Someone made the point to me over the weekend, 30 goals, and counting, from midfield, rivals 53 from Henrik Larsson as a central striker. It is an unnecessary burden to compare Kris Commons to Celtic’s greatest player in four decades, even Henrik couldn’t compare to the memory of Henrik, but the history books will show for decades to come, Kris Commons is a rare gem, a Celtic player for the ages.
He’s the definition of a Moneyball player, he’s a great multiple Player of the Year and he’s ours.
Enjoy watching him.
Issue 20 of CQN Magazine, CQLisboN is out and enjoying great reviews. You can check it out here, for free, now….
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We Stand on the Shoulders of Greats
We all have people who are our heroes, our role models.
They are usually great players, or men who have made contributions to our history.
We also have fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles or friends who originally introduced us to Celtic, took us to games, lifting us over, and instilling in us the love of the club.
Usually we look to great players of the past, or great managers to create our Celtic legends.
But there are extraordinary Celtic men in every walk of life.
I was with one yesterday, helping him celebrate his 91st birthday.
GEORGE DOCK
He was born in Ferguslie, not Paisley he says, the youngest of a family of five with three older brothers and a sister. He attended St Mary’s school and he often speaks in great admiration of the encouragement he received from his headmaster who imbued in him his love for football and particularly Celtic.
Only those who lived through that era and have experienced the difficulties of growing up in the 20s and 30s can appreciate the hardships brought about by the great depression. To help his family, George delivered milk and newspapers for the co-op when he was still 9, sold programmes at Love Street and took odd jobs for literally a few pennies. When we were talking about it, the realisation that his parents had allowed him to leave home at 6am in the dark, left him incredulous. He loved his football and at times he is still able to recite the players from all the teams in the 30s. He probably met many of them while around Love Street.
On December 8, 1941 the day after Pearl Harbour and aged 18, he volunteered for the navy despite the fact that with three brothers in the services he could have been exempt. He trained as a gunner on naval ships and fortunately saw no action during the war, coming home with all his brothers, to resume his trade as a stonemason.
In 1953 he emigrated to the USA, where he eventually met the second love of his life Margaret Gaffney who originally came from Hamilton, where I’m sure some of her family still live.
Being a dedicated expat Celtic fan in those days was not easy. No internet. No satellite TV and getting a phone call from home was a major achievement, and cost. Copies of the Sunday newspapers with reports and results were prized and connections at JFK, formerly Idlewild Airport, were nurtured and cherished. The papers were shared among a small cadre of devotees when they met in local bars around Kearny. Later they would gather round a short wave radio listening to the crackling reception on the World Service to hear the football results after the games finished on a Saturday.
In 1963 they formed the Kearny Celtic Supporters Club with a founding membership of 19 dedicated fans, only two of whom still survive today. We had difficulty remembering the name of the other survivors name but we believe it is Andy Purden who returned to his native Dundee a few years ago.
The Kearny CSC used to organise plane flights to watch games at CP in the late 60s, putting away some savings every month to finance the flights. With Celtic frequent visitors to the USA in those days, George struck up friendships with the likes of Jimmy McGrory, Jock Stein and Sean Fallon and Davie Hay in particular. He talks casually about playing golf with Sean as if it were a common occurence.
Last year the Kearny club celebrated its 50th anniversary and although he was unable to attend George was honoured with a plaque for his services to the club.
He didn’t attend because earlier in the year, George suffered a stroke and his recovery has been long and difficult. His spirit is still undaunted and his love of Celtic remains. Unlike myself he has a good voice and sometimes bursts into spontaneous song. While returning from a rehab session last year, I found myself joining in with George’s singing of the Celtic song while pushing his wheelchair down the corridor. The performance drew a few odd looks from nurses and patients. Well I can’t sing a note.
If you have plodded through this far, my point is that many of our older fans have contributed in many ways to the folklore and history of Celtic and provide inspiration and examples for us. Please honour the achievements of a passing generation and pray for them.
Not for great miracles but for little things, like that they will see their next birthday and continue to provide us with stories of their youths and how they have overcome personal adversity and troubles.
Next year we can then pray that they see their next birthday.
God bless you George and all the other greats on whose shoulders we stand.
Ado_dasler
Yeah Hopp …SAP founder. Well one of them. Blew 250m€ and caught out the DFB. A paper rouse managed to satisfy the DFB. He owned 49% and the club owned 51%.
HH
gg
Great thoughts for a dear friend..
Hope u r well too..
Doc, good spread and photos from cq10 in the mag. Trying to read it on my phone though as my hub is goosed. Its hard work.
I liked the photo with neganon’s article. Big Fraser is saying to JL, KC and AM, “see if yoo’s wurnay such skinflints, we coulda goat a boatil o acgr,s Craigellachie Telford’s Bridge instead o that pish so am gonnay batter yeez awe when I neck this rum n coke”
thomthethim for Oscar OK
there is always doubters in the ranks
the celtic way – combo of typo and lack of proof reading on a blog hehehe!!!
Joe fell victim to a training field strategy there. Liverpool 1-0
That’s defo no Hazel Irvine on bt sports..
That was a sneaky wee move there for the Liverpool goal.
As Allen tries to get away from Ledley, Lucas grabs Ledley round the waste and then Suarez blocks him as well.
Hard for the ref to see but a foul by Lucas on Ledley.
GG
Well done. Admirable stuff!
Just getting ready to get the sleeper to London, working down there for a few days.
ACGR, cheers.
The. Honest Mistake, I’ll see you on Wednesday for a few beers and to watch the Celtic:-)
GG
What an outstanding post and God Bless George. May he be with you for many years to come.
I’ve an uncle approaching 90 this year, same name as myself tho’ I’m named after my grandfather who I’m taking to see The Celtic Way next week. A big Celtic man who has stories aplenty to tell. Not sure who is looking forward to the day most..
GG
Well-played sir, well done…..great story and thanks for sharing.
I’ve been to Kearny a few times and visited both the Scots and Irish clubs there.
All the best to you, your pal and all the Bhoys out there.
HH.
GG
Wonderful post sir
:)
Spot the difference :-)
https://twitter.com/pfinlay32/status/463393749536894978/photo/1
HH
CRC
Liz Bon Lyons
estadio nacional
portugal
just pledged 1967
HH
GG
Great tribute to GD, my initials too! :)
Cant get the hun pledge site to work on my phone. Would one of you gentlemen be so kind as to sub me a grand and pledge it on my behalf under my new name, Noleen O’Credit.
I’ll square you up on saturday.
Fanx
‘GG
Great stuff,great fella.
Crc
Send u a fb message. My Cousin running 5 a side tournament in june.
For charity of course
Gg
A wonderful post.
My old man would be well in his 90s now. One of the things I have missed most in the last ten years has been hearing his stories of watching celtic from the 20s onwards.
We have a lot to thank the older supporters for.
Gg
The devotion if our forefathers is always wonderful to hear. In the few occasions when I did not know a Celtic result for a few hours, it was a real torture. I doubt that I could have suffered it regularly.
How guys like George Dock could go through that every week and still be so devoted to Celtic from afar shows his affection.
Without wishing to open up again the debate about renewing or not renewing season tickets for one reason or another, your post reminds us of people who devoted their time and effort to Celtic in much more difficult circumstances.
May George enjoy many more Celtic experiences.
Have palace stole all our songs?
More comedy gold from Rankers Media,
I know what you mean I am sick of the whole thing also, but for me I see it as evolution, its not instant and pain free but endurable as the shining light in all of this, will be the day we lift the top league trophey once again and we shall have truelly survived a death defying experiance. Hing in there buddy for we are the people and history shall prove this once and for all.
Oh dear, the spelling and the sheer folly of them is a joy to behold.
The Unthank Road
The last time i was in the Hattonrig , i got “wee Jinky ” to sing my new white shirt , i was so chuffed in the wee mhans company for about an hour , sadly my mother washed it out because of the money i paid for it , doh!!
Sign not sing jeez !!
Palace fans sound familiar
Setting Free The Bears
If you are about.
Few months back we discussed transfer of Henrik Ojamaa to Legia Warsaw. On the question if he would do well at Legia, opinions were; maybe, yes, maybe, no. I can say the guy is not going to stay long here ( I hope so). I hear he is very intelligent man, but can’t find that many supid players playing for my team since I support the club. He is not for team geams. When with the ball, his ego runs five metres above him and ten metres before him.
We need another import from Scotland. Maybe Kris Commons?
joe_joe_john_bobby_teddy
Have palace stole all our songs?
——–
Think it’s a mix of the Palace and scouser fans.
Don;t think I’ve seen a Palace home game this season where they haven’t made plenty of noise. Cracking atmosphere.
Dalaney’s Dunkey
Has Juan King pledged yet ?
Z
In your dreams my friend,
Kc is going nowhere!
GG great post sir. Is Weefra around?
ACGR
Nolleen O’Credit fae Destitute Park, Doomtown just pledged four gingies. Twenty pence more than Craigy bhoy paid for the lot!
Sally Fatt just pledged £700
Z
Kenny miller is a free agent…
Che
We take Commons and will give you our referees !?
DD, thank you sir:-)
GtoC
You naughty!! :)))
GG good post,thanks for that HH
Marspapa, the ol tiffanys was good for gigs at that time.seen simple minds ans u2 there in 1980, hh