This, my friends in Celtic, is what you call a journey

889

The heat was suffocating, it was 35° and city was heaving.  On the long walk out of town some enterprising locals were selling water or cola to the increasingly dehydrated caravan of people.  I passed a few, not willing to succumb to extortionate opportunism, but soon gave in.

I walked into an orange tree earlier that day.  Caught between taking directions from a policeman and setting off in a new direction I’d overlooked the towering obstacle a yard in front of me.  There’d been a spring in my step, I must have bounced into the bark.  Trees are hard.  I fell.

The return journey was made in the cool of the night.  For the first few miles we were a uniformed flow of humanity but eventually the crowd thinned.  We walked through residential streets with locals at their doors and windows.  They applauded as we passed.  Few of us are ever part of something substantial enough that uninvolved observers openly applaud you.  Such memories endure.

I’d an early rise and a long drive with a full car ahead the next day.  The bedroom was packed, floor space was given over to spare bedding, the hotels must have shipped mattresses in from a hundred kilometres radius, so with the others in the bar, I took myself off for a shower.

I met a German couple in the elevator.  “Are you disappointed?” the woman asked.  “No, we played well and were beaten by a good team.”  It was the perfect answer.  These people must have been horrified when they noticed the throng which would dominate their trip, but they’d become part of the story, part of the throng.  The answer was honestly given, although disappointment would come later.  I went on, “We lost a minor cup final nine years ago, that was real disappointment”.

I surprised myself by what my memory spontaneously threw up when asked about disappointment.  Looking back now, that minor cup final is no more than a touchstone, and indicator of where we were before the Generation of Domination got underway.  It’s lost its power to inflict negative emotion.  If I met the German couple once more I could again tell them I wasn’t disappointed with that day in the blistering heat.  It’s one of my proudest memories, and we soon learned we were beaten, narrowly, by a great team.

This, my friends in Celtic, is what you call a journey.

I spoke to fan liaison manager John Paul Taylor yesterday and mentioned I’d not renewed my season ticket yet.  I promised him I would today and that I’d pass the message on.  Deadline is tomorrow, after that people can ask for a move into your seat.  Consider yourself reminded!  We walk the next mile of the journey soon, with hope in our hearts, as always.

Many thanks to those who donated to Mary’s Meals yesterday, and to Magners.  The money raised in one day alone will feed over 30 of the world’s poorest school children for a year.

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889 Comments

  1. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Morrissey23, that money you save will let you get your hair dyed and pretty yourself up a bit.

  2. Burgas Hoops on

    A Ceiler Gonof Rust

     

     

    Try the monkey brains mate, i bottled out of eating them when i was there -))

  3. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Goodnighr Celtic Men and Wummin, it’s love chariot time for me. An early rise to head to Edinburgh to visit the Indian consular office for a bloody visa interview.

     

     

    Gone are the days of port out, starboard home…………………..now they don’t want to let the likes of me in without seeing me first. Canny blame them, I wouldn’t want to let me in either.

     

     

    HH Celtic, the champs and masters of seagulls and huns, and fash.

  4. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Matthewl1888, A cracking seat bruv.

     

     

    HH

     

     

     

    Chariot ahoy…………………………………………………………..

  5. Burgas Hoops on

    A Ceiler Gonof Rust

     

    00:07 on

     

    22 May, 2015

     

    Burgas Hoops, can I get that in a govan greasy spoon?

     

     

     

    Yiv maybe had and just dont know -)

  6. clogher celt on

    A brief tour of Glasnevin Cemetary,

     

     

    http://youtu.be/5L7O7oU47n4

     

     

    I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea…but for the lads thinking of coming over.

     

     

    I was there on Sunday, they have done a huge job since this was shot for 2016.

  7. A Ceiler Gonof Rust

     

    00:05 on

     

    22 May, 2015

     

     

     

    oniesies r us

     

     

    sleep tight

  8. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Burgas Hoops, as they say in noocassel, hoons divnnay hiv breeains:_)

     

     

    HH bruv and goodnight.

  9. EmeraldBee\o/ still proud to be an internet bampot

     

    00:13 on

     

    22 May, 2015

     

     

     

    a few times on first watch i thought, woo too much.

     

     

    then i thought, its me, often, i wish

  10. Morrissey the 23rd on

    Matthewl1888 @ 00:00

     

     

    My seat is in 110. I don’t usually sit there though except for CL games. I do usually sit around there though. Sometimes I sit in F6 in the Main stand.

     

     

    I’m not giving up supporting Celtic but I can’t help feeling we get treated like mugs. I want our club to be fighting for a fair and equal sport. I’m not convinced they are. I also feel I am being cheated again by being forced out. That is how it feels. I want to go see Celtic but there are a lot of things I am not exactly happy about. I’m not sure if I should go into detail. I’m one person. I’m sure I wont be missed.

     

     

    A Ceiler Gonof Rust @ 00:02

     

     

    I don’t work and I spend a significant amount of the money I can get my hands on going to see Celtic. I wonder if that time and money would be better spent on The lovely Saba.

     

     

    I’d still go to games. Just a lot less. I am aware it is just entertainment and not what I’ve always believe it to be. I really wish we did stand alone. I could easily get behind that without feeling… cheated.

  11. “they have done a lot since this was shot for 2016”

     

     

    ‘shot’ – unconscious comedian.

     

     

    HH Clogher

  12. clogher celt

     

    00:10 on

     

    22 May, 2015

     

    A brief tour of Glasnevin Cemetary,

     

     

    http://youtu.be/5L7O7oU47n4

     

     

    I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea…but for the lads thinking of coming over.

     

     

    I was there on Sunday, they have done a huge job since this was shot for 2016.

     

     

    0——-

     

     

    hugely interesting watch ta

  13. clogher celt on

    Sorry I didn’t mean that.

     

     

    Mrs C is giving out about Ireland out of Eurovision in one ear. Sorry

  14. Full house sunday…hope so….should be a good turn out…..lots of new faces will sit along side you….will feel like being at hamdump……cameras will be at the ready….the pics will prove “I was there”…….

  15. FROM MACAROON BARS TO HOSPITALITY – ALWAYS CELTIC

     

     

    Even a title celebration will not produce a full house – I am always there because I can’t help it – my brain and feet will ALWAYS walk me to Paradise – it’s in my blood.

     

     

    I don’t need arguments about anything to do with Ibrox, or to join in the witchhunts against our CEO and the board, to justify staying away from Celtic Park – from the 106 trolley bus journey, many more years ago than I care to remember, with a bag of chips on the walk home, through many modes of transport, to my new fancy Audi – with family and grandchildren – the prospect of seeing those beloved jerseys, no matter who fills them, running out of the tunnel, stills excites and fills me with pride.

  16. clogher celt on

    Hi Tony Donnelly,

     

     

    You posted to me the other day why I was trying to talk my son out of buying a SB…here are a few reasons.

     

     

    1) He has exams to do in Ireland. How many games are on a Saturday at 3pm?

     

     

    2) He does not have a criminal record and wants to go to New York. The Police in Celtic Park are oppressive. I have seen it. I don’t want him going alone to matches.

     

     

    3) The position of the Celtic Board is at best unclear.

     

     

    4) He is a good GAA player and I want him to continue playing GAA.

     

     

    That is just off the top of my head.

     

     

    I really wish it was different.

  17. Margaret McGill on

    Are Celtic really protecting Huns for a buck?

     

    Is the pope really protecting paedophiles ?

     

    Are governments corporate fronts?

     

    Is Saudia Arabia funding ISIL?

     

    Do we really give a rats arse ?

  18. clogher celt on

    Art of War,

     

     

    I think that comment at 00.26 wasn’t the best.

     

     

    Don’t want to make any issue.

     

     

    All the best,

     

     

    Clogher

  19. clogher celt

     

     

    01:23 on 22 May, 2015

     

     

    Hi Tony Donnelly,

     

     

    You posted to me the other day why I was trying to talk my son out of buying a SB…here are a few reasons.

     

     

    1) He has exams to do in Ireland. How many games are on a Saturday at 3pm?

     

     

    2) He does not have a criminal record and wants to go to New York. The Police in Celtic Park are oppressive. I have seen it. I don’t want him going alone to matches.

     

     

    3) The position of the Celtic Board is at best unclear.

     

     

    4) He is a good GAA player and I want him to continue playing GAA.

     

     

    That is just off the top of my head.

     

     

    I really wish it was different.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

    This is terribly sad. You are definitely right cc to do what you are doing, you are a Parent.

     

     

    I’m sure your Son will be fine whatever he does, even if he is wronged because of what is going on. He will be aware of the pitfalls – wtf, just going to a Football game. How has it got this far?

     

     

    The last thing Scotland can be called is progressive.

     

     

    Chaos and disorder, the World has never been in such a state, and we have real total roasters like House arming the Polis, with a back story that suggests he is being worked up the back.

     

     

    There are Dark Forces at work in Britain, the Queen even told Burrell.

     

     

    There is only Wireless Accessible Networked entity doing this and to think that we will be immune to the madness engulfing the planet, is frankly mr shankly, Bonkers.

     

     

    I won’t be encouraging my Laddie to go to the games as he is going to want to be where the Passion is, it is only natural.

     

     

    Stand up for the Support, FFS, Celtic Board.

  20. clogher celt on

    Petec,

     

     

    My fear is he would be lifted for singing songs that his grandfather taught him.

     

     

    They are songs about The Rising etc.

     

     

    Maybe they are upsetting to some but they don’t deserve a criminal record.

     

     

    Having said all that he will probably go anyway.

     

     

    Anyway Tony Donnelly, I hope you understand now.

  21. James Forrest

     

    03:56 on

     

    22 May, 2015

     

    Now that King has his feet under the Ibrox boardroom table, get ready for a PR and media bombardment that will make the Murray years seem tame.

     

     

    http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/dying-in-the-ditch/

     

    ——————————————————————————————————————

     

     

    Such a powerful and informative article, that should make all non-Ibrox followers think, not just us.

     

     

    The Dark Charisma of the media and the majority, has always ‘hammered home’ matters which enhance the Ibrox establishment, and impact negatively on our minority, in this little bigoted country of ours.

     

     

    We have never been, in their eyes, allowed to rise above our station, In this Scotland, seemingly getting deeper entrenched in Nationalism, the forces of the majority will each, in turn, manoeuvre their own particular sect, club, church and organisation, into, either political parties, or, powerful lobby groups with sectarian undertones.

     

     

    These groups would be scrutinised and ridiculed by the wide and varied UK media – but they will, like Dave King, be assimilated into Scottish society, become the norm, and be exempt, just like King, from any meaningful criticism by a compliant Scottish media.

     

     

    The OB bill, with its firm intentions to ‘rope us in’ to the sectarian cesspit and even-up the score, should be a warning from recent history of what is to come – no UK government would have got away with such a bill, so targeted and focussed on a minority.

  22. clogher celt

     

     

    04:24 on 22 May, 2015

     

     

    Petec,

     

     

    My fear is he would be lifted for singing songs that his grandfather taught him.

     

     

    They are songs about The Rising etc.

     

     

    Maybe they are upsetting to some but they don’t deserve a criminal record.

     

     

    Having said all that he will probably go anyway.

     

     

    Anyway Tony Donnelly, I hope you understand now.

     

    ______________________________________________

     

     

    I knew exactly what you were saying, I was actually jibber jabbering the same way, I’m really annoyed with Celtic but all the Young uns, want to get out there and let off steam, especially now the World is controlled so much. Or is it not so important anymore?

     

     

    The youngsters want to Rumble with the Hun Monster, unfortunately.

     

     

    The Rangers urnae the problemo, many have highlighted that the Masters of the Scottish Football Universe are the problem, the links to Uefa and Fifa are not hard to find.

     

     

    It is those Sneaky New Age B.st@rds that really get me pissed off, the lengths they go to are incredible.

  23. clogher celt

     

     

    04:24 on 22 May, 2015

     

     

    Petec,

     

     

    My fear is he would be lifted for singing songs that his grandfather taught him.

     

     

    They are songs about The Rising etc.

     

     

    Maybe they are upsetting to some but they don’t deserve a criminal record.

     

     

    Having said all that he will probably go anyway.

     

     

    Anyway Tony Donnelly, I hope you understand now.

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

    And My Son will as well.

     

     

    The seed had been sown.

     

     

    The Green Brigade was better than the fitba on the pitch when he was very small, we know what that equates to.

  24. clogher celt,

     

     

    I’m hoping to introduce the New Testament to my Son sometime in the Future, When all is well.

     

     

     

    He is right into all that Guitar Music, hopefully I haven’t left it too late to indoctrinate him with the Word of God.