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
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 13
- »
BT … she has spent more time in Ireland than I have (I think she did some of her schooling there ), so, I will have to come up with something stronger than that … off to court, but will check in later to see if anyone has come up with a brilliant idea…
although, to be fair to her, her choice of movies is improving … she did suggest Lalaland on the weekend, and I thought it was great….
See that new Celtic hotel?
It’ll be awe zero hour contracts ‘n less than livin’ wage pay.
It’ll be a Godsend to all ailing Blogs!
So it wull.
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 2:29 PM
I’m aware of how the Foundation is funded.
Believe it or not, there are some who think that the money distributed by the Foundation is donated by the Plc.
Sack The Bored!
MIT,
You know you can’t win……best you can do is influence (she who must be obeyed)…..watch the Bobby Sands doc (what channel n when?) & thank fek for brownie points….;-))
FTSFA
H.H.
I like to think there’s an alternative universe where a football club called Mowbray FC have just appointed Tony Blackburn as their manager. ;)
PHILBHOY
Guid to know yer still alive,old bean.
You were enquired about earlier. It must be difficult stopping O watching us on the telly when she should be studying!
On this often discussed European league, be careful what you wish for bhoys.
I’m sure there are many like myself with absolutely no interest in buying a season ticket to watch Norwegian, Danish, and whoever, every other week, and before you ask, yes I would prefer Partick, Hamilton Dundee etc.
We have a fantastic opportunity to be in v the best in Europe year in year out, given a sustainable growth policy ( as we are witnessing now) and a reasonable slice of luck in the draw.
I suspect there will be more empty seats for a match v FC Copenhagen than v a Hibs or Hearts.
If the stadium is 3/4 full but we get £10m per season ( for example) from tv rights, maybe even £20m, tell me where it’ll be spent? To achieve what?
I’d rather give up my season ticket and go watch the local juniors.
Personal opinion of course, but I suspect I’m not alone.
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on 22nd February 2017 2:24 pm
“BLANTYRETIM
As long as yer only a part-time jinx,I’m fine wi that.
Jooost don’t turn into a full-time one!”
Is a part-time jinx the same as a half-time jinx? Should one be allowed to watch the second half?
NEGANON2 firstly, it’s good to note that you aren’t dismissing this venture out of hand and can see a positive side to it.
I happen to fall on the side that trusts that the profits from the company will be invested back into the football club (for playing and non playing operations).
However, at no time did I comment on the rights or wrongs of paying tax (see the use of sic). BMCUWP has provided an excellent example of Honda reducing a tax liability and using the money to expand. This, IMHO, is what Celtic are doing here. Not paying tax and trousering the proceeds is not something I would condone and I don’t think Celtic do that. At no time did I mention bonuses either; I talked about dividends. Some club employees get bonuses: opinion is split upon this. It’s similar to the way football players were once paid – a basic plus appearance money and win bonuses. I’m of the opinion that if targets are met then a bonus is deserved if it is part of the salary structure. Better that than a massive basic salary despite performance.
As for the accountancy comments, any company pays Corporation Tax on the annual profit; therefore any monies spent in the P&L accounts reduces the overall profit and therefore tax liability. That’s the way it works. That’s why many large companies can avoid paying high levels of taxation. Me? I have to pay Corporation Tax each year and my accountant sees what he can legally do to reduce this. There is nothing wrong in that.
Thems the rules!
Anyway, BMCUWP and others have eloquently put forward the counter arguments so I won’t expand any further.
Over and above that, still interested in your time in the Drum; I was born there in 1960 and lived there till ’76. Maybe our paths have crossed?
KTF
ernie lynch on 22nd February 2017 2:38 pm
In that case Ernie, why continue to rubbish Celtic FC’s support of it? Is it beyond you to scribe a wee piece congratulating the Club for providing support for a vehicle who has raised over £10M for charity?
KTF
ITALIABHOY
Haw,you!
I’m a complete and utter mad lefty Luddite-latter capitalised,a word which obviously means something else to you(!)
And I approve of it,for reasons stated.
The people who are opposing it seem to be coming from two particular points.
1-Is it financially feasible?
2-Is this what we are,building hotels now? A long way from 130 years ago.
Both questions are correct,and deserve to be listened to and discussed.
As an aside,the main reason Chelsea so nearly went bust before being saved by a criminal billionaire in need of a refuge,was because of the development of The Chelsea Village.
IIRC,the debt then was £105m.
Despite then-unprecedented success on the pitch.
Go figure…
BMCUWP
Still alive, but only just!
Painting and decorating the hoose.
The wife’s complaining I can’t paint in a straight line.
I think wiggly lines add a bit of charm!
My bro in law has a platform that expands up and down and sideyways for the hall.
I’ve no told him I suffer from vertigo yet.
I’ll email you about the wee health issue later.
Everything seems OK!
Hope you and yours are well Buddy!
BABASONICOS
Ffs,you’ve been on form recently,but that’s a f…..g thing of beauty!!!
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 2:52 PM
ernie lynch on 22nd February 2017 2:38 pm
‘In that case Ernie, why continue to rubbish Celtic FC’s support of it?’
###
Can you point out where I did that?
MIT,
I’ve just found…..and about to watch……
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I0chC9zibyo
FTSFA
H.H.
67heaven – I believe you may be mixing me up with someone else……
CADIZZY
Naw,he gets sent for the pies.
If any of them are edible,he can stay.
If,as usual,they are only of use as a missile aimed to knock the helmet off a copper on the gangway-they’re like a comet,the grease pouring out is just like the tail-tell him to eff off and make sure he has the beer set up for ten to five.
You have to be cruel to be kind…
MiT, take her to see trainspotting 2(assuming that you’ve seen the 1st one ,otherwise it’s pointless) record the documentary, win win.
The scene with ra peeple is worth the ticket price alone. ;-)
Take a look at Patriot Place, home of the New England Patriots. This is a destination, in season and out. Provides entertainment and jobs, a win win. Once the hotel goes up, watch restaurants and retail follow.
“Parkhead will morph from being a derelict scheme to being the site of a tourist attraction within one generation.”
*****
You’re right, Paul67, that’s some going in just 4 years.
PHILBHOY
Yer a f…..g numpty.
DIY stands for Don’t Involve Yourself.
Get a pro in and offer him a beer now and again as you have a blokeday.
Just when you need a boost you go and appoint Tony Mowbray.
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
Tony Mowbray,Owen Coyle,Ffs I’m getting flashbacks!
Away for a lie doon. Not looking forward to the nightmares,my grateful thanks…
mit
pvr?
TWISTS N TURNS on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 2:46 PM
What if we have both though? Weekend domestic, midweek Euro leagues.
Weeminger 2:27
Was thinking much the same. We need to bring ourselves up to parity with some of the big European clubs. If there is a league at some point this kind of development might tip things in our favour. And hopefully exclude a certain other club!
MIT
Surely if she chose to go to see ‘Lalaland’ ( tribute to the SPFL?) last weekend, then, in the interests of an equal, giving relationship, it’s your turn to decide a) where you’re going this weekend, if anywhere, and b) what to watch if you stay in?
Equal! I know. . . .
Paul67 et al
Not often I agree with Ernie Lynch but as far as I’m concerned the demolition of the old School Board school was an act of corporate vandalism. Not blaming Celtic for the rundown of the building, that is down to Glasgow, but as recently as 2011 Celtic were proposing to redevelop the school into a museum/restaurant facility. Like a lot of things in Glasgow, that presumably went up in smoke. Once decided I suggested that some of the building materials could be recycled and incorporated into a new build, school perhaps. Would only have needed a few masons, (stone but not stoned) and some transport. But no, the JCB did the job. The thing is though, my understanding is that the permission to knock the school down was predicated on their being a new building in its’ place, that being the new Celtic museum. Now whatever happened to that? Oh yes we got an executive car park in its’ place. Handy given the possibility that for most of us parking wise Celtic Park will become a virtual exclusive zone. Could always book into the new hotel mind you.
BOBBY…
Could you give me your email addy please?
One mans corporate vandalism is another mans progress.
bournesouprecipe
That just brought the house down!
The Red Road Flats had architectural value and were part of Glasgow’s heritage…
My Dad was telling me this morning that my granny was born where the hotel is to be built. I think he is mistaken. Devaar Street, I think, would have been one of the streets that the Emirates replaced.
ERNIE LYNCH on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 2:38 PM
VFR800 IS NOW A MONSTER 821 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 2:29 PM
I’m aware of how the Foundation is funded.
Believe it or not, there are some who think that the money distributed by the Foundation is donated by the Plc.
*****
I have never read on here or anywhere, that someone believes that the money provided to the Foundation comes from the PLC.
You threw that jibe in merely to justify your jaundiced view on the club board.
Clutching at withering straws, you were.
my god….I wiz only 9/10 y.o…..wen I was politicised…..
If ye can, yer a man
Bobby Sands M.P.
FTSFA
HeroesCSC
H.H.
TWISTS AND TURNS,
Couldn’t disagree more about playing in a European League. The TV money will be far better (I presume) and the quality of the opposition should be a lot better, which, imo, would mean that our players will be improved. Bring it on. The sooner the better, imo, of course.
PCS-Davaar St is where the Club Shop is approximately,you would turn off London Rd there to go in to the Barrowfield scheme…..HH