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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West End.
A bit more work to do to prepare the ground but making SFA accountability a story impossible to be ignored is being done.
Every time evidence is ignored rather than refuted, the case for transparency grows because if there is nothing to hide, why not be transparent?
Paul67
12:41 on
21 May, 2015
WeefratheTim, ho, ho!
Neustadt-Braw, how many reminders did JP give yesterday?
……………………..
as long as John Paul keeps chasing up the Hoopy for hire deal….my mucker will nae be there to renew…. hail hail
braw
West End
To add – I’m not around until start of June to help but it’s in capable hands.
Afternoon Bawsman.
Excellent news about the Raith friendly. Hopefully we will sell out our allocation.
Great news skippy free to play
Is that McDonald’s ban lifted then ?
matthewl1888
Yes he’s free to play
http://videocelts.com/2015/05/blogs/latest-news/dave-kings-incredible-champions-league-short-cut
My Incredible Seville Journey by Sandman, aged Old Enough To Know Better and 3/4.
——————————————————————————————————–
Prestwick Cross.
That’s as far as I made it. After a last-minute repreive from the missus and cash freed up for the merry jaunt I hightailed it to the Cross rendezvous point my mate and his brothers had arranged for their minibus. Had left my participation open until the last, not confirmed for definite, thought I’d surprise them with a carry-oot.
I underestimated the bus I was on, realised it was turning off well before the Cross, jumped off. Couldn’t raise anyone on my phone, no time to wait for a taxi, decided to run the last mile or so with a case of beer, fell a couple of times, missed the meet by about 10 or 15 minutes, sat there for an hour miserable, in forlorn hope.
By all accounts they had a swell time.
I did not submit this epic tale for the Seville book, needless to say.
I watche dthe game in Flanagan’s pub in Prestwick 2 days later. Notable point of the night – right in fornt of the big screen in the rear area of the pub a row of about 10 young Huns jumped up and cheered at the final whistle, then scooted out the fire exit.
They had sat there all night. Over 3 hours I reckoned, prime spot in front of the screen, just to squawk and run when we lost. That’s how much they hate and envy us.
C’mon young Skippy – roast them.
I tried to renew our season tickets online. I entered my account no and it displayed the 3 names and the seat details and tick boxes to renew all 3 or any combination.
I duly ticked the 3 boxes and selected “Add to Basket”. It then presented me with a stadium map and invited me to select seats. The section where our seats are was blocked as “No availability”. Thinking I might have done something stupid, I started from scratch. Same result.
I phoned the ticket office. The guy took my order and I successfully renewed our 3 seats. I asked about my online issue and was told it was a known problem and was being looked at. Very shabby. Not impressed at all.
mrhenrik67
That’s good then
The thing is, if you take one supporter from every club in Scotland apart from thems, or even with thems, and sit them down show the laws and rules of how you can only be a FAPP to be on a board of directors here in our game, and ask them to make a ruling on Dave King, there is not a chance in hell he would be accepted, so it just goes to show that we are all not singing from the same home sheet, so where do we go from here? The thing is they are in Hampden, we are not, so it’s a case of fan togetherness to shift them out, and they know that is never going to happen, so they will do as they are pleased, and listen to no one, it’s the only way it can work all the fans have to get together, in here, we have it easy, we just blame Peter Lawwell, For Everything.
geordie munro
13:08 on 21 May, 2015
Tinytim,
Whodathunk back in ’94 we’d be in a European final within 10 years?
—–
Who thought in 94 we would beat a team in Europe that we had heard of?
Auldheid – Cheers for the reply and keep fighting the good fight….
Read on here few times people saying how disgusted they are with their country sometimes (scotland)
Use are not alone.. this week the supposed revolutionary irish republican leader goes an meets the chief of the paras.. im pretty sure he never asked him for the names of the soldiers on duty during bloody sunday or that awful day in ballymurphy that saw a mother and a priest amongst the dead.
Then the people of sligo come out and cheer and greet him like he is some sort of celebrity. Totally sickened.
If anyone needs any info on what his regiment did in ireland look up bloody sunday in derry and ballymurphy in belfast.
Plus many other deeds.
Today is the anniversary of patsy o’hara and ray mccreesh. God bless them
Anyway sorry for the non football post.
Bedtime down under
“clk-clk-clk-clk-Dallas-clllk-clllk-lclk!”
“What’s that Skip?”
“clk-clk- Drongo-cl-clk”
“You saying that Drongo Dallas didn’t see the incident and instead had a sneaky peak at the cameras?”
“clk-clk-bawbag-clkc!!!”
“So that’s how it took so long for the MIB to red card you?”
“clk-clk-fsfa-clk-Sevco-clk!!”
“Yeh mate they’ll do anything to help the koala-bears!”
“clk-clk-Paul67-clk-CQN-clk!”
“Sorry mate, i’m not translating that on here..i’ll get yellow carded…” :-)
A wee request for our Hamilton based bhoys.
My sis-in-law got caught up the other day (Tuesday) in a funeral cortege in Hamilton involving hundreds walking with the coffin which was draped in the tricolour. She asked if I knew who the deceased was, but I didn’t. Any info ghuys?
I’m Dave King and I’m going to rip yoos a new wan! @ 12.20
Try phoning the NHS 24 hour help line – they may be able to help you
whod ve thought we would have been in a European final in my lifetime?
Martin O neill
henrik Larson
Stan Petrov
Jackie Mac
Chris sutton
John Hartson
Johan Majllby
Didier Agathe
Bobo Balde
alan Thompson
Neil Lennon
Rab Douglas
Joos Valgaren
Shaun Maloney
Paul Lambert
Now thats what I call CELTIC!
Ha ha ha HA AHA HA HA hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
My letter to SFA on behalf of me
Haaaa ahaa has ha ha ha
Dear subservient authority we ur RA pooophole friends.
It is with many many many years of dignity you will let me in, innit!
As without me rarainjurs could die.
My cv includes a successful previous directorship and 44 letters of appreciation from SARS.
I donated 44 million of my 30 trilliant as a charitable gift to The South Africana peoples organisation.
If you let me in we will shake hands funnily on our agreements of which we already have 5.
I behold you in the the most we ur RA peepholes regard.
I hate Celtic too.
Signed
Your fellow living cup drinker and podgerer
Hahahaha hah HAA HA HA HA ha
67 heaven @ 12:38…
Thank you, I think!
Regards & Hail Hail
TBM
I’ve read a few articles this morning, Alan Stubbs being defiant about his teams chances…
Well, Alan i like you as an ex-celt, but ur team have managed the outstanding feat of making a dire team look reasonable.
I’m not a betting man, but if i was i would bet Hibs don’t even register a goal on saturday.
I saw their last game against sevco at Easter Road, and they carry absolutely no cutting edge. I also saw their highlights in cup semi versus Falkirk… Again, no penetration or cutting-edge.
All sevco’s christmas’s came together last night. shower a sh*te that they are
Do you think he will do a Christmas one?
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/video-dave-king-says-funding-5734774
Ha ha ha ha ha HAA AHAA HA HA HA
Watch me espouse my factual analytical observant talents here
http://m.stv.tv/sport/football/clubs/rangers/1321205-watch-dave-kings-live-news-conference-as-he-outlines-rangers-future/
HA HA AAHHHAA HA HA HA HA HAAA
I happened to be reading the Celtic season guide 2002/2003 .
Mr McLeods opening notes –
“four trophies under martin (a treble & retaining the championship), is the same as we wont in the previous 11 years, makes the accomplishments even more significant”.
————————
in spite of all the hun cheating here we are 12 years later, they died, we prosper in trophy counts, we live in great times.
South Of Tunis if your looking in that zenmate worked fine, many thanks.
I noticed the ole bike in the back ground, I’m wondering if JJ was down well wishing Mr King :))
Tamrabam,
Braw squad when you see it like that.
3, possibly 4 out that side…into the current side….and I’d be amazed if we didn’t make it out the cl group every year.
HH
A really depressing post from proudbhoy. Thankfully the people of Ireland have chosen a different path.
Geordie Munro
____________
How many of the current squad would get into the Tamrabam squad?
Captain Beefheart
_______________
That’s right, just turn the other cheek.
Right zoo time HH.
tonydonnelly67
____________
Mind dont be feeding the Dangerooooooos:)
HH
Tony D 67
” if JJ was down well wishing Mr King :)) ”
More likely wishing `well downing Mr King if his team get that far!
JJ
tonydonnelly67
14:29 on 21 May, 2015
Right zoo time HH.
——————————————————————-
Am I the only one thinking, is he going to the pub or is he really going to the zoo…?
Bawsman
13:07 on 21 May, 2015
From Twitter…
RRFC Official @RaithRovers_FC · 53m 53 minutes ago
The formal naming ceremony for the Turnbull Hutton Stand will take place on Wed 22 July when we face Celtic XI in a friendly, KO 7.45pm
_____
Thanks for posting that. Although I am frequently (and I say deservedly) critical of our Board, I do appreciate and try to recognize when they also do something commendable. Showing our support for TH and his stance is commendable.
******
Auldheid
13:26 on 21 May, 2015
West End.
A bit more work to do to prepare the ground but making SFA accountability a story impossible to be ignored is being done.
Every time evidence is ignored rather than refuted, the case for transparency grows because if there is nothing to hide, why not be transparent?”
_____
As you know, I have the utmost respect for you and the work you guys are doing. My concern is that not only does the SFA need to be held accountable, but so do any that have colluded with, or even acquiesced to, them.
Even this week, against all logic and common sense, DK was approved. I may be mistaken, but I have yet to see any reasons as to how that decision was arrived at, or any consideration of the evidence. The only Decision I saw basically stated that evidence had been considered and he had been passed, but there was no discussion of what evidence or what test was applied This is totally unacceptable, and I would suspect likely insufficient at law (although I am not qualified in Scotland, administrative law is similar throughout most of the common law countries).
There are in my mind also unanswered questions about who made that decision, and was anyone involved with Celtic involved in that decision. If so, do they not have a duty to Celtic PLC, and its shareholders, to ensure transparency with respect to its own involvement in these matters? If transparency is demanded of the SFA, why should it not also be demanded of Celtic?
Perhaps this will all be part of the eventual disclosure, but (i) it is not appearing that way, and (ii) even if so, the delay is concerning, as justice delayed may be justice denied.
I know our host is fond of quoting “never interrupt your enemy ….”. The source (Napoleno, I believe) is perhaps is a clue that we might not be going in the right direction.
Given that Sevco (which by all laws and decency should no longer exist) will likely be playing in the SPL next season, who really is making the mistakes here.
On CQN PL is lauded as a business genius … however, and even our host recognizes, Celtic is increasingly irrelevant unless we can escape our environments. On that note, the results are zero.
Across the city, a series of charlatans (whom we all laugh at) have bought players and titles, skipped out on millions in debt, bankrupted their company, and yet still manage to be back in the SPL next season, like nothing ever happened. And they still seem to be able to call the shots in the SFA.
On that score, who is doing a better job? CQN focuses on the balance sheet because, at the moment, it suits us, but ignores the larger institutional questions where PL seems to be getting his head handed to him at every turn (if he is even fighting these issues, that is). But again, we Celtic supporters dont even know, because all we are told is (i) PL is a financial genius, and (ii) lets all laugh at the Zombies. It is simply not good enough.
Surely there are other aphorisms/philosophies that are perhaps more apposite:
“When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you”.(African Proverb)
“A doubtful friend is worse than a certain enemy. Let a man be one thing or the other, and we then know how to meet him.” (Aesop)
I do not believe that we ever will, or can, achieve transparency at the SFA unless and until there is transparency at Celtic. Perhaps, the two will be disclosed together, but if not, I fear that we may be going up a dead end.
The runaway train came down the track and
she blue, she blue…
Recently the Attila Media reported that 25,000 people signed a petition to have a Disco club re-opened in Glasgow. It left me thinking that it could not be possible that all those who signed were frequenters of this establishment.
Further thought on petitions led me to question why only 6,000 plus had signed the petition to remove the unjust Offensive Behaviour at Football Matches Act from the statute books. Time after time Hamiltontim has called for all of us to rally to the cause. Have we all responded? If you attend matches you should really give thought to signing the petition. Remember you could be wakened by a knock at your door at 4 a.m. because it was deemed by a police officer that you offended against the Act. Remember deemed is the important factor in all of this. The Officer may not have heard or seen anything, he/she only deemed that you had committed the action. Think I am wrong, just ask HT for a few details on this matter to get at the truth.