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
- »
Marrakesh 21:18
I’d agree with you there and maybe add the France ’82/86 side to that list.
Was Allan Preston on radio shortbread. If you are going to be a co-commentator at the very least know the rules of the game!
HH
Some angry Minihuns tonight! Everybody’s getting it – Cathro, Levein and even The Budgie!
Sometimes there are advantages to living in Edinburgh.
Marvellous! :-)))
GREENBINGLEY
Yes, not too bad. I always want Hibs to stuff the Hertz. Had a few scary trips to Swinecastle in my days.
Always liked Ranieri also, I remember him crying at the pitch side when his Chelsea side finally got a victory at Arsenal when he was seen as a whipping boy amongst the English media. He never bit back, just enjoyed the win and thanked his players. I don’t know the man but his public persona makes me like him.
RIOSKORRIE on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 10:12 PM
Didn’t Russia/USSR have a superb cavalier side in the early-mid 80s? Might have been the 86 World Cup – whenever it was, I remember watching swarms of these white shirts, hunting in packs, breaking at speed and in numbers. A joy to watch.
Well done the hibees, give hearts a kick to do better in the league. His could well be the team to beat in the cup.
CRC
I am more of a Henry Kissinger, Cyrus Vance type. Let’s invite the Brigton Loyalists for a diplomatic drink wi us in West. :)
Rowley
Aye, he didnae know the new double jeopardy rule. Wee Embra fud@
MON and Hoddle don’t appear to be getting on.
Natknow
I loved living in Leith. Hertz fans hate Tims mair than Glesga huns do, I found. Hibs fans were all sound. Many were Celtic fans in disguise. Sunshine on Leith.
JMCCORMICK on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 10:19 PM
The English football press have crucified many people but not many victims respond with the dignity and decency that Ranieri dealt with his. A lesser man would have rubbed their faces in it when he won the EPL last term, but that’s not his way.
jmccormick on 22nd February 2017 9:05 pm
Brazil 82:
I remember when they were a goal down to Russia with fifteen minutes to go and won two one with two of the cleanest strikes you will see; one from Socrates jinking from left to right and unleashing a ferocious shot into the top corner and the other from Eder after it had run through another players legs.
The Zico free kick against Scotland and the Eder chip against Scotland.
Oh the memories are flooding back.
What a team.
The days seemed endless always looking forward to the next game.
I have been fortunate to see Brazil in a meaningful fixture against Ghana in the 2006 World Cup in Dortmund when Ronaldo broke the World Cup finals scoring record. It is a spectacle which still gives me a warm glow. The noise and colour………………… an that was just the Ghanaians. That was a great tournament to attend as a neutral.
I watched Germany lose the semi final to Italy in a newly constructed hockey arena next door to the ‘Gladbach stadium (anyone who was at the recent CL away game will know the place). The night was incredably warm and the game didn’t finnish until about 11:15.
Jeeze sorry for going on World Cups just bring back so many memories.
Greeninbingleyinoslo
They drew with France, beat Canada 2-0, and hammered Hungary 6-0 to win their group, looking unstoppable at times. Wee centre forward Belanov, I think, and the great Oleg Blokhin in the side.
But they went out 3-4 to Belgium in the first knock-out stage, a team that went out to a brilliant brace of Maradona goals in the semi-final.
DELANEYS DUNKY on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 10:30 PM
Natknow
I loved living in Leith. Hertz fans hate Tims mair than Glesga huns do, I found. Hibs fans were all sound. Many were Celtic fans in disguise. Sunshine on Leith.
—————————
Had a wee flat in Maritime Street in Leith for a few years myself. Loved it! Totally agree with you – the Minihuns absolutely hate us. I loved telling them who I supported. :-)))
Well done to the Hibees and tae oor Lenny.
Mon the Hoops!
BRTH – 8:32 PM
Thanks for these articles, fascinating stuff, I had no idea so no change there anyways… :o)
DD …. how you doing pal?
I’m not sure you can be both a Vance type and a Kissinger type …. very different animals…. Vance if you genuinely want to invite them for a drink, and talk …. but Kissinger was more of the ‘invite them for a drink, but really the plan is to blow up the bar once they are in it’ type .. not a nice man, old Henry ……
DD
I had a fantastic day in the Brazen last May when jubilant Hibees came in after beating Sevco. What a welcome they got. The owner immediately put on all the Hibs songs and must’ve been about 70 of them singing Proclaimers hits with the local tims. They were throwing drink into everyone. One of the best days I’ve had in there.
DD … I should have made it clear …. I am not suggesting you are the Kissinger type …. you are clearly more of the diplomatic type …. was intended as a slight on Kissinger … not you!
Speaking of the speed of that Russian side , and I do know it’s not the same country.
I remember our home game v Shaktar Donetsk in the CL. We set about them and forced an early corner , their keeper caught the cross and threw the ball out to their full back. Within seconds our half was covered in their players as they ran all over us like the Red Army Motor Bike display team. Stunning to watch.
Justshatered
I was in Frankfurt the day of the France v Brazil match in ’06. Fantastic atmosphere all day, no trouble as fans mixed in bars and restaurants. Saw the England v Portugal game at the Fanzone down at the river Main, and got the autographs of 2 World Cup winners, Jorginho and Uwe Bein at an event I blagged my way into at the international media lounge. A memorable day, pity I couldn’t get a ticket for the match though.
Forgive me if this has already been covered on the blog. I heard an interesting story tonight which may have some truth to it but may also be made up pash and wishful thinking. The person who told me does not normally indulge in idle gossip.
Celtic have a half-time lottery normally worth £10000 per game to the winner. The story has it that Sevco have something similar but worth £5000 to the winner. It seems that at a very recent game at the Bear Pit one lucky bear had the winning ticket, was called out onto the pitch and stood with the large, outsize cardboard cheque for £5000 but was then invited into one of the rooms to receive his winning cheque. It seems he was offered a cheque for £3000 and vouchers for £2000 which could only be spent in the Ibrox superstore. He declined their offer and referred them to the terms and conditions of their lottery.
This, if true, would seem to confirm their parlours financial plight. Has anyone heard anything similar?
Natknow
I was Edina Place, just off Easter Road. Loadsa good guys around off Irish stock. Loved ma weegie patter for some reason???? :)
*parlours= parlous
MiT
I always reckoned that Cyrus would share a doobie wi me. Henry, on the other hand would burn my crop and gaol me.
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.
BEATBHOY on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 10:32 PM
God yes, I remember that Belgium game now. That was that superb side they had – Jan Ceulemans, Enzo Schifo, Claesen, Eric Gerets, and Pfaff in goals.
I’m away to see if that game’s on YouTube.
Doris beginning to flex her muscles in North West Donegal.
DELANEYS DUNKY on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 10:45 PM
Natknow
I was Edina Place, just off Easter Road. Loadsa good guys around off Irish stock. Loved ma weegie patter for some reason???? :)
————————————
Had a few good nights in Easter Rd and around. Middletons, Four In Hand etc. Happy daze!!
BTW – of course they likes your weegie patter – have you heard theirs?? ;-)))
DD
Vance’s son is a DA in New York …. perhaps you could invite him over to Celtic Park for a game and a doobie! :)
Natknow
A friend of mine is from Edinburgh, still lives there, and she’s forever saying the minis hate us more than their big cousins. This remarkable woman has travelled the world to watch Celtic, including Buenos Aires in 67 as a 14 year old. I could listen to her stories all night. She mentioned the Irish club in Edinburgh lasting less than a year? Windows regularly caved in etc. She really doesn’t miss that mob.
Greeninbingleyinoslo
Unfortunately for them, superb didnae quite cut it against wee Diego in the summer of ’86.
Sadiesbhoy- Totally true, i know of a guy who they tried to buy off with a grand and 2 hospitality gigs for the 5k, they cannot be shamed this mob,scumbags , conning people right left and centre HH
Life definitely throws out some curve balls, there I was last night at home having a really nice meal with my family and here I am tonight lying in a hospital bed after having suffered a heart attack in the early hours of this morning. As sudden as that no hint no nothing leading up to it in the preceding days. It went against everything I understood about heart attack signs and symptoms, pain started on my right side of my chest not the left as I understood it to be and it didn’t spread across to the left, no spreading of pain to the jaw, pain came in waves of about 15 min intervals no high pulse ,or shallow breathing thought it was bloody indigestion. Forced into calling NHS 24 by my lovely wife, then it all moved so quickly, paramedics arrived and as Sod’s law dictates pain had gone. Wired me up not to concerned, heart rate low but not unusually so, breathing and pulse fine. As a precaution mr C we will take you to the royal, walked to the ambulance feeling like a right twat. Into the ambulance then it happened the mother of all pain, mr C we can confirm you are having a heart attack, from then on the Para medics, the doctors, nurses were fantastic. Taken blue light always fancied that as a kid all the way to the golden jubilee hospital in Clydebank. Clot removed, artery widened, out of danger all in the space of 3 hours. Praying was never my strong point but my god did I pray hard in that ambulance. Anyway sorry for the long post I know I have not posted in a while but still tune in everyday, just felt I had to write about it and warn everyone never take pain in the chest area or anywhere else for that matter lightly you may not get a 2nd chance.
Natknow
Four in Hand was my shop.
Any narcotic you wanted and open all night.
Magic for a weegie teen in Leith. :)
MARRAKESH EXPRESS on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 10:55 PM
Natknow
A friend of mine is from Edinburgh, still lives there, and she’s forever saying the minis hate us more than their big cousins. This remarkable woman has travelled the world to watch Celtic, including Buenos Aires in 67 as a 14 year old. I could listen to her stories all night. She mentioned the Irish club in Edinburgh lasting less than a year? Windows regularly caved in etc. She really doesn’t miss that mob.
——————————–
Some of the more educated ones would like to think that sectarianism is a “West coast” issue. However, my experience is that Hearts have a significant sectarian element who absolutely detest us. It’s almost as if, because they are smaller than their cousins, they need to try harder at the ole hatred. Or something…
BeatBhoy
No. when the wee man was in his absolute pomp.
Just watched this. USSR were wonderful going forward, I remembered that, but they defended like a gaggle of old ladies – I forgot that bit, in the passage of time. Or “a brothel at the back”, to coin a phrase.
https://youtu.be/hXk4-xSRI6g
Now – the 1986 Belgium-Argentina semi!
MARTYBHOY59 on 22ND FEBRUARY 2017 11:00 PM
Sounds like a horrible ordeal, glad you’re on the mend. All the best.