My brother made the point to me on Saturday, even during our mid-table era in the 90s, we had players like McStay, Collins and Boyd, who would get into any team in the country. We usually had a striker who could boast a better return than 10 goals in all competitions by this stage of the season (the mark Newco’s PotY Kenny Miller has reached), and the Celtic manager would send his team onto the field with some battle in their bellies.
What’s more, Celtic fans had a plan. We had Fergus, he had money, or at least access to money, and the inch of personality he possessed was enough to convince 10,000 to buy shares and put us on the way to several dozen in a row. Some of us also knew David Murray’s speculate to accumulate strategy would inevitably crash. So despite the dark decade between Big Billy and Wim the Tim, the forward path was clear.
The Great Anniversary
We are now in May and three weeks away from the Great Anniversary. Hundreds will travel to Lisbon, thousands will gather at The Hydro. Television documentaries will air and we will all drink-in the experience. I truly believe that without Jock Stein and the Lisbon Lions catapulting Celtic from four decades of mediocrity to international fame, very little of what we have achieved since would be possible. Our modern club was built on their shoulders.
Stein and the Lions stood on the land worked on by volunteers, who 70-odd years earlier leveled ground to create a football field, so that funds could be raised to feed the city’s poorest children. Without that unique creation story, the Lions would never have happened.
Two weeks ago I decided I would run the Stirling Marathon on 21st of this month, in aid of the Celtic Foundation. I’ve done ‘the half’ twice before but never gone beyond that. I suspect the decision was part midlife crisis (story for another day), but I needed to mark one of the biggest influences in all our lives with a significant act. This is it. It will put me in touch with why I’m a Celtic supporter, why I started this blog and mark a turn in my life.
Use this Great Anniversary to get in touch with lots of things we take for granted. We will never have another opportunity like it. And if you can’t run a marathon, you can support the Foundation at the page I’ve setup for this purpose, as well as putting some bounce in my shoes on the day.
Thank you.
455 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- »
Have I missed the Lisbon update from BRTH ?
Just read back R I P Barca mole
Good morning CQN from a dry, bright and sunny East Devon.
Morning folks.
Barca mole, Rest in Peace.
Very sad news about The Barca Mole/ Franny.
I don’t know many people on CQN but I am proud to say I knew Franny.
A gem of a man, the type of person who would go out his way to help you. Fiercely protective of his beliefs and loved ones.
Before living in Dubai and the Philippines, Franny lived in Norwich. He played an active part in The Celtic supporters club down there, my daughter managed to get a job with Norwich union/ now Aviva, down in Norwich, she knew no one except Franny, to say he looked after and looked out for her would be an understatement. She settled very quickly because of Franny and indeed all these years laters still lives in Norwich and yes still fondly asks after him. He will be sadly missed. My thoughts go out to all his loved ones at a sad and difficult time.
Marspapa.
I have read back and seen your post to Butsybhoy about me.
Thank you. I know how you must be feeling,so it was a very kind thing to think of me at a very difficult time for yourself.
#ThemusictakesmebacktoPenilee
Hail Hail
Very sorry to hear of the passing of the BarcaMole – that is very sad indeed.
In answering e-mails re Lisbon and other things you get to know and hear of the struggles and difficulties faced by many CQN’ers. Many a prayer to be said.
However, last night I received some particularly sad news re the passing of a man who I will only call Joe.
Joe was considerably older than me but could always be found in Tennants bar in Byres Road of a weekend.
He knew my parents, particularly my mother’s family and would always stop for a word and a story.
When he left school, Joe went to work in the yards and over a period he started to teach apprentices. Later he decided that he liked teaching better than his chosen trade so he left to become an assistant in a school, but even that didn’t fulfil his calling. Eventually, with the encouragement of his employers, he went on to gain qualifications as a mature student and so became a fully qualified teacher.
The funny thing is that the qualifications only allowed or permitted Joe to teach within a system which rightly demanded that he held such a qualification, but he was born with a natural gift for talking, explaining, encouraging and leading . In other words, he was a born teacher, but originally came from a background where that profession was viewed, perhaps, as above his station in life.
Joe was a lesson in himself and there will be an emptiness in Tennants, though not as big an emptiness as there is in his own household and among his family and friends.
May he and Franny Rest in Peace.
Moravcik on 3rd May 2017 6:41 am
Have I missed the Lisbon update from BRTH ?
Morning, I don’t think so but if you have any questions re the dinner etc then e-mail me on jjoe88@hotmail.co.uk — though please note it may take me a couple of days to reply due to the volume of traffic I am having to get through.
Cheers
BRTH
Rest in peace The Barca mole. Condolences to family & friends.
As JNP said Franny was fiercely proud of his family his faith and his football
He moved out to Halfway a couple of years ago and became well known in the local parish
He also stayed in Larkhall for a few years and was particularly friendly with Timmy Genmel which was the last time he spoke to my dad, unfortunately I hadent spoken to him or had a drink with him for several months due to him working with his brother in Wales.
I remember him telling me a story about the golf tournament he helped run over in Dubai with the ex players from Celtic and sevco playing each other
Franny and my dad left the dinner due to the orcs singing their songs of hatred.
Others stayed because it was a free bar, he was very proud of my dad as was I
They celebrated by getting a KFC carry out and a bottle of Brandy
Many more stories about Franny will be told over the next few days and years
It was a privilege to have known him
God bless you Francis
Good morning all.
Sad news .
RIP The Barca Mole .
Difficult typing on train with tears welling up
A well a wee glance at Paradise always gladdens the heart as I descend into the depths of Dalmarnock
Reading back this morning – sad news about the passing of the BarcaMole. Thoughts and prayers with his family and friends – may he Rest in Peace.
Only ever met TBM in the BV/ at a Hootenanny – enjoyed his often analytical posts on the ‘debacle’ within Scottish football.
B.T.7.25.
Lovely post.
Thanks for sharing it.
Hail Hail
RIP the Barca Mole, thoughts and prayers with your friends and family.
BRTH – Joe from T’s – sad news – that we group diminishing. More thoughts and prayers.
Just started to read back Bhoys……Butsy…So sorry to hear about your pal Franny.
Barca Mole/ Franny RIP.
YNWA.
A wee dunt for the charity raffle for St Mary’s and Mary’s Meals.
If you like top quality booze this is for you.
https://www.ebid.net/uk/for-sale/premium-single-malt-whisky-5-x-distilled-gold-leaf-vodka-and-40-yr-vintage-port-156590570.htm
Just reading back.
R.I.P. The Barca Mole
RIP The Barca Mole
thoughts and prayers for him and his family
Rest in Peace the Barca Mole and may perpetual light shine upon him.
My condolences to the family and friends of Barca Mole. He will be missed.
RIP The Barca Mole. Met him twice at Hoots. A real gentleman.
The Evening Times:
Shocking video appears to show Rangers fans chant anti-Catholic song
FOOTAGE which appears to show Rangers fans chanting an anti-Catholic song has appeared online following this weekend’s match at Ibrox.
The video was uploaded after Celtic defeated their Old Firm rivals 5-1 on Saturday.
In the clip, fans appear to be heard singing: “We hate Catholics, everybody hates Roman Catholics.”
The group of men are seen wearing Rangers tops in an unknown venue filled with Union Jack and Northern Irish flags.
They are then heard chanting: “Then you put your arms around and we stumble to the ground and we say we hate Catholics, everybody hates Roman Catholics.”
The video has since been shared thousands of times since being posted on social media on Saturday.
The Evening Times:
Disgusted again! Fresh racism row emerges after child is used to target abuse at Celtic star Scott Sinclair
is subject to more abuse.
The Hoops striker hit back on the social media website Twitter following a post which showed a young girl pictured with monkeys. The caption read that the young girl was pictured with the footballer.
Sinclair, who has a daughter Matilda with Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan, said: “Absolutely disgusted yet again, how can a person use a child to promote racism, it’s beyond me.”
The woman behind the post has since quit her social media accounts but football fans from both sides of the Old Firm have taken screen grabs of the abuse which has gone viral.
Lee Christie said on Twitter: “It was one person, has nothing to do with the whole Rangers support, racism does not belong in football.”
Big Lachie added: “Scott I don’t know if this human being follows my club Rangers FC but please accept my apologies on behalf of the rest of us. Disgusting.”
Earlier in the week, all of Celtic FC players stood behind Sinclair by sharing an anti-racism message on their social media accounts.
This followed another racist incident at Saturday’s Old Firm.
The Evening Times revealed yesterday Rangers fan Paul Kenny appeared from custody yesterday at Glasgow Sheriff Court where he admitted making racial geastures towards the player contrary to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.
He admitted engaging in behaviour that is likely or would be likely to incite public disorder in that he did “shout and make racial gestures”.
Kenny, from Girvan, South Ayrshire made the gestures at Ibrox Stadium on April 29, after Celtic player Scott Sinclair scored a penalty early in the game.
The National:
Football: Scott Sinclair left shocked after suffering racist taunt
SCOTT Sinclair has spoken of his shock at being subjected to racist abuse during Saturday’s 5-1 Old Firm league match at Ibrox and said it is high time that such behaviour is kicked out of football.
TV footage showed a Rangers supporter making a monkey gesture towards the Celtic forward after he scored the Parkhead side’s opening goal from the penalty spot at the weekend. While he and his team-mates were entirely unaware of the incident at the time, he said it was the first time he had experienced such abuse during his entire career and insisted that he was not prepared to let it affect him.
“It is just one of those negative things that seems like it is always going to be around in football,” said Sinclair. “It is a minority of people but it is always going to be there. But we want to kick out because I think there is no need for it. I don’t think there is any need for anything like that in football or society.
“Obviously it’s very shocking,” said the Englishman about the process of viewing the images back. “This is the first time [it has happened to me in Scotland], and I think the first time in my career so I was quite taken aback by it. But it is a minority of people and you just have to get on with it. All my team-mates have obviously got right behind me, because they didn’t obviously realise it at the time, just like I didn’t.”
Sinclair, speaking as he was named on the shortlist for the PFA Scotland player of the year award, said that the incident would not change the affection he feels for Scotland and Glasgow in particular. The 28-year-old has put down strong roots at Parkhead.
“There are always going to be people like that and I have just got to carry on with my football and keep enjoying it,” he said. “There is a minority of people who are going to try and bring you down. I’ve just got to rise above it.”
Sinclair was joined on the player of the year shortlist by team-mates Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong, and Aberdeen’s Jonny Hayes.
The Sun:
‘IT WAS A SHOCK’ Scott Sinclair reveals he had never suffered racist abuse before Gers fan Paul Kenny’s vile monkey gesture
Kenny was caught on camera making a gesture as Sinclair celebrated Hoops goal
By Ashlie McAnally and Robert Grieve
SCOTT Sinclair last night spoke of his shock after a Rangers fan admitted taunting him with a sickening monkey gesture.
The Celtic ace, 28, revealed he had never suffered racist abuse before Paul Kenny’s vile stunt in Saturday’s Old Firm clash.
He said: “That’s the first time it has happened here, the first time in my career actually, so I was quite taken aback by it.
“It was one of those negative things. It seems like it’s always going to be around in football because of a minority of people.
“For me there will always be people like that — I’ve just got to carry on with my football and keep enjoying that.
“In football we want to kick it out because there’s no need for it.
RIP _The Barca Mole .
Good day in Court yesterday . Yet more dirty laundry thrown on the floor for all to see..
Today’s 3 from 67 ( a very good year ! )
7″ –The Seeds -A Thousand Shadows (GNP Crescendo )
7″-The Soul Tops –Baby I Got News (FAB )
7″- Hopeton Lewis -This Music Got Soul ( Merritone ).
Lovely day — way down south . Oot n aboot in Sciacca earlier . Big poster outside a bar advertising tonight’s — Mbappe v Playstation Dybala .. Saw Pirlo on the tele talking about Dybala — ” I really like him –no hurry and lots of ideas re angles and velocity ” . I really like Dybala – shame he plays for Rube –just like Pirlo , Del Piero etc.
Two other Gers fans were in the dock yesterday over the Ibrox shame game.
David McLellan, 23, from Irvine, Ayrshire, admitted running on to the field and behaving in an aggressive manner to confront Hoops skipper Scott Brown.
Fiscal depute Ruth Ross-Davie told the court the bust-up was sparked by Celtic players celebrating Sinclair’s penalty six minutes into the game.
She said: “Players were running around the home support end at which point Mr McLellan ran on to the pitch towards Scott Brown and confronted him.
“His approach was aggressive and intimidating. He was held back by other players on the pitch and the referee before making his way back to the trackside where he was stopped by stewards.”
McLellan’s lawyer Emma Skett described his actions as the “most idiotic of behaviour”.
Yob McLellan told the court he was sorry, adding: “As soon as I done it, I realised I shouldn’t have done it.”
Steven Morrison, from Pollok, Glasgow, admitted singing sectarian song lyrics.
Sheriff Ruxton deferred sentence on both men for reports.
She granted bail with the same football banning conditions slapped on Kenny.
The Record
‘Absolutely disgusted’ Celtic star Scott Sinclair hits out after receiving racist abuse on Twitter
The English winger was the target of sickening abuse at Ibrox on Saturday and more followed on social media tonight.
In the tweet Sinclair said: “Absolutely disgusted yet again, how can a person use a child to promote racism, it’s beyond me.”
It came after an image was circulated on Twitter of a child standing in front of a mural of monkeys accompanied by the caption “just bumped into Scott Sinclair at Edinburgh zoo”.
PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year nominee Scott Sinclair (Photo: SNS Group)
The latest racist abuse comes as Paul Kenny, 28, appeared from custody today at Glasgow Sheriff Court where he admitted the offence contrary to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.
He admitted engaging in behaviour that is likely or would be likely to incite public disorder in that he did “shout and make racial gestures”.
Kenny, from Girvan , South Ayrshire made ‘monkey’ gestures at Ibrox Stadium on April 29, after Sinclair scored a penalty early in the game.
BRT&H
that is a lovely sentiment…..Joe lhad RIP……BT cyber hug…..
FTSFA
H.H.
RIP THE BARCA MOLE.
Franny welcomed me to the Dubai Hoops in The Dubliner.
He was a generous and welcoming man.
Celtic to the core.
You are a great loss to all that met you.
Your family will miss you greatly.
TT
Lloyds chief says bank was happy with Craig Whyte’s Rangers deal as it cleared £18m of debt
Ian Shanks tells the High Court in Glasgow that Lloyds had been working to “reduce its exposure” at Ibrox but no pressure was put on board to complete a deal.
BY PAUL WARD The Record
Pressure was not put on Rangers to sell to Craig Whyte in order to clear the club’s bank debt, a court has heard.
In 2011, in the months before the takeover, the club owed Lloyds Banking Group around £23million.
Ian Shanks, a relationship director with Lloyds Business Support Group, said the debt had reduced by around £10m since 2009 as it worked to “reduce its exposure” with both Rangers and its majority shareholder Murray Group.
He told the High Court in Glasgow that the bank did not run the club but had worked with the board to manage debt and agree budgets.
Mr Shanks said he first became aware of Whyte’s offer for the club at the end of 2010.
When asked by Advocate Depute Alex Prentice if there was “something of substance” to the bid, the witness agreed.
He said he attended a meeting with Whyte’s representatives and was later sent details of a bid that agreed to pay an £18m bank loan.
The bid was later revised twice, but Mr Shanks said the bank was “happy with the final bid, in the context of everything”.
Asked if “pressure was applied to the Murray Group to dispose of Rangers”, Mr Shanks said there was not.
Whyte, 46, is on trial at the High Court in Glasgow, where he denies acquiring the club fraudulently in May 2011.
Cross-examined by Donald Findlay QC, Mr Shanks was asked if Rangers’ debt was “good business” for the bank.
He said: “We wanted away from most football clubs. The bank took the view it was a sector they were uncomfortable lending against.”
Findlay asked: “Did the bank put any pressure on the board of Rangers to complete the Whyte bid?”
The witness said: “Not to the board of Rangers, no.”
He added: “The decision to sell Rangers was with the Murray Group.
“The bank was keen for the deal to complete. I knew the independent board were looking at the takeover and we were all very keen the independent board granted their approval.”
Prosecutors allege Whyte pretended to Sir David Murray, and others, that funds were available to make all required payments to acquire a “controlling and majority stake” in the club.
Rangers have Mark Warburton to blame for having duds tied down on 40 years worth of deals
The Crown alleges Whyte had only £4m available from two sources at the time but took out a £24m loan from Ticketus against three years of future season ticket sales.
The court has heard the sale was eventually made to Whyte for £1 but came with obligations to pay an £18m bank debt, a £2.8m “small tax case” bill, £1.7m for stadium repairs, £5m for players and £5m in working capital.
The trial continues.
RIP The Barca Mole,thoughts and prayers for his family.
The Scotsman
Celtic’s Scott Sinclair shocked by racial abuse at Ibrox Scott Sinclair is one of three Celtic players on the four-man short-lost for the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year award.
STEPHEN HALLIDAY 22:5522:57Tuesday 02 May 2017
Scott Sinclair has insisted his enjoyment of life in Glasgow will not be diminished by the racial abuse directed at him during last Saturday’s Old Firm match at Ibrox. Rangers fan Paul Kenny admitted making racial gestures contrary to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act when he appeared from custody at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday. The 28-year-old, from Girvan, South Ayrshire, made the gestures after Sinclair opened the scoring in Celtic’s 5-1 win. He was granted bail with the condition that he cannot go to any regulated football games. Sinclair, who has revitalised his career at Celtic since joining them from Aston Villa last summer, spoke about the incident for the first time as he was named as one of the four short-listed nominees for the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award.
The 28-year-old says it is the first time he has directly encountered the issue of racism in football during his career but stressed it will not alter the positive feelings he has developed towards living in Scotland.
“That’s the first time it has happened here, the first time in my career actually, so I was quite taken aback by it,” said Sinclair.
“It was one of those things. It seems it will always be around with a minority of people – it’s always going to be there. For me there will always be people like that – I’ve got to carry on with my football and keep enjoying that.
“In football we want to kick it out because there’s no need for it. If any player goes through it during a game, you have to keep your head down and keep going on but you want it kicked out.
“My team-mates have got right behind me. They didn’t realise until after the game that it had happened – just like I did. It was great to get my team-mates’ support. Like I said, it’s the minority and you have to get on with it. No matter who you support there is no need for anything like that in football or in society.”
Sinclair is joined on the four-man PFA Scotland Player of the Year shortlist by his Celtic team-mates Moussa Dembele and Stuart Armstrong, along with Aberdeen winger Jonny Hayes.
“The season has gone far better than I could have expected, 100 per cent,” added Sinclair who has scored 25 goals for Celtic so far in their exceptional treble-chasing campaign. “It’s got better and better with each game. It started with me coming on and scoring the winner on my debut against Hearts and from there it took off. When you come to a new club you just want to hit the ground running and do as well as you can.
“In the first five or six games I scored and it took a little bit of the pressure off. The thing is, when you come in with a price-tag – and you don’t score or do so well in the first few games – people are going to doubt you. So it was nice to get off the mark and go on a good run.”
Sinclair feels vindicated in a career choice which he knew might attract criticism in England where he previously played for Swansea City, Manchester City and Aston Villa.
“No-one ever said don’t come up here,” he said. “The players who played for Celtic said that I’d love it, but there wasn’t anyone who said that I shouldn’t come. I knew people down in England might say that the league in Scotland wasn’t good, but I wasn’t fussed about anything people said. The thing for me was to be back happy in football and in life. It was great for me to get to the stage where I had the right balance of enjoyment.
“I just wanted to come up here to play football and get that enjoyment back. Over the previous two or three years it was tough, being at City and not even getting on the bench some weeks and training on my own. I then went to Villa and got relegated.
“I found I was at a crossroads in my career, not knowing where I was going to end up or where I was going to go. But now I’m here and everything seems like it’s on the way up again.”
USA NEWS/Daily Mail
By Brian Majoribanks For The Scottish Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 09:20 +10:00, 3 May 2017 | UPDATED: 09:20 +10:00, 3 May 2017
Scott Sinclair has called on racists to be kicked out of football after suffering abuse during Celtic’s 5-1 derby demolition of Rangers at Ibrox.
Sinclair was speaking after Paul Kenny, 28, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court where he admitted making racial gestures at the match on Saturday, contrary to the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act.
The incident occurred after Sinclair opened the scoring from the penalty spot. It was the first time he had suffered such an experience in a career that has taken him to Manchester City, Aston Villa and Swansea.
Sinclair was supported by his Celtic teammates and manager Brendan Rodgers and later tweeted an anti-racism message.
And as he was named on the PFA Scotland shortlist for Premiership Player of the Year, he vowed not to let the vile incident affect him.
‘There’s no need for racism in this day and age,’ Sinclair said. ‘The small minority should be kicked out. That’s the first time it has happened in my career so I was quite taken aback by it. Obviously it was very shocking.
‘There’s always loads of people (against racism) but there is a minority of people who are going to try and bring you down. I’ve just got to rise above it. I’ve got to carry on with my football and keep enjoying that.
Sinclair was racially abused by some Rangers fans after scoring in the Old Firm clash
‘But my team-mates got right behind me. They didn’t realise until after the game that it had happened – just like I did.
‘It was great to get my team-mates support.
‘[Brendan Rodgers] spoke to me and gave me a text to say I’ve been doing great and obviously showed his support.
‘But there shouldn’t be headlines [about racism].
‘Like I tweeted, no matter who you support there is no need for anything like that in football or in society.’
Kenny, from Girvan in Ayrshire, admitted engaging in behaviour that is likely or would be likely to incite public disorder by ‘shouting and making racial gestures’ at Ibrox on April 29.
He was granted bail with the added condition he cannot go to any regulated football games.
David McLellan, 23, of Irvine, Ayrshire, also admitted an offence under the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act by running onto the field, behaving in an aggressive manner and confronting Celtic player Scott Brown.
A third Rangers fan, Steven Morrison, from Pollok, admitted singing sectarian lyrics of a song. All three men will be sentenced at a later date.
All those links from the papers simply quote Scott and the d entails of the bigots – not one iota of ‘journalism’ – no opinions, no analysis just reporting – Scottish Sports Journalist – an oxymoron
LA BELLA ITALIA .
The relevant authorities have decided that Cagliari will not be sanctioned re the racist abuse of Muntari during the game v Pescara . The reason -less than 1% of the crowd took part . . . Inter and Lazio will be sanctioned re racist behaviour however — the reason — more than 1% of the respective crowds took part ..
Saw a spokesman for The Italian Communist Party (2016) on the tele last night —
” Switch your TV on and you will get the likes of Le Pen and Salvini spouting racism . Is it any surprise it is happening in football stadiums ? “
Disgusted by these racist sevco thugs.
Im sure they are aware now, that the best thing they could do, is hide.
Im certain that bhoys and ghirls in their vicinity, wont be amused.
That racist bitch should be arrested….pronto.
HH
Such sad news about The Barca Mole.
Thoughts with his family and friends.
May he rest in peace.