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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871 Comments

  1. I hope Scotland win today. Don’t know enough to suggest any team but a midfield with Broonie, Darren Fletcher and Charlie Adams should prove quite a handful for any opposition. Worried about lack of pace in the defence, tbh.

  2. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    TOHG is over in Ireland for the match, went over last night on the Ferry and is heading onto Dublin

     

    He isn’t driving so the Brandy will get as kelp info today

  3. Latchford all of us are able to make generalisations at times when we are caught up in some issue that we oppose. I for one have tried to make the SNP aware of my feelings on the OB Act. I have written to Nicola Sturgeon, Roseanna Cunningham , Stuart McMillan and Chris McEleny. I am about to compose a letter to the new Inverclyde MP. A copy of the correspondence has always been forwarded to Hamilton Tim.

     

     

    Incidentally I also had a private meeting on the subject with Rosanna Cunningham at Holyrood. So one if not other SNP supporters has done his bit in trying to have this most unjust of Acts removed from the statute books.

  4. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    An Dun

     

     

    If Scotland lose,then there couldn`t be better winners.

     

     

    We`re on the one road.

     

    Kelts (Celts) are us.

     

     

    Have a wee Guinness or three to protect you from the elements.

     

    Medicinal,Father.

     

    Medicinal.

  5. Macjay…………….weather warm and dry in Dublin perfect conditions for football and maybe Ireland and Scotland can both qualify.

  6. Connaire12,

     

     

    Admirable. Pity the vast Celtic SNP element don’t properly lobby within their party for change.

     

     

    Contrast it to the outpourings of grief on Twitter, message boards when Jim Murphy put his head above the parapet.

     

     

    Silence.

     

     

    Why does the SNP Celtic wing not speak up within their party etc What are they afraid of ?

     

     

    the SNP created the problem …..they have the responsibility to fix it.

  7. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    WGS “we can cope if the Irish decide to get physical”… ‘cheap shot’ at mind games …..

     

     

    MON THE IRISH …. !!!!

  8. Latchford – correct and it looks like steps are underway to educate those falling foul of the legislation, rather than criminalise them. Since they’re clearly intent on keeping this legislation this must be viewed as a positive move.

     

     

    One thing that shouldn’t be overlooked in all of this is the role Police Scotland have had in implementing it. I think in general terms House has been far more draconian across a range of issues than anybody is happy with.

  9. Marrakesh Express on

    Jduffy132

     

     

    About 20 years ago my uncle was working in Monsanto. One Sunday shift he was asked by two Sevcodgers if he’d kindly give them a lift home to Kilwinning. Andy said no problem. Arriving at Kilwinning, they asked my uncle to pull into the Number O Masonic (or is it Orange) club as they were choking for a pint. ‘I could go a quick one myself’ Andy said.

     

    … ‘eh, sorry mate Tims allowed’

     

    .. ‘That right? Well get a f’ ”’n taxi next week’.

     

    It could Mississippi or Alabama.

  10. Cosy corner bhoy

     

     

    Yer taking me back in time now!

     

     

    I went to St Michael’s in 1966, the year after it opened. It was all new and shiny and a far cry from my previous school, St Pat’s PS in Troon which was ancient.

     

     

    As you know it was a wee Fenian enclave surrounded by hostility, but inhabited by ‘nutters’!

     

     

    …and that included some of the teachers!

     

     

    Apart from the first year I enjoyed my time there.

     

     

    HH!!

  11. up_over_goal on

    Really looking forward to today’s game – two well-matched sides with a pleasing mixture of talent, grit, and full fat buffoonery. Should be a great watch.

     

     

    A bit of scathing contempt for Mulgrew on social media. Pity, as he was unquestionably Scotland’s best player at Celtic Park. The problem this time will be his lack of match fitness – he didn’t impress on the handful of outings Ronny gave him towards season’s end; then again, those were at CB, not CM where WGS likes to play him.

     

     

    The Irish will want this more than the Scots, so I’m going for a home win. Would like to see Stokes start.

  12. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    hankray

     

    09:20 on

     

    13 June, 2015

     

     

    hankray

     

    09:20 on

     

    13 June, 2015

     

     

    Mate

     

     

    I`m in Oz.

     

    With all the chat on C.Q.N. about the game,I feel I have to watch live. 2am our time.

     

    Just called Foxtel (Sky Oz) to include E.S.P.N.

     

    First month free. Cancellable any time.

     

     

    Both qualify?

     

    That would be magic.

     

    I hope our “travellers” are behaving themselves.

  13. sunny calmachie on

    Catman

     

     

    That was a great read,

     

    The world is full of brown nose hypocrites,

     

     

    Happy Celticing

  14. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Up_over_goal

     

     

    was discussing with a mate about wgs playing Darren Fletcher inxtead of Charlie

     

    i thought Fletcher, he thinks wgs will stick with Charlie and Broonie

  15. Marrakesh – definitely Orange. Catholics are allowed into the Masons, although I think the get excommunicated if they’re found out.

     

     

    Anyway there’s a slight flaw in your analogy the segregation in the Southern States was by law and in public places. Not for some horribly bigoted private club, which is closer to men only golf clubs really.

  16. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    COSYCORNERBHOY

     

     

    Nae wonder the troops don’t ask for a hootenanny in Kilwinning!

     

     

    Btw,mailed you about a wee shindig in Ayr next month.

  17. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    CATMAN

     

     

    Thoroughly enjoyed that,cheers.

     

     

    If you fancy a wee bevvy in Ayr next month,contact Pedrocaravanachio67.

     

     

    He has the details. Venue is 50 yes from the station.

  18. up_over_goal on

    blantyretim

     

     

    Good shout, and Fletcher seems fit – not to mention the 3-0 win v Chelsea where he was instrumental.

     

     

    The ‘balance’ argument is maybe against him – an attacking CM to partner Brown, rather than a deep-lying midfielder like Mulgrew, might leave our defence exposed – but playing a semi-fit Charlie is also a risk.

     

     

    No doubt WGS will run the rule on both – he’s a stickler for fitness, so if there’s any doubt Charlie won’t play.

  19. Down for Sam,

     

     

    I was living in Salford at the time. Apologists like Lindsay might get a ready audience in Scotland but NOBODY in England (and certainly not the Greater Manchester area) would lay the blame for the devastation anywhere but at the doors of the deid team’s follow followers. They were an utter disgrace.

     

     

    The irony is that the naive local media thought initially their odd little “ditties” were humourous. It was only gradually they realised they were songs of hate.

  20. Great result for Wales last night. A few Celts (and ex Celts) will be on show in tonight’s game.

     

     

    They talk about bringing in summer football. Looks like this season ends in the middle of June and the new one starts in July.

  21. BMCUW

     

     

    Mail received about the proposed Ayrshire Tims AGM next month.

     

     

    AGM?

     

     

    AWE GETTIN’ MINGIN’?!

     

     

    Same as last year then!

     

     

    HH!!

  22. Weeminger,

     

     

    Stephen House is a robocop with not an ounce of humanity. He is driven by achieving his KPIs. His stop and search of children was illegal. As the Sunday Times reported he was on the M8 on his motorbike pulling over cars for speeding altho not enforceable in court.

     

     

    Police Scotland was created to reduce costs and deliver a more efficient organised service. None of the above achieved.

     

     

    House is perfect for the SNP to drive the arrest figures for the OBB and justify the Bill. The SNP have criminlised football and House has been a more than willing accomplice to execute the policy on the ground with the camera squad and the dawn raids.

  23. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Latchford

     

     

    House is a megalomaniac …self interested , self important egotist

     

     

     

    No idea about real people or real life

     

     

    He has turned policing into a KPI competiton …the standard of new police officers is appalling ..desperate to arrest anyone for anything ….a sea change in policing is necessary ..the recent recruits won’t do

     

     

    Re OB Act ..ill conceived …stupid ..atrociously drafted legislation. … Happily the judiciary recognise it as such…

  24. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    PF

     

    hope the ayr hootenany doesn’t clash with your plans

  25. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    Latchford

     

     

    The disparity between arrest figures for the OB Act and successful prosecution is stark …COPFS are continually disingenuous in their reporting

  26. ....PFayr supports WeeOscar on

    BT

     

     

    Typical

     

     

    F all to do for weeks ..then two things on same F ing day

  27. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    BLANTYRETIM

     

     

    I’ve already changed it from the previous week to suit him. No show without Punch!

  28. Lennon n Mc....Mjallby on

    Seen thon wee tweet yesterday about the Gaelic name for Kilwinning as referenced at the town’s train station and working out the words I’m just glad that Fenian translates as ‘winning’.

     

     

    ;)

  29. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    Youtube ‘Happy birthday to me’ by Harry Laughlin if you want a right laugh….

  30. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    BMCUW

     

     

    When I read your post I thought it would clash with PF racing day oot

  31. bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers

     

     

    10:16 on 13 June, 2015

     

    CATMAN

     

     

    18 July,bud. Talk Pete into it as well.

     

     

    Can’t do that date pal. Another time hopefully

     

     

    HH