Football has been tribal and jingoistic for over a century. Where it succeed in penetrating beyond the scope of a mere sport, it is inherently primitive. This can be a healthy way for people to remain in contact with all that is important in life but it’s often not.
Writing in today’s Sun, former Celtic player (good grief) , Ian ‘Wrighty’ Wright said: “The next young player who says he does not want to play for England should be ordered to ring the parents of a soldier who has died serving his country in Afghanistan and tell them his reasons”.
To invoke the memory of those who have sacrificed their lives in order to rebuke reluctant footballers is beyond primitive, it is debased and ugly. Bereaved parents would surely be sickened at attempts to equate their sacrifice with a football game. Football and our media have lost their way. Wright should be ashamed, but he won’t be, it’s nonsense like this which newspapers pay for. His media value will have increased.
Harry Redknapp’s ill-made comments about Spurs players not wanting to travel for England games are also a nonsense. There’s not a top-flgiht manager in the game who’s yet to experience players reluctant to fly to Tbilisi, or some other distant destination, for a friendly instead of resting at home with his family. If you are a top pro, these games hold little excitement or value and come at a fitness cost, to pretend otherwise is being duplicitous.
Players with imposing club demands can see these games far enough. Those involved in European football often have two games per week for months, depleting resources and adding strains to muscles. A flight to the back of beyond before a thankless task of a game is simply not an attractive offer. Most players go, but let’s be honest, almost all will choose times to back out occasionally.
England are hurting after an awful World Cup but it will be counter-productive to hand the stage over to jingoistic lunatics. And ‘Wrighty’, if anyone asks you to pull the Paradise Windfall one day, don’t feel obliged to pitch up.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his book, All the Best.
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If sumdy bites ye – whits the first thing ye dae?
Roll aboot the grun like a big jessie?
Go bleeting to the ref?
Hook the biter right on the nose?
Ye see it’s a bit like awe those folk who dont want terracings back.
They say stuff like – “I dont want sumdy pissin down my leg.”
Now, if yer the type to stand and let sumdy piss on you then
who’s the problem?
Bobby,
No problem. I have held back my views for a long time but felt the need to air them now. The continual down sizing while costs at the top increase frustrates me! Austerity should start from the top.
As for the living wage, in the same meeting they pass a resolution for hundreds of thousands of bonuses to be paid to the board and in the next breath state they unable to pay this, what????
NatKnow
11:59 on 25 June, 2014
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You seem to be in a sort of comfort zone at the minute.
Hmmmm?
Wouldn’t be anything to do with the ‘clique’ being in close proximity, eh?
SHELBOURNE1916
Ffs,sold!
Where have you been for so long,but welcome to CQN(mineshafters,inc)
Gabby Johnson is busy today
KEVJ
Anytime someone disagrees with you,it’s because they’re in a clique?
Naw,it’s because you talk utter (censored)
Hamilton Tim
Hmmm not sure I can agree with all of that Chris specifically the bit about Lawell’s mob being the most guilty of forgetting the club’s ethos and History.
For me the ethos of Walfrid and the original founders of the club was deliberately abandoned within 10 years of 1888 when the original incorporation took place.
There was absolutely no need for that — or at least no need on the basis that has been formally put forward by some historic accounts.
For successive decades, Celtic Football Club was run as no more than a private cash cow for the benefit of a handful of individuals and their families.
The fans, the ethos, the good deeds, charity and all that could all go raffle themselves except when it suited the largesse and the mood of those in charge and who were pocketing the money.
Since 2005 the Celtic Charity Foundation as it is now called — and which is a completely separate entity to Celtic Football Club has raised over £7m for various causes and is trying to expand its activities on a year on year basis.
That is a significant development and will hopefully grow ever more significant as more and more people buy into the concept and become involved.
During the clubs more successful period ever on the park, more kids in the Glasgow area were kitted out on a Saturday morning by Ipswich Football Club than by Celtic and Rangers put together.
As a result, Ipswich were able to attract a fairly significant number of Scots into their youth and eventually first team ranks — a side to charity and development that was totally lost or ignored by the Kelly’s Whites and so on.
There is no doubt that the current management could do and should do more about our founding ethos, and pay more recognition to our historic links with Ireland without the daft and unnecessary revisionism and censorship that exists in the most silly of areas.
However, the time when our ethos and heritage was most forgotten about and abandoned is not now in my opinion although more should be done to re-establish that ethos and heritage and place it in its rightful position and context.
KevJungle
12:06 on 25 June, 2014
NatKnow
11:59 on 25 June, 2014
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You seem to be in a sort of comfort zone at the minute.
Hmmmm?
Wouldn’t be anything to do with the ‘clique’ being in close proximity, eh?
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Right in my comfort zone Kev. Which is anywhere I lay my hat.
Which clique is it you refer to? I might join. Although I don’t fancy your clique – the Jungle Golden Shower Brigade.
I would also ask, if like our best players who are now sold before they have properly unpacked, why are none of the EPL clubs after our amazing CEO?!
(I heard a rumour of arsenal a few years ago but I dismissed this as scaremongering that we could lose him as his wage package and bonuses had just been highlighted to the support en masse)
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
12:07 on 25 June, 2014
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I thought the head-honcho told you ‘not’ to communicate
with me?
And ye know were, don’t ya!
Auldheid,
Only just read your comparison of Yogi and Sammi. To be honest, I am more devastated about Sammi leaving than Yogi. Imo, the essential difference between them is in the quality of those around them. Yogi played with the best; Sammi hasn’t. When Sammi plays with someone who can read him, like the other Samaras last night, we see the best of him. I fear we will lose much more in monetary terms if we haven’t his services in Europe. For me, one of the best footballers to grace the Hoops in recent times.
A class act in every way.
Kev
I haven’t seen anywhere, or heard on the bus or in the pub, from any Tim that they wouldn’t want to see some aspect of terracing brought back.
Kev,
Are you suggesting the tally dude should have belted Suarez?
Shelbourne 1916,
That wasn’t scaremongering. It was the real deal. PL is a fan, first and last.
NatKnow
12:10 on 25 June, 2014
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What color is a chameleon?
Honestly….if big Chiellini had just knocked Suarez out cold….it would have been a much more entertaining match…
What a player Suarez is….but he is totally mental…..an 8 yr old trapped a mans body
Barking mad
World Cup eh….the pinnacle of Football
Give me Celtic anytime.
HH
Shelbourne1916
Very good points sir, My Company suffers from the same ailment,
KLV
Hamiltontim
12:11 on 25 June, 2014
Kev
I haven’t seen anywhere, or heard on the bus or in the pub, from any Tim that they wouldn’t want to see some aspect of terracing brought back.
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Celtic are odds on to be the first club in Britain to provide terracing just as soon as GCC are happy with the safety aspects – essential stuff. KevJ will join in praising the board and Peter Lawwell for their dilligence in concluding this matter I’m sure, since it’s one of key reasons he doesn’t bother going to Celtic Park at present.
Geordie Munro
12:12 on 25 June, 2014
Kev,
Are you suggesting the tally dude should have belted Suarez?
__________________________________________________
In any walk of life, if sumdy bites you – hook them on the nose!
But, I’m glad Suarez bit the guy cos, he’s a big fouling bassa. imho
new article posted.
NatKnow
12:16 on 25 June, 2014
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No, I’m not going to praise them.
Their erses should be booted for taking too long.
KevJungle
12:13 on 25 June, 2014
NatKnow
12:10 on 25 June, 2014
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What color is a chameleon?
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Dunno. Is it Karma-coloured? Natural history was never my strong point on account of all our David Attenborough videos being chewed up by the Ferguson VHS player.
KEV
Au contraire.
I asked him to remove my post where I swore at you-as I still do,of course,but not in print-apologised for debasing his blog with such language and promised never to engage with you in such a way again.
He left the post up as a permanent reminder to folly. But I like a laff now and again which is why I indulge you on occasion.
Blantyre Kev.
You have mail.
eh?