You can imagine the scene, deep inside Celtic Park. “Let’s invite Fergus over to raise the flag on the opening day of the season. Would be great to get him back 20 years after his critical role in saving the club, especially after that nonsense in ’98.
“Wait a minute, probably best not to mention the flag just yet, let’s call it the opening home game of the season”.
16 years ago Fergus McCann accompanied Jean Stein onto Celtic Park to raise the league title flag, an event which seemed beyond us when he flew into Glasgow to complete the takeover from the old board in 1994.
He was booed by a sizeable minority of the support, ostensibly for not spending enough money on players. It was a source of regret for tens of thousands of us. Fergus arrived with a plan to turnaround a club which played in an antiquated stadium and were being thoroughly routed on the park. He left five years later with the league flag flying high, a modern 60,000 seater stadium and net bank debt at £2.5m. It was something of an economic miracle, and although he got the money he wanted when he sold up, he never got the credit he deserved.
Celtic fans had been conditioned to distrust him by a small handful of people with considerable reach. The club was being rag-dolled, despite the miracles it was performing. The man himself was never one for showboating, his last two contributions to Celtic were to speak at the annual Celtic Charity (the charity he formed) dinner, and to mark the unveiling of the Brother Walfrid statue. Only charity has brought him back, so this will be a rare day indeed.
I’m absolutely delighted to announce we are publishing Tommy Gemmell’s autobiography, “Tommy Gemmell – All the Best’. The book is written and will be out in the summer. It will be a paperback but we are going to do a small hardback run, all of which will be signed by Tommy, and will include a special chapter with questions from CQN’ers, which Tommy will answer in the book. Details on how to submit a question soon.
This one is going to be a lot of fun……….
If you would like to read the new CQN Magazine, GO HERE to read properly, and for FREE, the graphic below is just a taster.
[calameo code=0003901710a55b5798f06 lang=en page=1 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
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Henrik WASN’T booed. The booing started as soon as the announcer stated that Deco was being subbed. He was loudly booed off the park and hardly anyone in the ground was aware that it was Henrik who was coming on.
I suppose if you were watching it on TV it may have seemed like that though.
Jock Stein being offered an agents pool job!
Anyone have spare tickets to the 1975 in glasgow tonight?
3rd party vendor has let us down and left us one or two short of enough tickets
Robert 88
Not currently available but or future reference
http://www.worldofrarebooks.com/?CLSN_3683=13916298123683aa294db726e0b5ad40&keyword=+mcnee&searchby=author&page=shop%2Fbrowse&fsb=1&Search=Search
Celtic Football Club @celticfc 1m
57mins: Change for Celtic. Holmbert Fridjonsson is replaced by Luke Donnelly. It’s still 1-0 to the young Hoops.
——-
I think the young bhoy just booked a place in the squad for tomorrow!
HH
/Bishop B
Geordie Munro
I said a few months back that we should consider playing the first game at rugby park. It holds 18000. If we are only going to get 25000 say at murrayfield then travelling all that way and paying all that extra money to ‘hire’ a more than half empty murrayfield for only a few thousand extra fans seems a bit illogical
In saying that its only ten minutes from my work so….
Cadizzy
My surname is Murray. I’m quite upset at your scathing remark about the name Murray. Just because one is a dodgy dealing, press loving egomaniac with dreams of moonbeams and floating stadia and casinos under the Clyde. Doesn’t mean we are all the same. For example I’m skint.
STBF
Thank you for your kind words
Ernie
I’m not in the least bit desperate as I sit here in sunny Ayrshire looking over a wonderfully calm sea to the beautiful Isle of Arran
Murrayfield does for me. I can walk it to the games.
There must be at least 50,000 Celtic fans in the east of Scotland and Fife. I expect a huge turn out.
LB
I think CFC should invite Wim to sit next to Fergus at the first home match next season.
After a joint-unfurling of the flag.
Would Wim boo Fergus?
HH!!
LiviBhoy
Murrayfield does for me. I can walk it to the games
—————————-
Thats a fair trek from Livingston Can you not just sail your yacht along the canal ;-)
Frank Ryan’s whisky
It was a factual event that occurred; simple as that and take what u want from it
hendrix67
14:41 on 7 February, 2014
“Cadizzy
My surname is Murray. I’m quite upset at your scathing remark about the name Murray. Just because one is a dodgy dealing, press loving egomaniac with dreams of moonbeams and floating stadia and casinos under the Clyde. Doesn’t mean we are all the same. For example I’m skint.”
You’re skint, are you? Well, these days that no longer rules you out from being a a dodgy dealing, press loving egomaniac with dreams of moonbeams and floating stadia and casinos under the Clyde. Are you sure you’re not who you say you’re not?
hendrix67
14:41 on
7 February, 2014
Cadizzy
My surname is Murray. I’m quite upset at your scathing remark about the name Murray. Just because one is a dodgy dealing, press loving egomaniac with dreams of moonbeams and floating stadia and casinos under the Clyde. Doesn’t mean we are all the same. For example I’m skint.
__
Turns out so was that other Murray, it was all paid for on the never never.
HH
tonydonnelly67
14:36 on
Give us some examples Tony, with some links to back up your claims, you do have proof don’t you as we all know you wouldn’t just make things up to suit your agenda.
Really looking forward to these Tony, give me something to read before I start my next disertation for the open uni ;)
hoopy-do
I live in Slateford mate.
LB
Jd67
So u dont trust the trust?
get the fridj up front with Griffiths
commons in the ‘hole’, instead of the griff ;-)
boeriggter wing swapping
johansen broony
izzy mulgrew van-dijk fisher
forster
we will do em’
setting free the bears supports Res. 12 & Oscar Knox
14:36 on
7 February, 2014
I’ll be honest I’m sketchy on the full details, and I don’t have time to check it just now. I think the gist is as you say, no new investors were allowed in. What upset some people was that DD increased his overall % by demanding the full allocation he’s subscribed for, but everybody else ended up slightly reduced.
I’m not critcising him necessarily. I accept there’s an argument that if he was prepared to put his cash on the line, then perhaps he deserves preferential treatment but as I say I recall it not sitting too well with some.
All the Murrays I know are minted!!!!
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers ………fc not plc
14:36 on 7 February, 2014
………………………………………
That Johnny Doyle incident took place at Celtic Park against Aberdeen – unless there was another similar incident.
Boeriggter ‘wing swapping’?
Swapping the NHS wing for the private?
Cadizzy
I shall be whomever I say I am at that particular moment time. However the wife tells me to stop being a f***y and go change the wee ones nappy.
Billy Bhoy 05
You’re welcome.
Mind you, I was just saying it was more effective in making a point and being influential; I did not say I was agreeing with the point.
Has McOist complained about all the CL qualifiers in Scotland being played at Murrayfield instead of Murray Park yet?
Hoopy do,
I’m of the opinion that if 1 fan misses out cos the stadium is too wee then it’s an injustice.
The stadium will be nowhere near full but I think a few different factors (season book game, curiosity, long break with no games, Big east coast following who canny be arsed going along m8 to midweek games) will ensure its still a healthy crowd.
I can see all CLQ games at Murrayfield being included in next years Season Ticket.Buses might have to be provided too……we could chin the Commonwealth Committee for free buses courtesy of Her Maj,the huns would love that.
heard 2 sons of Sevco whispring at work only 10k at ipox tonight?
hendrix67
So you are minty then!
Kikinthenakas
dontbrattbakkinanger
11:39 on 7 February, 2014
Mr JohnnyClash- in the words of ole John Paul Young ‘Love is in the Air’.
————
JPY is a relative of mine. He’s a Celtic fan too.
His great, great GrandMOTHER contributed to the formation of Celtic. You’ll see her name “Mrs Flynn” (her maiden surname and the only female) listed here in the 20 shillings section:
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/Names+of+Subscribers
Although apparently in the picture at Celtic Park showing the main contributors, her place is taken by her husband as it wasn’t the done thing back then. He also contributed and there is a Mr Young listed in the 10 shillings section.
Does anyone have a copy of the picture? JPY’s sister is gathering a family history and is keen to get a copy.
Ticket has gone.
livibhoy – god bless wee oscar
14:30 on 7 February, 2014
Great post.
My thoughts exactly apart from the fighting for us bit. I think the bunnet was fighting for his interests more than anything else, although fair play to him. He exposed the SFA for what they were. Anti – Celtic and pro thems.
A bit like now really only it’s thems II
gamriestu
14:26 on
7 February, 2014
Ross Kemps Nornn Ireland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-iFVPGVcbQ
Told us nothing that we did not already know.
Tony Blair’s Good Friday Agreement was just another politician’s con trick.
weeminger
If DD alone got the chance to increase his shareholding pro-rata and other original investors did not get this opportunity, then that would be wrong.
We still need clarification from the better informed (than me, I hasten to add)
R Cuthill (Winchburgh) sent J Doyle off at Ayr
L Thow has his moments also….
See Sky trying to help fill Poundland tonight. Reporting that there will be pay gates open to try to get more zombies in!
According to T”internet
Johnny Doyle was sent off against Ayr United at Somerset Park by Ref Bob Cuthill after he was smacked by the ball on the head by accident.
Louis Thow was a old sevconian anyroad……and a crap referee
SuperSutton
14:57 on 7 February, 2014
What an excellent piece of history. I can’t help you with the photo unfortunately.
John Paul Young….a massive hit record, a Celtic fan and having two popes and a Zep named after him.
The bhoy done good