Courts, offensive law and a club for the downtrodden

871

I’m a bit disappointed RIFC were not in a position to advise their shareholders the results of the votes this morning.  Doing so would not have added 10 minutes to proceedings.  My expectation is that the board would win both votes, giving them a resounding platform this weekend to sell tickets for lower league football.  Perhaps there’s more going on than I thought.

You have to wonder what that expensive legal business in London and Edinburgh yesterday was all about?  Many details of Sports Direct’s deal with Newco are public knowledge, and the void of missing details is filled with pretty stark speculation.  It struck me that counsel for Sports Direct noted the chronology of the new board being appointed, the subsequent leaks and that Newco had not denied they were the source of the leak.  All now on record, in court.  Confidentiality is, of course, a condition of the agreement, which could now be argued is in breach.  That would be a source of regret.  For some.

More on Dave King over the weekend.  He can’t help himself.

You have to admire those who work to expose the absurdity of the Offensive Behaviour Act, designed by the SNP government to “equalise” non criminal offenses with criminal offenses.  Unfortunately, the campaigners are wasting their time, the Act is here to stay, anyone in doubt should read the news this morning that 80% of people surveyed support it.  Ask the average person in the street if they support a law against Offensive Behaviour and they’re hardly likely to say ‘no’.  This type of survey is manipulative nonsense.  Police with guns on the streets and politically motivated laws are a by-product of blind populism.  This is an offensive law and I am horrified.

Robert King is one of the Angola 3, who were incarcerated in solitary confinement in the Louisiana town of that name, and who have become causes célèbres for miscarriage of justice campaigners and prison reformers alike.  King spent 30 years in solitary before having his conviction overturned.  If you don’t know about the Angola 3, go find out.

He pitched up on CNN yesterday dressed in distinctive attire (below).

My relationship with Celtic is different to King’s.  I’m a Celtic fan because that’s the way I was brought up, but I’m pretty sure King’s roots don’t reach back to the Emerald Isle.  Chances are, I’d be a Celtic fan whether we were a club with a social mission or not.  For others, for King, the reasons they wear a shirt on TV, buy a season ticket, or simply share in our joy on occasion, are different.

We are the club of the underdog, a beacon for the downtrodden, a place where they will find a welcome.  No one can plan for this, it either survives over the decades or it doesn’t, so it’s worthwhile telling this part of our story now and again, to set ourselves a core target: Remain the most ethical football club in the world.

To deliver on this you and I need to step forward, this is not a job that can be outsourced to the club, it takes all of us.  You can start here by signing up for the Great Scottish Run for the Foundation.  I know at least 30 runners who read this, sign up before I see you in person!

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  1. Ernie I’m sure Fidel predicted it as you said as you foresaw the demise of the Labour party in Scotland.

  2. It’s late so I don’t expect many of you will watch it tonight, however, if you want the most comprehensive insight into the troubled but incredible mind of Shane McGowan then this is it.

     

     

    It’s brilliant.

     

     

     

    http://youtu.be/Rey44lqQFJE

  3. timbhoy in spain on

    Good evening Timland,just been out forra chinky with the wife & neighbours & a wee bit inebriated..Hope you are all well.

     

    DD.Terry Smitrh & his good woman Grace are coming out tae visit us in September wi a view to buyin a villa oot here.

     

    He was askin for ye.

     

    HH.

  4. Delaneys Dunky on

    Alasdair

     

     

    That is a very kind offer and will suit my sis, who is a lovely lass and would accept a piece at any door. Haha.

  5. Delaneys Dunky on

    TiS

     

     

    Magic. Tell Terry that Garry would love to talk about the rare auld times in Knightswood! Teenage Kicks! :)

  6. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Gordybhoy64, i need to learn how to put the smiley face at the end of my posts. I’m an IT dunderheid.

     

     

    Crazy Braezy is my favourite name for a gang.

     

     

    Talking of pansies, on the BBC Dave Allen show many years ago, part of the show was using anagrams of famous/infamous people’s names.

     

     

    Rev Ian Paisley was vile IRA pansey. My dad was in hysterics at that one. Big Ian from Belfast city wasn’t one of his favourite people.

  7. Alasdair MacLean on

    Hamoltim,

     

     

    Think I’ve seen this one before – but Shane is and has been one of the biggest musical influences on my life – post 1984 since I first heard his voice at a party at the old mill in Strathpeffer.

     

     

    The song that came on was “The Greenland Whale Fisheries”; as song I knew off by heart from the Dubliners since I was 12.

     

     

    I remember turning round and saying, “Who the f is that?”

     

     

    Absolutely loved him ever since.

     

     

    Long story about the Capitol in Aberdeen about 4 years later – another time!

  8. Not a great fan of the honours system but was struck by this from the BBC Scotland website on the now Sir James MacMillan…..

     

     

    Dr MacMillan, who wrote a new choral piece which was sung when Pope Benedict XVI conducted mass at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow in 2010, is being knighted for services to music.

     

    The 55-year-old composer, who was born in Kilwinning in North Ayrshire, has previously described the high point of his career as “writing a piece for the unveiling of a statue of the founder of Celtic FC”.

     

     

    The Bears will not like us Tims being given such awards from Auld Lizzie!

  9. Alasdair MacLean on

    Delaneys Dunky,

     

     

    For reference – just ask Tony Dingwall about the cabin at the roundabout!

  10. timbhoy in spain

     

     

    23:19 on 12 June, 2015

     

     

    ‘Good evening Timland,just been out forra chinky with the wife & neighbours & a wee bit inebriated.’

     

     

     

    ###

     

     

    Come back when you’re sober.

  11. delaneys dunky

     

     

    23:21 on 12 June, 2015

     

    Alasdair

     

     

    That is a very kind offer and will suit my sis, who is a lovely lass and would accept a piece at any door. Haha.

     

     

    ——-

     

     

    Jeezo dude, I hope the only Magnum she takes to the game is an ice cream!

     

     

    FeelLuckyPunkCSC

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  12. Kelvinbhoy If James MacMillan accepted such an honour it would make him an utter hypocryte.

  13. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Alisdair MacLean, Shane MacGowan is a very underrated singer and songwriter.

     

     

    The Pogues concerts , especially the one after the St Patrick’s Day massacre, at the Barras, were something else.

     

     

    Rainy night in Soho is one of Shane’s finest. A Pair of Brown Eyes and Turkish Song of the Damned are fantastic songs also.

     

     

    Shane’s vocals on the Pogues version of Eric Bogle’s, Waltzing Mathilda, really do the song justice.

  14. timbhoy in spain on

    Delaneys,Aye yer a sound man.

     

    Been talkin a lot tae Alco( Mc culloch)

     

    & he’s the same as yersel.

     

    Wan o the hardest men ah’ve met is Alex.

     

    We got kicked oot a pub doon in England right on the bell

     

    An me him & wee Terry sey aboot the bouncers.

     

    Sorted them right oot.

     

    Fuds.

  15. Alasdair MacLean on

    Hamiltontim,

     

     

    Sinead O Connor doing a song with no name……the only piece I can do word perfect no matter how drunk….

     

     

    As Charles Kennedy said, ask OHITS – he knows….

  16. Delaneys Dunky on

    Alasdair

     

     

    Cheers. Will do thanks. :)

     

    Will be up to Dingwall myself. Will look you up Al.

     

    Hail Hail

  17. timbhoy,

     

     

    I am great, good to hear from you.

     

     

    I will drop you an e mail over the weekend.

     

     

    Missing Spain, but enjoying Ireland.

  18. Alasdair MacLean on

    Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas,

     

     

    In a way, because Shane sang all the classic folk songs, for me, so well – they kinda became the landmark – no-one sings them better than he.

     

     

    Exceptions….Roddy McCorley – my Dad did it better!

  19. Gordon64……not disagreeing with that mate but the sentiment was not lost on me. The Crown recognising a guy who’s greatest achievement was to compose a piece on our founder. There’s an irony in that for me……anyway,hope you and your wingman are well.

  20. coolmore mafia on

    Shane is a genius, no doubt about it.

     

     

    He doesn’t enjoy singing anymore which is a shame. I’d like him to write, paint, anything other than bevvying and drugging 24/7.

  21. Delaneys Dunky on

    TiS

     

     

    Alco, Terry and I were Tims in a hun scheme. We were never bullied. Impossible. ;))

  22. Kelvinbhoy all good amigo. Fed up with so called men of the labour people now called Lord this and Sir that . HH

  23. timbhoy in spain on

    Clogher Bhoy great tae hear from your good self.

     

    Still lovin it here but me & the wife are gonnae try real hard to get over to Dublin next year..

     

    BSR( ma hero) I’ve got scarves fae the 50’s & the 60’s .

     

    Ma heritage.

     

    HH

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