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You are at:»»Pyros, pits, Seville and heritage

Pyros, pits, Seville and heritage

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

Earlier this year I wrote that the pyrotechnics problem was one of the free rider. There are reputational and Uefa fine costs to Celtic, but the perpetrators hide among a crowd, so encounter no costs. Celtic pay the fines, Celtic fans, as a group, carry the reputational damage, those who create the problem act with impunity.

Two who set flares in Istanbul have been identified and banned by the club. This ban will prevent them attending away fixtures in Europe for a considerable time, but it will not prevent them walking through turnstiles at Celtic Park, or some other Scottish grounds. Celtic have announced that they are considering their position and may raise a civil action to recover fines imposed –aligning consequences with actions.

Whenever I hear someone ‘considering their position’ I don’t expect them to act. Those who act tend to only provide advanced notice when legally obliged to do so. There is a flip side to this, however. If Celtic raise an action the issue is dead – it will not happen again. If Celtic don’t raise an action it may well happen again. Steps to hide identities will be improved, perhaps making it impossible to identify another offender. The stock defence of football clubs, “We’ve done everything we could”, will not wash.

It’s only 12 years since 80,000 Celtic fans went to Seville and didn’t so much as spill a drink. What chance that now?

When they were at their peak, 1.2million miners went down the pits in Britain. Before the pits, the population of Lanarkshire was a fraction of what it is now. They build railways in the late 19th century, allowing coal to be taken to the cities and ports, and people were drawn to places like Bellshill, Motherwell, Coatbridge and Wishaw.

This subsequent years saw the greatest migration from Ireland to Scotland, and an enormous migration from rural to urban Scotland. People came to Lanarkshire to work in the coal industry, and to Glasgow and other surrounding towns to work related industries, like shipping and heavy engineering.

The work was almost always dirty, often dangerous and inevitably poorly paid. Poverty and its associated diseases, including social diseases, were difficult to escape. Even today, the twin towns of Hamilton (a market town established for centuries) and Motherwell (a 19th century town established by the coal and steel industries) are separated by a significant gap in employment opportunities, property values and wealth. Physically they are only two miles apart, you can walk between them in minutes.

Football was the real opium of the masses. They worked five and a half days a week, on their half day they went to a game. Entrance was cheap, even the poor could attend, all boys could play, all men could talk a good game (it remained a predominantly male pastime for decades).

Coal, and its by-products: railways and heavy industry, shaped the industrial towns of Scotland, Wales and much of England. Without it, cricket would be our national game (it was once popular even in Scotland). You wouldn’t have Celtic.

Today the last miner will emerge from a British pit, in Kellingley, North Yorkshire. The pits around Lanarkshire are long gone, and there are few bings left. Jobs now are cleaner and safer, but we’ve lost a link to something Celtic fans value more than most, our heritage.

Speaking of which, get to Celtic Park before 13:00 tomorrow. Wallow in the abundant heritage that is Billy McNeill!

We’re shipping same day from CQN Bookstore, but there’s not long left before Christmas!

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  4. dena29 on

    HAMILTONTIM on 18TH DECEMBER 2015 11:38 PM

     

    Dena

     

     

     

     

     

     

    It’ll be going to one of the 4 I mentioned pal. I’m doing my best to get more.

     

     

    -Your a ghent………………..

     

     

    definitely have to go half four comes early

     

     

    HH

  9. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    May Sean’s soul rest in peace.

     

     

    I’m feeling auld, Jose Quitongo’s older son came on as a sub for Morton tonight.

     

     

    The exiled tim, Hooper joind Ross Wallace and Glenn Loovens as ex Celts playing for Wednesday the now. Ross set Hooper up the other night for his forst goal for them.

  10. Dannymac on

    That’ll be a NO then.He’s not interested in title stripping coz it’s what happened on the park that counts.The good bit is that he can’t forgive Cheatinho for his team’s antics in Seville.

  15. Delaneys Dunky on

    Dallas

     

     

    Watched Hull the other night. Saw three childhood Celtic supporters, Maloney, Snodgrass and Robertson play well. Think all three would play well in the Hoops.

  22. Dallas Dallas where the heck is Dallas on

    Delaney’s, I would have loved us to have signed Robert Snodgrass from Norwich(fee and wages were a no no) terrific player and fan also. If Andy is from Pollok , he might be a relative of mine. Shaun, should have been one of our greats, great abilty and football brain but his fitness issues hampered him.

     

     

    Shaun’s best season was the 2005/06 season, both he and Naka were great to watch.

     

     

    First home league game in four weeks, tomorrow.

     

     

    Good night all and sleep well.

  24. saltires en sevilla on

    Paul67

     

     

    I support you wholeheartedly. Most of the time ..but!

     

     

    That leader above…

     

     

    Coal???

     

     

    you might want to consider the impacts of the proto-industrial revolution and practices of ‘putting out’ leading to the demise of the farmer/ weaver tradition. Where it left us and where it led us.

     

     

     

    The population of Ireland at the start of England’s Industrial Revolution was around 7 maybe 8 million – they pulped the census records or they were ‘destroyed’ in the Four Courts ‘fire’ …

     

     

    Anyway, at that time the respective populations of England & Scotland were 15 million and 3 million.

     

     

    Now All Ireland is reduced to 4 or 5 million, maybe 6 on a good weekend.

     

     

     

    Scotland doubled to 5 million!!

     

     

    England & Wales is now 50-55 million… Go and check the relative landmass and natural resources ….. and weep.

     

     

    My people emerged from there, before they were consumed into the ‘new proletarian society’ , but caught up by impending starvation…, they had hee haw choice.

     

     

    Thankfully, after a few generations in the doldrums we have recaptured our freedom of choice.

     

     

     

    One of the many positives… You give us a free shout

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    You need to do more research!

  30. petec on

    every rose has its thorns

     

     

    Guns&Roses

     

     

    It is a shame, such a shame that the US Constitution was Destroyed by the Bankers way Bach in the day.

     

     

    1913? WAR WAR WAR, overseas WAR!!!!!!!!

     

     

    Lots of efforts previously.

     

     

    Game Over.CsC

     

     

    Youcan’taffordtolivewithoutChristasyourKing.CsC

     

     

    A stage?

     

     

    AndyJackson.CsC

  31. petec on

    Christ Won’t ever let you down, or even think of Deceiving you.

     

     

    A Father will Love his Children forever, that is a given.

     

     

    There are a lot of Angries out there.

  32. petec on

    The Father stepped into Time and sacrificed himself to SAVE, every last one of his Creation after that dreadful fall – we have Apple and all the Gnostics taking the Urine.

     

     

    If you cannae Promote Selflessness like that, well then, you cannae, or unable to because you are under a State that tries to Kill that Free Will.

     

     

    Free Will. CsC

     

     

    Feck the Police Scotland, Who is going to investigate them, when armed to the teeth?

     

     

    Feck that SNP.

  33. petec on

    The Poster boy Club got Owned.

     

     

    Neganon2 is right on so many things.

     

     

    KumbayamyLord.cSc

     

     

    The revenge will be ferocious.

  35. hebcelt on

    Those who are successful be always on your guard, you see success walks hand in hand with failure down the Hollywood Boulevard

  38. 'GG on

    Just saw this on the Huddle.

     

    Sad news that President of the Wishaw Emeral CSC Sean Sweeney has passed away.

     

    I’m sure some CQNers will know him.

     

    Rest in Peace Sean

  40. sid on

    Martin ONeil wants Lance Armstrong to be reinstated with his titles, it’s what happens on the road that counts.

  42. Morrissey the 23rd on

    Recently I took part in a sponsor cycle event at The Cross Keys Wishaw to raise Money for the family of Sean Sweeny, the president of the Wishaw Emerald supporters club. Many people who did not know Sean from CQN donated and many people from CQN know Sean.

     

    Sadly Sean passed away last night. I am sure you will join me in sending our condolences to the Sweeney family. Wishaw has lost a gentleman and a very popular Celtic fan. Rest in peace Sean.

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