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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I see Billy Bhoy05 continues to make a fool of himself – posting propaganda from someone else’s websites and making lies up about newspapers withdrawing articles.
Have you seen the polls Billy Bhoy05 – funny how you have stopped talking about it?
Well done Stephen Thomson
Please take note ALL other clubs in Scotland …sadly inc CFC
telbhoy67
19:26 on 9 June, 2014
Billy Bhoy
I am in no way a Scottish Nationalist, but well said my friend !!!!!
Ta for that and I’m not a Nationalist….I’m for Independence
squire danaher 19:58
y0u know the scroll on by button.
You, tellingly, say so much in your response.
Thanks, have you ever heard about the Collins Brorororothers? oops got carried away, Carry on
Zbyszek
You’ve been a very positive and welcome contributor to this site for many years, and of course now a good friend to many. You being around the site simply enhances it.
We thank you.
Oh and you must once more post the story that you are so well known for:o)
Inzhagi new AC Milan manager
The race for independence is like the SPL as defined by Kevin Bridges. It was a 2 horse race and we’ve lost a horse. The ‘neighs’ have it.
Whither The Rabid Dingo Dug Of The Outback,The Dae..?
Neganon
At least my intentions are good and you are so misunderstood.
You continue to argue for the retention of the House of Lords, Trident and a right wing Westminster Government.
Hail Hail
Billy Bhoy…
Salmond’s flag ‘stunt’: Just another case of politicians cosying up to sports stars.
Watching LA Galaxy v Chivas USA on BT.
Galaxy Ultras are called the Angel City Brigade.
If any Clydebank bhoys or those living close to Newlandsfield are wanting to see a match, Clydebank are playing Cumbernauld United in the Euroscot Central League cup final on Wednesday. It’s a 7 30 kick off, £6 and £3 for concessions. Clydebank have won the trophy twice in the last four years.
After the senior team went out of business and went onto become Airdrie United, a group of Clydebank fans fought hard to get another club called Clydebank going.
Loads of work was done to get Duntiglennan Park in Celtic Duntocher into a fit state for them to play their home games for a few years. They now play their home games at Yoker’s Holm Park.
The dedication of their fans to keep the name going without saying they are the same club puts those with a sense of entitlement in Govan very much to shame.
Eldiegobhoy at 20:21.
Hear! hear! Absolutely agree with you. Zbyszek is a good man and a great Ambassador for our club.
BT
No chickening out ;)
Weefra
How’s the big blue eggs this weather and can you tell me if it’s a blue chicken that hatches out of it
Celticrollercoaster luvs his luminious lime boots
19:58 on 9 June, 2014
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aidan would rather play Counterstrike, than Snooker at the moment, I really need some practice as well.
It will be Spiritual meeting you again at the Pool day, I may wear shorts.
The right to keep and bear arms………….. and
The power to regulate that right should need to go hand in hand………. in a civilised society.
Arms does not = gun and could be scaled back.
If you need to be ‘armed’ does that need to be with an armour piercing assault rifle or a weapon capable of delivering hundreds of rounds per minute? Perhaps only if someone else is?
Perhaps a sensible defence limit might be a tazer or a baseball bat? Much harder to enter a school and create genocide because nobody loves you with a weapon that requires close single engagement methinks?
That would fulfill the ‘right’ to keep and bear arms without turning the unhinged into mass killing machines beyond their personal power and ability. It would also allow us to continue to lift anyone in possession of a firearm in public society thereby keeping the tariff low.
Problem with guns is…………. someone’s always going to have a bigger and better one at some point. The point of a police force (by consent) is to allow the rest of us to put the arms back in the box….. to the mutual benefit of all.
HH
Neganon
54% increase in Glasgow families visits to food banks reported in Scotland Today earlier this afternoon.
Some family’s walk up to 8 miles to get their emergency rations
Wonderful achievement for one of the richest country’s in the world. So let us stay with the poverty whilst we spend hundreds of millions of pounds on Trident
Now that is foolish!!!!!
!!Bada Bing!!
20:22 on 9 June, 2014
Inzhagi new AC Milan manager
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WTF.
Inzaghi never looked like the smartest player, I wish him the very best of luck, he will definitely need it.
SOT, thoughts?
BBC Alba at 9.00pm – documentary telling the story of Jock Stein.
BT
I’m gonna have to chicken out on this subject, (Groan!) howevva, I left some glass for you in the club. If, like the last time “Your cup runneth over” That’s because you got half a pint of 12 year old in it!
Love and peace.
Twisty
Don’t think it is as clear cut as u think. A few more twists n turns to be had.
Think about it.
Year of Homecoming
700th anniversary of Bannockburn
Commonwealth games in Scotland
English media hype during world cup ala 1966.
If the Ayes don’t win it they never will.
HH
Still Undecided CRC
BT
sorry 16 year old. Going to try the 12 year old “Elixir” again, soon.
All tennis players in open championships play for themselves,their own personal glory/wealth, the international competition is the Davis cup,Andy Murray if he so wishes can represent GB/UK which I believe he does,as we all know. I believe the paint and flags mania is due to us not having a winner for so long and that bloody movie!!
As to the YES and NO votes for the Referendum why is it only Ernie who is condemned for giving his opinions as a supposedly NO voter with non eligibility (denied) to vote. Whereas YESsers not eligible can opine??
Tom Molach
17:42 on
8 June, 2014
ernie lynch
12:12 on 8 June, 2014
Ernie when it comes to truth, what I do know is that you have as much say in the referendum as Barack Obama, George Osborne, Ian Paisley, Elton John or Prince Charles. That is, no say. You don’t have a vote.
What you and the others I’ve mentioned don’t get is they more you and your ilk interfere, the less likely the vote will be no.
Time to haud yer wheesht and leave it to us with a vote. This is a big decision and we don’t need your input.
And laugh not,
SNAKE PLISSON 17 47
Tom Molach
Well said.
Is this the same Snake who lives in eastern Europe, with no vote but is willing to come back if the “stay at homes” take the plunge and vote YES.
For the record, for the last vote I didn’t know how long I would stay in Scotland so didn’t vote, If indy was achieved I said that there would be no more need to blame the English for all wrongs. I no longer believe this!! You will! Chips float. For this one , I.haven’t many years left so will leave it to my children.
Really fed up with all this and the aggro it causes, very hunnish, it doesn’t bode well!
tusker
Stephen Thomson like Turnbull Hutten should be running Scottish fitba.
Ps how can they tell Big Jocks story in an hour ?
Must’ve missed out loads.
God bless Jock Stein
Jock Stein documentary 9pm tonight on BBC ALBA. Not to be missed.
Off oot ,with the 44 kilos of dog, see if we can hunt down some chickens for dinner. In reality it’s nonsense, he just stares at them, only like them pre-packed with a hint of tarragon!!
Later
Love and peace
BT
Wise words indeed. :-))
TBJ
Nope, not blue chicks, black or white usually. South american hens. Please pay attention. :-))
Marspapa
We are very well, hope you and the ghirls are also. :-))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Could do with Fergus getting a special commission to work with the Res 12 four amigos. I think that might accelerate and focus the action!
HH
TSD
You ever thought of taking up gymnastics?
https://twitter.com/smcfarlane85/status/476082702412943360
Re BBC Alba………….
Any chance any of you technically able chaps could advise this Epsilon Minus how to tune his SkyBOAX to receive it?
Thanks in advance.
On Virgin Media which channel is Alba?
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
18:55 on 9 June, 2014
Edit.
Thomthethim
On the contrary, it’s because I think it’s worth defending that I made my initial point.
You see things differently and that’s fine but in my opinion if Celtic had challenged some of the charges brought by EUFA for banners/songs they would have been thrown out.
*****
Where were we?
Celtic, like all clubs, are governed by rules of competition, etc.
Those that make the rules, have the power to enforce them.
Whether Celtic or any club challenge them is immaterial. Until they are changed, which is never going to happen, the clubs are bound by them.
Celtic have fallen foul of various crowd violations and been punished on an escalating scale.
I am unaware if the club itself have any hits against it.
What has happened recently, is that a group within the support decided on a particular action, in the full knowledge that it would rebound on the club.
In their view, it was a risk worth taking. Definitely worth it, as they wouldn’t have to pay the consequences.
When the inevitable happened, Celtic placed sanctions on the offending group.
However, they reopened channels and agreed to accommodate them IF they would abide by the stadium rules.
It would appear that they reserved the right to be sole arbiters of their behaviour.
This, to my simple mind is anarchy.
My simple question is, knowing your profession, would you, or your headmaster, allow a group of pupils to decide which school rules are to be obey and which are not?
BBC Alba sky channel 143 Virgin 161
Virgin media channel 161
I hope you have all brushed up on your Gaelic
Primary School Teachers..
Sure Ain’t What They Used To Be..!
Woman-Teachers-For-Oor-Weans!CSC
The biggest flaw in the Referendum is that voting does not extend to the whole of the UK.
Cynic that I am, I would love to see the English Right Wing media getting its collective knickers in a twist selling Better Together to an audience that it has previously fed a diet of Whingeing, Benefit Junkie Jocks to.
Thank you gents. What are they talking about?
Dallas
Are you related to ‘Jammy’? One of the new club founders and directors of Clydebank Juniors. There are plenty of sites around me in Dalmuir, where a Bankie stadium could be built.