I had some difficulty explaining to my boys why I wanted Aberdeen to win the League Cup yesterday, the desirability of having an even-stronger Aberdeen was lost on them after last month’s chastening experiences.
There are those who will tell you Scottish football, and Celtic in particular, need a strong Sevco. That argument is incorrect and ultimately futile, there isn’t going to be a strong Sevco, not in this decade, anyway. What Celtic would benefit most from is if those 40,000 Aberdeen fans fortify their club, which subsequently transforms into an increased football budget. They will hopefully land their own version of the treble this season, two cups and the Best of the Rest title.
If that helps them to shift 20,000 season tickets this summer, their status as the second force in the land will be cemented.
Kilmarnock fans will, almost to a man, be delighted to hear Michael Johnston is stepping down as chairman, although he will remain on the board. The corresponding clearing of their £9.4m debt in a deal with new investor, Billy Bowie, means there is one less financial basket case in Scotland.
Still buzzing after CQteN. I’ll announced the confirmed figure raised for Mary’s Meals Malawi appeal later in the week but I can confirm that on top of the school kitchen at the Kholoni Primary School (pictured below), we have money in to build a kitchen at St Joseph’s Boys School, Kasungu, and Chiphaso Boys School, also in Kasungu.
Yet again your generosity went above and beyond the call. Thank you. If you were not involved earlier you can change that here.
Thanks to Paddybhoy1888, who did a fantastic job with the beanies, more on this soon. The Academy Award goes BJmac, for his outstanding video of the CQteN Dream Team. The video featured every player to represent Celtic in the 10 years of the blog, which the 11 members of the Dream Team, with manager and subs, selected by you. You’ll enjoy it:
We still have some raffle prizes to announce and distribute, so check the blog for the rest of the week as winners will be notified.
Seville, the Celtic Movement, was launched on Friday, to some pretty decent reviews.
“I watched Sean dance animatedly with sheer delight on his face. At that moment any regrets I still had about not actually getting to Seville vanished. I would not have wanted to have missed the chance to celebrate with my own, as well as, the Celtic family.”
Order yours here:
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glasgowdave
Ian Young as in ” Fallon, Young and Gemmell.”
BT
A very young looking Jim Brogan in that photo, It is funny how fate , or the manager can deal you a bad hand. I’m sure that both Charlie and Yogi in 67, must always think ‘What if ‘
Emusanorphan
I worry about the combined impact of honest mistakes and the removal of the fat whisperer.
~#~#~#~#~#~#~#
We must try to get rid of the former and try just as hard to keep the latter>}
Favourite Uncle
Ah the bold Brian!
Now you have opened up another chapter of stories altogether lol.
I am typing this whilst at the Hospice and the mother is playing tunes to the old man.
Luke and Raglan Road ( always a favourite ), Paddy Reilly and the fields, Dublin in the rare old times and so on.
If he were awake he would regale me with often told tales of the bold Brian especially when he put on planes to Barcelona for the Cup Winners Cup game.
Two stories come to mind.
The first is for Sipsini who knows my 2nd Cousin George.
George’s mother Agnes was one of my favourite relatives — a real character. She worked for my dad and was the courier on abus taking loads of gers fans and their flags to their nice shiny 4 star hotel in Barcelona.
When the bus pulled into the hotel all the fans saw the pool ( a new thing to many of them ) and as they came off the bus Agnes asked them to line up in twos.
Once she had them under control she told them all to go straight into the swimming pool!
This was met with more than a little incredulation but one or two were actually getting ready to jump in when one huy asked why.
“Well” Agnes replied ” This is a catholic country and the local law states that you have to be baptised before you can be legally checked into a hotel !”
When this brought outrage she stood her ground.
” Hey — No Baptism, No Game — choice is yours!”
Eventually she relented and told them the truth.
Of course after the game the bears went mental and all the rioting started and the bold Brian was in a state of fear and alarm as he was afraid of getting a doing from his own clientèle who had found something to complain about with the hotel he had put them in.
So he called my dad at his hotel and asked him to come and get him and take him back to the hotel where he was staying — he did not want to meet any angry bears.
When my dad got to Brian’s hotel — he found him in his room — hiding under the bed!!!
Dave, I think both men have plenty of stories to tell, Charlie told me a couple of stories on Friday evening..
Afternoon everyone! My first post on here for quite some time. Myself and Leona had a wonderful night on Friday at CQteN. It was great to get back over & see a lot of you guys again. I just wish i’d spoken to more of you now. Not really sure what happened towards the end somebody gave me a jaegerbomb and well, the rest is history!! :-)
BRTH, that was a really lovely post about my cousin Nicola who sadly is also fighting that bloody nuisance (to put it mildly) neuroblastoma. Thanks for such kind words.
Nicola and her dad called in with us this afternoon. They are absolutely blown away by the generosity of every one of you guys who has donated to her JustGiving page. As I write this the total is sitting at just over £3,375 in just a number of hours and Nicola was almost in tears as she read through some of the comments here on my laptop. She’d been out all morning and had no idea it was all kicking off until I phoned and told her about it & suggested she call in for a chat.
Nicola has asked me to come on here & pass on her enormous thanks to you all, but also to explain that the next couple of weeks will be a very difficult time for her and her family as they wait on results to find out whether or not a suitable treatment can be identified for her in America. Until such a treatment has been identified however, they really don’t want to ask the public for money, nor deal with the media scrutiny of her situation which naturally follows. So with that in mind can I ask that we keep this within CQN, just for now? I know it has grown legs a bit and has spread to other Celtic sites too but if we can just keep it at that for now they would be very, very grateful.
Thanks so much everyone. Again you have showed what wonderful people you are!
I’ll keep you posted :-)
Knoxy
Mixk Jagger’s girlfriend found dead in New York.
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma
FANTASTIC. EVERBODY SHOULD HAVE AN AUNTIE AGNES.
DUBLIN IN THE RARE AULD DAYS.MY FAV.
“manhatton celtics” soccer just given a wee nod on NBC live feed
Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan supports Oscar Knox, MacKenzie Furniss and anyone else who fights Neuroblastoma
I believe you may be looing back in the glenswilly area.this site may help,have a look,if you have a townland name or which chapel they went to.
I hope you find the McGinley you are looking for
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/glenswilly.htm
HH
Medtim
I knew Gerry and his family in the Port years ago. If all else fails perhaps you could contact Paul for my e-mail address, I may be able to relay a message to the family for you through the Parish Priest in Gourock who I know well.
An Tearmann
17:20 on
17 March, 2014
Oh thanks for that — I will have a ball with that.
congrats to the dons and robson. as far as I can see the club is run well and deserves this success
Winning Captains
Much debated over the weekend. Should this be annual, bi-annual or only for special anniversaries?
Despite being mature in years, I am a relative newcomer to the CQN family. Living in the east, these occasions offer the opportunity to meet some old and make some new friends, talk Celtic and have a few sherbets along the way.
On a night like Friday, it was impossible to meet too many new CQNers as you spend so much time catching up with old friends not seen for a year or so. I can think of dozens of nom de blogs I would like to have tracked down. Perhaps there were rightly avoiding me !!
I would be happy to come through / stay over for say a quarterly perhaps less formal get together. With the range and frequency of our charity drives alone, it might also allow us ‘travelers’ the opportunity to get involved and share the load with those carrying the brunt of the work which understandably tends to be west-centric.
For a major event, there are many coordinating roles that are undertaken – Venue, Guests, Accommodation and Travel, Merchandising, Media production, Raffle and Prizes etc. Then we have the annual Golf Day. And there are other initiatives such as Resolution 12 plus the ongoing lobbying of Football Authorities etc.
Am I suggesting a Coordinating Committee? I don’t know, but it seems that a great deal rests on a few very capable and willing shoulders. I’m sure some of us perhaps with time on our hands would be willing foot soldiers without in any way impinging on the ongoing great work of the incumbents.
Other ideas which percolated were a (10) year book, a contact network (for those who want to be involved) rather than relying on Paul to forward email addresses, or even a contact event held in the East, what with CL qualifiers over here etc.
From recent dialogue, it would seem I missed the opportunity to socialise with the Ashton Lane Sophisticats while working at Glasgow Uni. Have I missed an enriching opportunity or had a lucky escape ?
HH on St Paddy’s Day
At leat every five years, gives mrs bt time to recover from meeting some of the maddies I know from here,
Just put a fiver on rovers to win at 12/1 and a fiver to draw at 6/1…hopefully Albion Rovers get a result, if so, I’ll photocopy a bundle and spread them about the hun enclave I work in.
The St Patrick day cards went down well.
Lastly, I just found out today that a fellow workmate died on Saturday, he was only thirty nine and leaves a wife and two young kids, he was a nice bloke and a good Celtic man.
If you could remember him in your prayers tonight along with my uncle Jimmy who passed away on Saturday aswel.HH
connaire12,
that’s great.
I will contact Paul67 and send a message to you.
I’m sure you’ll agree wee Gerry was one of the finest.Sad to hear of his passing but that is tempered with the knowledge he led a good life.
A true character
HH
medtim
Whatever happened to Ian Young? I always thought he was a better player than Jim Craig. I don’t intend to kick off any discussion. Just my opinion.
It’s not often that I think you are way off the mark Paul, but your comments on Aberdeen are just that. I am a Glaswegian living in Aberdeen, and to dream of 20,000 season tickets is complete and utter nonsense. Pittodrie only holds a few more than that and hasn’t been full this season. I have many Don fans as friends and they nearly all attended the cup final with wives, daughters and friends who have never and will never attend a match at Pittodrie.
Success for Aberdeen this season may result in some rise in season ticket numbers but the debt burden at Aberdeen will remain. As their chairman is personally guaranteeing to the bank a large part of the debt, he won’t budge and lose control to anyone else. No one else will pay off a chunk of the debt without gaining power, and the bank won’t release it’s hold over the chairman. Stalemate. Nothing can change at Aberdeen without a huge cheque being written and that shows no sign of happening.
A new stadium results in a huge mortgage, and the debt is cleared with the sale of Pittodrie. Net balance is a bigger different type of debt than just now. Same scenario. Aberdeen will not have a bigger football budget.
I hate to say that our league was more exciting when we had to win every game, and every dropped point really mattered. Sevco deserve everything that they got and more,but I’m afraid our average crowd will increase when they’re in the SPFL.
“a nation once again” by the pipes now….
Tom English @TomEnglishSport · 51s
After rattling his sabre for weeks, Dave King now sounding like a guy on the retreat.
The gift which just keeps giving
darwinsbeautifulidea
13:53 on 17 March, 2014
20,000 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS AT PITTODRIE .YOUR TAKIN THE PISS
THEY NEED TO RE ALLOCATE SEATS TO THEIR FANS SO THEY CAN FLOG MORE AWAY TICKETS
BAD DAY SUN WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE INSTEAD 2 TEAMS I HATE IN OUR PLACE
AND IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN IN MAY
LENNON OUT
======================
Lager Lager.
Lager Shoutin’
Shoutin’, Shoutin’, Lager, Lager Shoutin’.
Shoutin’.
Shoutin’.
Lager, Lager Shoutin’.
UnderworldCSC
FFin’ glib and shameless backtracking:
“The board has affirmed that it regards competition with Celtic and in Europe as being its continued aim and that this outlook will be reflected in the business review that will be published within the next month. Crucially, that will allow fans sufficient time to consider the review prior to investing in season tickets but it is also important that the board has now confirmed categorically that they will not use Ibrox or Murray Park as security for any form of fund raising.
No one should be in any doubt that this public statement and commitment is significant and should be appreciated as such. Statements from a public company board are intended to be relied upon so in a couple of weeks we can expect a business review that will reflect the board’s ambition and a funding plan to achieve this. We can also rely on the fact that if circumstances change the board would be bound to advise the public in advance of this.
The only significant issue that I discussed with the board that is not contained in the board statement is the Laxey loan facility. Mr Crighton, on behalf of the board, made a forcible argument as to why the board considered and approved the terms of the Laxey loan. The board considered that a combination of legal risk and the current financial position justified the loan terms. I replied that a consequence of the board’s view of the high risk to anyone advancing funds to the club is the board’s fiduciary responsibility to ring fence any season ticket money that is received (even if fans don’t request this) unless sufficient committed financing is in place at that time. The board did not agree with me on this logical consequence but I believe that my observation is correct.
The board has now communicated with the fans and has committed to do so in more detail within a month. Let us give the board time to comply with its commitment. I advised the board that I would wish to be a part of the required fund raising as a component of a united fan group investment vehicle. This will require further discussion after release of the review in the next month.”
——
“Another damp squib !!! King has the money, if he really wanted to do anything to help then why can`t he part with some cash ? Same Jim McColl / Brian Kennedy script with new lead actor !!!
Meanwhile we still don`t know who BP or Margarita are. We have directors suing RFC fans yet ignoring bigot bloggers !!!
Utter Shambles !!! No further forward.”
——
“King makes a big play on the fact that Ibrox & Auchenhowie will not be used as security going forward.
If nothing else this is massive in my eyes. It now forces the board to either raise capital through fresh investment or get out.
That is the most important part of that statement. He is toying with them, they have given legal statement on the issue publicly and would be infringing on business law if the backtracked on that commitment with prior making a public statement. He has backed them into a corner where they must find outside investment to go forward.”
——
“Reads like he’s calling them out to me, giving them even more rope to hang themselves with.”
——
“I read his statement a little differently; the “relied upon” part, to me, is a polite way of telling the board that if they don’t do exactly what they promise, he’ll call them out.”
And the Clyde 1 report states:
“On top of his concerns about season-ticket cash, the former director – who lost a £20million investment when the club was liquidated in 2012 – also expressed fears that the board would mortgage off Ibrox and Murray Park to secure fresh finance.”
Get them on the List………….again.
OK folks Oscar sitting slapping at the laptop here & wants to write a message. Here goes…..
p1 oscar vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv ff;flc,n/cn.
BRTH
Ah the bold Brian!
Ha! Ha! Small World!
Knew George and Agnes. When I next see you I will tell you a tale of how she took me to the Scotland v Brazil game (Germany 1974) on a freebie.
Phone conversation with my wife went that morning went something like this: “last minute thing – off to the game tonight.”
She: “didn’t know Celtic were playing.”
Me: “it’s a Scotland game and I might be late home.”
Got back home 10:00am next morning – the black-eyes/ bruises healed quicker than the ‘silence’ period which was occasionally broken by: “your dinner’s in the dug!”
Fortunately I turned down the offer to stay for the Yugoslavia game – otherwise I wouldn’t be here to tell the tale. :-)
Oscars first post 8n cqn, more sense than most of mine
Hey Oscar,
You make more sense than your da :-)
sons of the hooof release a statement of critical thinking in regards to their precarious position(aye right).
Just for clarity @easdalehair account on twitter has nothing to do with SoS or me personally. I don’t know who created it. Some are claiming it’s me or an associate. Not true.
ok made me laugh and i use a lighter to do ma hair,
;-)))
Afternoon all and a Happy St Paddies day to you all. First post since Friday’s celebration. Thanks to Paul 67 winning captains celtfish and BRTH for organising a great night. To the bhoys at table 11 thank you for the great company. To the bhoys and ghirls I know it was a pleasure as always. To the new faces to names I met it was like meeting old friends. What a remarkable group of people you all are. I for one would like to see this on an annual basis, especially as the charities can only benefit from such a night. As several people have said there is enough of us that would be willing to help in anyway possible to lighten the load on the guys that already gave so much to make Friday so successful. Thank you one and all.
HH
KTF
Medtim
Gerry’s brother Hugh still attends the games .i see him regular outside the stadium,
Joe O’Rourke of the supporters association ,Donnachies bar or the port hibs should be able to help you make contact .
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day to the people of Nigeria who share the patronage of this saint with the Irish.
Just a wee reminder to those who start from the end of the blog and work their way back. BRTH’s worthy recipient of your help and prayers:
https://www.justgiving.com/NCCAUKNicolasJourney
knoxy2000………
Brilliant Oscar !
Knoxy2000 – Was that not what you where saying at end of CQteN ?
sorry if Oscar broke the blog LOL!
Ian Young was Jinky’s travelling companion on THAT flight back from the USA which hit an air pocket and plunged several thousand feet before the pilot regained control.
Jinky rarely flew again after that.
HH!!
Welcome Oscar. Are you a oops better not;-)
Helen, i’ve no idea. Probably!!! ;-)
winning captains
16:46 on 17 March, 2014
maestro-number8 – we auctioned all the strips we had. The framed ones anyway. We also gave some away as raffle prizes. We have other raffle prizes that Paul is going to give away on the blog this week. We simply didn’t have the time on Friday.
Winning captains – Cheers for getting back to me on that.
If that Centenary top was a raffle prize rather than an auction prize and whoever won it doesn’t really want it ( I wish ) then I’ll happily make another donation to Mary Meals and take it off their hands :-))
HHS