The Celtic supporter’s substantial heritage

And, after a century, it happened again. On Saturday, 4 November 2017, Celtic set a new British football record, 63 games undefeated, eclipsing the 62 game record set by the same team in 1917, under its first manager, Willie Maley. A million Celtic fans lived and died, and didn’t see such overwhelming command of the game in Scotland.

Many of those saw nine-in-a-row and the European Cup, but they also saw the 50s, or the 90s, or both, when humbling defeat was a staple part of the Celtic diet.

The football has been scintillating with those 63 games packed with joy: the recent 0-3 at Pittodrie, the dramatic 3-4 at Fir Park, thrashing Newco 5-1 home and away, and the joy-of-joys, winning an Invincible treble with a last minute goal.

Brendan Rodgers has only been here for one title in our run of six-in-a-row, but go speak to those who were around when Jock Stein was bearing down on seven-in-a-row in 1972. The joie de vivre of yet another title, yet another run to the European Cup semi-final, was beginning to fade. Stein struggled to replace his Lions as the crown weighed increasingly heavily on the head of a new King.

What Brendan brings to the search for seven-in-a-row, and his second treble, is a freshness denied to Stein. Jock sailed straight for the sun after joining Celtic in March 1965, winning a treble, two League Cups, two (of three) Scottish Cups and that European title. We have a manager who works as though he has a point to prove and players battling for their place right across the team.

It is fitting that we reflect on breaking our own 100-year record today, the 130th anniversary of the meeting which took place in the parish hall of St Mary’s, Calton, where it was decided to establish a football club called Celtic, to raise funds to feed the impoverished children of the city.

Despite the timeless monuments to success Celtic have achieved throughout a glittering history, without that poverty, your football club would not have come into existence. If you are a Celtic supporter, your world, your very person, is a product of 19th century deprivation. Your responsibility as a fan is to nurture the substantial heritage you were given, to make our founding mission grander than anyone could imagine on 6 November 1887.

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Brendan Rodgers – The Road to Paradise The Official Autobiography is available now from CQNBookstore.com – the first 100 orders received will come with a free gift.

From a small village on the north-east coast of Ireland to the treble-winning manager of Celtic, Brendan Rodgers’ football journey has been a remarkable one of dedication, hard work, a desire to always keep improving and a determination to succeed at the highest level of the sport … and throughout his life there has always been a love of his team … Celtic Football Club.

In his own words, Brendan Rodgers tells his story – from a promising young footballer growing up in Carnlough and dreaming of playing for Celtic one day through to his professional career – as a player, a coach and now as one of football’s top managers. And Celtic supporters will also enjoy an insight into a remarkable season – from the first competitive game in Gibraltar through to the thrilling Scottish Cup final, with plenty of highlights in between, including the manager’s first trophy triumph and some unforgettable Glasgow derbies.

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