Celticrollercoaster sent me this incredible story of how he added Kenny Dalglish and Roy Aitken’s signatures to the Celtic tops being auctioned for the Walk with Shay campaign. King Kenny, showing his legendary affinity with the fans…………..
This is part three of the story. You can find part one here, and part two here.
Club Captain No 8. Kenny Dalglish-September 2015
I had been chasing Kenny for a while with no success. I had tried to tweet him with no response and then tried his daughter, Kelly Cates who did respond but effectively palmed me off saying that I should contact the club. Which club I thought? Kenny even turned up at my kids’ school one day as part of the McDonalds football programme, but I found out afterwards, which was obviously too late.
So, I decided to speak with Tommy Boyd and asked for his help to try and get in touch with my first ever boyhood hero. I remember when he left Celtic in 1977, how heartbroken I was and how much I despised Liverpool for daring to buy my hero.
I said to Tommy, I would meet Kenny anywhere to make it easy, to which Tommy cheekily replied, “So you will go anywhere for Kenny, but I had to come to you?”. Tommy’s humour is always first class, just like his help. Tommy got hold of Kenny and explained the situation to him, and Kenny agreed to sign the tops on his next visit to Scotland. I thought excellent, that’s another Captain nearly sorted, not realising the hard work I was still to go through to obtain Kenny’s signature on both tops.
A couple of weeks passed and I received a text from Tommy on the Saturday, to say Kenny was playing in a celebrity golf tournament in Archerfield on the Sunday and would sign the tops. Tommy was just waiting for Kenny to confirm his tee off time. I looked up Archerfield and thought North Berwick, that’s a nice round trip of 180 miles! I then looked at the golf course website and thought “Wow”
Kenny never did phone to confirm his tee off time, and Tommy told me just to drive up as Kenny was expecting me. This worried me slightly that I was going to turn up unannounced. I was about to set off for Archerfield, when my lad Declan said “Do you think Kenny will sign my top?” I said “you never know, do you want to come and meet him?” Declan’s face lit up and off we set! I now had 3 tops to get signed. We were 30 minutes into the journey and I decide to stop my journey to phone Archerfield to explain my position. Turning up unannounced just didn’t sit right with me. The hotel could not be any more helpful and put me through to the clubhouse and I found out that Kenny’s tee off time was 3pm, so there was no way I was going to make it in time. The tournament organiser, then suggested that I come up around 7pm and then we could grab Kenny as he came off the course into the clubhouse. I thought perfect and thanked the organiser for her help.
We arrived at Archerfield on time and having driven through the illustrious grounds, we parked up and headed for the clubhouse, passing a fleet of black Maserati’s, which were to be used to ferry the guests from the clubhouse back to the hotel. I caught up with the organiser and she invited Declan and myself to sit in the club reception and wait for Kenny to come in. So, there we were, sitting in the reception, waiting to see my boyhood hero, the man that would light up the world with that smile, every time he scored a goal. What could go wrong?
Kenny eventually came into the clubhouse, and I approached him calling out his name to get his attention. He turned around briefly, but continued to walk away. It was on the third shout that he stopped and I told him that Tommy Boyd had spoken to him about signing a couple of tops. Kenny stunned me by his response when he said “I’m signing one top only”. So here I was on the back foot and racking my mind of how do I get the second top signed? In my mind, I had already parked my poor son’s top down as a “no hoper”. Strange thoughts go through your head at times like this. I was thinking perhaps I could copy the signature on the second top? Of course, you dismiss these thoughts in an instant, but it doesn’t stop you thinking them.
I went on to say to Kenny, “But, it is for a wee baby with cerebral palsy”. Kenny took the home top from me and said “You’re taking a liberty” and went onto say “Who shall I make it out to?” I said to him, that we were auctioning the home top with all club captains’ signatures, so just need him to sign it. He said “It’s worth more, if I dedicate it to someone”. I thought “Lying bassa”, but kept my counsel and said “Could you just sign it please with your name only?” Kenny eventually signed the home top, shook my hand and moved to walk away. At the same time, I am now thinking, right how do I get the second top signed? I need to find a common ground. I blurted out “I’m off to London on Monday, to see Big Roy Aitken!” This sparked an interest in Kenny, and he says “Big Roy, where’s he nowadays?” Not sure if this was a trick question, but I mucked up the answer by saying “Saudi”, to which Kenny answers, “Naw he isne, it’s Dubai!” I thought bollocks, in this split-second I have mucked it up. I quickly rescued the situation by showing Kenny, the text messages from Roy. He says “So you are going down to see Big Roy, give me the second top?” and duly signed it. I think magic, two down and look across to see Declan’s excited but anxious face.
Am I going to let my son, down? Think CRC! Think! Again, he shakes my hand and moves to walk away again. I say to him; “Does your Mum and Dad still drink in Stamperland Social Club?” Kenny looks surprised at my comment and says “Naw, that was Marina’s Mum and Dad! How did you know this?” I come out with the killer line. “They used to drink occasionally with my Mum and Dad…Would you mind signing my son’s top and dedicating it to Declan, please?” “Sure” says Kenny. He signs the third top, this time with his smile that I remember from his goal scoring days, and shakes my hand for the third and final time. Eventually I have to let him go! Where on earth, I pulled that rabbit from the hat, was beyond me, but job done. We got there in the end, once we got Kenny warned up, but it was a very hard shift indeed!
Club Captain no 9: Roy Aitken – September 2015
As I mentioned before, we would target a couple of Captains at the same time trying a number of different sources. Roy was always going to be a difficult one to find. I had googled and found out that he had gone across to Dubai to be David O’Leary’s assistant at Al-Ahli in September 2013 from an article in The Scotsman, but I had no idea if he was still there. I decided to email Paul67 and asked him if he had any leads for Roy Aitken or Paul Lambert, who we were also trying to track down. Paul can back with a phone number for Roy Aitken that he managed to acquire from a journalist that spoke previously with Roy (probably in relation to the article I had picked up on about Roy), but he had no idea if this was still a current number.
l decided to text Roy, with details of what I was doing and waited for a reply. A week went by and nothing. It was a Friday afternoon (This was always the day I seemed to gain inspiration) in July, and I thought right let’s take a chance and phone the number. It seemed to ring for an eternity and then a voice answered. It was Roy, I recognised his voice, I reckon I had a couple of minutes to grab his attention and explained that I needed his help. Roy said “No problem, drop me a text again, with your email address and I will respond with my address and we can courier the tops across to Dubai and then back to you!” I thought brilliant and was on cloud nine.
My memories of Roy as a player started to flood back. When I was a kid, my family would mostly go on holiday to Butlins in Ayr, and the football coaching sessions were taken by a lower league footballer ( I am sure it was an Arbroath player at the time, but his name escapes me) and on the final day, a Celtic footballer would also appear and both would take part in the exhibition match on the skating rink ( yes I kid you not, a skating rink!) with the two teams consisting of the “players of the week”. There would also be a photo opportunity with the players and family. Bobby Lennox used to take part and then passed the mantle onto Roy Aitken. In the last year my family had gone to Ayr, I had managed to be selected to play in goals for one of the teams (probably due to a complete lack of decent keepers), and we won 5-4 with me saving a free kick from Roy. Yes, my CQN 5s skills were developing early.
Two or three weeks passed since my last contact with Roy and there was still no further reply. It was a Friday night and I was in the kitchen with Mrs CRC and we got onto discussing the tops and she asked if there was any word from Roy, and I said no. I went on to talk about my disappointment with Roy probably harnessing my memories of Roy as a kid, being a friendly loving guy. You tend to forget at times, that people have other things to do in their busy lives and it is not always about you and your needs! As I continued to talk about this, my phone buzzed as I had received a text. Incredibly, it was from Roy, and it read, “Marc, I may be across in the UK in August, so it may be easier to get the tops to me then. Be in touch!” I thought incredible, Roy’s ears must have been burning but he restored my faith once again in people and again heroes!
August, came and was about to disappear over the horizon, and I had heard nothing from Roy, so I decided to send him a text asking him if he had managed to firm up his plans about coming to the UK. At the same time, Plan B was forming thanks to another CQNer Greenlion2, who was also now helping us with this quest. He had been in touch with Joe Miller who was potentially going out to Dubai soon, and there was a potential that he could meet up with Roy.
Anyway, a couple of days later Roy came back to say he was going to be across the next weekend and would be staying in the Jumerah Carlton Tower Hotel in Knightsbridge, London and I should send the tops down marked for this attention. Having discussed this with Andy F, we decided that it was too risky to send the tops with eight signatures (Kenny had not signed at this time!) on them through the post. So a decision was made that I would fly down to London with the tops. Brilliant, there I was ready to fly to London the following Monday to meet up with Roy. It was also this weekend, that Tommy Boyd had been in touch re Kenny, so had I posted the tops down to Roy as originally planned, I would have missed the opportunity to meet Kenny.
So, my diary was sorted Sunday, Archerfield and Kenny; Monday, Knightsbridge and Roy. Two days, two Club Captains! Assuming, everything went to plan, only Lambo and Jackie to get!
I was like a big kid all day Monday and flew into Gatwick from Glasgow with the tops secured in my hand luggage, and got the train into London, and hopped on the tube to get me close to Knightsbridge. I had arranged to meet Roy at 5pm in his hotel, so had some time to kill. Scotland were also playing Germany that night, but I was not going to be back in time to catch the game, but this was more important.
As I headed towards the hotel. I had to cut through Belgravia, which was Embassy land. I think I must have passed 10-12 different embassies. I arrived at the hotel reception, which welcomed you with a harp player playing her eloquent tunes, I thought, “Roy’s obviously doing okay for himself”. I phoned Roy and told him I was down in reception and he said he would be down in couple of minutes! Five minutes passed, and Roy appeared and welcomed me like a friend. My memories flooded back to the jungle chants of “Feed the Bear” and “Aitken’s going to get you”. Here was Big Roy, a little greyer and older, like us all, and here I was in the presence of another hero. Roy said “let’s get a snack” and we sat down in the restaurant. I had already eaten, so decided just to get some tea and looked at the menu. £12.50 for a pot of tea was the cheapest on the menu! Just as well Big Roy paid! . We talked for around 70 minutes covering Shay, the Club Captains tops, our love for all things Celtic, various games involving Big Roy and indeed what Roy was now up to.
It turned out that David O’Leary had been sacked after about 6 months in charge, but the Sheik who ran the club liked Roy and promoted him to Sporting Director, whilst continuing to annually sacking his coaches. This was still Roy’s current position and he told me how much he loved life out there. He also mentioned that Derek Whyte was also out in Dubai (no doubt topping up his tan! ), working in TV commentary. We talked a bit more about the other charity causes, I had been involved in, and also reminisced about Butlin’s in Ayr, my free kick save (I had to get that in!) and playing football on a skating rink. Roy asked if I had been to the night for Billy McNeill, which Celtic had arranged in his honour, to which I said no. Roy had found out about it afterwards, and expressed his disappointment that Celtic had not asked him or Derek Whyte to join, as they would have made the time and effort to come across. I made an excuse for Celtic saying perhaps they could not find you, to which Roy said “Well you, a fan found me!” I took that as a big compliment.
Time was passing so quickly and I was having an amazing time, but I knew I had a flight to catch back home, so after about 70 mins, I said to Roy, “I need to go soon so I suppose I better get you to sign the tops!” Roy took the tops with the signatures to date, and ran through each one, asking how we managed to achieve them, and enquired who we still had to get. After kindly signing both tops, Roy said “Do you want a picture as well?” What a difference to the previous day with Kenny. Roy was the perfect host and Club Captain in every way. I also had brought my son’s top with me and my “Feed the Bear” book with me and Roy kindly signed them both. I thanked Roy for his time, and headed on my way back to the airport and received a text message from Andy F, “Paul Lambert is in the studios at Hampden commentating on the Scotland game”. I replied jokingly, “Great, barricade him in and I will be there for 11pm”. Just two Club Captains remaining!
If you missed Part 1 or Part 2, you can catch them here
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/the-search-for-the-11-celtic-club-captains-part-1/
https://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/walk-with-shay-mcneill-mcgrain-boyd-brown-lennon/
Part 4, the final part to our story, will follow soon.
If you are interested in registering an interest for the forthcoming auction of the home top, which also contains the signatures of not only the last 11 Club Captains of Celtic but also our InVIncible Club Captain and all three Treble Winning Club Captains, then contact us now via:
email walkwithshay@yahoo.com
Twitter @walkwithshay
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Alves will with Scottish refs assistance be their best player.
The same tolerances afforded well past it daddies like Weir and Hill will more than compensate for his limitations.
The spin of the mssm that got Danny Wilson a transfer to Liverpool way above his talent and value will make Alves into a cross between Bobby Moore and Franco Baresi
Marspapa@12:11pm
Thanks, I put up a link to that article along with one from the Independent from that period which highlighted the crucial role of supporters in getting the clubs to block their undeserved accession to SFL1, plan B for Regan and his SPL sidekick, when they realised that SPL access was looking unlikely, again thanks to supporter pressure on the clubs, as your post shows.
Their ‘no appetite’ ‘let’s move on’ pleas show they cannot justify any refusal to revisit LNS and the inevitable title stripping that would have to follow, which in turn would throw the spotlight on the ‘same club’ nonsense.
FAN-A-TIC
The pairing of Bobby Baresi and Franco Moore was awesome :)
Corkcelt
I have already been put right – but thanks for the info – I’m sure i’ll find a stream.
Brendan’s remarks on Izzy are telling.
He is good cover at spl level but often found out against European opponents.
He was really poor against Lyon and this may have convinced Brendan we need an upgrade in this area.
He has been a good servant but our aspirations seem to be growing of us being a competitive European team and improvement is needed.
From this afternoon’s Euro flops behind closed doors bounce game
St. Johnstone FC
✔ @St_Johnstone_FC
35. Niko Kranjcar is asked to leave the pitch after screaming at the referee. 0-0. #SJFClive
3:35 PM – 18 Jul 2017
fan-a-tic on 18th July 2017 3:42 pm
Jonny Hayes back up left back?
Bobby & Gary
Thanks lads I’ll hunt it down just worried cos it only seems to be on Celtic TV nothing else
CQN…………………………………………Dembele to start tomorrow
Is there a gathering at BV prior to the game tomorrow?
cliftonville celt from belfast on 18th July 2017 3:47 pm
Guardamar CSC has a facebook page, you could contact them through that to make sure its on in The Hoops Bar.
FAN-A-TIC
Good point re Alves. And Wilson.
The huns got the best part of £3m from Liverpool when KD was in charge. Wilson and the sell-on via Blackpool from Adams.
Both hugely overpriced but I’m not suggesting corruption,only incompetence.
I mean,he thought Geoff Taylor was worth £3m back in the early 90s…
GARY67
I have not seen enough of Hayes to make any judgement.
But many seem to think he could do a job in that area.
I will say i have not seen anything from him so far to get excited about but early days.
Thought those suggesting he was better than JF at Linfield were totally wrong.
Forrest can be frustrating but against the huns of NI he was very good at taking men on ,dragging them out of position and creating space.
Hayes had one good run and cross we he came on but Forrest created first goal and had a few other crosses that could have resulted in goals.
CQN……………………………………Kerrydale Bar opens at 4.30 tomorrow
CRC,
great stories mate and well done again mate for all your efforts.
“Turkeybhoy on 18th July 2017 11:58 am
‘CULTSBHOY SAYS HAIL HAIL TO HECTOR AND BRENDAN on 18TH JULY 2017 11:37 AM
No denying Dalglish his talent, achievement or his contribution to Celtic but I’ve never warmed to him. The story above confirms my feelings.’
I know what you are saying,but sometimes its not always black and white.So many people out there up to no good.I bet many star footballers are asked “A good cause”.Jersey then getting punted on E-Bay.The guy asking KD was wanting 3 jerseys signed.
KD has always been a bit of a “Strange bird”.Not the most personable of people”
King Kenny, was, is, and always shall remain my footballing Hero.
I met him briefly inside Hampden after the game on the night he gained his 100th Cap for Scotland v Romania. I managed to get him to sign my program, but only after he asked me to get a move on “‘Mon wee man, hurry up gies the programme” (I was struck mute upon meeting my hero – I was 15 at the time – and he was clearly wanting to get away quickly and my muteness and near paralysis was not on his agenda! ). Still one of my most prized possessions.
Turkeybhoy, you are bang on with your assumption, well when it comes to Kenny anyway.
A few years ago, a good mate of mine was down south and came across Kenny doing an appearance of some sorts at a sports superstore. My mate, knowing my worship of KK, and also knowing that my 40th Birthday was fast approaching, quickly looked for a Celtic top, forlornly as it turned out, so bought a Liverpool top (unlike CRC who despised Liverpool for stealing KK from us, I went the other way and they became my “English team”, which they remain to this day) and approached Kenny asking him to sign it for me. He refused at first saying that he was fed up of people asking for tops to be signed only for them to end up online being sold for money and he hated that.
Thankfully my mate is gifted with some of the same perusasiveness that CRC has, and managed to talk him round to signing the top and dedicating it to me.
That signed top, along with the signed programme and my signed Henrik top are my 3 most prized footballing possessions.
Clearly as you said, Kenny, and no doubt many other players/ex-players, dont like the idea of signed tops allegedly being donated for a charity, but end up on the likes of e-bay instead. I can understand that.
Regardless of how he may come across at times, Kenny will always be my football Hero.
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
And Geoff Thomas(!)
That bad I couldnae remember him.
Is the match tomorrow on TV at all?
Scott Sinclair racially abused yet again on twitter. Cops apparently looking into it following g complaints ?
Celtic MUST act against st ALL issues of cheating, and players being assaulted wherever we go in the very near future, if not then the Celtic fans will be forced into possible me boycotts etc.
It hurts me to even think that way, but Celtic MUST ACT and soo. !
R.I.P. to all who have recently lost loved ones.
HH
Bmcuw
That’s a relief couldn’t think who he was and I Wasnae going to google him
My mother used to say, ‘if you lie with dogs you get up with fleas,’ sadly we see how true this saying is with Sevco being promoted and the recent association with Linfield. We don’t need them but they need us – just wish we could play in a different league.
BMCUW,
Geoff Thomas and KD?
You sure about that?
Thomas was with Palace, where he did play very well for a few seasons early 90’s. Then moved to Wolves, and it all fell apart there if memory serves. cant ming who was manager there, but it certainly wasnt King Kenny.
No interaction with Kenny, as far as I can remember. Might be wrong of course – unusual I know, but wouldnt be the first time ;-) – but I cant mind it.
How’s you anyway oul pal?
HAIL! HAIL!
Token
Doc still no response to our question about a pre match swally in the BV or anywhere else. H H Hebcelt
BEATBHOY on18TH JULY 2017 3:34 PM
Good read both articles ,
Unfortunately i’ve got the attention span of a goldfish.
There will be more lies , more nonsense , more obstructions and more dissapointment to come .
Whatever the outcome ,you can bet your boots Celtics name will get trashed one way or another .
Ps..
Surely Reagan and Doncaster must go !!
Jonny Hayes played all his schoolboy football at Left Full
not a lot of people know that !!!
Other than the hordes on here whom I have bored with this trivia over and over again
Up The Dubs
Doc/HebCelt
Oldtim will be in BV before match as he will be getting a lift with Johann Murdoch son
I’m currently flat out in bed as my back has flared up…
St. Johnstone FCVerified account @St_Johnstone_FC · 58s
FULL TIME | Rangers 0-1 Saints. Callum Hendry’s goal the difference here in Glasgow. #SJFClive
Meltdown has commenced on FF. Almost a full team, the new signings played except Alves.
Friendlies mean nothing Gary.
Judge them on their competetive games if you want to get an idea of their PROGRESS
All not well at Poundland?
Ted @NewcoTed · 11m
Hard to build any kind of a case for positivity when there’s players going around the training ground calling the manager, ‘The Fraud’.
Tomorrow Night – Family Section
Any Family Section SB’s not being used tomorrow. I need an adult and 2 kids hoping to take some family visiting from France and Spain.
Can pay or reciprocate with my 1 Adult and 1Child SB’s during the season?
TIA
CB
BT
My son had a discotomy last week – 2nd one in 3 years – hopefully sorted but he needs to exercise properly and correct his posture
Was in agony with it
Hebcelt, I’ll be in the BV, OldTim will be the one buying us a drink:-)
Thanks BT, hope the back eases off.
Turkeybhoy,
not wishing to besmirch any memories of Kenny ( I was a heartbroken bhoy when he left us ), but he was aware that someone would be at the golf with shirts to be signed, having been contacted by Tom Boyd and presumably agreeing to sign them. Credit to him for having the grace to sign 3 shirts in the end.
I get that he was probably bothered a lot by fans, and he’s maybe a very private man ( nowt wrong with that), but this isn’t the first time I’ve heard of his ‘ambivalence’ towards Celtic fans on occasion.
That said, it doesn’t taint my memories of him in the Hoops and he’ll always be one of my heroes.
KD had a look that would curdle milk
But a great player saw him at Cumbernauld in what I think was his first game
THETOKENTIM
He wanted to sign Thomas in 91-92,but Jack Walker refused to pony up.
Doing fine,old bean. Hope yeezuraw magic,too.
HH
Celticrollercoster.
I loved the K.D and Big Roy tales.
I think I see where Kenny was coming from. He thinks he has to sign a Celtic top and then someone says no it’s 3. E.Bay springs to mind immediately.
Big Roy what a guy. My favourite big Roy moments, scoring in the 2.2 game to equalise at Ibrox when they had their scarves aloft giving it UDA all the way and the other was the Joe Miller cup final, I think, when it stoppage time, he booted the ball as,far as he could out of play for a corner, to allow us to regroup.
Hail Hail.
CRC
Thank you for all your efforts.
Interesting to note that Aberdeen’s opponents tomorrow Siroki from Bosnia, were charged and penalised by their FA in May, following their fans conduct.
Part of the charge was, ” supporters incitement of hatred on the basis of religion”. They got a 7 game ban, redu end to 3 after Appeal.
Wonder why the huns have never been charged of the same by SFA for decades ?
Get well soon Blantyre Tim. I’ll text u my new mobile number shortly mate.
HH
If Celtic don’t act against all the cheating in the near future, Celtic fans should hire a large venue in Glasgow, and let thousands of fans have their say thru a fans committee.
The same questions that are put to the floor at such an event, could be also put on CQN for example, allowing l Celtic fans to submit their views and votes on possible action being taken ?
Surely Celtic FC will not things go that far, and the club will act accordingly ?
Pedro ” The FRAUD” ? Sounds about right, but what about some of their players ? Irony can be ironic sometimes.
HH