On many fronts I’m delighted Fergus McCann feels confident enough to get back involved with Celtic, some 15 years after departing the scene. It wasn’t always this way. We reached our first European final in 33 years largely as a result of the groundwork he put in place, but he didn’t feel comfortable making the trip to Seville.
He was first tempted back at the unveiling of the Br. Walfrid statue, using the occasion to put the club’s charitable heritage to the fore. He has since been back to speak at Celtic Charity, now called Celtic FC Foundation, events.
His intervention today, saying “It is important for people to stand up and show their support by buying season tickets. That is my simple message” echoes a letter he sent to season ticket holders in 1995. Celtic had endured a difficult season at Hampden, if memory serves, we finished below Hibernian in the league, sentiment was low and as season 94-95 drew to a close I remember thinking the rebuilding project was in jeopardy.
Only 31,025 souls turned up to watch an end of season victory against Rangers with many unsold tickets in the Celtic areas of Hampden. Fergus was also unpopular among a sizable portion of the support, with prominent Celtic supporters only too happy to undermine his reputation.
The season ticket renewal packs arrived with a letter from Fergus which invoked memories of his trip to Kilmarnock in 1963 to see Celtic ship six goals during Jimmy Johnstone’s debut. Fergus knew what the years ahead would hold for Celtic but he needed faith from you and me or the project would have been in real jeopardy.
To everyone’s pleasant surprise Celtic fans rallied in great numbers as the new stadium opened. So much so I was scrambling around trying to get a season ticket as the ‘sold out’ sign went up before I got myself sorted. It took another couple of years before we recorded one of the most momentous league wins in our history but the strategy was sound. It was always going to get there while others played casino football.
This week, Fergus wrote, “The league is important going forward. Filling the seats makes a huge difference to the club’s chances of getting the players it wants, paying the salaries and getting into Europe.
“The rebuilt Celtic Park has 60,000 seats for a purpose. It was built on my belief that 60,000 at every home game would give the club a key advantage. And it has.
“Season ticket cash is essential for Celtic to buy players while TV income is a small fraction of that of the bottom club in the English Premier League. But not all-important. Personal attendance at every game – through and through – is a key part of our culture. It shows how important Celtic is in our lives.
“We both know that you don’t stop being a committed supporter of Celtic because the league doesn’t include Rangers, or because you feel you could pick the few big games you want to attend. For years I went to ‘unimportant games’. In fact, I was at every Celtic game, home and away, in the year before I emigrated to Canada.”
Ticket sales is one of those things which bends more with sentiment than we often consider, but we are at a new beginning this summer, one which many feel hopeful for. I reckon there is a good chance we’ll see an up-click as the Ronny Deila Days start.
Tune in on Friday. After the CQN Lions night at the Greenock Celtic Supporters’ Club on Friday, we will have Bertie Auld on the blog this Friday, 13th. More details later in the week.
And just in case you’ve been living on the moon this past week, watch BBC Alba at 21:00 tonight for the Jock Stein film.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his tome, All the Best.
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petec
19:09 on 9 June, 2014
Aidan continuously ribs me about running over a chicken, I hope he never, ever feels like I did that day, at that moment. Chicken is my staple diet as well.
====================
Sounds like two birds, one stone there to me… :))
Jude
Hehehe he was a decent enough player in his day
Met a guy today who helped us but train tickets – only trip to Glasgow for Celts v Benfica – you were there mate so was I
It was all a very long time ago..
Squire could not agree more. Religious nutters out in force again it’s always the same when there is no football to argue about.
Billy Boy
19:21 on 9 June, 2014
Your post is simply a C&P from your puppet master’s website.
http://campbellmartin.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/andy-murray-alex-salmond-and-scotland.html
Was it him who told you that Andy Murray hadn’t criticised Salmond from his saltire stunt at Wimbledon?
Whoever it was who told you is not to be trusted. They’re making you look like a fool and/or a liar.
Time to go the right wing loonies are out in a show of force, boring.
Vote yes!
Petec
When you are heating up your chicken tikka in the microwave, are you on your knees praying for forgiveness for blasting radiation through that wee Indian chicken?
:-)
Mental CSC
I killed a chicken once. I remember feeling…
Hungry.
timmy7_noted
At least in the past it was confined to the moonhowling shift.
I once ran over a little lamb on the A82 Loch Lomondside. That really upset me and I called in to Alexandria police station, when there was one there, to report what had happened. They had a notion to breathalyse me.
I said “so you think I might have been bevvying but I still came by to report what happened”. Suffice to say they saw sense or whatever they have for sense.
Just wanted to share that.
squire danaher
19:10 on 9 June, 2014
bocchinibhoy
19:02 on 9 June, 2014
What’s that story about wrestling with farm animals in mud ?
Take my advice.
Don’t get into the mud.
___________
I reckon you are having a Cowardly swipe at me, I hope I m wrong.
Edb
Don’t start me on plod
Auldheid-thanks for reply,the technology is there.HH
Only 100 days to go……
Billy Boy
19:21 on 9 June, 2014
‘Sunday Times has taken down the text of the interview with Andy Murray that was there early this morning’
#####
Is this the story?
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/living/article1417826.ece
Or is this it?
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/scotland/article1420257.ece
Good Evening Timland.
Strange place cqn, when Celtic ur nae playin!!!!
Clashcitybhoy at 15.35, we certainly did. Supporters also had terracing season tickets in the eighties also.
Saltires, I hope your new business is doing well.
I still enjoy going to home games but people’s expectations regarding value for money have changed greatly as well as having other interests, over the last twenty years or so. If the club offers better all round value with regard to getting supporters more involved and an improved sense of belonging to start with. The priority should always be the team on the pitch then hopefully our support unifies more and turn out in greater numbers to home games.
I am not business minded and don’t have an idea how to do this but there are/should be people employed by the club to work at getting supporters back. The Celtic Way and access to the Kerrydale Suite are a great start.
CRC
Hope you’re not inferring that some of us are indulging in ‘chicken’ torture?
1/2 in the microwave and the other 1/2 in the freezer!
:-)
Sandman 19:35
Dinnae ever go there.
////\\\\
CRC,
You better Believe it is Mental, I think you know a lot more now, don’t ask me why.
Paul67, children?
See OFSTED Have Been Investigating Schools In Birmingham….
For Inculcating Children With Unhealthy Beliefs And Attitudes…
Seems To Me They Should Be Focussing On Primary Schools Nearer To Home…
Where We Have Ejits Filling The Minds Of Our Golden Haired Cherubs…
With MultiCulti Nonsense….
And Seeking To Diminish Their Own Proud Cultural Heritage….
Luckily For Our Young Ones…
These Individuals Spend Much Of The School Day….
Posting On CQN….
The Lord Works In Mysterious Ways..
(ThumbsUp)
Viva Michael Gove..!!
TBJ
I won’t but I’d kinda like capital letters on EDB. I’m laughing maniacally as I type this.
In a Vincent Price kind of way:o)
Iggy can hypnotise chickens, if that helps.
EDB
Sorry … Hope you don’t dish out any CAPITAL punishment for my mistook ;(
The truth will alway s ‘out’ ………!!!!
“You’ve only got two years of history.”
Dundee United have pushed relations with Rangers to breaking point. They have declared: “You’ve only got two years of history.”
Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson delivered the incendiary put-down to Light Blues Chief Executive Graham Wallace in negotiations over youngster Charlie Telfer.
Rangers wanted £175,000 to £200,000 in compensation for the development of the player from the age 12 to 18.
But United countered with £50,000, arguing only the time since the 2012 liquidation of the Ibrox club is relevant.
That’s infuriated the Govan outfit, who squashed talks to await the verdict of an independent panel early next season.
It is the latest in a series of conflicts between the clubs, stretching back to United’s involvement in the decision not to allow Rangers to play in the SPL in 2012-13.
In deciding to reject an offer from Rangers in order to switch to Dundee United as a free agent this summer, the Scotland Under-19 cap raised more than a few eyebrows.
Seen as one of the brightest products of the Murray Park youth system, he was tipped as a future Ibrox first team star. Yet if the failure to hold onto the midfielder irked some Rangers fans, it should be nothing to the reaction to news of United’s inflammatory stance in subsequent compensation talks.
Under Scottish regulations, clubs who lose a player under the age of 23 through freedom of contract are entitled to payment for his development and training.
The scheme protects those who invest heavily in youth development, only to see their best prospects snapped up by bigger clubs.
In exploratory talks about Telfer, Rangers — using the ready reckoner for such cases — asked for a payment of between £175,000 and £200,000 for bringing Telfer through from the age of 12. Tangerines chairman Stephen Thompson, though, offered just £50,000.
He dismissed all but the last two years as irrelevant — because in his eyes Rangers only came into existence in 2012.
That stance has infuriated the club and will provoke a similar reaction from the Light Blues support.
The liquidation of two years ago is not disputed. But, they assert, the purchase of business and assets by the new company covered Rangers’ illustrious history, including the world record 54 titles and seven domestic Trebles.
Now, with no agreement reached, the validity of United’s argument — centring on the successful departures of stars such as Steven Davis, Steven Naismith, and Steven Whittaker in 2012 for nothing — is set to be decided by an independent panel. Likely to include a law lord, it should take place early in the new season.
The news will do nothing for already strained relations between the two clubs.
Many Light Blues fans blamed Thompson for the fact the newco was not allowed to join the SPL two years ago. He was involved in the move to open up the vote to all clubs, the catalyst for the so called “Arab Spring” of fan opposition.
With many Rangers fans already annoyed at the Tangerines’ failure to honour tickets for an abandoned league fixture four years ago, the Scottish Cup tie between the pair at Tannadice was subject to a fan boycott.
Since then, there has been the rancour over this season’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
Robert Smiles would be a good audio right now.
I’m still drawn to this link that has lots of profanity, apologies. Eminem became a Born again Christian, aye right, he just trashed the idea to so many.
Satan has all bases covered well he thinks he has. :)))
Bring it on, Don Corleone.csc
Praecepta/Pogmathingthong et all
Still waiting for your world cup predictions. Deadline Thursday.
PeteC
Not seen you about for ages. Hope u r behaving and beating your lad at snooker?
HH
CRC
petec
I am about to disregard my own advice here but for the avoidance of doubt.
You advocated earlier that EVERY HOUSEHOLD should own a gun.
Ten days after the latest in a catalogue of gun related mass murders.
You were challenged (rightly in my opinion) on it by bocchinibhoy. Based on what I have seen of the content of your previous contributions, I try to avoid getting involved with you and suggested to him he may want to do the same, given the nature of your comment, coupled with your normal demeanour on here.
If you want to interpret that as a cowardly swipe, fill your boots.
CRC
On my ‘rooster’ to do tomorrow. :-)
A brave choice by the kid Telfer , hope it works out well for him .
Dear Petec…
My Friend-In-UKIP…
So You Reckon Each Household Should Have A Gun…
Not Sure We Need That In Britain (Yet)…
But One Should Definitely Pack A Firearm..
In One Lived In The Former ‘Land Of The Free’
Gun Crime Rates Went Way Down….
And Remained So…..
In Those Stated Which Permit Carrying Of A ‘Concealed Weapon’ In Public….
Viz Texas,Arizona,S.Carolina..
Ole Fergus sounds like a different proposition today,
without his ‘old-firm’ gun that he used to love holding to
our heads and saying – “You ‘must’ have a SB or, you
won’t get into the two games v’s Rangers.”
Sack The ‘Bored’!
Ade Edmondson on his friend Rik Mayall
“And now he’s died for real. Without me. Selfish b*****d.”
Off oot.
the singing detective demands the resignation of campbell ogilvie
20:03 on 9 June, 2014
Dear Petec…
My Friend-In-UKIP…
So You Reckon Each Household Should Have A Gun…
Not Sure We Need That In Britain (Yet)…
But One Should Definitely Pack A Firearm..
In One Lived In The Former ‘Land Of The Free’
Gun Crime Rates Went Way Down….
And Remained So…..
In Those Stated Which Permit Carrying Of A ‘Concealed Weapon’ In Public….
Viz Texas,Arizona,S.Carolina..
———————
That right Kojo, aye?
Being a part of the farming community, I’m defo not getting involved in the firearms or chicken debate. KTF
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Paul67 et al
I don’t think you are telling the full story about FMcC.
He was a business visionary at one level but a football novice at another.
His business was based on football — he could do business but not football.
However he did not get football people at any level — huge disconnect.
The end of the 97/98 season left a bitter taste. Instead of savouring the triumph he was arguing about transfer budgets before the champagne was flat.
Seemed to have Plan down to a T but couldn’t kick on.
I rate him highly but he was too limited in his outlook.
No way im getting plucking involved either.
ElDiegoBhoy
Thank you for the email. I just read it. Will reply during the week but won’t stop thinking of you and about your family. Take care.
Weefra haha
Gamekeeper turned poacher ?
I take it everythings ticketyboo wae you ;)