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"Football without fans is nothing - Jock Stein"

EIGHT IN A ROW211 days ago
 
A MAGNIFICENT strike from Simon Ferry sealed an eighth consecutive Reserve League championship for Willie McStay’s men at Ibrox.

Celtic dominated this title decider, playing Rangers off the park at points and then, in the 70th minute, midfielder Ferry stepped up with a wonderful volley to blast Celtic to a 1-0 victory.

After a long, hard season, Ibrox turned out to be Celtic’s blue heaven, the place where the reserves made it a fantastic eight-in-a-row.

It was a tentative start by Celtic, in front of a vocal travelling support who had taken over half of the lower part of the main stand, outnumbering the home fans two to one.

Neither side was willing to commit bodies forward in the opening half-hour, although Ryan Conroy had a chance in the fifth minute, cutting across from the left and hitting a low shot with his weaker right foot that was easily collected by Allan McGregor.

Meanwhile Isa Bagci was the target for Rangers’ long balls, winning a few early headers, causing some problems for Danny Lafferty and Milan Misun and at one point stealing in to send a shot trundling at Mark Brown.

As half-time approached Celtic began to gather momentum and pull the Rangers’ back four all over the pitch with their pace, quick passing and good movement.

A flurry of chances ensued, with Paddy McCourt blasting over after cutting in from the left and two mad scrambles in the box leaving McGregor at sixes and sevens.

Then followed the chance of the half, with Jason Marr starting a move from the right back position and playing in McCourt, before taking the return pass and laying the ball off for Cawley who fired inches wide.

Ferry then blasted a shot wide that had McGregor scrambling across his goal and Celtic continued to play the better football and apply all the pressure after the restart.

There were chances for Willie McStay’s men after the restart, including a couple of moments of brilliance from McCourt, including one solo run and nutmeg which left Stephen Forbes completely bamboozled and a beautifully disguised pass which almost played in Niall McGinn.

Rangers were put under further pressure when Steven Naismith limped off injured after a 100 per cent fair, but completely committed challenge from the outstanding Marr.

Then, with 20 minutes remaining, Celtic’s patience and passing play paid off, as Ferry rifled home one of the goals of the season.

Playing the ball through the midfield and tentatively testing the Rangers’ back four, Celtic shifted the ball out to the left with McCourt and Massimo Donati both involved.

Captain Ryan Conroy then stepped up and delivered a high cross which swung out to the back post, dropping perfectly for Simon Ferry, who had a glance at goal and lashed a perfect first-time volley past McGregor.

It was a great strike from a player who has emerged from two-and-a-half years’ of injuries to recapture his early, outstanding form at Under-19 and reserve level.

What followed was a lesson in possession play by Celtic, who frustrated the home side and at times ran them ragged with their movement and play.

There was a glorious chance for Rangers with five minutes remaining when Misun was caught dwelling on the ball, allowing Steven Lennon to go through on goal and hit the post with his shot from the edge of the box.

However this was a rare chance for the home side, who were comprehensively beaten in this title decider.
When the final whistle sounded the reserves were able to celebrate a great win and also the fantastic achievement of eight consecutive league championships.
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R.I.P. TOMMY558 days ago
 
Dont stand at my grave and weep, im in heavens parkhead executive suite, im here with jinky and the boss Jock Stein, this is paradise like you've never seen.

The beer runs free the banter is great, fitba is played and bars are open late, Irish songs are chanting, the fields of athenry, oh baby watch, the free birds fly.

Everyone is wearing the hoops of green and white, the elite get in theirs no blue in sight, the huddle is our greeting, smiles are our reply, so don't weep for me, I did not die.

God Bless Tommy Burns PASS THIS OAN !
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BORUC LET OFF.. MCGEADY IN BRAWL576 days ago
 
Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc won’t face a Scottish Football Association Disciplinary Committee over the ‘God bless The Pope’ t-shirt he revealed at the end of the Hoops’ 3-2 Old Firm victory over Rangers.

It has been revealed that referee Craig Thompson has not mentioned the incident in his match report and Boruc will face no further SFA action.

However, the 28-year-old Pole will have to wait for SPL delegate Willie McDougall’s official report, which is set to include the goalkeeper’s t-shirt, which he revealed whilst applauding Celtic Park at full-time.

Thus, the eccentric ’keeper may yet stand accused of ‘irresponsible behavior’, based of Uefa guidelines which state that religious or political statements should not be displayed by players.

Boruc received a letter from the Crown Office, also translated into Polish, after gesturing to Gers fans last season. Now, SPL chiefs are reportedly penning another letter reminding him of his previous actions and issuing a stern final warning over his conduct.

The incident has sparked much debate within the Scottish football community, due to the delicate nature of the Old Firm rivalry and history of sectarian tension.

Incident

Meanwhile, Celtic have confirmed that Aiden McGeady was at the centre of an incident that took place in Glasgow in the early hours of Monday morning.

After leaving a nightclub with teammate Scott McDonald, the players were subject to, depending on reports, either friendly football banter or anti-Celtic abuse.

Regardless, a scuffle ensued and sources close to the pair say that they were, indeed, attacked but unharmed.

However, the Sun reports that a 22-year-old student is ready to press charges against Irishman McGeady after the player struck him and claims independent witnesses have corroborated this telling of events.

A club official stated: “The players made the club aware of this incident on Monday. Aiden has made it clear he’d be more than happy to co-operate with the police as both players were undoubtedly the aggrieved parties in this unfortunate incident.”
 3 Comments 
double delight for aiden mcgeady584 days ago
 
AIDEN McGEADY scooped a special double at the weekend when he was named the Scottish Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.

The prestigious awards are voted for the SPL players, and McGeady beat off competition from fellow Celts, Scott McDonald and Barry Robson, as well as Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar.

Speaking after picking up his double award, the Irishman said: “I am surprised. I thought there were a couple of people ahead of me for Player of the Year and I thank my team-mates for helping me win and my fellow professionals who voted for me.

McGeady’s triumph makes it three-in-a-row for Celtic in the SPFA Awards. Shaun Maloney won it two years ago while last season it was Shunsuke Nakamura who lifted the trophy.
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celtic football club statement588 days ago
 
CELTIC Football Club yesterday met with the Sunday Herald newspaper in relation to the recent article containing the line, 'some fans would probably rather have a bead-rattling Hoopy the Huddle Hound in the dug-out.'

During a constructive meeting with regard to this issue, the Sunday Herald has informed the club of the following:

The individual in question will no longer write a column for the Sunday Herald.

The newspaper will be printing a full unreserved apology in this Sunday's edition.

The newspaper will be responding directly and individually to all those people who have complained by letter or e-mail to the Sunday Herald on this matter.

Celtic Football Club welcomes the measures taken by the Sunday Herald.
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True Fans588 days ago
 
Supporting Your Local Club.
Do you ever wonder sometimes why you bother? I mean, how easy would it be to forsake the local version of the beautiful game for the warm and cosy alternative offered courtesy of your satellite dish? You've got your numerous camera angles, expert analysis, build-ups, post mortems and all manner of gadgets and gizmos at the other end of a wee red button. Hard to beat, isn't it? Irish League football doesn't really stand a chance. So why do we bother?

Maybe it's something to do with a sense of belonging, a sense of pride in your own community. Your local club, well, they're YOUR team. You know the players - and they're ordinary blokes like yourself. You pass the ground on a regular basis, you've seen it develop over the years - the lights, the new stand. You've maybe went down on a winter's morning to help clear snow so the match that afternoon can go ahead, maybe turned up in the summer months to give the old place a much needed lick of paint. You sell programmes, raffle tickets, attend club dinners, sponsor a player, buy a brick. You do your bit.

Then there’s the match itself. That feeling when things go right on the pitch. The last minute winner enjoyed in the company of your mates not forgetting the despair during the bad times. You’re all in this together. After the game, walking home, getting stopped in the street, queuing at the corner shop for the Pink, "How’d they do today?". You’re a real supporter, a true fan. You’re recognised as such. There’s something in that. And woe betide anyone who dares rubbish your team, especially some ‘expert’ who claims to support some bunch of overpaid prima donna’s they’ll only ever see on the box.

What do they care? It won’t ruin their weekend if ‘their’ team loses or make it if they pick up those precious three points. Leave them to their replica shirts and their once a season trip over to scoff their prawn sandwiches. They’re not fans, they’re customers. With you it’s different. It matters. It matters a lot.
 1 Comment 
WHY I HATE THATCHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!607 days ago
 
Why i hate Thatcher!

I grew up fully in the face of her warped, vindictive,
biased, corrupt and selfish policies. The day she departs this earth will
be the day a whole generation rejoices in her demise.

The woman whose anti-trade union policies reduced the
power of collectivism to zero, and who decimated the
rights of working people everywhere. As a result,
employers were legally permitted to replace proper
meaningful jobs and apprenticeships, and exploit
workers on perverted government schemes, paying them
just £25 pounds per week in the process.

The woman who massively widened the already obscene
gap between the rich and the poor, as her supporters
in big business, newly privatised utilities, and the
arms and defence industries made billions, whilst
those in the new 'underclass' suffered from crippling
unemployment, homelessness, poverty, crime, drug abuse
and hopelessness.

The woman who actively promoted selfishness, and
disdain for those less able, with her infamous 'There
is no such thing as society' mercenary attitude, and
who almost worshipped greed and opportunism as
virtues.

The woman whose atrocious employment policies favoured
those who kept her in power, at the expense of the
working class people who actually provided the wealth.
Secure, full-time employment in manufacturing,
engineering, and heavy industry was replaced with low
paid casual, temporary contract work in the call
centre, fast food, and service sectors. In the
process, worker's rights were eroded to almost zero.
An almost fanatical anti-Europeanism ensured that it
would be many, many more years before Britain entered
parity with the rest of the European Union on worker's
rights and minimum wage levels. In many cases, parity
is still a long way off.

The woman who led a campaign demanding that General
Augusto Pinochet go free. A man responsible for the
deaths of tens of thousands of workers, socialists and
other political opponents; who presided over mass
executions, torture and rape; and whom she routinely
described as a bastion of democracy.

The woman who called mass-murdering dictator Suharto
"one of our very best and most valuable friends."
Suharto, with the full backing of obscene capitalists
like Thatcher, waded to power through rivers of blood,
as more than a million people were slaughtered and the
whole population was held in fear of their lives for
over 30 years. In the genocide that decimated east
Timor, Suharto's gestapo, known as Kopassus, gunned
down innocent men, women, and children with
British-supplied Heckler & Koch machine guns, fired
from British-supplied Tactica 'riot control' vehicles.

The woman who directly ordered the sinking of the
General Belgrano, to undermine peace talks and enter
the Falklands War to boost her popularity at home.
After being tracked for nearly 36 hours by the British
nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror, the Belgrano was was
sunk by three torpedoes on May 2nd, 1982, despite
being outside a 200-mile (320-km) exclusion zone, and
heading for home.

The woman who routinely used state-sponsored terrorism
to assassinate Republican activists in Ireland (and
other soverign territory), and who unilaterally acted
as judge, jury, and executioner by covertly
re-introducing the death penalty for those who dared
to oppose British imperialism on Irish soil.

The woman who allowed ten young men to starve
themselves to death, by refusing to acknowledge the
fact that they were imprisoned for their beliefs, and
for actions related to the political situation in
Ireland. By trying to have them classed as common
criminals - a tag no political activist has ever worn
- she signed their death warrants. She did so freely,
willingly, and without afterthought, despite there
being numerous opportunities to resolve the situation
by alternative means
 0 Comments 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES????????617 days ago
 
The furore which surrounded the recent confiscation of the Dublin Loyal Rangers' Club's banner, "Behind enemy lines" completely bypassed Dublin!

While Strathclyde Police ordered the removal of the "Sectarian" banner, a decision largely meeting with approval in various Celtic fan forums, the reaction in Dublin media has been to treat the whole thing as a light hearted episode.

The Sunday Times opened its article on the incident by stating that "Supporting Glasgow Rangers in Dublin must feel like living behind enemy lines" and went on to give a tongue in cheek account about what it's like to support Rangers in a city where the sympathies of the overwhelming majority of people who have any interest whatsoever in Scottish football lie with Celtic. The phrase itself was coined by an Irish journalist following an interview with the club after its establishment in 2001.

While it's interesting to note that the Scottish authorities appeared to be sufficiently provoked by the banner to remove it, I'm more interested in the whole incident as a symbol of the on-going cultural change being experienced not only in the Republic of Ireland but in the island as a whole.

It's easy to say that the Irish immigrants who founded Celtic 120 years ago wouldn't recognise Ireland today given the massive social and intellectual change which has taken place but the reality is that even 20 years ago people wouldn't have been able to comprehend the change within the island which has actually taken place.

From the time of the famine up until the mid 90's Ireland experienced net emigration and population growth was stagnant. Since the advent of Celtic Tiger the population has rocketed partly through people no longer leaving but mainly through the large number of "new Irish" arriving. This is having an impact on the cultural and religious make-up of Ireland. An example of this is that in some Dublin inner-city wards the number of babies being baptised as Catholics is now much fewer than half. The Catholic church no longer dominates in the way it once did and active participants are declining dramatically; in fact according to the 2006 Census, 10% of the number of the members of the church of Ireland were actually originally baptised as Catholics.

Who would have believed 10 years ago, never mind 20 years ago that the government in the north would have been led by Republican leader Martin McGuiness and arch-Unionist Ian Paisely.

Ireland is changing rapidly. The "Peace Dividend" including cross border transport links and joint business opportunities means that while we are not much closer to a unified government, the old divisions are no longer as clear and transparent as they once were. It wouldn't surprise me if in 10 years time a similar banner would be removed, not on the basis that it was "sectarian" but that it was no longer true.

Celtic have been inextricably linked to Ireland right from the days of its foundation up to the present day and this is reflected both in the ownership and the support. That link with Ireland is still rightly recognised and celebrated but as Ireland changes, the challenge for Celtic supporters is to be aware of this and to maintain the relationship in the context of the changing circumstances.

TAL
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