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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New Celtic manager Ronny Deila bids farewell to Stromsgodset fans http://t.co/v5ABmkbnOs @STVSport #Celtic
Great show by Alba.
Surprised that so many on here are so surprised by Graham Souness’ contribution.
Just because he managed Rangers for a couple of years? Surely that doesn’t define him. Anyone who loved football loved Big Jock.
Night all. Night wee Oscar my hero God bless x x
Billy Boy
10:15 on 9 June, 2014
‘Andy was misrepresented in the Tory/ Labour/Lib Dem/ British Media.
Basically it was represented that Andy didn’t like Salmond waving the flag.
When what he actually said was he didn’t like the negative reaction to Salmond waving the flag
HUGE DIFFERENCE!’
####
“I didn’t like it when he (Salmond) got the Scottish flag up at Wimbledon.”
Andy Murray
Night night all, got an early start in morning
From a Happy :-) to be Celtic Fan (a-tic)
Hail Hail
Couldn’t watch the Alba documentary about big Jock due to a massive thunder storm over here, but have set it up for recording tomorrow and Saturday, just in case.
This will not be in the same league but worth a watch if you have a spare 14 minutes:
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2014/06/09/john-oliver-slams-fifa-on-last-night-tonight
Should have added
Haven’t seen Edinburgh Tom posting yet ?
And Tony Donnelly 67, you’ve had enough time with the grand kids, get back oan here :-)
I think Jock put his arm around Mc Pherson and said. Now Archie you know uv been a silly boy but its to late to see sense and join the Celtic Family.
Id bomb and flatten the House of Lords!!!
Morning Timland from a warm hun free mountain valley.
Missed the BBC Alba prog, had to adjust the LNB to get the BBC channels, ended up losing all the channels, took me over an hour to get them back, Mrs TET wisny happy >}
If I had a vote in the referendum, and was undecided, I can say with my hand on my heart. that reading the stuff BB05 posts on here, for sure it would convince me to vote no.
PS
There is a blog full of people, and this ejit decides to have a toe to toe with Ernie, dearie me >}
Feliz Cumpleanos to Gerrybhoy, enjoy your retirement, and to Gordybhoy when it comes.
HH
Jude
Me too! ;))
I always thought Archie Mac was a cream bun. I was wrong.
Best bit of telly for years -well done all at Alba they are going from strength to strength
DELANEYSDUNKY
It’s been said on here before,but Archie’s biography of Jock is magnificent.
Now,you don’t have to be a Celtic fan to appreciate Jock Stein,but…
No way that could have been written by a hun.
BMCUW
I appreciate that after Archie’s appearance tonight. I will now seek that book. Thanks bud.
BMCUWP, DD.
I met Archie at one of the LionsRoar Again mights in the Kerrydale Suit, a total gent, and a knowledgable football man. We talked about the time I had met him in the early 70’s when he and Jock Stein toured showing the Celtic Story on projectors, with the Big Cup, I was 5 or 6. He remembered the tour well.
keith jackson @tedermeatballs 4m
Right twitter. Enough of this frivolity. Why were Sandy, James, Jack and Stockers all on the same flight to London this morning?
Thought the music was well researched as well and funny seeing frank Carson jumping the hurdles
Cowiebhoy
How you doin there? That alba documentary should be repeated again aaturday at 8 pm.
Hh
Grr Saturday I meant :-)
The Jock Stein documentary on Alba was brilliant. Came to tears several times. What an astonishing man.
Good job though, they never interviewed Yogi. Joke btw
Billy Bhoy and Ernie. Get a room for gawds sake.
HT. The word you were trying to use was wreak. Thought you were supposed to be a teacher. Also joke.
Sleep beckons.
Try not to fall out on night shift.
HH
Doc
Nice to hear bud. I’m never too late to change an opinion on someone. Thanks for reinforcing my change of heart. Forza Archie Mac! :)
The Jock Stein programme is available on the iPlayer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b045x3s8/jock-stein
You should be able to download and watch within the next 30 days.
Cot time. Off to bed before the loonies come on. :-)) Night Night Timland.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Weefratim
Don’t think we’ve met or conversed but love all your tales about lambs and the like
Night night
HH
skyislandcelt
No we have not met, but wish we could as you have our wee lambs at heart. Maybe we can meet up at the ole CP some time in the future. I’m a regular at the CQN corner. Looking forward to it if you can make it. :-)))
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
I think Ireland should be for the Irish
I think Scotland should be for the Scottish
I don’t care much for the UK
It has done nothing for me
In fact to me it’s a liability
So what if Scotland does screw up after sep 18th or whatever
I will support it’s cultural right to financially culturally economically and hysterically screw up as much as Ireland has or England already does
Because who really cares
All politics is local
Weefratim
Looking forwards to it already.
BTW
I’m not from Skye, lovely place though it is.
HH
Maggie
Not much to disagree with there.
You feeling alright?
HH
skyisalandfill
00:22 on 10 June, 2014
Just fine! And you?
skyislandfill
Sorry for getting your blog name wrong. Apols. Totally echo your thoughts on maggies post. Looking forward to meeting you in the coming season. :-)))
maggie
Well said. 100% agree with every part of your post. :-)) Cot now. Night Night Timland. KTF
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Margaret McGill
00:17 on
10 June, 2014
I think Ireland should be for the Irish
I think Scotland should be for the Scottish
———————————————————————————————————–
Enoch Powell beat you to it.
;-0
Ernie Lynch:
Please , for the sake of those of us trying to enjoy the documentary tonight, take your playground battle with Billy Bhoy on to another forum. You are tedious in the extreme.
Maggie do you think Fergus will enter into other topical debates?
I wonder what his views are on The Sfa & governance?
HH
mags
good thanks
Some days, you feel good about yourself. It could be a smile from a pretty girl, or an unexpected flash of competence in the field of work, or a TV documentary about one of you heroes.
I tend to cherish these moments as none happen very often.
This is my tune de jour
http://youtu.be/N_pGCwUTev8
Hope it works
HH
macjay1 for neil lennon
00:28 on 10 June, 2014
As did Cozy
Your point being?
Margaret McGill
00.17
Neatly versed and so cunning, I haven’t spotted a single rhyme yet.
skyisalandfill
00:33 on 10 June, 2014
Ah Todd Rundgren fan
Excellent!