I spoke to Phil Mac Giolla Bhain, a man who wears his Republican heritage on his sleeve, about the hostile reaction to his comments on modernising the Celtic songbook a few months back. Phil found himself to be an easy target for conspiracy theorists who turned on him for issuing a request to an end of political chanting. I’m sure Neil Lennon will not find anything like the same reaction to his comments in the Sun today, but it remains to be seen if anyone listens.
Neil said, “It’s important that we put a general message out that these chants have no place around our club. To be honest, we are better than that as a club and we always have been, we just don’t need it.
“We are and always have been a club open to all and we do not have issues around sectarianism. We have our own values and traditions but they do not include these chants. We don’t want them at matches and they must stop.”
This is not the first time Neil has given the same message this year. After his earlier comments I actually heard, “Who is Neil Lennon to tell me what I can and can’t sing? I’ve been going to Celtic Park a lot longer than he has.”
We are in a classic social paradox. The reputational damage of political singing is not felt by those who sing, and the risk of personal consequences arising for any individual singer is probably around 1%. And let’s be honest here, for all the supportive flags, banners and “I’m Neil Lennon” proclamations, is Neil respected enough to be listened to, or has he become a modern Che Guevara-poster boy?
Whatever you think of Neil, or his rights to say what you can or cannot sing, he has the best interests of our club in mind whenever he speaks on this subject.
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Never mind I’ll catch him on here over the weekend.
Hail Hail
Blackpool Bhoy
EWO
Great post ….yet again.
Keep on…
setting free the bears says:
17 November, 2011 at 22:46
Unlikely to be a relegation this season because the huns will be kicked out of the SPL
I’ve just been accused of being an Orc by the CSA.
Dear Divitbhoy,
Unfortunately your registration at CSA Forums did not meet our membership requirements. Therefore your registration was deleted.
Anyone else been rejected? Or am I the wrong type of Celtic fan? What are the membership requirements?
Seems like CQN is the forum most like our club, open to all.
Hail Hail
SFTB @ 22:00….
Nuremberg….
They didn’t have enough supporters there to start a riot. Also, those who were there were in a state of shock at the events of the previous week in Lisbon!
They were in Nuremburg as cup winners though (they beat us in the previous year’s Scottish Cup Final – a steal if ever there was one).
On their way to that Nuremberg final they squeezed past Real Zaragoza in the quaret finals on the toss of a coin (Greig guessing correctly at Ibrox).
And they have been in 4 European finals, their first being the 1961 ECWC played over 2 legs v Fiorentina – happily they were beaten in both legs losing 4-1 on aggregate.
Remember to set your alarm on Saturday morning – 8:00 am start for Inverness.
Ernie 21:18
Correct. When we were on the brink Keevins was very much on our side. I recall him as compere at at least one celts for change rally. I definitely saw him at the celebration after the fergus takeover.
EWO
Were the Yanks the first ones to kick them out??
setting free the bears says:
17 November, 2011 at 22:46
Correct and some of us would love a ticket for these games. Only two grounds I fail to get tickets for i.e. ICT and ST Mirren. Now I have no loss for the latter but would love one for ICT for a weekend on the bevy. Moreover even if we were 20 points behind and Ross County gained promotion, I would still be there.
Are you joining the quiz tomorrow @9pm?
Twinbhoy
The SNP’s minimum price for alcohol policy is just another one from the box marked “Presbyterian Shangri La”.
Once they shut up us pesky Fenians, they’ll then move on to chaining up the swings on sundays ;-)
The huns didnt riot in Nuremberg 67 because…..
They went there as 10000 deflated zombies, blown away by what they had witnessed the week before. Even if they had beaten Bayern it was always going to be the lesser achievement. Their appetite for a party was dampened, as was their usual hunger for post match trouble.
Lisbon 67 left a legacy which has affected not just our club, but one that the huns have felt ever since.
Hh
Alisdair mcLean
“Probably covered and touching wood here – but at 6 points clear – what’s the thoughts on travelling to Dingwall twice next season?”
OK if ICT get relegated to make room for you.
Dingwall’s a hard drinking town. Some of the boys might make a weekend of it.
—————————————————————————————–
Don’t forget, Ross County means Ross County – not just Dingwall. You have to have a stadium somewhere.
Caley staying up as well? – 3 guaranteed sellouts. Let’s unite against the common enemy. Caley bxxxxds.
I would like to see a thread purely set aside for the discussion of ‘offensive’ singing so as to educate the wrong uns …..I mean so as to set the record straight….about where we stand. Hell,…we might even be able to educate some folk,…hunterlopers an all….!!
Seriously,…one day, one subject [alone]
Lets get the facts and opinions out in one thread….it is a blog afterall.
nothing else. And lets put this to bed. If you have a greivance,…tell us why. And we can all see how you respond to the counter.
Over to you Paul67….
aldersyde
He was the Capo of the 60’s and 70’s
mickbhoy1888 says:
17 November, 2011 at 21:49
I would say that Oglach has sound knowledge of recent Irish history and the issues that have arisen. He presents a coherent, researched and reasoned viewpoint which is worthy of serious consideration – unlike your pathetic off the cuff remarks.
Marrakesh Express
Ha ,… too damn right. And the blighters have run themselves into the ground trying to equalise that li’l piece of history we created.
Thing is Davy[Murray],….. you can only be first once ya bam !
Hail Hail
mickbhoy1888 says:
17 November, 2011 at 21:27
Oglach UFB @21:09
You seem to be a bit of the Irish historian, can you give me some figures in relation to men who gave up their day jobs at Celtic Park and took up arms in the cause Irish freedom and compare that figure with the amount that left Celtic Park in both World Wars to fight on behalf of the brits
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
apologies for the late response, a fine bottle of Rijoa had me distracted.
I can not see relevance as to the number of employees of Celtic either joining the IRA or fighting with the British army in WW1 or WW2. Fact is Celtic employees had no choice but join the British army unlike RFC employees who were given ‘essential’ jobs in the ship yards etc to avoid conscription – Fact.
As far as i am aware the only club in Scotland whose entire eligible male employees freely enlisted in the British army on mass during WW1 were from Hearts. Some Celtic employees were conscripted.
However there are were numerous men and women from the Scotland who actively participated in the fight for Irish Freedom during both the 1916 rebellion, rather than be conscripted into the British army, and subsequent war of independence. As you will know the Commandant General of the Army of the Irish Republic (or IRA) during the 1916 rebellion was born in Edinburgh namely James Connolly.
Now in the history of modern Irish nationalism there was a CSC in Long Kesh POW camp how many British army regiments have a CSC?
I have to go to bed here – the effects of a 10k run (i swear there i see multiple zeros every time I see that!) for mark in the dark last night is takings it toll.
See yas folks.
Hopefully tomorrow we can go back to talking about Celtic and stop having our dirty laundry out in public.
Youd almost be tempted to fall into the trap that Scotlands ills are actually caused by us.
Paul67…
We are in a classic social paradox. The reputational damage of political singing is not felt by those who sing, and the risk of personal consequences arising for any individual singer is probably around 1%. And let’s be honest here, for all the supportive flags, banners and “I’m Neil Lennon” proclamations, is Neil respected enough to be listened to, or has he become a modern Che Guevara-poster boy?
After a succession of excellent articles, I guess there had to come a time when there would be one that I think is poor, and verging on extremely poor. The article falls into the age old trap – the use of rhetorical fallacy to try and guide opinion. What fallacy I hear you ask? Argumentum ad verecundiam – the appeal to authority. Neil Lennon may be an authority on many things, but on the history of Celtic and on what songs should be sung, or the rights and wrongs surrounding those songs he has no authority what so ever (in fact, I’d argue the toss over his knowlege and skills on managing a football team too, but that’s a debate for the next pitiful performance pulled out of the hat by the current team). Anyway… Neil Lennon.
Maybe Neil would do well to take cognisance of the name Michael Davitt. One of the founders of the club, who spent time in prison for smuggling guns for the IRB. Chants not part of our tradition? Oh aye sure they’re not. To be honest, that’s not relevant particularly either however. The bottom line is that the chants, or rather the subject of the chants is irrelevant. The club has no place colluding with the football authorities to interfere in peoples absolute right to freely and lawfully express themselves. Whilst there is one shred of free speech left in this country Celtic, a club with it’s very foundation being the quest for equality and liberty, should be four square behind the fans. The subject of the chanting is irrelevant. Neil Lennon’s opinions on the chanting are irrelevant. And disappointing.
Neil is a legend as a player, but just like Jock Stein and many others before him, he has no right, and no place trying to impose his will on the people who both revere him and pay his wages.
Whatever you think of Neil, or his rights to say what you can or cannot sing, he has the best interests of our club in mind whenever he speaks on this subject.
I disagree. What reputational damage can be done by chants that, for instance, the flying of the Irish tri-colour doesn’t inflict. It’s the same debate as the one that happened in the fifties. “Take down the tri-colour!”, “Stop your chanting!”, “You offend us”… or, more succinctly “know your place”. That’s what this is about. Us knowing our place. And sadly, Dermot Desmond thinks we should know our place too. Be good customers. Leave your politics at the door! Unless you’re the Celtic board… Or Uefa.
I’m happy this has come to head. I’m happy that there is independent scrutiny. What I’m unhappy about is that Celtic that has rolled over and abandoned the fans. IF, and it’s a very big IF…Uefa find us guilty of mixing football and politics, the next question I’d be asking is “So I take it political figures in Europe pay for their own tickets? And there will be no political dignitaries sitting at the top table at any games?”. UEFA are happy to deny fans any form of expression the deem unsuitable whilst playing politics themselves. The hypocrisy stops now. Equality. We are denied democracy at the ballot box. Are we to be denied our right to freedom of speech too?
And I still fail to see what reputational damage we can suffer when the “old guard” hate us anyway. In fact, why not invite Hugh Dallas along to approve our song book? If we are really concerned about our reputation amongst the likes or Traynor, Speirs, Farry et al, then why not do the job right?
And BTW – to the god squad (who wish to impose Catholicism on a non sectarian club) on here calling for “faith of our fathers” and other idolatrous songs, they’ll be gunning for you next. Because you’re just as unpopular.
When we finish the project…Desmond has removed the charity from the club, he’s in the process of removing the fight, and when he has taken the soul, what exactly makes us “more than just a club”? Answers on the back of a postcard.
/p
It is time for those that sing their songs of the IRA to change their focus.
I sang those songs as political songs in the 70/80s.
I also marched against Thatcher’s Govt.
Let the young Bhoys sing the same songs against a Tory govt and the Tartan Tories in Scotland.
Let us make it clear the SNP govt. are out to get us.
Hail hail.
Gordon
Doh!
Of course they won the cup the previous season.
Maybe another reason they did not riot was the surprise that they took a team containing Maier, Beckenbauer and Muller to extra time.
Alisdair Mclean/ernie lynch/prestonpans bhoy
Right enough, we’ll have a 3 hour plus journey up the A9 possibly 4 times a season. I think we should play Inverness on the Saturday and Ross County on the Sunday, or vice versa, and make a weekend of it.
I might make the quiz but might miss the finish if we have to be up early on a Saturday for the journey.
Bould bhoy
Spot on mate.
first to 6 iar
first to 9 iar
first non latin club to win big cup.
I heard mccoist on tv prior to huns v cska moscow 93. He admitted that as this was a virtual european cup semi, ‘we have a great chance to put 26 years of the other lot celebrating lisbon behind us’.
Not quite ally. And it was on that rock captain murray ran aground the hun battleship.
Hh
setting free the bears says:
17 November, 2011 at 23:12
Might I suggest you go to bed early tomorrow night and give us a chance to win the quiz!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paul et al
Excuse my rambling. This is a difficult issue.
I am torn between my gut reaction and my considered opinion.
We categorically have the right to sing these songs without fear of criminalisation. They are political. Stamping out political expression with the jackboot of the state is the thin end of the wedge and leads only to revolution.
Individual responsibility?
My oldest friend, for his sins, is an Orc. Along the way I have picked up two brothers in law, one of whom is a dyed in the wool blue nose, the other an English protestant who, although he wouldn’t even know what a hun is, would definitely be what a man of republican inclination would refer to as a Brit.
I have the right to sing these songs in their company. Would I? Would anyone be quite so bloody minded and offensive?
I love singing these songs. My wife is a Tyrone woman who escaped death in the troubles only by incredible good fortune. She’s not a fan of my songbook. Do I persist in singing them because I have the right to?
Would you?
I love finding a pub with a session on and a turf fire. In the company of the likeminded, will I belt out the republican tunes? Absolutely. With enthusiasm and extremely poor tuning!
Now, if the publican said “c’mon lads, it’s mixed company tonight, would you ease up.” Would I insult him by asserting my right to free speech, over his right to look after all his patrons and not just me?
When it comes to forming opinions on an issue, I try to do the following.
I ignore my gut. Which, although considerable, is invariably confrontational. I remember lessons, hard learned in life, about conflict resolution.
I think, if I was a better man, what would I do?
Look at the peace process here. The bitter pills swallowed all round. Far more bitter and unpalatable than giving up some songs. The person who murdered your father/mother/brother/sister out on the street after a couple of years.
Imagine that. Just for a second.
How many times in your life have you reconciled an issue with someone, regardless of who was right or wrong, because you knew that was the only way to achieve the desired outcome? Bye the way, if you’ve never done that, you’re either single or divorced!
Do we face sectarianism and injustice? Undoubtedly.
Will that be resolved at a football match?
Will that be resolved by lowering ourselves to the standard of the baser elements of those who wish us ill?
My brother always taught me the importance of being the bigger man. Admittedly, I may have taken him a bit literally, because I’m now a very big man indeed. You get my point though.
I also consider that, should my daughter read or hear my opinions in later life; will she have cause to be proud of her father? Or will she look at my views as the quaint and distasteful beliefs of a sad and bygone age?
If, for a moment, we can see past our justified grievances and consider the outcome we would wish to achieve. How do we get to that point? What, on our part, are we willing to do to secure a better future for our whole community?
No conflict was ever resolved by those unwilling to move from entrenched positions.
Dialogue is the alternative to conflict. That doesn’t mean dialogue within our support, where views are varied but come from the same place. It’s dialogue with someone whose core beliefs are anathema to all you hold dear.
Is a football the appropriate background for resolution of a problem of such ingrained societal significance?
For my part, I quite like watching Celtic.
Cheers
Yogi
neveralone says:
17 November, 2011 at 22:35
My thinking is this:
We could make a statement that says whilst we do not accept that any of our songs are sectarian, we do recognise that there are elements in our traditional songs that could cause offense and we as a support will not use what WE decide might be a cause of offense, even if not intended. Then state what WE will not condone as a support including references to the IRA.
However we add
There are elements in the traditional songs of our footbal rivals that are either sectarian or racist or just plain offensive to a reasonable man and we would expect our rivals support to make a similar statement of intent, naming the songs THEY decide are offensive as well as those that are already deemed sectarian and racist..
We are not engaging with them, we are challenging them to do something I have never seen and that is admit some of their songs are plain WRONG.
They may not be able to make that admission, I think there is a mindblock when it comes to them admitting wrong, but if we are to seize the initiative this is a way to do so by putting the focus back on their highly offensive material and away from what we sing.
If we give up reference to the IRA to avoid giving offense make sure they recipricate in public on TBBs, TFS, BJK and any other offensive ditties in that class.
Auld Neil…
Fair point!
Gone yersel Mary!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdDnpkR3AQ
eyes wide open 22.44. Easily the post of the day for me. The hipocracy of this witch-hunt against all things irish/celtic stinks, especially when you look at where these accusations are comiong from.
There is an excellent discussion on the celtic underground podcast regarding ‘alleged offensive chanting’. Basically who in the Celtic support has trhe right to determine what supporting Celtic represents to individuals. if i remeber i was likend to a group looking at a diamond. Many facets of a beautiful thing but no one sees the same thing -that is who is in the right and who is wrong.
I missed the Snyde phone in tonight but used their Listen Back thingy to hear an advert free version. (Cuts about 40 minutes off)
Anyway a caller came on and made the comment that with all the political correctness, offending etc why are organisations, on both sides, allowed to march down the streets. Free speech was Jim Dellahun’s answer. He easily fell into the callers trap. Give Dawell his due he was all for banning marches. His rant went on for a few minutes. I was looking forward to Dalziel’s take on it. Then it came “We’ve been on this show for an hour and a half and we’ve hardly touched on football.”
Do you think big nose is in the ludge.
1988 Cup Final
How to make a political statement.
It was Celtic’s centenary year, the league was already
won and they were in the Scottish Cup final. The fans were singing
Happy Birthday Dear Celtic, another double beckoned and only Dundee
United stood in their way.
The match played at Hampden was a 74,000 sell-out. United
were no pushovers and were considered slight favourites to lift the
cup. Four previous attempts in the final had failed and they had also
been narrowly beaten in the UEFA cup final. They were determined to
take the cup north and got off to a great start in 48 minutes with
a fantastic volleyed goal from Kevin Gallacher. He was the great grandson
of Celtic’s legendary Patsy Gallacher and it was a goal that Patsy
would have been proud of.
Billy McNeill, returning to manage the club that
season, made two crucial substitutions – Derek Whyte and Andy Walker
off, Mark McGhee and Billy Stark on. In the 74th minute, Anton Rogan
made a run up United’s right wing and crossed a ‘peach’. Thompson
failed to make it his and Frank McAvennie reacted to head the ball
into the net for the equaliser.
With only thirty seconds left to the final whistle,
wee Joe Miller took a corner, Billy Stark’s shot rebounded off of
a United defender and again McAvennie reacted fastest to score his
and Celtic’s second. The cup was won.
One incident which spoiled this final was the attendance
of that old Tory butcher Maggie Thatcher. She was responsible for
many of the problems that Scotland (Ireland, England and Wales) and
it’s people were suffering at the time and the general feeling that
she should never have been asked to attend this match. Unemployment,
public assets sold off, industry ended, hospitals closed, broken
marriages, bankruptcy and suicide is the Thatcher legacy for Scotland
and she was made most unwelcome by everyone except the SFA (shame
on them).
To help the fans display their utter disgust at old
blue nose, the Greater Glasgow Health Joint Trade Union Committee published
a leaflet which was printed by Labour Communications Limited. The leaflet
was red on both sides and was distributed to the fans outside the stadium
so they could hold it up when the PM appeared. The fans took part without
persuasion and, when she appeared, a sea of red cards were shown around
the entire stadium in a gesture of sending her off. She, off course,
ignored it in her usual arrogant manner.
Auld Neil Lennon heid says:
17 November, 2011 at 23:18
admirable sentiment as always, but i bring them into the argument and its back to the old firm problem. the only thing we have real control over is our own actions, we should ignore what they do, sort ourselves out and come out of this with some sort of collective agreement on what we sing. its really as simple as that for me. i’m sure it’s not beyond people like yourself who are respected by other tims to thrash something out amongst ourselves, so we are able to reclaim the moral high ground.
Stairheedrammy says:
17 November, 2011 at 20:56
I am assuming that something got lost in the ether and turned what I said, a fairly mundane statement of fact into something scurrilous and subversive.
You wrote as follows.
Estadio- you are way off the mark with your extreme views about the GB. Without them last season and this would have been a total washout. They have provided the only atmosphere, and at times the only reason to keep watching the game. They have driven the team on to a result when it looked lost- most recently being the Rennes game. I dont agree with the Ra add on- but I dont hear ANY other song that I think shouldnt be sung, and I hear the ra bit from plenty of other parts of the ground- so please- get a bit of perspective .
*****************************************************
My only contribution was this.
Estadio says:
17 November, 2011 at 20:13
googybhoy ♥ Celtic says:
17 November, 2011 at 18:39
harryhoodsdugbitmesays:
17 November, 2011 at 18:38
St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The only country in the world not to have St Pat’s parade is Scotland. Plenty of other marched take place right enough. HH.
That is a question I would like to ask Salmond.
In fact I think I will.
*********************************************************
Coatbridge holds a St Patrick’s fortnight. It has parades, masses, parties, street celebrations, banners and if they hadn’t filled in most of the canal they would probably dye that green as well. The Garngad started on a smaller scale a few years back and the last I heard it was slowly gathering momentum with a parade into the City Centre.
As far as other Marches go, I have personally held the lead banner from the Garngad down to Queens park for republican and hunger strike commemoration parades. I have been filmed by the police and have filmed them back.
The songs debate is a complicated issue as is the proposed ridiculous ‘offensive chants legislation’. Unfortunately politicians are essentially walking egos and it may require a legal challenge under the auspices of the ECHR to have it emasculated beyond use, just like weapons bunkers :-)
However, tomorrow should be even more split on the blog as Neil Lennon has promised the BBC to take questions on his statement at the pre-Inverness press conference.
***********************************************************************
No mention of GB, no condemnation of anything in fact a lot of empathy I would have thought.
Hail Hail
Estadio
Estadio
I believe Stairheedrammy meant to address his post, to another excellent Blogger Estadio Nacional.
p8ddy
‘impose Catholicism on a non-sectarian club’
What nonsense. While you pull Paul up about Irish nationalism running through the origins of Celtic, what about the Catholicism running through the origins, right up to hymns being sung in the 60s, the 70s and of late. Does it not suit your agenda? Further, how dare you associate Catholicism with sectarianism, how dare you speak of imposing Catholicism. My word you strike an impressive polemic, but Brother Walfrid? Was he sectarian?
You sound as if you are denying Celtic’s Catholic origins. There’s a million miles between being proud of those, celebrating them and all the while seeing us as an all-inclusive club, in support and playing staff. That phrase ‘impose Catholicism’ is wicked, and you know it. I am Catholic, I am not ‘god squad’. And don’t give me your patronising garbage about them ‘coming for us next’. Are you new? There’s barely been a time when they haven’t despised us for that. I sincerely do wenjoy your posts, but seriously sir, what nonsense from you there.
From Celtic wiki, I commend to you the first Celtic circular. Never hide from it. It’s beautiful.
Circular
CELTIC FOOTBALL AND ATHLETIC CLUB
CELTIC PARK, PARKHEAD
(Corner of Dalmarnock and Janefield Streets)
Patrons
His Grace the Archbishop of Glasgow and the Clergy of St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart and St. Michael’s Missions, and the principle Catholic laymen of the East End
The above club was formed in November 1887 by a number of the Catholics of the East End of the City.
The main objective of the club is to supply the East End conferences of the St. Vincent De Paul Society with funds for the maintenence of the “Dinner Tables” of our needy children in the Missions of St Mary’s, Sacred Heart, and St. Michael’s. Many cases of sheer poverty are left unaided through lack of means. It is therefore with this principle object that we have set afloat the “Celtic”, and we invite you as one of our ever-ready friends to assist in putting our new Park in proper working order for the coming football season.
We have already several of the leading Catholic football players of the West of Scotland on our membership list. They have most thoughtfully offered to assist in the good work.
We are fully aware that the “elite” of football players belong to this City and suburbs, and we know that from there we can select a team which will be able to do credit to the Catholics of the West of Scotland as the Hibernians have been doing in the East.
Again, there is also the desire to have a large recreation ground where our Catholic young men will be able to enjoy the various sports which will build them up physically, and we feel sure we will have many supporters with us in this laudable object.
Estadio
I checked back as well when I saw that post. I think he has mixed your moniker with that of a Middle east worker.
When the Song debate was last aired on CQN I followed it closely. Now that it has resumed over the past two days I see posters restate the views they produced previously. I doubt if anyone has changed stance. I don’t sing republican songs at matches, not being a very good singer. I fail to see the relevance of such songs at matches. However, I have to say that I am not “disappointed”, I don’t cringe when I hear them nor am I surprised or alarmed. If the guy next to me wants to sing so be it. He’s not invading my space. If I was perturbed I would find something else to do instead of attending CP.
That said, I have a liking for some of these songs but prefer the concert hall or cabaret club or the CD player in the car and in the very near future that is where we will all hear them.
Like it or not, when the new law is passed and the police gleefully enforce it the singing and chanting will be but a distant memory in next to no time. Remember when you could smoke in the pub? When is the last time an Irish traveller heard any song on the ferry?
It seems to me that the wise heads of the Celtic groupings need to come together and produce an approved hymnal.
You and I can rant from now to doomsday about the new but if it comes into being we will have no option but to obey.
yogijunior3
Your post reminded me of the old favourite.
I think in your life you’ve reached the last line.
If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!
well done neil lennon. it’s one thing to ask the chanting to stop when you are untouchable as celtic manager and your stock couldnt be higher with the fans, quite another when you’ve been through the bad run he’s had recently and plenty of fans are questioning your suitability for the job. a very brave and principled thing to do, we’re lucky to have such a big man in charge at our club regardless of his recent failings as a football manager.