John Greig said his biggest regret in football was being handed the European Cup Winners’ Cup trophy in a dressing room and not in front of fans. What should have been an iconic moment, with images forever displayed on walls, was little more than an afterthought.
Chances are, at some point today, you, me, Neil Lennon, Scott Brown and the rest of the players will receive a text message, “9 in a row, official”, we will do our best to celebrate the moment, but it should not have been like this. The occasion had the making of our most endearing memories as Celtic supporters, and for that, there is regret, we missed out. For once only, Scott Brown will know how John Greig felt.
Nine-in-a-row has been filled with fabulous memories created by some of the greatest ever Celtic teams. For me, it started as we followed the live within our means strategy I always held dear, while ominously acknowledging the threat of four-in-a-row from the spendaholics.
When we were three goals down at Rugby Park in October 2011 that threat felt all too real. Without a double from Anthony Stokes and a third from Charlie Mulgrew, or even Paul Heffernan’s open goal chance to win the game for the home side on 88 minutes, so much of what followed could have been different.
It took over eight years for that feeling of doom to return. Our domination was never in threat, but history was. 29 December 2019 will remain in Celtic fans’ memory for longer than it probably deserves. That was the date a feeling that we might be in trouble returned. We have every chance of winning our fourth consecutive treble and you would not be against us doing the same again next season, but although we didn’t know it at the time, the title destiny was out of our hands after the players left Celtic Park on the end of a 1-2 defeat.
A lot of CQN’ers who were here for the start of this run are no longer with us. I made an offhand comment to one of that number in 2012, saying, ‘Celtic will never lose another league title in your lifetime’. I regretted this, as it was meant as a flippant take on our comparative position in Scottish football, not on our own mortality. But here we are, growing older with Celtic’s dominance, if anything, more secure than ever. That flippant comment remains valid for an untold number of us.
You, your parents or your grandparents may have celebrated a European Cup win and nine-in-a-row first time around, but Celtic’s position in 1974, when we first won nine, was significantly weaker than it is today. Today, it feels like we are ready to kick on to another level.
When the news comes, remember the struggles of getting here, not just the hard years during the 90s, but the years of loss under ‘prudent’ [solvent]spending plans. As a Celtic supporter, you suffered the defeats, the lost trophies and their divisive consequences. You deserve your chance to celebrate nine-in-a-row and a crack at 10 next season.
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Hello again all you young championees
Now you all know how us aul yins felt when big Billy and the lions
delivered us the nine all those years ago.
Second time now for me and some other CQN’rs , don’t know how
they are feeling but my liver and my heid are having a square go
to see which can dull my champions feeling first.
Must be a coupla huns lol.
Now for the ten.
H.H . Mick
Melbourne Mick, I thought you were getting the paracetamol looked out for your morning? I thought you’d be fighting fit after your celebrations 🥳
I’ve got a feeling I’ll be feeling similar tomorrow
MARADOMINIC on 18TH MAY 2020 9:47 PM
Gary MacKay – spoke like aa football fan.. Get down do talking on pitch and come back stronger
…………….
I remember a game at Ibrox many years ago. Cannot remember the score but Gary McKay and his young son were in the Broomloan Stand amongst the Celtic support. He chatted away to the lads at half time and came across as a really nice guy.
MAJESTIC HARTSON
Luv that non de plom.
I’ve taken that many of them during this lockdown, and a double
dose this morn. beginning to sound like a weans rattle when i walk.
But hey, this is glorious times .
H.H . Mick
Missed the wine at 9 celebration unfortunately but have caught up a wee bit with some tasty 6% craft beer.
Hope we’re all enjoying the lockdown 9-in-a-row party, with a dose of social exclusion thrown in for good measure.
Sláinte & Hail, Hail.
Hamilton Tim
Thank you sincerely for that mate.
It was very strange earlier. I was lying on my bed constantly refreshing my phone waiting on news of the 9 being confirmed. I saw it, clearly at the same time as my 2 stepsons who began jumping about the house like mentalists and screaming, shouting and singing. Me? I buried my head in my pillow and sobbed uncontrollably. For the previous 7 league day winners Helen and I were together whether at Parkhead or away ground.
Really though she was here for the 9. The night we scored the late equaliser at Livi and the Huns lost to Hamilton I returned home from the game, bounded up the stairs to see her to be met with, “Chris we’ve done it we’ve done 9 in a row!”
So I’ve paid her a wee visit and I raised a toast and I know H is sitting with a Pinot in hand toasting the 9 in a row Champions, Celtic!
………………….
Beautiful post. Stay strong Chris. Keep The Faith. Helen is up there with all of our loved ones celebrating our team’s achievement against all odds. They tried to stop us on every way they could but if ever we needed proof that they are a spent force we got it in 2020. Hail! Hail! 🍀🍀🍀
Had some Moët to toast the Bhoys so feeling a bit sentimental
My first memory of seeing Celtic fans was in 1974 at the start of the season when we were 9iar champions.
I was in a cafe in the city centre with my mother and a bus full of long haired louts singing Magic by Pilot off of TOTP with different words pulled up outside
I thought it was amazing and wanted to know all about Celtic and 10iar and the difference between Scotland (who my mother said I was to support and I had a World Cup pennant on my wall) and Celtic. I wasn’t sure why she was evasive
One conversation on the school bus (unavoidable in Ayrshire) and I came home to declare that I supported Scotland AND Celtic because Celtic were a club not a country and that’s that. What about Kilmarnock she said? No chance, I had seen Celtic on Scotsport on Sunday afternoon
Turns out my dad, and all my mother’s family were Celtic fans. I’ve since watched Cup Finals on the couch with my mother going crazy, me and my father still go to games together.46 years later
Confused? So was I . She was worried about me getting into fights apparently. Oops.
Moral of the story is; when Celtic is in your blood, you can’t deny it
Also, this is my 9; but inspired by the first
Hail Hail
Melbourne Mick – we do what we have to do to get by ;) Great days indeed.
Magwai, enjoy your celebration. And I’m assuming you’re a post rock fan :)
stevie g, taking it well
https://twitter.com/i/status/1262368769445367809
meanwhile his weans are running about the lockdown garden wearing celtic strips
Coney boy – “Sentimental”…
Earlier I couldn’t put my finger on how I thought the blog was feeling recently and minced about emotional (I think), but sentimental!!! You’ve nailed it for me.
Strange times recently but a familiar outcome to bring us all together
Hail Hail
Majestic Harston I am, big time.
First time I met Almore I was wearing a Mogwai t-shirt. I was a lurker from the early days of the blog but had never joined in. Next day he posted an invite for ‘Magwai’ to join the party so I took the plunge.
One of my all time favourite gigs is their30th anniversary one in the Barrow lands with a reformed Loop in support.
Mogwai and God Speed You Black Emperor are top of the pile.
Stuart Braithwaite posted on here a while back.
DAVID17 on 18TH MAY 2020 10:11 PM
Its a struggle to be honest. I’ve studied forgiveness quite a bit, know what it is and what it isn’t , what it requires and the benefits of doing it.
I have always been looking for a way to get the truth out in such a way that it did not harm Celtic , but that became harder the more their level of deception became clear both personally but to over 100 shareholders, some of whom after the AGM wrote to PL about his disingenuous answers to them, including not seeing the 5 Way Agreement.
I believe folks do the wrong thing for what they tell themselves are the right reasons at the time and am more than open to forgiveness, but a bit of honesty about why Celtic did something in 2012 that they were ashamed of or afraid to admit to at the AGM would make it much easier to persuade the shareholders who have been misled.
In fact it would make it much easier for the support at large for the truth to be admitted and much better if it came from the man himself to show he gives a hoot about honesty. It would also silence the tainted title criers and set history straight.
It would also help if PL apologized for taking shareholders representatives down the CAS cul de sac they knew existed in 2013.
If I can persuade those shareholders we should just forgive without the true nature of what we are forgiving being made public I’ll happily let the matter go.
Alternatively should I add what took place since November 2019 to the Res12 Archive just how much deception from 2108 occurred and leave it all there for folk to make their own judgement on forgiveness or does PL not give a hoot?
Jim Spence said this on Twitter today.
” Lawwell at Celtic is like the chiel with the mortgage paid, a decent pension, and a few bob in the bank. He doesn’t have to give a hoot about what anyone says or thinks of him. He is the smartest operator in Scottish football by a considerable distance.”
I responded.
“All on back of false pretense Jim. Not that I blame him, but when you find yourself as a Celtic man forced to lie to shareholding supporters to keep a show on the road, is that a price worth paying? Shouldn’t he be trying to change the show? To whom much is given, much is asked.”
That last point could just as easily be aimed at the Celtic support, who have been given much and I don’t just mean titles. I mean a general level of conscience that allows them to discern right from wrong, what works and what doesn’t, generosity and charity.
Gifts to share, particularly to those in the most need.
That is my spirit bit talking.
The human bit is just as ready to join in the celebration and gloat because at a spirit level there is much meanness of spirit in our rivals that might die in the light.
Thanks for the feedback, as you can see I’ve been doing a lot of thinking on what is the right thing to do.
Magwai – Godspeed are an awesome band. I’ll need to check out Loop
Can’t have been the 30th anniversary surely…???!!! Hopefully !!
Though I remember seeing “fu&# the curfew” stickers round Hamilton in my youth – was that really 30 years ago?
Anyway, more importantly get onto Cluster&Eno. Less Braithwaite, more Burns
Congratulations to all the Celtic family on another Magnificent Nine (soon to be Ten) !!!!!
I missed being at the Celebrations of our first NIAR as I left Glasgow in April, 1974.
Auldheid,
I was at Barony St. in 1963 – 1964 when Farmer Kelly was the Headmaster and I also remember ‘Shug’ Ennis as a French teacher.
Majestic Hartson
Doesn’t matter what you call it, it feels good😎
AULDHEID @ 12:25
Very well said! ( As usual). I entirely agree with your approach, and I do think the support would understand the motivation and be in a forgiving mood if PL would only bite the bullet and confess the truth. It would be a healing moment and would galvanize and unite the support in support of the Board.
IniquitousIV
Gooooooooood morning CQN from a deeeeeeelighted Garngad
Don’t know what the weather is like as I have not pulled the blinds yet. Too many beers last night🍺🍺🍺🍺
An absoloutley fantastic achievement by our club and well played the board on keeping our own counsel during lockdown and letting statement FC and other Hun clubs show themselfs for what they are.
Right when is the Scottish cup semi final getting played, so that we can make it a Quadrebel 😂
There’s a little Hun been brought back from furlough in my office (the only 1) Hun that is and I cannot wait to see him again today. 😂😂😂 feck ther is something I thought I would never say and naw MM he is not Handsome. 😂
D. :)
There not ther. Doh
Ps Glasgow North Division of Handsome Hun Searchers signing oot
D. :)
Pps before I go..
£450K Celtic FC thru the Foundation have donated to charities during COVID-19.
Wow that should be frontline news itself.
I am even more proud of our famous club now.
D. :)
A big up to the league’s top scorer Odsonne Édouard
And no , lurking Huns , morelos wouldn’t have caught him ,10 goals behind ,10 games to go , ( well 8 really as he can’t score against the champions )
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
At the risk of stating the obvious, maybe now that we are 9 in a row champions…and going for the Magical 10….some of the current Celtic players who are out of contract and/or on loan til June 2020, will be even more determined to stay at Celtic Park, and be given the opportunity to be part of “The Going for 10 Crusade” ?
There many Ex Celtic Players who would have loved to have such an opportunity…Henke, Big Sutty, BBJ, Paul MacStay… etc etc., to name but a few.
HH Stay safe.
Jim Spence for PR man,experienced operator,could control the laptop loyal and their pro Sevco questions……
Apart from winning 10 in a row, it will be also fantastic to see Stevie G get his jotters at the end of next season…and for his mob to also miss out on the League Cup and Scottish Cup in season 20/2021, as he will be remembered as the Sevco manager who won NOTHING ?
Even if Sevco got lucky and won one of the Cups next season, the fact that Celtic have done 10 in a row, whilst the Huns had Slippy Steve at the helm, would surely haunt him for the rest of his days ?
My money will be on Neil Lennon seeing Stevie G Off the Premises by the end of next season, if not before ?
If Celtic can get a very good lead in the League by the time next seasons “Winter Break” comes along or soon after, and Gerrard chucks it, what “Manager” in their right mind would want the job at Sevco and forever be tarnished as the Sevco Manager when Celtic won 10 in a row ?
Gerrard and anyone else who is manager of that Hun mob next season will be under more pressure than ever, and the same goes for any of their “Players”…as none of them will want to be there IF/WHEN Celtic get their noses in front in the League and are looking good, so their form and the pressure will soon mount up on THEMS to try and stop Celtic.
After the first 9 or 10 games are played and IF/WHEN Celtic have a 5 point lead or more..the Huns will be jumping oot of their windeas…
LOL
HH
What a read back that was!
Unbridled joy and heart breaking sadness.
I admit I shed a tear more than once!
I’ll say a wee prayer for all our friends in need and for our friends departed.
God bless you all.
Daft question – Can anyone imagine what it would be like NOT to be a Celtic supporter?
I dont think the Huns can afford to sack Gerrard IF/WHEN it all goes wrong for them in the 1st half of next season…or can they ?
Wee Barry Ferguson is spouting this morning about the Huns getting £25 MILLION from Castore over the next 5 years and how Douglas Park should give a lot of cash to Slippy Stevie etc.
Does anyone know exactly how much cash the Huns are getting from this Sponsor, and won’t most of it will be spent on just keeping the lights on anyway ?
I fully expect The Celtic Board to throw Neil Lennon as much cash as possible to secure the 10 in a row…despite the money that this COVID-19 may have cost the Club so far.
HH
I sincerely hope that the FACT that Celtic will be going for 10 in a row next season will prove to too much for Gerrard and his “Players”…and with each passing League game that Celtic win will also result in the Sevco mob losing their heads even more and their Lack of any Discipline will be evident on the pitch, and that could result in poor form etc…IF The Refs do their job fairly…which I seriously doubt ?
Make NO mistake, this Hun mob will be out for even more Fenian Blood than usual, their “Supporters” will DEMAND it !
HH
NL on the Football Show on SS now,repeated through the day
Great pictures from 1974 all around the Celtic web yesterday. I’ve seen the future. Long sleeved hooped jerseys are the way to go.
Looking forward to Celtic Park with the 2020 players and staff sometime soon.
—————————————————————————————————————–
On reconstruction options, count me as a tick in whatever box sends Hearts down two divisions.
Taking it in their FFin’ stride:
“We are now the pariahs of the SPFL and maybe it is time for us to stop doing the Christian and Protestant thing of turning the other cheek and doing some biting for a change. The other clubs hate us, that is a given and except for the money we bring in, they would rather we were gone. It is certainly time that we looked into joining another league but in the absence of that, refusing to take any tickets for an away game anywhere in Scotland is a logical step… Yes, I’m bitter not only about today but the past 8 or 9 years when Scottish football kicked us in the groin and spat in our face when we were almost down and out. From now on, it is our turn, the lesser clubs and I include the papes in this, should feel our wrath and their media pals banned from Ibrox. Sky and BT should be told what commentators to use and if they refuse then we won’t sign their contract until Sutton, Provan and their ilk are banned. The Record and Sun should also be banned from Ibrox and all news etc. disseminated thru our Website. Refereeing “honest mistakes” should be well publicized and the culprits shamed on TV , not by us but neutral observers… I am mad as Hell and won’t take it any more.”
——
“The hatred is born out the religious bigotry of our rivals who have found unlikely allies in the Jock Tamson population in general.”
——
“Yip agree totally mate my anger levels have reached unprecedented levels!” [That’s got to be angry.]
——
“Swindon Town to be declared champions.
If we ever play them in a friendly (same with PSG etc) we have to recognise their actual honours in the match programme (and not their tainted 2020 title). We have to remain consistent and ensure all tainted titles are not recognised.”
——
“I guess we start legal proceedings.”
——
“Scottish football is dead.
Mr Park, please don’t let this go, Court shuts @ 3-15: lets burn our boats on their rhat infested shores.”
——
“If the club takes it on the chin and does nothing, then all the talk of evidence and the dossier was just another embarrassing episode.”
——
“Time to, and ill keep saying it, to stop funding these clubs… fill ibrox when we are allowed back in.. fill bluenose pubs ,who will need us more than ever….. untill we as fans are seen as doing something the spfl/sfa and celtic will walk all over us… .. the spfl wont have a sponsor, ( talk of sky) but thats just covering over the massive cracks.. lets bury scottish football.. Have bears not learned a thing from. 2012 when we were kicked to the bottom league.. untill we as bears are seen doing something, NOTHING WILL CHANGE…..”
——
“We should at least have a claim for loss of money due to us missing out on potential Champions League revenue”
——
“We may as well start recognising the War years titles, they mean more than incomplete seasons.”
——
“Scottish football purposely sent into chaos to give them 9 in a row.”
——
“Unanimous?
This is very very important. Surely we have not agreed to this corrupt robbery?”
——
“Don’t buy into their semantics buddy, that’s exactly what they want you to do.”
——
“We might be able to stop next years title grab but if there’s a way off field to stop us doing so believe you me, this shower of shameless pikey [fellows] will find a way to stop it.”
——
“[Sevco] must go to court over this and sue them for damages the potential financial gulf between 1st and 2nd is massive the league should have been void with a play off to decide CL and EL places… this is match fixing on a completely different scale.”
AULDHEID on 19TH MAY 2020 12:25 AM
Your experiences seem to have brought you to much the same viewpoint that I started out with, but at least you’ve tried, and maybe it’s the struggle itself that makes it all worthwhile.
https://t.co/3C4syxgWhU
Ex Hun “player” Derek Parlane…( another Diddy) says this morning that “Celtic have won this Title by Default”….just a pity that the “interviewer” didnt ask him about the Huns and the EBT Years…i wonder why ?
Their Pain is making me smile even more, especially as this is my 63rd Day of self isolation and its not getting any easier, although the start of the Lock Down will maybe begin next week, if things go reasonably well and MAYBE we will see Pubs with Beer Gardens being allowed to open sooner rather than later ?
I would happily get taxis to and from a Pub that is allowed to open, if my own local were to remain closed for the time being as it doesnt have a Beer Garden etc /
Ive forgotten what a Pint tastes like……63 days of soberiety is enough to drive any man Nuts !
LOL
HH
MONAGHAN1900 on 19TH MAY 2020 9:36 AM
It would be interesting to know how many of them are timposters winding up the huns, and how many are actually deranged nutters.
I remember a few years ago FF was concerned about being infiltrated and set up a ‘members lounge’, where only the staunchest and vouched for were allowed entry. One of the first members was a well known (IRL) poster on Celtic Minded.
https://twitter.com/brianmc111/status/1262658867290349569?s=12
All that’s missing is the Mission Impossible music….
Talksport 2 doing a season review at 5pm. I know it’s talksport but I’ll give it a go, so long as Tanner isn’t on talking nonsense.
Monaghan1900 on 19th May 2020 9:36 am
It’s when you stop laughing you realise what a bunch of sicko’s these peepul are.
I don’t believe they sleep at night.
They should change the club name to the ragers.
Middens the lot of them.
Oh and GIRFUT!!!
CHAMPIONEES………………………………..
BIG JIMMY on 19TH MAY 2020 8:14 AM
At the risk of stating the obvious, maybe now that we are 9 in a row champions…and going for the Magical 10….some of the current Celtic players who are out of contract and/or on loan til June 2020, will be even more determined to stay at Celtic Park, and be given the opportunity to be part of “The Going for 10 Crusade” ?
There many Ex Celtic Players who would have loved to have such an opportunity…Henke, Big Sutty, BBJ, Paul MacStay… etc etc., to name but a few.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BJ ~ you may have just revealed, for me, the reason why so many ex~celts on MSM that are a disgrace to our magnificent club……… JEALOUSY!!!
HH
Received this morning from someone who chooses to retain anonymity:
Dear Men, Gather round and pay close attention. We are in severe danger.
We are now allowed out to play golf, great news BUT
on the basis that all clubhouses are closed
It is imperative that you do not go straight home after your round! You MUST sit in your car for at least two hours afterwards! If we let them work out that it only takes three and a half hours we are screwed forever more! Remember that it is an absolute fact that any round of golf takes at least six hours and don’t let the side down. Take a few beers with you when you go, then when you drive back home, park up out of sight of the house and have a beer, take a nap, check your mail on your phone, have another beer and another nap AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES RETURN HOME IN LESS THAN SIX HOURS! You owe it to your fellow men, don’t let the side down, we are in this together.
Preserve your man time, stay sane, drink beer, save your marriage ! We owe it to our loved ones