Last year it was the Ange Homecoming Tour to Sydney. In the summer, we are off to Ange’s more recent home, Japan, as well as Korea. Stuck in a small league with a TV deal that is predicated on the value of a handful of games, we need to look for new markets.
I know there has been some scepticism at the club that there will be sustainable commercial value in Japan. As we know well, players can go as quick as they came, which makes it precarious to plan Asian tours on having a local interest to sell. Still, we have a responsibility to try.
Kyogo, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, Tomoki Iwata all featured in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final. Yuki Kobayashi was on the bench and is set to play in our remaining six fixtures this season, including the Cup Final. While Celtic still hold the registration of Yosuke Ideguchi, he is on loan in his homeland and is unlikely to return to Glasgow. That’s five players from Japan with successful narratives about Celtic to Japanese consumers, players and agents. Japan’s representation in next season’s Champions League will overwhelmingly come through Celtic.
Demographics are important. There are 125m people in Japan, 23 times more than Scotland, and on average, they have far more disposable income. Madrid, Munich and the EPL will always get most eyeballs there, but we are now in the conversation. A great deal of work has also been put into the commercial side, before we even reached this stage. We have travelled to Japan and business contacts have come to Celtic Park.
Penetration of the South Korea market is in gestation, by comparison. Hyeongyu Oh is only just in the door and there are no hard suggestions we will sign more of his compatriots. Still, it is another large (population 51m) and wealthy market.
The great migration of Scots to North America began to wind down 40 years ago, it is unlikely that market will contribute as much to the club going forward as it has since the onset of internet access and multi-channel TV. If there is nothing to be achieved in foreign markets, fair enough, but as I said, we have to try.
Road to Seville
It’s just three days until the cyclists leave from Celtic Park bound for Seville. Today we hear from Brian O’Shea, who started cycling just three years ago and now faces an unimaginable task – all to aid the work of the Celtic FC Foundation. You can hear Brian’s story below, and just as importantly, you can support the work of the Foundation, your Foundation, here.
Many thanks for all the support towards the cyclists. Keep in touch with their journey on Twitter: @Road2Seville23
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C’mon the left footers…..
2-1
DENIABHOY on 3RD MAY 2023 3:29 PM
Saint Stivs – spot on. Tefal man.
Interesting to see how this plays out. Park, Dickson, Robertson and Wilson gone in quick succession as well as Mulholland who headed up their youth academy.
That is a lot of experience and knowledge walking out the door.
*This brought to my attention a situation that occurred over here, in 1957 Bramalea Limited was founded, it was a Canadian real estate developer best known for its development of the town of Bramalea (Canada’s first satellite city), one of its founders was John Buchan, 2nd Baron Tweedsmuir a British peer and the son of the novelist John Buchan of the 39 Steps fame and also the Governor General of Canada.
By 1988 Bramalea’s property portfolio had reached 40 million square feet of industry, commercial, and retail space, in addition to its giant housing and land banks, the company declared bankruptcy in 1995 as a result of a heavy debt load during the early 1990s recession, at the time of its bankruptcy, it owned office properties across North America in such markets as Toronto, Dallas, and Oakland, in addition to shopping mall properties in Winnipeg, Yorkdale in North York, and Scarborough Town Centre, as well as Levittown in Pennsylvania, the great American flea market.
Shortly before it floundered the board including the former Premier of Ontario Bill Davis, commonly known as Brampton Billy, resigned, this was a huge shock as at the time they were in the process of developing a huge subdivision in a the village if Meadowvale in rural Mississauga, a by pass was being constructed and I had the privilege of carrying out sight distance studies for the roads accessing it, believe me it wisnae just a shock but a sensation which shook the Canadian real estate world.
Being on the outside looking in it was thought the board had been advised to “jump ship” as if they were still active could have been held responsible for any debts that had been incurred, now this was a thought and any legal experts on here may be able to elaborate this a bit further.
So why am I writing this, hmmm well that last time such an action took place at G51 2XD, the club was sold for a county down.
What a goal son….
Who’s the cheatin bassa in the youth game ?.
The Celtic under-18 group are confident, maverick, creative and a bit naive defensively. We have two very fast wingers in Hatton and Frame and the very promising Daniel Kelly in midfield but the one with the football brain and standout is captain Kyle Ure.
Our youths look great going forward but a bit disorganised at the back . Big CB playing the Rangers* player on for both their goals We are a million miles better in attack though .
This has got 0-0 written all over it.
Now 3-3 . Final score could be anything . We’ll score a few more but our shaky defence could lose a few.
Very enjoyable game but very naive defending.
All three goals by Rangers have been poor defensively, although the Rangers boy did very well at the third. First two Celtic goals were excellent. Ure looks like he’s beyond his years and Frame has been tremendous at times. We definitely look the better team, over all.
Good game,good game.
Niave defending but some great goals
Ure,Hatton,looking good
HH
BBC lassie talks about how difficult it is for the hun youth players to get into the main team because its full of superstars 😁😄
More like super duds 🤣🤣
Sorry to anyone that the 5:30pm kick doesn’t fit.
On the flip side, beer o’clock for me 🍺 and better than a lunchtime KO for most, I assume.
Feel sorry for the wee keeper (but).
Penalty to ……………….Rainjurz
Never a penalty
They even get help at this level……
3- 4
Forward sticks his leg across the defender and falls over. Hun ref gives Sevco a pen
Referee audition for SPFL,ridiculous penalty
Their number 7 was smiling when penalty given 🤔
4:4 og
4-4
Celtic youths playing ghd same style as the first team.. it’ll be interesting to see how the fitness levels of the young boys goes. 4-4 20 mins to go
https://cdn.celtsarehere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/img_0335.jpg
Celtic bhoy clean through onside , flag goes up …..Foster even queried it
Young Celtic fans do the poznan. Young The Rangers get into group and start fighting and pushing each other.
Not long till maddens back now . Will it be on the rangers couch , or var adviser .one thing certain he will be on a telly near us soon .
Happy Albert Kidd day fellow Tim’s of a certain vintage 🍀
Next goal is the winner
Red card against the huns!
JUSTICE FROM THE MIB!
Career ending red card for the referee
Linda Lovelace goes down too easy again………
Hun booked for diving… 5 mins later dives again..
Sean Murdoch is so Kevin Clancy
Hun keeper helping Celtic boy with cramp…