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:
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Sixtaeseven,
Exactly.
I’ve no problem with anyone buying such rags. Their choice. But when they repeat stories as you say, as gospel, you wonder what’s in between their ears.
79caps
And they just happen to pick that precise day to sail up and down outside the entrance to the Ukrainian naval base at Simferopol, I believe, or did the local defence units of the “not the Russian Navy” find a load of warships lying around the back of the sofa in the Crimean Salvation Army Hostel in Sevastapol?
Estorilbhoy
Next door table 35
Sure I read somewhere recently that an individual was prepared to take his case to the European Courts to fight the injustices of this act , not sure if on here or elsewhere .
Darryl Murphy replaces McGeady on Irish team.
Scot Brown goallllllllllllllllllllllll
Broonie scores.
LETS ALL DO THE BROONIE!!!
Well done Broonie, Gordon Strachan’s Tartan Army!
Question re Celtic statement yesterday….
Has Labour/Lib Dems came out with any response in support ?.
If so, could someone post a link if poss ?.
Ta
FGF
Yep the proposal by the Celtic Trust is to take any cases to the European Court of Human Rights.
Well done Scott Brown!!!!
Just noticed Hart is in goals for England again
What’s the point of that in a friendly …if Hart gets injured Woy has a problem ….not that I care for England but I think big FF is due a turn
Stunner from Broonie! Once again Strachan does the job… We’re no world beaters but we can hold our own!
Hamiltontim 21.22, have they looked at the cost of taking even a test case to the European Court?
We’d need a bucket collection, and then some!
A) Biton and Griffiths + £20m
Or
B) Wanyama and Hooper
hamiltontim
Good to hear mate.
estorilbhoy
20:59 on
Myself and my daughter
Can I Have Raspberry On That Champions League Ice Cream + 1
Floridaghirl +1 as well.
WC
Do you know roughly what time the meal is being served at CQTEN?
Thank you in anticipation
Malorbhoy
Malorbhoy
There’s a chipper and a kebabo near the stadium if your too hungry to wait fur yer dinner :-))
Malorbhoy
Think the meal is being served during the game.
malorbhoy
21:30 on 5 March, 2014
Get fish & chips on the way up….mine is a black pudding supper, please
Good show and result.
Bamboo,
If the USA managed the overthrow of the Yanukovich regime in Ukraine, its bosses must be REALLY cunning & strong. That being so, why didn’t they also arrange to forestall Russian intervention/aggression?
PF Ayr
Chipper and Kebabo for coming out after the DOO :-))
EDB
Thank’s Jim, OT has got us prime seats I see.
I see our captain has done it again for Scotland. Broonie…….
Disappointing night for Rep of Ireland. Beaten 2-1 by Serbia. Very decent in 1st half,.good goal disallowed, should have been 3 up at half time. Pure rubbish in 2nd half lucky not to have conceded more than 2.
67
You are a big Pudding :-)
Well done Scotland, Gordon Strachan is instilling a real sense of belief. Great result, and a good confidence builder.
Had a few beers and a few drams…
Celtic…. yep that’s it.
Ayrshire is Green and White
Malorbhoy
Not really sure who is at which table and how we pre-order the drinks. Doubtless oldtim is in total control.
sixtaeseven – Gardez la Foi, DAM 5 !
“We apologise for this error.”
That is the thing though eh?
These stories are not “errors”.
They are pre-meditated attacks on whoever they have an agenda against and as Geordie Munro pointed out about how things were resolved in France……THAT at least seems a much more appropriate “apology”
THE only time i buy the rag is always a dilemma because my Mum wants it and so i pick it up for her……NOW that is unconditional love!
Sometimesdoingsimplethingsforlovedonesismoreimportantthanyerainviewsthough :(
Lovely goal by Scott Brown there
Malorbhoy
We want to get everyone seated and hopefully get the meal well underway before the game kicks off, certainly no later than kick off. There is entertainment before the game – a young lady is going to sing a lovely Celtic song. There will be song half time entertainment too which will add greatly to the occasion and after the game there’s loads to get through – action, raffle and speeches – then it’s on to the cabaret and then finishing off with Irish music.
Lots going on on the big screens too and Paddy is organising a last Celtic goalscorer competition for the match (free to enter). You simply pick the scorer of the last Celtic goal and the time – nearest time for winning player for the LAST Celtic goal of the night wins £500 to spend on new tyres. If no Celtic goal – name out of the beanie hat. Loads of other stuff too.
Good Evening.
Hard as it is to believe, we are starting to put together the next issue of CQN Magazine in which we want to include some interesting and topical (hopefully) articles.
If anyone wishes to write something for the magazine can they contact me at editor@cqnmagazine.com with their suggestions, and similarly if there is an issue which you think we should focus on then again send me an e-mail. There are certain issues that we are already looking into and if there are lots and lots of replies then please forgive me if I am unable to respond to each one individually.
To other matters:
I wonder?
With all of the chat about Fregus McCann and his struggle with the “old board”, and the separate discussion about things like Celtic’s recent statement about the Offensive Behaviour Act ( notwithstanding Graeme Spiers’ article ) and the notion expressed by some that the Celtic Board and Peter Lawell are due criticism — various thoughts have gone through my mind.
Cast your mind back to the board of Robert Kelly, Jimmy Farrell, Desmond White and so on and ask yourself this question.
Could that Board of Directors have successfully managed the business of Celtic Football Club in the 21st Century?
This of course is the board that was in situ when the club ruled Europe in footballing terms, but I think it is obvious that this same board could not cope with the business ( footballing and otherwise ) of the Celtic of today.
The same goes for the board of Michael Kelly, Chris White, Tom Grant, Jack McGinn etc.
Could the board assembled and dismantled by Fergus deal with the modern day business of Celtic? I don’t think so, and I think Fergus would have had the foresight to bring in some strong personnel to assist him in the task.
That then takes us to the current board and Peter Lawell.
Could it be that the metamorphosis of The Celtic Boardroom that was started by Fergus is not yet complete?
Peter Lawell has been in charge for several years now and there is the impression and perception that every single decision within the club is personally approved and overseen by Lawell himself when this is patently impossible.
The board and management of any sizeable PLC must be a constantly shifting and changing beast especially if the company itself is changing in terms of performance and key market influences such as repeated champions league income or increased activities because of the internet.
Against the climate of a Government wanting to bring in legislation which was always going to effect the club, should the board not have been smarter in the past in terms of employing or utilising proper political and social lobbyists who could speak from the outset about the consequences of potential legislation and how it would affect both the club and its members or customers if you prefer to look at them that way.
Perhaps it is just me, but I detect a shifting of emphasis coming from Kerrydale Street where at long last there has been a definitive statement speaking out against clearly poor legislation.
I am less inclined to look at what Celtic PLC has done in the past and would prefer to focus on what the board of management should do in the immediate and long term future in terms of policy.
Peter Lawell cannot be personally responsible for each and every steward or policrman who is heavy handed or rude, but if there is a concerted and prolonged feeling amongst the fans or customers that stewarding and policing within the ground is a big issue which has a negative impact on the club, then this would suggest that whatever management he has put in place to ensure the smooth running of these areas is not working and so a different approach is required.
Sometimes, that may involve acknowledging that your initial approach to a problem was misguided and that there would be merit to a complete volte face and change of mind.
No one person can run a business the size of Celtic and as each decade passes the challenges facing those who run the club will change with the result that the board will be forced to draw on areas of expertise which they did not need before.
Lawell is a very VERY good business manager.
Perhaps when it comes to dealing with the Police, Parliament and other areas he should be looking to appoint people of a similar calibre to himself to fulfill the everchanging key roles that running a club like Celtic requires in the 21st century.
Celtic need a social Director, a technology Director ( Yes I know Lord BT of Parkhead is there but is a part time non exec sufficient imput in such a key area ) an experienced Public Relations Director and one or two others in my opinion.
Hopefully the recent statement marks a hardening of attitudes towards the mal treatment of fans and perceived over policing of football fans both in and outwith the ground plus a considered and well planned exercise in bringing your own customer base closer to the club by way of better dialogue between the executive and the massed fanbase.
A board of management should always be changing, always be improving, always adapting to the changes in society and Government that will inevitably take place at any point in time.
Finally last night there was a discussion about youth and football — well youth and a fresh attitude have a place in boardrooms and management positions as well.
winning captains
21:43 on
5 March, 2014
Malorbhoy
We want to get everyone seated and hopefully get the meal well underway before the game kicks off, certainly no later than kick off. There is entertainment before the game – a young lady is going to sing a lovely Celtic song. There will be song half time entertainment too which will add greatly to the occasion and after the game there’s loads to get through – action, raffle and speeches – then it’s on to the cabaret and then finishing off with Irish music.
Lots going on on the big screens too and Paddy is organising a last Celtic goalscorer competition for the match (free to enter). You simply pick the scorer of the last Celtic goal and the time – nearest time for winning player for the LAST Celtic goal of the night wins £500 to spend on new tyres. If no Celtic goal – name out of the beanie hat. Loads of other stuff too.
WC
Thank you for the info, looking forward to the night
Hail Hail
Haw BRTH
Yer last sentence. Ruling me oot ur ye? ;)
EDB
Old tim’s tables are 37,38,47, I think it is a first come first seated at these table’s for ten,regarding drink ,now remember you don,t need drink to enjoy yourself :-))