The sun is shining on the west of Scotland today, we are nine points clear at the top of the league with a home game ahead where a win would make the gap 12 points and allow the club to book event planners for the trophy presentation.
We are fortunate to follow a successful football club, but we are more fortunate to believe that Celtic is so much more. It is an institution with ethical standards and a social care mission as its founding principle.
Without standards adhered to by generations of supporters and without that sense that, collectively, we are about something more than football, I doubt any of us would care as much as we do. What else explains the call Celtic has on us, even when living thousands of miles from Parkhead, when we have not seen the team live for years, when we mix with friends who find your green and white merchandise perplexing.
Maintaining this call across 136 years takes hard work by impressive people. In recent weeks, I spoke to several Celtic fans like this, who have undertaken to cycle from Celtic Park to Seville next month in support of the Celtic FC Foundation, arriving in the Andalucian capital to commemorate the pilgrimage so many of us made there 20 years ago.
I recorded the meetings for a series of video podcasts, the first of which is available below. The participants shared the joy of Celtic, many of them lived far from Celtic Park, but they all regarded their roles as Celtic fans as something far more than passive. They want to live up to the spirit of Celtic – that thing you and I profess belief in. We are more than just the football, we have a social cause, a regard for those in need, and a responsibility to act.
Six years ago some of the participants completed the Road to Lisbon (started by our own Mouldy67). They booked to ride to Milan in 2020 before world events got in the way. Now the Road to Seville lies ahead, over 1,000 miles to travel through Scotland, Ireland and Spain.
What is most striking of the conversations I had, was how connected they all were to the Outcomes they hoped to achieve. It wasn’t reaching Seville, or even raising money, it was about helping the poor with a warm meal, extending sport facilities to Downs people, providing care and support to families coping with dementia.
It was humbling to listen to the work they have all put in and great to see such role models in being a better person and better Celtic fan. If like me, you have no big acts underway for what is the most important part of being a Celtic fan, we can financially support their efforts here.
You can follow them on Twitter here: @Road2Seville23 and keep in touch with the Foundation. First up is Paul Corrigan, I hope you enjoy watching and thank you for supporting their huge efforts.
145 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- »
I wonder if REO and Wee GREG were doing some Training INSIDE Lennoxtown this morning….and Big ANGE is MAYBE playing some mind games with the Huns and media….
Keeping THEM and US all guessing ?
i have ALMOST convinced myself that REO will NOT make the starting line up against the Huns, but i am somehow HOPEFUL that Wee GREG WILL make it ?
I cant explain it, but I do think that to lose EITHER one of those players or BOTH for the Hun game will be a MAJOR Blow for Celtic ?
Its making me a wee bit more nervous to be honest.
I suppose, what will be….will be ?
HH
Digging up the ……..
For those of the one true holy and apostolic faith, Lent ended at midnight last night as we enter intae the Triduum and even though I no longer drink, I am happy tae say that’s now 51 years abstaining from it as my penance and no I am not trying tae make up for an ill spent youth but a well spent one.
Good afternoon all from the Victoria Bar. A fine day in old Glasgow Town.
Celtic Graves
06 Apr 2023
General
Celtic Graves Society event for Dan McArthur
By Celtic Football Club
Share
This Easter Sunday, April 9, the Celtic Graves Society will hold a special ceremony to commemorate the final resting place of Dan McArthur, who Willie Maley described as, ‘The first of our real star goalkeepers’.
Uniquely for a Celtic player, Dan McArthur is buried in the Eastern Necropolis close to the North Stand of Celtic Park, and the ceremony takes place at 12.30pm.
Members of the McArthur family will be in attendance, as will Lisbon Lions, Jim Craig and John Fallon. John will also be representing the long and illustrious line of Celtic goalkeepers. Tony Hamilton, Chief Executive of Celtic FC Foundation will be representing Celtic Football Club. The McArthur family (now fifth generation Celtic fans) are travelling from the United States for the ceremony.
Daniel ‘Dan’ McArthur was born in Bargeddie in 1867, the son of Archibald McArthur and Annie McArthur (nee’ McClymont). He was a highly regarded young goalkeeper and represented Glasgow Juniors against other regions.
As a Junior, Dan played in the original Celtic Park (also yards from his final resting place) in the Glasgow Junior Cup semi-final in March 1892 against Vale of Clyde. It was no surprise that weeks later, the highly regarded young local keeper signed for Celtic in April 1892.
On May 31, 1892, he played for Celtic reserves to open the new Helenslea Park against his former Junior club. He made his full debut for Celtic on September 10 of that year in a 3-2 win over Abercorn. He replaced Joe Cullen, who had been injured on a tour of North East England. Injuries were a common occurrence for goalkeepers of that era, who were offered little protection.
It was after Joe Cullen’s recovery and resuming his role in the first team that Dan McArthur’s Celtic story took a twist. On November 11, 1892, the Scottish referee reported: ‘McArthur, the reserve keeper, leaves for America today.’
So began the first of many trips Dan McArthur made to and from the USA over the next five decades. His brother Archie had first made the long journey in 1887. The reason for his first trip is unclear, especially with how highly he was regarded as a future prospect in a difficult team position to fill but he didn’t make his return to Celtic until January of 1894.
The papers at the time remarked: ‘It is understood that he once paid a flying visit to the United States but finding that baseball quite eclipsed football as a Yankee attraction, he returned home.’
IMG_20230330_121541227.jpg
Whatever the motivation for the young player’s visit to the USA, his career took off spectacularly on his return. Joe Cullen continued to be the custodian of the goal until August 1894. On August 25, 1894, Dan took over in goal from Joe Cullen in a match against Third Lanark and from that point he didn’t look back.
Such was his growing reputation that in March 1895, less than a year after he made the Celtic goalkeeper’s jersey his own, he made his Scotland debut in a 3-1 win against Ireland, in a match played at Celtic Park and he held the jersey for the next match against England, played in front of a world record attendance at the time of 42,000 at Goodison Park.
In his career at Celtic over the next decade, Dan McArthur not only built a reputation for fearlessness and bravery (which was a prerequisite for any goalkeeper at the time) but also skill and judgement. For what Dan lacked in height, he made up this for in awareness, skill, courage and devotion to his team and his team-mates.
In his career at Celtic, Dan won two league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Glasgow Cups, as well as four Glasgow Merchants’ Charity Cups and the Glasgow League and Inter City League.
He made a total of 194 appearances for Celtic, with 58 shut-outs, and he was the first Celtic goalkeeper to break the 100-appearance mark. He also won three Scotland caps and four Scottish League caps, remarkable in a career punctuated by a number of serious head injuries and concussions.
Willie Maley also said of Dan McArthur, ‘Dan’s daring would put a lion tamer to shame.’
Dan’s final appearance for Celtic was in the Inter City League competition v Hearts on April 21, 1902, a decade after his debut. He was a remarkable Celt.
Over decades Dan would return frequently to the United States, basing his growing family there. He instilled in his family, in the ‘soccer hotbed’ of Kearny, New Jersey, an enduring love of football and Celtic Football Club, with the McArthur family travelling to Scotland for the commemoration and to view the restored headstone.
As always, it is sure to be a special Celtic Graves Society event.
The Celtic Graves Society ceremony for Dan McArthur takes place at 12.30pm this Sunday, April 9, at Eastern Necropolis, 1264 Gallowgate, Glasgow G31 4DR (entrance opposite The Forge Shopping Centre).
From Paul Lambert. Who am I to disagree?
Like so many in Scotland, I’ll admit I didn’t know much about Ange Postecoglou when he arrived in the summer of 2021.
He was probably a bit like Wim Jansen when he first came over as Celtic manager. Nobody had really heard of him, and he struggled in his first few games. Everyone was saying “get him out, get him out”.
Ange was the same. He had a tricky start – including losing to Hearts – and the vibe was that “this guy doesn’t know what he’s doing” and all that nonsense. Then all of a sudden, bang, away he goes.
And that juggernaut is still going.
This Saturday’s Old Firm game is another chance for him to take a step forward as Celtic manager. Nine points clear of Rangers already, avoiding defeat will surely close out a second league title and intensify the pursuit of a domestic treble.
My view is Rangers won’t catch Celtic even if they get a result this weekend, but I don’t see them winning on Saturday anyway. Ange’s side looks too strong and have a way of playing that is now second nature. Michael Beale knows Rangers have to get Celtic in their sights to apply a bit of pressure on them – but doing that is going to be tough.
I was at the Viaplay Cup final and Rangers didn’t lay a glove on them until they had to in the final 20 minutes. It was so one-sided in the first half, it was only when Rangers got the goal that they decided to give it a go. I don’t think Rangers fans will accept that this time, although they won’t be inside Celtic Park to see it.
With Celtic being at home and with no away support, all of the crowd will feel the league title is over if they get any sort of positive result.
Rangers have to do more. It’s like the old Tommy Burns era; Celtic were brilliant, but they came up against Andy Goram. If you couldn’t beat Andy, you couldn’t win.
It’s the same for this Rangers team coming up against this Celtic side under Ange.
‘Martin galvanised us… there are some similarities’
When you look at Celtic as a whole, they are so strong. Kyogo gets plaudits for his goals and Callum McGregor is so consistent he is an eight or nine out of 10 every week. Reo Hatate is coming on to a game. Matt O’Riley is a great player who can do fantastic things.
But it’s the manager who has been the revelation. He knows the Japanese market and that has been a massive plus when you look at his recruitment.
If I think back to my time at the club, we needed someone like Martin O’Neill to come in and galvanise us. There are some similarities between the two, but this team is different. It’s a new era and the team are in a new moment.
The team I played in had everything. We had skill, strength, goal scorers, guys who had won big trophies. This group is a great team to watch, but they will want to make their own mark.
Win on Saturday and the league is virtually over, if it isn’t already. Then you’re on to the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers. No disrespect to Falkirk or Inverness Caledonian Thistle, but it’s hard to see them stopping this Celtic team eyeing a treble.
Ange hasn’t won the Scottish Cup, so he will be keen to add that to his list of successes in Glasgow.
Making a dent in Europe will also be incredibly high on his wishlist during his time at the club, but that’s for another day and another season.
Celtic need to live in this moment and seize it, and under the current manager, I can’t see them doing anything else.
Paul Lambert was speaking to BBC Scotland’s Scott Mullen
Good stuff Paul67. Woke this morning with a smile on my face as the prospect of getting on a plane to Glasgow today came into focus. As you say, we are very fortunate to follow Celtic. Yes, we’re in a successful period right now, but it’s not just about that. It’s a life long commitment, through good and bad times on the field, but we always, always, wake up Celtic supporters and there’s nothing that can ever change that.
I am so hoping for my son that we get a victory on Saturday, Last time we did this together was for a Champions League game that didn’t turn out so well. I want him to experience first hand Celtic Park in full voice, because there’s nothing like it anywhere else on the planet.
I don`t think I have seen the diversity on CQN so succinctly displayed as in these two, successive posts:
Tontime Tim.
” I no longer drink, I am happy tae say that’s now 51 years abstaining from it…”
BRRB.
” Good afternoon all from the Victoria Bar. A fine day in old Glasgow Town.”
This also made me smile:
” I don’t think Rangers fans will accept that this time, although they won’t be inside Celtic Park to see it.”
Paul Lambert
MNCELT
You are now an honorary Shipwreck. Please send your membership fees to Big Jimmy c/o The Shipbank.
Hot Smoked
Aye I thought that and hoped that Tontine wouldn’t think I was taking the proverbial.
MNCelt: Enjoy your trip home.
🍀🍀🍀🍀
BIGRAILROADBLUES on 6TH APRIL 2023 4:19 PM
As it is hadly unusual for you to mention drink, I wouldn`t think TT would take your post as anything personal :-)))
Biog
“Hero of many a game for Celtic in the long-ago days.”
(Glasgow) Evening Telegraph 1943
Dan McArthur
If you read through any list of Celtic historians’ thoughts on the club, one name that rates highly for goalkeeping is the name Dan McArthur. Despite that none of those behind the polls will have been alive to have seen him play, and with practically no real footage out there to judge him, it is quite a feat.
However, we have to bear in mind the brutality of the game in those early days, and just what goalkeepers had to endure. ‘Bundling‘ was a common tactic which really was just an excuse to assault keepers. Also, keepers weren’t just the last line of defence, they were the entire defence most often. Formations were along the lines of 1-1-8 before moving slowly over to 2-2-6 and 2-3-5 formations. Bearing all this in mind, it’s quite a feat for any keeper to have lasted so long, yet Dan McArthur gave Celtic loyal service for almost ten years. All that is worthy of our attention and respect, and that is why he is rated so highly.
Fearless and athletic, Dan McArthur was Celtic’s first great goalkeeping hero, and Willie Maley in a retrospective described him as:
“The first of our real star goalkeepers”.
Born in Old Monkland, Dan McArthur signed for the Bhoys in April 1892. The former Parkhead Juniors keeper made his debut in a home league clash with Abercorn on September 10th that same year in a game in which Celtic triumphed 3-2, although it wasn’t until season 1894-95 that he became a regular taking over from Cullen. He had played in only a handful of matches in the two league title winning seasons of 1892-3 & 1893-4.
Dan McArthur’s bravery as the custodian of the Celtic goal was the stuff of legend, and in an era when keepers were subject to near assault during every attack where he was regularly knocked unconscious. McArthur wore his many battle scars with pride but apart from his incredible courage he was also a skilled keeper with excellent reflexes and great judgement.
As one man put it: “If they’re going to kill McArthur they’ll have to shoot him” – Tom Hynds. Another once described him as “the unbeatable little demon“.
When Rab MacFarlane was brought in as cover for Dan McArthur, he had none of wee Dan McArthur’s suicidal tendencies, stating: “It’s better to lose a goal than a goalie”! Clearly depicts the “bravery” that Dan McArthur had in going for the ball.
By late 1902 his body had however taken enough punishment, and he retired from the game after 120 Celtic appearances and 3 Scotland caps. He had played a pivotal role on the field to build the foundations of the first side, and helped win Celtic a proud four league titles in the club’s first decade along with two Scottish Cups in the seasons following.
The briefest of comebacks with Queens Park followed – one game – but Dan McArthur’s career was all but over the day he left Celtic Park. He unsurprisingly retired with broken ribs.
At a club that wasn’t to be blessed with many great keepers for a long stretch beginning from the retiral of Ronnie Simpson up until the arrival of Artur Boruc, then great keepers from an extended lookback at Celtic’s history can therefore often be more fondly remembered than at many other clubs. This in part explains the fondness for Dan McArthur by the club’s historians.
Curiously described by a reporter in the Nottingham Evening News that he and fellow Celt Willie Donnelly were “goalkeepers of the ‘midget’ order“. Apparently only around 5ft 5in.
Dan McArthur is rated as amongst the very best, and there are few with a stronger and harder-hitting challenge than his.
He passed away after a long life in 1943.
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/0qoBSJrXnwYWj6k6dX0LUg342915
https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/aQEFtyiMDFNcY-HD4TZm2Q513093
https://images.webapi.gc.celticfc.com/fit-in/1400×1400/5cd156a0-d462-11ed-bbf2-e96e723663f6.jpg
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F736x%2Fce%2F0a%2Fa8%2Fce0aa8d8b6daf9ac0011598fd8a9d08f.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=d976332f7c0de70dd2d8ce9ff587257ea5f1eac8718f881a2b5e01456c598aa6&ipo=images
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F34%2Ff8%2Ffa%2F34f8faab47a3d0971d546b514b867215–paul-lambert-celtic-fc.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=47bc60158e816f07921cb37c421265d56ad30661320fa783dfd3d3c7f8d616a9&ipo=images
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com%2F89972189164e3058a05f005aabb1cd06&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=47be6f632a9658476032cd970c6d83525995b03a2d1d718421f1137f1693fd86&ipo=images
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/22/4d/eb224db9bf226e4e5040607b094cf170.jpg
One the best goals at Ibrokes
Hot Smoked 4.29
Aye, fair point J. 😂
Andy Walker has also admitted his regret over his comments and how they have been reported by the podcast company who invited him to their show. We apologise to our colleagues at the Scottish FA with whom we have a strong relationship, and look forward to continuing to provide exclusive live coverage of the Scottish Premiership.”
Sky
On prosecutions
https://twitter.com/rangerstaxcase/status/1643989353977511936?t=sP3J61KlVYYC4XDif98VOg&s=19
Thread from Rtc
HH
HOT SMOKED….
I am watching the LIVE coverage of ” The MASTERS” on TV.
I havent seen your name on the Leaderboard…..YET !
Have you a LATE Tee Off Time Today ?
LOL
HH
” HOT SMOKED………Just call him TIGER ”
HH mate.
Bada
Andy and sky ass covering there.
Do Sky have access to the exchanges with Var officials? Not a word.
Why can’t we get it
Big fella
HH
Bada
Andy and sky ass covering there.
Do Sky have access to the exchanges with Var officials? Not a word.
Why can’t we get it
BB
HH
Jim McKeever: ‘Modest yet iconic leader’ – Derry GAA great dies aged 92
Last updated on
5 hours ago5 hours ago.From the section Gaelic Games
Derry legend Jim McKeever
McKeever captained Derry to the county’s first All-Ireland Final appearance in 1958
Derry GAA great Jim McKeever has died at the age of 92.
The Ballymaguigan native captained Derry in the county’s first All-Ireland Final appearance in 1958, losing to Dublin, and won the first Footballer of the Year award the same year.
McKeever later managed Derry’s senior team and served as chairman of the county board.
In a statement, Derry GAA described McKeever as a “modest yet iconic leader” and a “natural sportsman”.
“Whether as an educator or as a midfielder he led by example. Jim actively encouraged people to use their talents and be the best they could be. Any team with Jim McKeever in it was a better team.
“Jim had a natural warmth and innate kindness which meant people gravitated towards him. He was affectionately known across Ireland as Gentleman Jim.
“When Jim spoke people listened because they appreciated he was a man of immense experience and integrity.
“Jim’s life was one of service to others. Jim realised whether in his club, community or county he was part of something bigger as part of the GAA.”
McKeever captained Belfast school St Malachy’s to MacRory Cup titles in 1948 and 1949.
In addition to playing for Derry, McKeever represented Ulster in the Railway Cup and also led St Mary’s University College, where he was a lecturer, to a maiden Sigerson Cup success in 1989.
Derry GAA Chairman John Keenan said: “Jim McKeever was an affable man and a leader. It’s an honour to walk in his footsteps.”
Space … Around Stamford Bridge.
The final frontier
These are the voyages of Frank Lampard
His five week mission.
To seek out new life among a bloated squad.
To get a dead cat bounce by ducking, diving and talkin’ all soothin’ an’ positive an’ all that an’ all that !
To boldly go about getting Chelsea up the table before the players figure out he lacks the intellectual capacity to distinguish his sphincter from his cubitis.
An Tearmann
Ass covering? Genie is out of the bottle now young fella.
Talking of body parts…. I went to my premature ejacultion appointment today….🙈
t’s tomorrow
Marspapa
Ffs that’s as bad as Coneybhoy, Big Jimmy and BelmontBrian put together. 😂
A rumour Hatate out for a while…..hhopefully nonsense
Oh my dear Giddy Aunt.
Naw another shitty Joke teller🤣🤣🤣
Marspapa I thought moee of you.
D :)
More even
D :)
Any news from Ange’s press conference?
Ange is playing mind games with the hun.
Lest we forget. Viaplay cup final highlights
https://youtu.be/2GtmBjqQfhc
🤣🤣🤣👍