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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The Battered Bunnet !.37 insightful wee post mate:-)
TontineTim 2.42 re ‘x’ in christmas.sound post,
http://irishpost.co.uk/irishman-patrick-oconnell-to-be-inducted-into-fc-barcelonas-hall-of-fame/
Ps i wrote to Dumbarton re Pat’OConnell entering into Barcelona hall of fame,no reply so far
Thanks to you both :-)
HH
Ten men won the League tra-la-la-la-la
Ten men won the league…Tra-la-la-la-la-la…
http://etims.net/?p=8304
Parkheadcumsalford on 18th December 2015 3:38 pm
TONTINE TIM,
Fr O’Rourke is back in St Michael’s. He celebrated his 60th year as a priest earlier in the year.
*excellent, good friend of my parents, my mother was president of the Woman’s Guild back then.
He started the St Kessog Garden Fete which became a tradition doon Balloch way. Often had Big Billy and Dick McTaggart as well as a host of local fitba players including Evan Williams who was with the Hi Hi at the time.
H T
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT WITH UR DAUGHTERS. THEY WILL DRAG YOU ROUND ALL THE DISCO’S WHERE YOU CAN SHOW OFF UR JOHN T MOVES.AND EMBARRASS THEM.
WATCH THEM SHOTS AND BOMBERS BTW THEY ARE LETHAL!!!
Billy McNeill
We all know Billy McNeill, he was the Celtic club captain
known to all as Caesar, and a perfect gentleman
he signed in the 50s, with number 5 upon his back
his last game was a Hampden, and the Scottish cup came back.
Chorus:
He’s our greatest club captain the King motivator
a mentor, a manager, a Celtic folk hero
with the first team in Britain to be champions of Europe
Still now, Billy McNeill, he’s the man.
I know Billy McNeill, saw him just the other day
walking into to Paradise in usual chest out way
always polite to everybody and they never ask for more
to every Celtic supporter, he’s Mr Celtic to the core.
Lets go back to Lisbon, on that sunny day in May
the year was 67′ and the cup was won that day
as Billy stood up high there with the Cup held in his hand
the name of Glasgow Celtic was heard throughout the land.
Chorus:
Oh… I know Billy McNeill, saw him only yesterday
we got talking about the good old times and how it used to be
he told me of his 9 league flags and his 7 Scottish cups
and his famous nights in Europe and his love for his dear club.
Chorus twice
Typical ole CQN tactic lob in a grenade and then say you’re away with more important things to do.
p.s. great post Kitalba.
The year was 1969, the Celtic they were doing fine
The league was won, the league cup too, for Hampden they were bound
And they would beat the rangers, of that there was no danger
They’s give the minds of David White their biggest run around
So cheers the Bhoys in white and green, so cheer the Bhoys of big Jock Stein
They beat the mighty rangers not 1, 2, 3 but 4
Those rangers men in blue boys, sure they haven’t got a clue Bhoys
The Scottish Cup is coming home to Paradise once more
Two minutes, they had hardley gone, McNeill he lands the first one home
Lennox put in number two, the blues are on the run
Then Connelly he got one more, and Chalmers knocked in number four
The rangers had no answer as the Celtic had their fun
So cheers the Bhoys in white and green, so cheer the Bhoys of big Jock Stein
They beat the mighty rangers not 1, 2, 3 but 4
Those rangers men in blue boys, sure they haven’t got a clue Bhoys
The Scottish Cup is coming home to Paradise once more
So here’s to Craig and Gemmell, to Lennox, Auld and Chalmers
To Wallace, Clark and Brogan, to Fallon and McNeill
And here’s to young George Connelly, to Murdoch, Mochan, Rooney
And here’s to Glasgow Celtic, who wiped rangers off the field
So cheers the Bhoys in white and green, so cheer the Bhoys of big Jock Stein
They beat the mighty rangers not 1, 2, 3 but 4
Those rangers men in blue boys, sure they haven’t got a clue Bhoys
The Scottish Cup is coming home to Paradise once more
Jude
Committed the Cardinal sin of drinking shots last Friday at the work’s night out!!!
Tonight it’s a quick pasta and soft drinks all round :-)
Offski.
Ps Awe Naw, no bad stuff from you anaw! :-)
Celtic are here, Celtic are here,
We’re the greatest team on earth,
Celtic are here, Celtic are here,
We are here to prove our worth.
Playing the game that brought a cup fame,
And has made our history,
Giving the fans delight at Parkhead,
Or when we’re overseas.
We’re on the ball giving our all,
For we don’t know how to lose,
Johnstone with zest is better than Best,
He will chase away the blues.
Young David Hay is making the play,
How the ball scores then you’ll see,
Celtic are glorious one more time,
Another victory!
Wispy at nine the shooting is fine,
Hear the fans applaud once more,
For Celtic he’ll play home or away,
Scoring many many more.
Big Yogi Bear, McNeil in the air,
We will always have our goal,
Whether in rain or sun we will try,
To give the fans a show.
Celtic are here, Celtic are here,
We’re the greatest team on earth,
Celtic are here, Celtic are here,
We are here to prove our worth.
With Manager Stein the finest is he ,
How the Celtic game will reign,
Celtic we’re proud of you ,
We’ll sing out loud for you.
This is the song we will sing!
It is only Glasgow Celtic Bhoys, there colours white and green
They are the best in all the world, we’ve really got a team
You can keep United, Tottenham and Liverpool aswell
For Glasgow Celtic are the Bhoys, to give them bloody hell
Here am I, a grand supporter of, that famous Celtic team
I am a lad from Glasgow town, and I follow white and green
And whenever Celtic play the huns, I sing with heart and soul
Just like the day when Bill McNeill, gave us a lovely goal
It is only Glasgow Celtic Bhoys, there colours white and green
They are the best in all the world, we’ve really got a team
You can keep United, Tottenham and Liverpool aswell
For Glasgow Celtic are the Bhoys, to give them bloody hell
We have played the game in every park, from Russia to Brazil
And the Wallace, Ronnie Simpson too have us all a thrill
Jimmy Johnstone he’s a fine wee lad, not forgetting Berti Auld
May all the referees forgive, the nasty names we’ve called
It is only Glasgow Celtic Bhoys, there colours white and green
They are the best in all the world, we’ve really got a team
You can keep United, Tottenham and Liverpool aswell
For Glasgow Celtic are the Bhoys, to give them bloody hell
Celtic, Celtic, That’s the team me,
Celtic, Celtic, On to victory,
Their the finest team in Scotland,
And I hope that you’ll agree,
They’ll never stop ’till they’ve won the cup,
And the Scottish football league
They come from Bonnie Scotland,
They come from County Cork,
They come from dear old Donegal,
And even from New York,
From every street and Glagsgow,
They proudly make their way,
To a place called dear old Paradise,
And here is what they Say
chorus
There’s Fallon, Young and Gemmell,
Who proudly wear the green,
There’s Clarke, McNeil and Kennedy,
The best there’s ever been,
Jim Johnstone, Murdoch, Chalmers,
John Divers and John Hughes,
AND SIXTY THOUSAND CELTIC FANS,
Who proudly sing the news
chorus
CEE EEE EYET EYE SEE……………….CELTIC
CEE EEE EYET EYE SEE……………… CELTIC
TheHolyGroundOfGlasgowCeltic csc
Naw wait a minute,
CEE EEE ELL TEE AYE CEE……………….CELTIC
CEE EEE ELL TEE AYE CEE……………….CELTIC
TheHolyGroundOfGlasgowCeltic csc
sing with pride of the greatest side, that the world has ever seen
And proud I am of each Celtic man, each man who wears the white and green
When Celtic play on a Saturday, you’ll find me there amoung the crowd
And far and near you will hear me cheer, on our famous Celtic team
Well Bill McNeill leads them on the field, I will join the Parkhead roar
Each Celtic man, part of Jock Stein’s plan, I know I couldn’t ask for more
And when Celtic win, every Jock and Tim will sing the songs I long to hear
And far and near you will hear me cheer, on our famous Celtic team
So, come with me and we’ll go and se Glasgow Celtic on the ball
To Paradise, and you’ll feast your eyes upon the greatest team of all
For in all the land, not a team so grand, a team as good you’ll never find
And far and near you will hear me cheer, on our famous Celtic team
When Celtic play on a Saturday you will find me in the crowd
And when they win, every Jock and Tim, in Paradise will feel so proud
In all the land, not a team so grand, a team as good you’ll never find
And far and near you will hear me cheer, on our famous Celtic team
Have a great weekend Celts
see yiz the morra
:-)
HH
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo,
Not meaning to be too pedantic, the last line you quote seems to have been adopted nowadays, but in my day our family had the record and the words were, “From sixty thousand Celtic fans, they proudly bring the hues”.
Either that or my old memory is playing tricks on me!
Hail! Hail!
SAW ABOUT 15 DOUBLE DECKERS LEAVING PHIL COLES ON MANY BIG GAME NIGHTS!!!
‘GG on 18th December 2015 4:13 pm
My late father who worked on the rivet squads, echoed your own father’s sentiments when it came to the closure of the shipyards, in their own way as dirty, unhealthy and dangerous as the coal mines.
There was no romance about mining, steelmaking or shipbuilding.
As a wee aside on the day before the unveiling of Billy’s statue, it is worth remembering that people like the Lithuanians in his ancestry were allocated dangerous dynamite related jobs in Lanarkshire.
Neganon2. Great post mate and spot on .
YOGIHUGHES
If it comes down to between you and Google. You win every time be rest assured ;-)
Paul67,
get that post corrected
HH
Jude.
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS_3Jhnoo1writEZk3iEliwpm5AqOm2qaftgDZ4owxU4o5mqyPv
HH
QUONNO on 18TH DECEMBER 2015 4:09 PM
Lot of chat about James Forrest.
At the end of the day, it is not his wish or his fault that he is injury prone.
I agree,but he is better sitting in some other Club’s treatment table for the next 4 years,rather than ours.HH
Maybe sentimental hogwash.
But is there one individual a Celtic today who could even half fill Billy McNeill’s jersey. Or even half his size Jinky’s for that matter?
We don’t nee your Terry Butcher
We don’t need your Chris Woods too
We don’t need your Graham Roberts
We don’t need your English crew
Hey! Souness! Leave that flag alone!
Dance, Dance, wherever you may be
We lost the Skol Cup at Pittodrie
But the Skol Cup’s S**te, and we don’t give a F***,
‘Cos we won the League and the Scottish Cup
Ok all you children. Tomorrow we honour one of the greatest.
Naturally Celtic have spared no expense and tomorrow the Royal Philharmonic Industry will be playing thee tunes on behalf of King Billy. The first Lithuanian to lift the big cup.
I thought you would like to join in.
Get Practicing
HH
Looks like they picked the wrong week to quit smoking.
Looks like they picked the wrong week to quit drinking.
Looks like they picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines.
Looks like they picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue
Looks like they picked the wrong week to quit……Celtic
Captain Oveur and Oveur, – We are Celtic supporters
Good Evening Hoops and Hoopettes
The Friday night footie quiz returns tonight for a Christmas Special Edition.
5 rounds of all things Celtic.
There will be prizes (thank you Winning Captains) for the top 3 teams in the quiz that have registered for Last Man Standing6 (LMS6) by 9pm.
1st prize: Set of 4 CQN badges ( No 5-8), 1 set of CQN cufflinks, Winds of Change book and Total Larsson DVD
2nd prize:Set of 2 CQN badges ( No 7-8), Winds of Change book and Total Larsson DVD
3rd prize:Winds of Change book and Total Larsson DVD
Email us on cqnpredictor@gmail.com for more details of how to join LMS6 .and help us Help Shay along the Way
See you all online at 9pm. Don’t be late :-)
HH
CRC
Hail Glorious Friday
mon the LG !
Isn’t it great that we get to honour a Celtic giant in his own lifetime?
Too often we wait until after death.
It’s so much better that Billy will know the great affection we hold for him.
Hail hail King Billy.
Air France starting daily flights to Paris from Glasgow from March,might be a wee Christmas present for someone…….
Big Billy was on our flight to Lisbon in 1993,going to play Sporting.When we arrived,the first place we visited was where we won the European Cup.Two planeloads of fans ,getting walked round the stadium,listening to Billy’s stories of the big day.You could hear a pin drop as he relived some of the famous moves of the day.Truly emotional experience,i think everyone had their photo taken with him,where he lifted the trophy.He still regrets the rest of the team weren’t with him at that moment.He was staying at our hotel,and he couldn’t walk 5 yards without getting stopped for an autograph or a picture.My mate asked him if he ever got fed up with all the attention,Billy replied ‘ the day i get fed up with this,is the day i’ll die….’,that summed Billy up,always has time for everyone.I hope Billy and his family have a great day tomorrow.
The Greatest Celt of them all,in my eyes
Bada,
Ffs. James isny going to psg, right!!?
;)
HH
Awe_Naw @ 10:22 am
“SFTB
I strongly disagree. Ticket and conditions indicate that stance ALREADY and COMPLETELY.
No MAYS about it.
HH”
For that assertion to be true- the conditions on the ticket would have to state that Celtic FC believe that Rangers International FC are the same club as the one we used to play pre-2012 and that is why we are following the same ticket policy as then.
Merely, adopting the same policy because there is a club with a large following who will not supply us with our desired ticket allocation unless we reciprocate i just an acknowledgement of economic reality. If our fans want Ibrox tickets, we have to give up more ground space when they come calling. We can have another big club in our league that causes us the same inconvenience as the old club did.
That is precisely as I called it, circumstantial but not conclusive (or complete, as you called it). It does betray an Old Firm or Glasgow Derby mindset but it is reflecting that this looms large in the support they are supposed to serve. And it is especially true of the mineshafting support, who have been calling it boring and guff, and choosing to boycott us to watch on TV in the pub, since the huns went missing, but they will suddenly find it riveting when a squad full of Accrington Stanley rejects wins promotion and plays its first league fixture against us in 8 or 9 months time.
No, I know you believe strongly that the club betrayed us and I believe that they let us down badly but it does not and cannot be taken as proof that they support the Continuity Myth and a “just let them back unpunished” viewpoint.
We both know what the word proof means and that is not it.
Sandman,
Worry about the rags and share price?
You gotta be kidding me. There will be no club left if cheating is allowed to go unchallenged.
Most will walk away. Halve the amount of season book holders and what happens,,the share price falls,,player quality dives,,fans don’t like sitting in a huge stadium with most of it empty,,TV money falls,,retail income dives,,wages on offer dives,,its a downward spiral.
I’m sure you get the picture.
That is what we are looking at if the fix is in and we go along with it.
It’s in the boards best interests to challenge this.
They really won’t like what happens if they fail to.
Plain and simple,,do what is right.
It’s right to confront cheating.
Who cares what happens or who attacks us for it,,just do what is right.
If it burns bridges so what.
Starting a club in 1888 to feed to poor and hungry was the right thing to do.
Standing up to cheats in 2015 is the right thing to do.
If they fail us this time I doubt most of us will even tell our grandkids about Celtic never mind bring them to watch them.
The next year will be the making or breaking of our clubs future.
Unity is strength. Standing up for what is morally right would unite our supporters.
Mr Lawell sits on the board of the E.C.A.
Give everyone else on that board a dossier on all that has gone on.
Ask them for help.
Couldn’t hurt.
Hail Hail
In…………..off oot……to a land that me ole’ uncle’ Gerry used to escape to….to jump into a magical world full of the very kind of folk who set out on the trail to, join the legions who….earlier had, created the very institution that became and, still is the Irish Diaspora’s greatest gift to the world – Celtic Football Club.
Alas….after all these years….I now get where my ‘uncle’ Gerry used to escape to…a place that is, sadly….so far removed from the Celtic world where….millions of Celtic supporters….world-wide….and, despite numerous share-issues….still find themselves….standing outside a big football stadium…looking at pictures of Legendary figures…plastered all the way round the place….is this the Celtic Way ?….’Uncle’ Gerry….after all these years…I often wondered where you used to escape to when, the Laptop Loyal would, big-up a LCF featuring the huns and, you would tell all the readers of your column that the tv-pics of the LCF wouldn’t be seen in your house as….you would be watching yer favorite film..”The Quiet Man”….well, I’ve been watching the film so far on Film 4 and,….ye know what ?….Watching that film is far better than, reading a website and being told that, yer a trouble maker for wanting Celtic to be….Celtic.
….Get ye now ‘uncle’ Gerry…ta much……..
What NegAnon2 on 18th December 2015 1:05 pm says
By a mile!
thank you neganon2