I wasn’t engaged in Celtic politics 20 years ago, never attended the Celts for Change meetings and I wasn’t there to hear ‘The rebels have won!’ in person, but it was clear the Celtic Movement had achieved a remarkable revolution.
The old board’s biggest failing was its lack of strategy. 20 years on Fergus McCann rightly receives the plaudits for putting his money where his mouth was but until that very week he was merely one cog in the machine. Celts for Change were the advance party, others, such as McCann and John Keane were the generals, playing a critical role in the revolution, while the circa 30,000 fans who came forward to buy season tickets and shares were the foot soldiers who did the heavy lifting.
It cost £620 to participate in the subsequent share issue. People borrowed money in order to do their bit – in order to help Celtic, while others clubbed together to raise the target amount. This was an era when credit was even less pervasive as it has been in recent years. Thousands ‘did without’ to make this happen, and no one knew this more than Fergus.
The Revolution came 20 years after Jock Stein’s world record nine-in-a-row, but the intervening period brought obscurity in Europe, only once did we progress beyond Christmas and that was after overcoming Dundalk and Partizan Tirana. Six league titles were won.
The 20 years since have produced nine titles, with another in the oven, while former directors of former clubs are talking about the prospect of Celtic winning 10-in-a-row. We’ve had Seville, and lots of genuinely great achievements in the Champions League. It has been a fantastic two decades.
The one thing Fergus drove most thoroughly was his vision of the club’s social mission. Bhoys against Bigotry and Celtic Charity were launched and put squarely in the middle of who we are as a club. The renamed Celtic Foundation has grown and now engages thousands of fans each year in outstanding feats of generosity. If we are not ‘just another club’ this is the reason. If you’re not involved, get involved.
Over the years I’ve heard talk about a monument to Fergus, which would be entirely inappropriate, the man is a low-profile pragmatist, but we’re overlooking the biggest monument in sport. When he took over as managing director, Celtic Park was a magnificent football arena but fit only for our memories. We needed a safe, all-seater stadium. He raised £14m at a share issue, built the biggest football stadium in Britain apart from the decrepit Wembley, and left five years later with the club around £2.5m in debt.
It was an economic miracle which still beggars belief. I cannot explain how on earth this was achieved.
So Fergus, take a bow, you were years ahead of your time; ruthlessly uncompromising, just when we needed the same, but to those who only wanted to do their bit, without a wish for credit or glory, treat yourself this Pancake Tuesday, you deserve it. Every goal since is down to you.
Congratulations to Peter Lawwell on his appointment to the executive board of the European Club Association (ECA), alongside Bayern’s Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Milan’s Umberto Gandini, Ajax’ van der Sar and Ivan Gazidis of Arsenal; a heavy-hitting team. The appointment reflects not only on Peter Lawwell but on the fans and everyone who makes the club what it is.
Celtic are the club who more than any other in Europe have been disenfranchised by the drift of football success away from meritocracy to TV markets. Denied access to the TV markets neighbours enjoy, their status will inevitably decline further compared to those in other territories.
Do the ECA care? They will now. If football is to continue its 150 year tradition as a meritocratic sport, structural change must come. Celtic have been promoting this message consistently for years, so the ECA know who they have invited into the room. Let’s get on with it.
Seville, The Celtic Movement, launches this month.
“The long walk home from the game was memorable for the incredible reaction we got from the locals. They applauded each of us as we walked past their homes in recognition of what took place in their city throughout the day. Things like this don’t happen but that day was different. Seville, like Lisbon, will always remember Celtic.”
Order yours below:
[calameo code=0003901714cb03d5d5808 lang=en page=114 hidelinks=1 width=100% height=500]
1,863 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- ...
- 49
- »
Cowiebhoy supporting the Celtic to 3 in a row
12:18 on
4 March, 2014
Auldheid thanks for response
So what has the board Done about victimisation of their fans inside Celtic Park ?
Yes they responded for the Amsterdam incident
And have they apologised to the section of fans blamed for a
Motherwell ? Or have I missed that ?
Hail Hail
======================
I had a wee look around and found the note of the Supporters Forum meeting. I think it was posted on CQN.
Here are the bits that cover your general concern:
Q. Do the Club believe their response to Motherwell was justified and proportionate?
A. We believe the vast majority of the Support backed the Club on this matter. Celtic suffered substantial reputational damage as a result of significant physical damage to Fir Park on December 6. There was overwhelming evidence that a large group of fans had occupied a section of the lower tier which they did not have tickets for. On this basis the Club immediately suspended the STs of those involved pending further investigation. Given that no charges were brought against anyone within this group, the suspensions were lifted at the earliest opportunity.
Q Stewarding at home matches is heavy handed in certain sections of the Stadium e.g. Block 122 and Blocks 110, 111 & 112, is there a reason for this?
A. There can be no excuse for ‘heavy handed’ behaviour by stewards in any part of Celtic Park Should there be reason to complain about the manner of stewarding the steward’s hi-vis jacket number should be recorded and the specific details of the complaint submitted to the Operations Department at the Club. All complaints will be fully investigated and responded to. The primary duties of stewards relate to spectator safety. The Club is required to report on a match by match basis to the Safety Advisory Group of Glasgow City Council behaviour in parts of the stadium which those responsible for safety consider to be unsafe. Such behaviour includes continual standing in a seated area, lateral movement and overcrowding
by persons migrating to sections of the stadium without tickets for that area.
To ensure a safe stadium it is important that stewards and fans work together and the Club is keen to develop this approach.
Q. The presence of FoCUS at home matches is intimidating and antagonises supporters, is it necessary to have them and if so can they be located in an area which is less intrusive?
A.The deployment of Police Officers within Football Stadia is at the discretion of Police Scotland, and this includes Officers within FoCUS section. However the Club can and do advise on concerns or suggestions raised by fans. John Paul Taylor (Supporter Liaison Officer) and Ronnie Hawthorn (Head of Safety, Security and Operations) have met on two occasions with Chief Inspector Stephen McAllister the head of the
Football Co-ordination Unit Scotland. Mr. McAllister has indicated his willingness to reduce the presence of his officers commensurate with the positive behaviour of football fans home and away.
Chief Inspector McAllister has met with representatives of Supporters Groups in the past and has indicated his willingness to hold similar meetings in the future to explain the role of FoCUS and listen to concerns.
If you want to know if Celtic apologised to the supporters suspended at Motherwell
e mail the SLO at JPTaylor@celticfc.co.uk and you will get your answer.
voguepunter
13:17 on
4 March, 2014
ACGR
Fholk around you saying “That bunnet suits him,hides most of his face”
Hard but fair……….
Auldheid:
Did I really just read you writing “don’t worry about it” regards declining attendance numbers?
Didn’t Jock Stein say “Football without supporters is nothing</em.?
I'd worry about declining numbers, I'd worry a lot because it is indicative of something my opinion, and yours, apart.
kitalba
13:38 on 4 March, 2014
You hope Aberdeen win the cup ?
The same Aberdeen who’s fans have jumped on the Huns/hearts bandwagon with the saville songs and the like , right you are they are total scumbags who should be banned from Celtic park with the ugly cousins
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
12:02 on 4 March, 2014
timaloy29
11:58 on 4 March, 2014
It has been claimed that some within Celtic deliberately attempted to scupper the Food Drive by the Green Brigade.
Certainly after initially stating that the club would highlight and support the initiative they renaged on this, sadly.
In my opinion that’s ‘questionable credentials’.
____________________
Honestly you need help, that is just one horrible statement you made about my club, you should not be involved with my club in any way, form or manner, as far as I see it, you are a very dangerous person for my club and should be avoided at all times, as I have said the Benedict Arnolds on this blog need watched very, very, carefully, I would say without fear it’s …YOUR CREDENTIALS that are up for question, without a doubt in my mind, your a wrong yin.
Tony D
Don’t respond to my posts please. You’re a prick so let’s leave it at that.
Auldheid:
Just for clarification, how did FoCUS come about? Would you agree, or at least part agree, it was a creation of Celtic PLC?
sannabhoy and 2000 kids say hail hail to pablo’s family
13:01 on 4 March, 2014
—
Kano foundation is fantastic idea
I agree at times like this with so many empty seats the club should be filling the stadium with freebies to mostly young people but also if possible celtic fans on the dole .
Alot laughed at the huns when they were handing out freebies but i dont see the problem.
No matter what a full stadium can only benifit us.. Those with free tickets will maybe spend 5/10 quid on merch, lotto tickets or even just shout the team on.
Anything is better than an empty plastic seat.
hun skelper:
I like Aberdeen FC, always have, and yes I hope they win the cup.
Ever since I started watching Celtic there have been spells where the attendances have noticeably dropped. There was a period in the late 1970s, start of the ’80s and then in the early 1990s. More recently the crowds were down about six years ago and then climbed again before this recent drop.
With the exception of the drop towards the end of Gordon Strachan’s time at the club, all the other periods, including the current one have coincided with a harsher economic situation. I still have a season-ticket, but I don’t get back to Glasgow as much as I used to because I can’t afford it, and I’m fortunate to be in steady work.
It costs me three times as much in petrol money as it did 10 years ago just to commute to work every week. Glasgow is a city where food banks have become a necessity, so it should be no surprise that the crowds are down at Celtic Park on a fortnightly basis – even though many of the empty chairs are paid for.
For everyone going to CQTEN – we will email out a drinks order form today so you can order drinks in advance. Payment details, prices etc all included on the form.
Brian Dempsey was a superb orator, and a key organiser in helping Fergus in.
But the ole Celtic of Robroyston was never going to happen.
Hamiltontim:
Take it as a word from the wise… simmer.
kitalba
13:51 on 4 March, 2014
Good for you I hope they don’t there scum
SETTING FREE THE BEARS 1220
Great find,bud.
An illustration of inequality in society. Only women bleed,but if men did,the problem described in your link wouldn’t exist.
-Tojo-
12:58 on
4 March, 2014
Paul67,
I note with interest that 20 years ago today, Brian Dempsey, who was a well known face around Celtic Park back then, was the man who uttered the words ‘the game is over, the rebels have won’ at the front door of Celtic Park, but very quickly after that he disappeared from the scene.
To this day Fergus never mentions his name or gives his involvement any credit whatsoever in any press statement.
Do you know why Paul67, what happened there?
Back in those days Brian Dempsey was the hero of the fans.He was like Fergus right hand man.Full of energy,always on TV.The face of the “Celts for change”.I never missed a meeting or a demonstration.Many heroes in those heady days.Matt Mc Glone,Gerald Weisfeld,often get forgotten,but did plenty.Even our own much loved Hugh Keevins,was always available to give speeches,drum up the support.Changed days,eh?.
Fergus and Dempsey had very different ideas on how the Celtic should proceed.We all know who was always going to win that one.
Nevertheless,Brian Dempsey should never be forgot by the fans for what he contributed in those days.
Auldheid:
How did they determine that the vast majority of the support backed the club?
Now is that one of those wee lies that I tried to point out to you, and you ignored, or what?
I would like a pint of Deuchars.
hun skelper:
That is your prerogative mate, no argument from me, but do you mind if I ask you a question… are they all scum but us?
The Herald carried an edited version of this letter today:
Ian W Thomson (March 1 letters) makes the point that although anti-Irish/RC sentiment is still with us we should also remember the progress that has been made in moving away from that bias, which he attributes to the large influx of Irish people who came here as a result of the Great Famine.
Actually, the most bitter anti-Irish/RC sentiment was with us before “an Gorta Mór” and peaked between the world wars, but Mr Thomson is correct up to a point in that change for the better has come in the attitudes of those “originally resident in Scotland.”
That change has come is a great tribute to those indigenous Scots who disregarded the propaganda from pulpit and politicians that taught them their fellow Irish/RC neighbours were racially inferior, would damage the purity of the Scots race and should be sent home to Ireland, while their Orange countrymen were most welcome to stay, as they were of the same stock and religion as native Scots.
However Pat Bourne, the Irish diplomat who called for end to the ‘appalling’ sectarian legacy that exists here is right to do so. In my experience, we in this country have a taboo on the subject of anti-Irish racism, past or present.
My opinion in this regard was reinforced a few years back when I asked the Scottish Parliament to investigate the reasons why RCs are twice as likely as their Protestant peers or those of no religion to serve time in prison. The Public Petitions Committee kicked the matter back and forth for over three years without ever mentioning the word Irish before commissioning a report from an academic.
Whenever the academic suggested that the causes of the disproportionate number of RCs in jail may be in some way explained by residual anti-Irish prejudice in society at all levels, including the justice system the petition was closed post haste!
If we don’t acknowledge and examine the matter openly it will fester and propagate.
Tom Minogue, Victoria Terrace, Dunfermline
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
13:49 on 4 March, 2014
Tony D
Don’t respond to my posts please. You’re a prick so let’s leave it at that.
_____________________
I’ve told you many times, every time you slag my team, I’m comin back at you, put the pot on it, and as I keep telling you, your opinion of me is none of my concern, but your opinion of the board of CFC is, and I will defend them and my club, I know what your larks are, and you know it too, the day you put any proof on this blog when slagging my club will be a first, lurking Huns and there likes GIRUY.
kitalba
13:58 on 4 March, 2014
Are who all scum ?
Right, this is happening too frequently and nobody is to blame but me.
I apologise sincerely, once again, for my poor choice of language but I believe those who have read anything I’ve posted in my time on CQN will understand why I responded to Tony D’a post in the manner I did.
Time for a break me thinks.
The board are on the receiving end of a lot of accusations on here
Given that no charges were brought against anyone within this group, the suspensions were lifted at the earliest opportunity.
Ps Tony D what I posted was factual but as usual in your blinkered, naive wee head that won’t matter.
Auldheid
13:43 on
4 March, 2014
Nothing against you,you are only reporting,but I hope I am not alone in saying that the answers to the questions put ,just sound like a load of condescending,politician speak,claptrap.
Eurochamps67- Did you hear yer man on Snyde last night saying that Davie the steward was delighted to get a mention on the radio?
Made me chuckle.
I can remember being berated by those seated near me for not giving up my season ticket to a ‘more deserving’ fan given that i attended so few games during MO’Ns tenure. Due in the main to overseas work commitments. ‘that’s just no right leaving that seat empty so often pal’ Changed days indeed with fans being berated for not attending . The section I held a SB for since reconstruction is now mostly empty or closed more often than not. When did I give up my SB – WGS last season mainly economic reasoning it was costing ever increasing amounts in cash and time to attend however i’ll admit the entertainment on offer also played a significant part making up my mind.
Most of my recent games have been courtesy of corporate tickets. Again it used to be almost impossible to be invited on these outings, given my lowly position, now they are there for the taking if you want to attend a game. I just phone one of the company’s vendors that have corporate SBs and ask if there is a spare ticket – only recent knock back was for CL tickets. Would I consider investing in a SB again given my current circumstances? Heart says yes head says a definite No chance. Then again if I lived close to Glasgow i most likely would .
Can I repeat that for the hard of hearing…
“Given that no charges were brought against anyone within this group, the suspensions were lifted at the earliest opportunity.”
So did Celtic publically apologise to the Green Brigade?
Time for a break me thinks.
Na just get the pancake on sir
Ready mixed fae asda 75p :))))
lazysodcsc
ps what time you expecting to make CQTEN
kitalba
13:56 on
4 March, 2014
No idea but Celtic claim to have overwhelming evidence of folk occupying places they did not have tickets for.
No one at the Supporters Forum challenged the point that reputations were damaged and certainly based on exchanges on CQN no one supported the seat breaking, whilst still supporting the GB.
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
14:01 on 4 March, 2014
Right, this is happening too frequently and nobody is to blame but me.
I apologise sincerely, once again, for my poor choice of language but I believe those who have read anything I’ve posted in my time on CQN will understand why I responded to Tony D’a post in the manner I did.
Time for a break me thinks.
______________________
Aye a long wan, try a year, an give us all peace, calling people names like that, should be ashamed of yourself, no respect.
tonydonnelly67
14:00 on 4 March, 2014
Not sure what your gripe is here.
Is it the suggestion that Celtic initially offered support for the GB food bank initiative or the suggestion that they subsequently reneged on that offer of support?
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
14:02 on 4 March, 2014
Ps Tony D what I posted was factual but as usual in your blinkered, naive wee head that won’t matter.
_____________
Prove it?
Bed for me but before I go…
straight from the horses mouth…
Sentence before trial or conviction???
Oor Celtic!!! (as bad as any Edinburgh jury)
kitalba
14:02 on 4 March, 2014
I think the board jumped in banning people without knowing the facts, to busy I feel trying to appease the media hype surrounding fir park.
The board made a big mistake and should have publicly apologized to the supporters they banned not just lifted the ban once most had handed in there ST and took there money back.
Steinreigned,
Correct.
Attendances have been up and down like….something that goes up and down. ;)
As someone posted the other day (HT?) why do some always compare things to the bad old days of the early 90’s??
In the same way, why do some always feel the need to mention the anomaly of the early 2000’s when the average crowd was high?