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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Dear dear Paul
W hat can I say that has not already been said ? Many names mentioned today that bring back such warm memories reminding me why this site has become an essential part of daily life . So nice to see a post from Martin STAND UP FOR THE CHAMPIONS 42 a rightly proud father.
From me simply merci mille fois!
TCR
Both parents born and bred in Monaghan (Scotstoun & Castleblaney).
Married and reared kids in Glasgow.
Family Summer hols were spent back “home” every 2/3 years for fair fortnight.
Still visit when I can.
Monaghan right back in it with a great goal.
Well done Paul on the ten years of CQN and on today’s post which has lifted the clouds that have hovered over the blog this past week. Happy holidays!
TCR
aye plenty great nights in there,lots of great memories, the place went right downhill though in the past few years and was nowhere near the pub it was when Davie S had it,feel for those that lost their job mind you
Donegal made a complete mess of that , now Donegal 0-10 to Monaghan’s 1-06
Happy Birthday
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=inS9gAgSENE
Like several others today, I am a rare poster who simply wants to say thank you, Paul, for establishing a blog that, most of the time, bristles with good, thoughtful argument and sensitivity.
TCR / 4gf
You guys from Donegal ?
Happy birdie to you, happy birdie to you….
Happy birdie, CQN, happy birdie tooooo yoooouuuu …. !!!!!!!!!!
it was posted earlier that thems couldn’t have a CQN …….OH!!! YES THEY CAN!!!!
ReQuiescat iN pace
call me gerry,
Great stuff mate.
My mother was from Carrickmacross.God rest her.
Used to love going there when I was young.
About a mile outside the town in the country.
Went year after year.Fantastic times.
call me gerry
Family from Donegal and Leitrim mate , I’m from Glasgow but went ‘home ‘ as you say every year when younger .
Been over the last few years , love the place to bits .
Paul
CAN is a phenomenon.
It must take a lot of effort every day, unrelentingly so.
We do appreciate.
Many thanks.
call me gerry,
Same as fourgreenfields.
Donegal connections.Oh and Monaghan too.haha.
From Clydebank,now living in Derry.
Just logged in , what a fantastic post tae mark the wonderful occasion , here we go fur ten on a row , thanks Paul , this is where it’s at! … Hoops … We love the Hoops
Gordy,
I thought you may have went to the Ranch for the finale?
martin42
17:14 on 20 July, 2014
Your welcome my friend.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
viewfaethewindae
You are missed on these pages ,pop in more often .
Congratulations to the Under 17s, oooooor Jude will be a proud granda again tonight.
Thinking back to my early teens always used to enter paradise via the traditional’once upon a time there was a football club called. ..’end. Turnstiles next to the old Celtic shop.Anybody remember an old fella used to sit outside singing Tic songs with his I think ukilelie (spelling).
If you or anyone put money in his kitty he would sing louder. I might be a bit mauding here but remember walking in to Celtic park, making my way to the Jungle and waiting for the Tic to appear surrounded by thousands of mates who mostly you didn’t know button it didn’t matter you were linked by being what you are.
A CELTIC SUPPORTER.
HAIL HAIL Timalloys.
For all the infrequent posters who have posted today – many thanks and post more!!!! Hh
TCR
Loved fortnight every time. Would stay a week on farm were my dad was reared (his brother worked the farm), and a week in Clones at his sisters.
My parents just back this week from latest visit.
Aunts still there (uncles passed God rest them).
fourgreenfields,
The sting has went out of the game.
Donegal not cruising,but I don’t think Monaghan have it in them to pull it back.
5 minutes left.Donegal 0-14 Monaghan 1-08
Leftclick- agree viefaethewindae- please post again hh
Well Paul we share anniversaries today, 10 for you and 24 for me and Mrs P, good enough excuss to open up a bottle of champagne :)
Congratulations Paul on ten years of CQN the blog that changed & informed the way our great Club was reported it was a like a breath of fresh air when I stumbled across it many years ago,now it’s a place I visit nearly every day, it’s been a pleasure. Thank you and looking forward to another ten
In the spirit of today – could someone post the sea bream recipe again please – I’ve loast it!! :)
To Paul67 and all the posters and lurkers.
Congratulations on 10 years. A great achievement and a great blog.
I’m sure that for many it is , as it is for me , now an essential part of the Celtic journey.
Jim McGuinness like a caged animal on the sidelines..
4gf/TCR
Good show lads. Can’t wait to go over again…wife loves the place (who wouldn’t) :-)
Donegal deserved winners today…hungrier team….Monaghnan poor show today
:-(
prestonpans bhoys dam justice for the 5
17:34 on 20 July, 2014
Well Paul we share anniversaries today, 10 for you and 24 for me and Mrs P, good enough excuss to open up a bottle of champagne :)
……..
Enjoy mate and congratulations.
prestonpans bhoys dam justice for the 5
Congratulations to you both,
call me gerry
Not Monaghan’s day today mate , good to chat with you and tricoloured ribbon.
murdochauldandhay & wee oscar
17:34 on 20 July, 2014
You get my text, never sure if I have your old or new number?
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
call me gerry,
Donegal a faster,hungrier and fitter team.
I confidently say though that Dublin will prevail this year again..
Their young players are immense
Congratulations Paul. What a revelation it was to discover CQN.
Must ask you if you were working in an Edinburgh software house at the time of your blog as if so, a former colleague says hello. If that’s rubbish, ignore me, if its true, I’ll email her name.
Here’s to the next 10 years.
Bhoys4ever
prestonpans bhoys dam justice for the 5:
Congratulations to you both, I trust you had a lovely meal last night.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Paul67 let me add my Congrats to the many others you have received today. As has been mentioned I am sure it takes up many hours of your time but it is well appreciated.I have met many fine people via CQN and for that and the charity work you encourage I will be eternally grateful.All the best to you and yours. Hail Hail Hebcelt.