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.
490 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- »
raise = praise.
Cannae wait.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39057553
Cut to the chase.
5.40 in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZcSRXCrhDU
Macjay
I watched that from five minutes in and thought Murty came over as a decent guy. He won`t be popular with the Ibrox hordes !
Cheerio for now,
JJ
MARTYBHOY59 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 11:00 PM
I’m so glad to hear you’re recovering kind Sir.
As others have said you are being treated by world class clinicians and I’m sure you’ll be in the best and kindest hands.
Scotland leads the way in world class research. I work for BHF Scotland so if there’s anything you need in terms of support or advice post discharge just shout.
HH jamesgang
MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 8:39 AM
what is someone as nice and pleasant as him doing at ibrox.
mc,cann please note!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Macjay
You mentioned (cardiac) arrest in your message to Martybhoy.
Just to say cardiac arrest and heart attack can be linked but are very different entities.
https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-matters-magazine/medical/heart-attack-and-cardiac-arrest
Question – who on CQN doesn’t know basic CPR sufficiently do give it a go if someone collapses with a cardiac arrest?
Want to? Contact me.
Btw 80% of out of hospital cardiac arrests take place in domestic settings. Bystander CPR (even more than defibs) is the biggest determinant of survival.
HH jamesgang
HOT SMOKED on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 8:49 AM
FAVOURITE UNCLE on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 8:50 AM
Absolutely right , Boys.
Just like the guys last night complimenting Ranieri.
There`s a common thread here.
JAMESGANG on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 9:06 AM
A marvellous offer.
Bunnet doffed , James.
Can I mention also Maggie`s advice in relation to genetic predisposition and colonoscopies.
Listened to talk sport on the way to work this morning.
Eamon’ homes and ray Wilkins.
On the phone martin O’Neill. Talking smartly about Leicester.
It then moves onto Celtic
24 points clear. What you that think.
Celtic are just steam rolling it domestically . no one can stop them. A very poor rangers side. . possibly the worst ever to play out of Ibrox.
But Celtic needs a strong rangers. To help compete in Europe.
Ffs I despair.
Macjay
Thumbs up, so to speak.
PS I think you’re very wrong ref transgender access to toilets. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it must be to be an LGBT teen in most global societies. But especially conservative America. Tough lives just got much tougher for these kids and bigots will be emboldened still further. The first beatings in the toilets will follow within hours of this forced change I fear.
HH jamesgang
MARTYBHOY59 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 11:00 PM
So sorry to hear of your ordeal. Must have been very frightening.
Now that you are under the best care, the medics will check you out regularly. Take it easy and make a full recovery.
Jim
SAINT STIVS on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 9:18 AM
Celtic DO need stronger opposition to be able to compete in Europe.
There’s no reason for that opposition to be a particular club.
I think the problem is that there just isn’t enough money available in Scottish football to allow for any better opposition than there is now.
If Celtic were to play in another league it might allow other clubs in Scotland the chance to prosper by giving them a chance to access big European money.
‘Nellie the Elephant’ is recommended as a song to accompany the ole chest compressions in CPR, but I think the Holy Goalie Song would work just as well.
DBBIA/Clear!!CSC
Thanks everyone for their kind words of support, just had the head honcho round and they are very pleased with my recovery with only minimal damage to my heart so all positive.
Jamesgang I really appreciate your very kind offer once I am home I will see how things are going and may get in touch
JAMESGANG on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 9:23 AM
Agreed .
Extremely hard for LGBT teens.
And gays. And Lesbians.
So lets identify LGBTs and perhaps expose them to aggression by giving them their own toilet ?
You think ?
And why not separate toilets for gays and lesbians who also suffer discrimination.
Equal opportunity. No ?
We don`t disagree on our outlook , mate , just on the best way to deal with the issue .
DONTBRATTBAKKINANGER on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 9:39 AM
I thought it was Staying Alive.
Nellie the Elephant seems a bit slow, unless it’s the punk version.
MARTYBHOY59 on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 9:39 AM
Your medical issue has sparked a sound debate.
So , something good came of it .
Particularly the offer from Jamesgang.
:-)
Hot Smoked,
The expression ‘a couple’ in Ireland is different in my experience it means ‘several.’
If you are asked ‘How many milks in McDonalds?’ And you answer ‘A couple please.’ You’ll be handed about half a dozen, every time.
A ‘couple of minutes’ can mean anything maybe 20 minutes.
A ‘couple of posts’ could be half a dozen,
A ‘couple of reasons’ means numerous.
A ‘couple of problems’ means loads of complicated issues and a probable row.
It’s probably similar to the Scottish ‘a couple of pints.’ The notion that it means two is fanciful :)
So 16 Road’s ‘couple of examples’ here could literally be five, six, whatever… It doesn’t necessarily mean two, any number really.
I hope ‘the ‘couple of examples’ I have given have cleared up the confusion.
Call me Gerry
Thoughts and prayers with you and yours at this time.
Call Me Gerry
Thoughts and prayers with you and you’re my Fhriend.
HH jamesgang
CLOGHER CELT on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 9:46 AM
The couple got married.
What. All of them ?
:-)
Ernesto- ‘Stayin’ Alive was the Vinnie Jones version.
Nellie the Elephant works as well, but the latest Resuscitation guidelines are to aim for 30 compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute, which is a fair ole lick.
Martybhoy59
Hope your doing better after the scare mate.
St. Stivs
I heard that. Another ex Celtic who either just doesn’t get it, or prefers to tow the msm line. How many cups was MON cheated out of?
Morning all, the blog’s in fine fettle today. :-)) HH
Would I be right in thinking that the Yanks who object most strongly to separate toilets for transgender people are the ones who would have been most in favour of separate toilets for Negroes?
Macjay
A cornucopia of toilets then?
We agree.
HH jamesgang
Murty seems a decent guy doing his best against the odds. Can’t help compare him to conman McCoist, who bled the fledgling club dry while running them into the ground, all the while enjoying hero worship from the blinkered hordes.
Martybhoy
Sorry to hear your news but good you are in good hands and on the mend.
MWD
Clogher – yes, be wary in Ireland if you ask directions and yer man says ‘it’s a couple of miles’.
Underrated footballers of the (recent) past.
This is the boy. All the skills, and a touch of the “Bertie’s” about him….
…Hagi Hagi Hagi Hagi
https://youtu.be/EfjYTYWE1FQ
JAMESGANG on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 9:57 AM
I`m not sure that a full horn is the right image.
ERNIE LYNCH on 23RD FEBRUARY 2017 9:56 AM
Good point.
Marrakesh Express
Harder to evaluate the cups, as any team the improperly registered beat on the way to a trophy was cheated, clearly, but he was certainly cheated out of 2 league titles, and those only by a point and a goal.
However, I have adjusted my records accordingly, as the ‘official’ ones are bullshit, of course, and even with the teensiest, weensiest sanction for such a load of cheating, 2003 and 2005 are ours.
martybhoy @11.00pm
Glad to hear you are on the recovery. Your story mirrors my own experience last year, except for the ambulance and blue lights (my son took me to the hospital, where I got dogs abuse from the staff for NOT calling an ambulance!)
The attention and expertise from the staff is, as you said, overwhelming and we take the NHS far too much for granted – not me now, of course. My ‘episode’ occurred last May (on Trophy weekend, the bassa!!) and I’m now back hill walking, at the gym, swimming further than I was last year and generally feeling as good as ever. I’ve even been back a couple (only twice, honest) of times to talk to the rehab class in Hairmyers about my experience and that was a great personal experience.
Just keep taking the meds and following the instructions you’re given by that excellent staff and you’ll be back good as new. I’m in Row BB North Stand Lower and my ‘healthy’ mate is always second to get to our seats!
Hail Hail
Saint Stivs/ Marrakesh Express
From CQN magazine, on Murty.
Not just Martin then.
“A week later, he saw the team crash to their first defeat against Dundee at Dens Park in quarter-of-a-century when they went down 2-1 to ex-Celt Paul Hartley’s men.”
FFS! Get a grip!
Maybe MAGIC HATS Lawyers should talk to Mr Murty
Heard a couple of times it was mentioned that he was contacted at
RUGBY game to tell him he was interim Rangers manager
mmmmmm as they say
Warbo “resigned statement” Friday 10th FEB
DK said it was actually the previous Monday
Friday 10th Feb Glasgow Warriors v Scarlets 7:45
Maybe Murty was at his sons touch rugby on the Monday night ?
I Smell Sh1te……
Moderator, could you remove the offending sentence from that CQN article, maybe save others from spewing.
CQN in ‘same club’ declaration??