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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Wee huns same as big huns….cheating bastards
VP
Orcs on hun media want lovelock to replace fat Charlie till end of season🤣
Celtic finishing the stronger team..
Extra time
Lovelace
The huns must coach diving into their players from an early age . Extra time against their ten men should suit us .
SCULLYBHOY on 3RD MAY 2023 8:36 PM
https://cdn.celtsarehere.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/img_0335.jpg
remember that LIFE ON MARS polis drama time trave lthingy.
I always feel like that about Jota.
He is a late 80s early 90s footballer transported into the futue to play with the bhoys.
as an aside did anyone clock the actor Simon O’Brien, Damian from Brookside, in the south stand on sunday or was i seeing things ?
Saint Stivs on 3rd May 2023 9:00 pm
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My daughter is a big fan of LIFE ON MARS.
Jota seems to be a lovely person as well as a fantastic player.
Is our substitute left winger not the grandson of a CQNr or am I misremembering?
5-4 Celtic
5:4 celtic
Well- he just created our 5th goal anyway
queries on the FA cup final timing.
Talk-shite mentioned today the Polis insisted kick off was brought forward from a scheduled 5:30 kick off due to concerns about it being a high profile derby, and the first time it has happened.
Open to to be told different but i dont really recall dangerous levels of violence between City and United fans, but I do think it could all kick off with the Gallagher brothers,
Another reason put forward is a scheduled (ironic timetable this one) rail strike.
I can see that being a problem on a saturdaty evening for city fans, but if the underground is still on then the united fans can get back to surrey easy enough.
Well done Daniel!
5-4
Talk of back to the 80s,
is there not something sparklingly magical about a hoops strip with no adverts on it.
those clean lovely lines, all very 1982 league cup final-ish
SAINT STIVS on 3RD MAY 2023 9:00 PM
SCULLYBHOY on 3RD MAY 2023 8:36 PM
remember that LIFE ON MARS polis drama time trave lthingy.
*the star John Simms is on Grace
6-4 what a goal we never stop
we want seven, we want seven, we want seven
Whit a goal by Dobbie
Young Scobie with fantastic backheel into young huns goal :O)
Back to goal… back heels it in…
% a side goal makes it 6:4- it’s all over surely
Kyogo watch your back………
YHAASSSSSSS
Yesssssssss
Is it Scobie 🤣
Apologies ..young Dobbie :O)
5 a side goal
Feel a wee bit sorry for the youngsters , 120 minutes on the big pitch and they’re feeling it . I even feel a wee bit sorry for the Sevvies . (Well ,mibbe no!)
6-4 up… 4 minutes to go and the young Celts are still chasing everything down..
The Hunny Monster scores again for City
Wonder if the weans in the hun support go home and smash their toys, it’s in their DNA irrespective of age 🤔
Will be difficult trying to keep some of these Bhoys……
PRESTONPANS BHOYS on 3RD MAY 2023 9:35 PM
Wonder if the weans in the hun support go home and smash their toys, it’s in their DNA irrespective of age 🤔
they are marching on george square,
Huns score 5:6
6-5 2 minutes left
Celtic nearly make it 7…
Full time Celtic win the cup..