The scene above is of Celtic Park in the 1990s, with the stadium and surrounding area pretty much as they were when Fergus McCann, you, me and 10,000 others stepped forward to buy the club. Improvements had been made on a decade earlier: the Celtic End roof ran to the front of the terrace, while you would walk around the east side of the stadium.
No one has ever satisfactorily explained to me how Fergus was able to decamp for a year, buy footballers and erect a 60,000 seater stadium after raising less than £20m capital, but when he left the stage 17 years ago next month, we had a facility appropriate for the times.
The east end of Glasgow has seen many economically poor decades – over a century’s worth, in fact. The area was built to cater for dirty industries and house workers and their families in as little space as possible. Poverty, social diseases and dreadful mortality rates have blighted the place ever since. As a consequence, housing and industrial land was cheap, and people prepared to plough money into the area were scarce when Peter Lawwell arrived the club started to acquire land around its footprint. The chief executive has always had a plan to move the club beyond its confines, in many ways. Celtic Park was going to be a visitor attraction all year round.
The long-disused London Road School (the large building to the right of the photo above) had a stone outer wall, but in all practical ways it was an unusable eyesore. Metal had been stripped from the outer and inners walls by thieves, the building was not watertight and vegetation had taken root high up the walls.
Celtic wanted to rip it down and develop the area, but the same forces which will prohibit you from parking within one kilometre from the stadium on match days from next season, denied the club permission. They only changed their mind when it became clear that the Queen would have to approach the stadium for the Commonwealth Games alongside the crumbling school.
If it wasn’t for one visit by the Queen, none of what subsequently happened in the area would have been possible.
Now Celtic plan to build a hotel, retail facilities and the long-awaited club museum (below) in the area to the south west of the stadium. The money and necessary partnerships are in place.
Don’t assume that the Council will welcome what is a stunning improvement to an enormously neglected area of their city. CQN’er, the late Councillor George Ryan, told me an SNP opponent at the Council objected to planning permission for the Celtic Superstore as it would have a negative economic impact in neighbouring supermarkets. You will deal with parking chaos next season for a reason.
The economic impact of Celtic on the east end of Glasgow for the decades ahead will be significant. Parkhead will morph from being a derelict scheme to being the site of a tourist attraction within one generation.
The community who laboured to level the ground to build the first Celtic Park on the site could never have imagined the process they were setting underway.
Well done to all, we can be very proud of the legacy we will leave future generations.
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martybhoy59 on 22nd February 2017 11:00 pm
You are blessed that everything fell into place and your wife told you to make that call, the professionals at hand when it happened was the best possible scenario, never stop thanking her hh
Martybhoy59,
glad to hear you are on the mend,
couldnt have been taken to a better place than the Jubilee
DELANEYS DUNKY on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 11:04 PM
Natknow
Four in Hand was my shop.
Any narcotic you wanted and open all night.
Magic for a weegie teen in Leith. :)
——————————————————
LOL! Aye – was never short of access to anything! The Port O’ Leith was at the end of my street. Rich Ph.D. material for psychologists and social scientists. :-))
Call me Gerry
Condolences on your sad loss.
Test
Marty
Glad you are still with us pal.
Sounded bad.
What do you need? Will visit you tomorrow. You are 5 minute walk fae my house.
MARTYBHOY59 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 11:00 PM
Yer wife is smarter now than when she married ye! :-) Keep well M you’ll be in our thoughts and prayers mate.
Call me Gerry
Condolences on your sad loss.
Martybhoy59
Thinking about you mucker
Take care
HH
Martybhoy59,
Thanks for sharing, it’s good to read an alls well that ends well
Glad your still on board
Hail hail
MartyBhoy59
Delighted yo hear that you seem to have come through the worst of it. I’ll offer up prayers for you tonight as I do for all CQNers who are in ill health.
Keep The Faith
GREENINBINGLEYINOSLO, 10:20 PM
Celtic played them in Europe, or most of them anyway.
9 of the 11 on the pitch were from Dynamo Kiev, who turned up in October 1986 and escaped with a 1-1 draw. They couldn’t cope with Tommy Burns who was on fire, except to take him out of the game (for most of the season too). If McInally hadn’t hit that post…
My first European game too, with the rest of the night spent freezing in Stranraer when the boat back was cancelled. Guy with us was going to miss jury service and get a fine. He couldn’t have cared less, he’d just been to see Celtic ffs
Greeninbingleyinoslo
Thanks for the link. Your mouth still agape watching those 2 brilliant Maradona goals v Belgium?
Thanks to all for the good wishes and prayers
DD I think they are moving me to the royal tomorrow but only if the have a bed I will drop a post in and let you know HH
Marty- humbling story, hope you make a full recovery amigo.Burying a friend tomorrow , only 54, heart attack last Friday, life is so fragile.Hope the good lady and family are coping.HH
Currently watching a recording of Porto v Juve. HT Porto 0-0 Juve. Porto down to 10 men. It’s one of those rare occasions when I hope they both lose.
I’m now logging off because I know that one of you helpful bassas, er I mean chaps, will immediately post the final result. Nytol :-))
Marty
Enjoy your night in Republican Dalmuir.
Hope you are back home in the ‘Briggs soon pal.
HH
OG- Tommy was running amok that night, i remember a break in play for an injury, the Kiev back 4 shouted to Belanov to hit TB.He was pointing at different players, the back 4 shook their heads, until he pointed at Tommy.Next time he was on the ball, Belanov went over the ball,criminal tackle, yellow card and TB out for 6-8 months.
Bada sorry to hear that at a mates funeral 2 weeks ago same age as your friend he was 54 also bowel cancer took him you are so right life is fragile and what ever we may think we are not invincible, family shocked but relieved thanks for thoughts.
Martybhoy
Every best wish to you mate. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
You are in the best possible hands at the Golden Jubilee as it is a world leading centre of excellence when it comes to cardiovascular care.
There have been so many improvements and advances in heart care over the last 30 years and the work and research which is funded by the British Heart Foundation is something which is to be believed.
Until a few months ago, I had no idea what this charity was about and what a difference it has made to so many people and their families. Perhaps more importantly, its current research into various areas of heart treatment has the potential to really take things to a different level.
Stay well and stay strong.
BRTH
An odd footnote about the Russia side of ’86 – I went to Mexico and was on my way back which included a stop at Shannon (think in them days planes hadn’t the capacity to reach Glasgow in a oner). Anyway, we were all sampling the “delights” of the Shannon Duty Free shop when we noticed that the Russian team had just strolled in, Blokhin, Kuznetzov and Co all mingling around.
Odd thing was that while we were all topping up with the usual booze and fags, the Russia team were going mental to get their hands on Biro pens, ladies tights and other such assorted sundries.
A few later Glasnost happened ……
thetimreaper on 22nd February 2017 10:51 pm
Just seen G Murty presser on SSN, fish out of water doesn’t cover it. If he rocks up on the 12th of March it will be a cricket score.
The dilemma is the huns need a guy in to sell STs asap, but if they bring in McLeish/Davies, before the game at CP,4 page pull outs on how top teams in Europe missed out on 2 unemployed huns, they could get pumped 3,4,5 at CP.The ‘momentum’ will die instantly.I think Murty will be in charge until they get hammered at Paradise.HH
Marty
Prayers said for you take care ma mhan HH
!!BADA BING!!
That’s exactly right. He was only to do one thing and that was to take Tommy Burns out of the game, it couldn’t have been more obvious. Brutal doesn’t do it justice
BRTH
Thanks I did some bucket collecting for BHF a few years back an excellent charity I worked with them to get defibs in all Glasgow subway stations and main bus stations when I was the safety manager with SPT, and you’re correct this hospital and its staff are very special
Martybhoy
I hope you are now on the track to a full recovery. Terrifying. I had something similar 12 years ago and I’m still here spouting pish.
Take care and prayers to you from Norway.
!!BADA BING!!
Also the guy who was getting the £60 fine was on the dole so the entire night was the best part of a month’s signing on for him.
BB
I have been saving Celtic and joker for the game v tribute act. Cricket score would suit me. :)
Marty- rest up, take the advice, and enjoy the Celtic….seriously, best of luck getting back to your best.As BRTH said it is one of the best hospitals for heart treatment.My bhoy is an assistant theatre nurse there, and my ex is top nursing sister in the department.HH
GBIO
Like you I will be grateful to be spouting pish 12 years from now
Franny cheers mate
OG- Belanov was a top player, a playmaker .That night watching from the Jungle,it was the first time i watched a truly professional/cynical foul which changed a game.It showed me how organised European teams were on the park, prepared to ‘manage’ a game.HH
Marty,
5 years ago I was playing golf in the monthly medal. At the 14th hole I hit a superb drive right down the middle. I was in with a shout for the medal. While walking towards my ball I found I couldn’t take a deep breath. If that happens to you, you keep trying to take that deep breath until you manage to. I finished the game with a brilliant birdie on the 450 yard par 4 which was enough to win the medal. All that time though I couldn’t pull that breath no matter how I tried. Like I say, when you can’t catch that breath your body makes you keep trying. Later that night I had the same problem. It woke me up at 3.00 am. Took me a couple of hours before I managed it. Then came the strapping pain across my chest. I knew exactly what was happening. I didn’t panic and eventually it passed. The following Monday I got a cancellation at my doctors. He immediately sent me to the new Vicky. After a few tests I was wired up and sent straight back to my doctors with a prescription. 5 months later I was sent to the Jubilee and had a stent inserted. I’m still battering balls down the fairway. No problems since but still alas taking the tablets. I asked the golf club if anyone else had ever won the medal while having a heart attack. No was the answer. Then surely I said, my name should be written in gold, on the board in the lounge, along with past captains and champions. And do you know what? They told me to f@*k off. Ah well.
We are now officially 1 day closer to the title, and hopefully a Treble….night bhoys and ghirls.
31003
fascinating story, pleases me greatly to hear How quickly life can return to some sort of normality but like you I believe the tablets will be a constant in my life from now on, a small price to pay
Just reading that Adam Matthews was playing for Bristol City v Fulham tonight. He is being blamed for the first goal in a 2-0 defat and was subbed after 57 mins. Things seem to have gone downhill quickly for him.
Night night all. HH
So Bayern, PSG, Atlético and Juventus, giving us half the quarter finalists before the CL second legs.
Citeh 2 goals to the good, but I ain’t calling that one!
MARTYBHOY59 on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 12:07 AM
A sobering tale , Marty.
Glad you`re still here.
We need all the Tims we can get. :-)
I would be now contacting the professionals to see which , if any , risk factors had caused the arrest.
beatbhoy on 22nd February 2017 10:42 pm
I was at that Portugal England WC quarter final in 06. Gelsenkirchen I believe.
2 things stand out for me at that game.
I realized what a cheat Ronaldo is. Great player. yes. Cheat. Yes.
I was with 2 England supporters and when they lost out on penalties the Portuguese guys behind us got worried because they thought we would react. I gave one of them a bottle of water for his young son. It was very hot. Laughs all round. I felt good that day although England were cheated when Rooney got sent off.