“If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you’re mis-informed.”
Mark Twain had a knack for overstatement, but you wonder if there was ever a golden age of the newspapers, and if so, what it looked like. In Scotland, it’s seldom looked like it has this week.
Some weeks ago, Graham Spiers, writing in The Herald, made reference to comments he claimed a Newco director made about the Billy Boys song. Spiers didn’t name the director, but questioned the club’s board’s willingness to tackle offensive behaviour.
The Billy Boys were a Glasgow razor gang from the 1920s and 30s, named after their leader, Billy Fullerton. Glasgow was one of the poorest cities in the industrial world, with high unemployment and mortality rates, squalid housing conditions and what we would now term disaffected young people who drifted into criminal gangs. The Billy Boys were known as a Protestant gang (there were similar Catholic gangs) and started going along to watch Rangers, and singing their signature tune, in the 20s.
So far, so anthropologic. The song, the gangs, the disaffected masses were a product of their time, but the song persisted through the decades, including the “up to our knees in Fenian blood” third line. It was the mood music to employment practices at Ibrox from the 20s until 1989.
Scotland has changed enormously since then. We are a genuinely plural society, not one scandalised by “mixed marriages”. The vast majority of people don’t care who or what you are, boundaries have been pushed back, there is a fairly level playing field, no matter your creed or colour. All of this change brought focus to the Billy Boys song, it’s not the mood music to modern Scotland, or to ANY Rangers fans I know.
I couldn’t care less about the song. For me, it is a millstone around the neck of Newco, as it was of Oldco. It drags them down to a place they can ill-afford to be. It offends (not alone in football), has a criminal legacy (not alone in football), but it’s unique quality is that third line. You can’t say that about any group of people anymore.
Spiers has put his neck on the block over sectarianism at Ibrox repeatedly over the years. He wrote about his recent experience at Ibrox, expressed an opinion, and submitted his copy.
The club complained. Football clubs complain lots about many things. There’s a set answer newspapers give to these complaints: “It was an opinion piece”. They never retract or apologise for “an opinion piece”.
I’m 100% certain The Herald’s first response to Newco was “it’s an opinion piece”. This would normally have been the end of it, but on Wednesday The Herald issued an apology.
Spiers then became a blogger to explain “My opinion – as expressed in my column – was based on a truthful account of my meeting with a Rangers director.”
Who you believe is irrelevant for this topic. The only relevance is that within a 24 hour period, The Herald and Evening Times group changed how they deal with criticisms of an opinion piece – and then used six degrees of separation to drag Celtic into a sectarian headline.
“Ex-Celtic player in dock for sectarianism”, screamed the Evening Times, using the Celtic badge into the bargain. A woman is on trial for allegedly making a sectarian comment on Facebook. She once played for Celtic under-19s, never the senior ladies team. She doesn’t play for Celtic Ladies under-19s (or any age group) anymore, and didn’t a year ago when she made this comment. She never held an employed position at the club.
An amateur, juvenile, registered with the club who are a member of the Women’s Association. Fill your boots, Evening Times. The apology will do them no favours with any constituency, it will cost them more readers in each than sticking to their guns would have. Reacting by grasping onto something so tenuous to drag Celtic into the murky waters was unconscionable.
They do not report in this manner elsewhere. Headlines for court appearances never lead with the person’s club memberships, “Prestwick Golf Club member in driving ban”? You’ll never read this.
One very good political journalist once told me “The football content pays my wages”. That being the case, The Herald’s already difficult job to survive has been enormously undermined. Spiers also explained “the pressure brought upon the newspaper became severe”. They can ill-afford to lose advertising revenue streams, or readers.
Napoleon once said, “‘Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets”. He’s been dead a long time, though. Newspapers can now make themselves impotent in an afternoon.
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SMSM sumed up in a tweet
Celtic Minded @OfficialCMinded Jan 27
Sectarian singing – ok.
Praising sectarian singing – ok.
Criticising sectarian singing – “fanning the flames of bigotry”
If the football department and money men at Man City sanctioned the 11million purchase of an 18 year old from Fulham…. Then that says to me this young lad must be special.
Delighted with his 18 month capture.
Could spell bye bye James Forrest
GARY67 on 29TH JANUARY 2016 5:41 PM
Time to abandon the youth academy at Lennoxtown. Let them learn their trade at Hibs or Ross County, cut out the middle man. If they show promise then we can buy them with the £1-2m saved from pretending to give our own a chance.
*****
A couple of years ago, I would have probably agreed with you.
That was when there was no joined up approach to our youth policy.
Neither MON, nor GS, or NL were particularly interested in developing the boys.
That has changed and Ronnie is very much into development and there is a more universal approach with all our grades.
If we were just to take young players from other clubs, they would have to be re educated into the Celtic way of playing.
What, I think we have now, is the kids being coached through the grades in a style that is constant throughout all the grades.
The difference now, is that when the boys with a future with us reach a certain level, they go out on loan,or, if you like, placement, to gain regular first team football and to toughen up to the level that regular first team football provides.
There will be exceptions, like Tierney, who has shown that he is ready.
Hopefully, young Roberts is good enough to hold a regular place with our first team, even as a squad player.
The bhoy Roberts
When was the last time we had a 12 million pound 18 year old
And nice first name
Watching video maybe he was named after Paddy Mccourt
Wouldn’t like to walk it from Carmunnock to the Chapel Hall at Christ The King
Neganon2 I have’nt reached the stage – with Celtic – of witholding cash yet but would not rule it out, certainly would be easier with the SFA and SKY, stopped buying all newspapers 2 years ago. H H Hebcelt
The threat to withdraw £40,000 of advertising from Herald Group was in relation to a diary piece mocking them – given the happenings over at Ibrox these past number of years – for the prospect of having CROOKS on the back of their shirts next season. How appropriate was the context.
So the Herald can deny that they had any conversation re this in relation to the Spiers story.
As far as the clubs spending money – Rangers stiffed the Herald when they went bust and Sevco in the last years spent £1500 less on advertising with them that the readers of Celtic Quick News. (I got a call today from the Herald’s sales girl trying to sell advertising space. Talk about hardest job going!)
King has no money to spend on players. He made the same moves as Whyte in talking about players and then underbidding. He them signs a four month loan with a player that Hearts will pay for. He gets away with this by the diversion surrounding the Spiers story – oh how the horribles are lapping it up on FF.
Angela is particularly hated by them so her sacking is a cause for major celebration.
King has mobilized his troops. Murray used to have to spend because he was scared of their reaction. It was expected, demanded. King is a few days away from the transfer window closing and has spent nothing – jet the dumb bears are in full We Are the People Mode. That is quite a trick.
All that’s missing though are the brown shirts.
But remember, today, the Herald died. Glasgow and Scotland are poorer for it too.
Where will it all end?
Fantastic news that we might get the boy Roberts on a long term loan.This boy is sensational,and will be a superstar of the future,barring injuries.I said earlier,it would be useless signing him until the summer,but it seems,we have agreed an 18 month loan deal,which is great news.He could be the difference in our CL aspirations,alongside our present team.I did see a few sneering about his title”The English Messi”but a look at the boys skills at his age will surely convince the sneerers that the boy has it all.If this signing does not get the “Bums on seats”then nothing will.
This is the type of player who used to epitomize the Celtic way of playing football.
I really want to see him in the Hoops.
Gary67 on 29th January 2016 5:48 pm – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/mark-twain-napoleon-and-fatal-newspaper-mistakes/comment-page-6/#comments
What it says to young Aiden is this could be you in a year, I don’t think he is ready for first team football yet.
A good bit of business getting Roberts in for 18 months if this is the case, maybe the partner Leigh is looking for.
Thom the Tim, do you know if this clause about recall after 12 months exists?
Lets wait for Roberts to be officially unveiled, some people complaining already ceases to amaze
HH
gsu
!!BADA BING!! on 29TH JANUARY 2016 5:08 PM
Sunderland agree fee for a striker from Bordeaux………Fletcher in early….?
Saw that and thought the same thing.
Paul67,
CQN began, all those years ago, with an explanation of Amortisation.
Do you think it is now time to explain to us all the meaning of the word Amorphous, as it came up in Court today to describe the status of TRFC.
Paper boy told tonight not to bother with the Sunday Herald from now on.
Does your shop have The Sport???
Just looks like the old short-term strategy again.
Players we can sell on asap, and loan players we have no chance of signing.
Thats about it.
HH
Greensideup-GBWO on 29th January 2016 6:04 pm
No. I was merely speculating, as in, even if there was such a recall, then we would have at least got 12 months, including the crucial early months of the season.
Off out for dinner.
ERSKINETIM-hearing the Spiers/Haggerty sackings are now UK wide,I don’t think Cosgrove will miss the Herald tomorrow either,he has always stood up to the gang,and supported Jim Spence too.
heard from a York city fan today that Jackie mac’s nickname was sackie mac!!!!!!! ffs
When the Celts go up to lift the Scottish Cup :
—————————-C.Gordon———————–
Lustig. Erik. Jozo. Tierney
———– Brown. Bitton ———————
—Roberts. Rogic. Armstrong—
————— Griffiths ——————
Front 4 have potential to be lethal !
ThomTheTim,
got it, enjoy your dinner
HH
gsu
M1888
I’m sure as 67 said it was Celtic fans the police will be in attendance to escort them ;-)
Its amazing, that in all the time JF has been at Celtic, the coaches havent managed to get him to run in a straight line for more than 10 seconds.
He plays like he is running through a minefield:)
Hence…Patrick Roberts
HH
Neganon2
First the death of Celtic, now racism in Scotland and Mandela
With that amount of drama I refuse to believe you’re an accountant
The Green Man
Why would any footballer want to or need to run in a straight line for more than 10 seconds?
Even a breenger like Big Yogi and The Bear were capable of changes of direction?
Roberts, fletcher and a defensive mid and we should walk through the qualifiers
Finally getting the hang of this
Green Man
—————-
Of course you are entitled to your opinion, however if we could afford to buy outright, don’t you think we would – and who’s to say these buys would be long-term?
We must play with the cards we are dealt and if that means have good players, but for shorter periods, then let’s work with it to our advantage.
There will come a time in future when the football landscape will change – the club is being well looked after, and hopefully will be in a strong position to take advantage, when, not if, that time comes.
“We need around £30 Million to rebuild the Rangers this figure is still about right”
GLIB
He still hasn’t found a penny CSC
MR PASTRY
it’s a long term strategy for sustainability in a very difficult time
is there anything better than finding a celt fan in work ?
MON THE GOOD GHUYS!!
(I’m finishing off the bells from Monday wish me luck!)
18 month contract for Roberts….O’Halloran 18 months left on his contract
BTW is O’Halloran’s dad part of the youth coaching set up at Lennoxtown?
MICKBHOY1888 on 29TH JANUARY 2016 6:00 PM
Wouldn’t like to walk it from Carmunnock to the Chapel Hall at Christ The King
Find a seat for you tonight, want to join us ?
Christ The King hall
Church
Address: 220 Carmunnock Rd, Glasgow G44 5AP
Superb piece of business by Celtic, if we pull off the loan deal of such a high profile multi million pound player.
Great news that Celtic are still attractive for the best young players available.
A lot can happen in 18 months in football remember Guidetti was highly rated when he signed for City but they eventually freed him.Now young Roberts might not rise to the heights City want but may be doing very well in Celtic terms and if it doesnt work out at City for him he might consider Celtic as his second home.It is better to look positively at these things. H.H.
SFTB
Changes of direction….JF is like the Tasmanian Devil:)
Nobody in the team knows where he is going….until he gets there.
Be direct…beat the full back, go down the line, get into the box, cut it back for centre-forward
That is what wingers do…is it not?
HH
It’s a Myth stery Its a Myth stery !!
Not a mention of the victory for SEVCO in the law courts today.
The Peepil are the original hauf n hauf .
Separate entities but are swallied at the same time although you can ditch the toxic beer and keep the Malt on its own.
Three Judges say NANTE YER HAVIN A LAUGH
YER DEID AND THATS AWE ABOOT IT .
Ps Thot the SEVCO Qc quoting Wiki as evidence of same club was Priceless .
Just about pumphed ma pants laughin..
Wiki is Truth the truth according to Zombies !
SFTB
Young KT seems to be able to do the basics.
Why cant JF?
HH
Mon The Paddy, Celtic should always have a player called Paddy:))
Haggerty
Spence
McLaughlin
Spiers
THOMTHETHIM FOR OSCAR OK on 29TH JANUARY 2016 6:06 PM
Paul67,
CQN began, all those years ago, with an explanation of Amortisation.
Do you think it is now time to explain to us all the meaning of the word Amorphous, as it came up in Court today to describe the status of TRFC.
========================================================
Without shape.
I like to thing without substance.
Insubstantial. :-)
Pro’s :
Rogic
Armstrong
Roberts
Christie
Allan
Commons
GMS
Cons:
Boerrigter
Forrest
Johansen
Cifti
Time for the cons to be angled towards the door