at the golf, who is Scotland’s No.1 this week?
SG -7 (16), MW -2 (14). Six shot swing today in favour of the West Lothian Bhoy.
Long time devoted lurker and spreader of the word of the blog. I reckon about 8-9 years, and this is my first post. 10 years is a great achievement & I felt it was time to come on & give thanks. Not only to Paul67 (although he undoubtedly deserves the big piece of chicken), but also to all the various (wonderful) fruit cakes who’ve lent their fluctuating levels of wisdom and humour. You are the crew which powers the great ship CQN. Paul67 is El Capitano, steering her through the choppy waters of lazy journalism. I’ve silently sailed on many a voyage with you all. Laughing, learning, hoping, crying, mourning. Early characters such as Guinness Moustache (whatever happened to him?), undercover friendlies like Ursa Major, the hilarious ‘ranjurs taps a huv goat’ guy (Bawbag something?), Alan Gow’s white hat, introductions to a range of new (to me) music/films/art, the updates on the behind the scenes manoeuvres within Paradise, the efforts of those keeping our charitable roots alive. All of these people. All of these actions. And so many, many more. These things make me glad every day that I have Celtic in my heart.
Thanks Paul67.
Thanks fruit cakes.
Captain BeefHeart
at 16.20
Hiya,Palomine.. Great.. it be… tae finalee… Greet Yee..
Ah don’t want Legia!
N..if Ma Predo is Correct..
We wull get.. St. Pat’s.
St. Pat’s, Played very well,in Poland..
They Said Legia..Played…Not.. So well..n…They Ur Right.
Yes, Ah want St. Pat’s.
Nice Chatting, as evah..
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Hail Hail, Paul.
10 years well spent.
Captain Beefheart: The “Essential Johnny Cash, 1955-1983”?
I wonder if Sevco hear the train a comin’ …
Good noisy crowd at the Ulster Final..getting tasty..
Nice article.
Despite being an infrequent poster I’ve managed to make a number of friends through CQN (some of whom I actually like!) and also, somewhat surprisingly, found a few existing friends hiding behind odd blog names (apart from Richie perhaps) but the best thing for me is that just once in a while CQN encourages me think about and do things for others who are less fortunate than me……and that is a huge feat in itself.
Thanks Paul….and everyone else.