FIRST, WORST AND LEAVE THE BEST TILL LAST

Nicholas Stewart (Glasgow)

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FIRST: It was not my first game but it was a very memorable game. It was Wolves under the new pylon lights. I remember Wolves strip looked so beautiful, Gold not Yellow. They had a great team with they had some great Irish boys playing with them. A lethal… Scot Alan Gilzean and Irish lad Duggan. They won 2-0 but it all looked so futuristic and super cool to me.

WORST: Maybe losing to AC Milan, Dixie missing that penalty or the ICT cup defeat. Not the defeat but Mark Viduka not appearing in the 2nd half for rookie coach John Barnes while   Kenny Dalglish was playing golf in Spain. Barnes later said he suffered racial abuse from the Celtic supporters. I don’t believe him he is a LIAR. I wish he would come into McChuills so I could tell him to his face. However Dalglish did leave him high and dry.

BEST It has to be Lisbon 1967 but there are so many.  Beating Vodvodina comes close. They were sensational, maybe the best team I ever saw Celtic play. Other’s include 10 men winning the league. Beating the almighty (aye right) Leeds home and away. Sevco being liquidated.

Celtic having romance at our core I was outside Hampden after Dunfermline beat us. Just at the top of Mount Florida and I was crying. A working man walked by and ruffled my hair and said “Never mind son I’ve been greetin for 20 years” . Well after that we won the European Cup what a journey we had under Jock Stein.

The St. Valentine’s day massacre I got 6 tickets for our end and took 6 of the Pogues….. Phil, James, Spider,  Andrew, James (one of the sound engineers) and Joe Strummer to to the game with me. They could not believe how crazy it all was. Joe remained a good friend until he sadly passed away

FINAL WORD:

God bless Shane McGowan X

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From the city centre to Janefield Street, Celtic fans have plenty of options available for a few pre and post-match drinks.

The walk to Paradise offers plenty of choice for supporters to take in the atmosphere, whether you want to sing along with songs of love, hope and freedom or grab a bite to eat before kick-off, there is certainly more than enough to whet your appetite.

The CSC on London Road, The Brazen Head in the Gorbals, The Tollbooth at Glasgow Cross or The Old Burnt Barns (Lynch’s) at The Barras have been welcoming hoops fans making their way to Paradise for decades.

Add in Grace’s and Murphy’s to the list and you’ve quenched a thirst before a ball has even been kicked.

If, however you want to try something a bit different, here are a few of my favourites nestled in our Dear Green Place.

McChuills is a Glasgow institution, situated at the bottom of High Street, before you reach The Tollbooth Steeple. It is one of those great venues that always seems to offer something special for anyone popping in for a few drinks. The atmosphere is second to none, especially when Nicky gets on the decks and you start to take in the album covers decorating the walls of the old railway arches. It gives a proper feel good factor whether you’re celebrating 3 points or on your way to a gig.

Connollys Irish bar is another great addition to the Merchant City pub scene. You’ll find it on the corner of Bell Street and Albion Street. The bar has had a few names over the years, but has always been a firm favourite with Celtic fans making their way home after the match. Live music all weekend from the likes of Liam McGrandles and Paul Sheridan of The Wakes means you’re guaranteed a good sing song with like-minded people.

The Admiral Woods started life as The Admiral Bar, but had to move to a new venue earlier this year.  The Admiral Woods offers something away from the football chants of the Gallowgate and Merchant City.  The big spacious bar shows live football as well as serving up some great meals to help line your stomach pre or post-match.  Plenty of music memorabilia dotted around, DJ nights and great music, The Admiral Woods gives a great alternative when you’re over for the football, as well as the best Guinness in the city centre in my opinion.

Last but not least, Jinty McGintys on Ashton Lane over in the west end has been at the forefront of the Irish pub scene in Glasgow since the 1990s.  Live music every night gives you a great opportunity to listen to some folk classics as well indie, pop and rock cover songs.  Sunday afternoons normally offers a trad folk session to help get you back on your feet.  A huge beer garden at the back means even if the bar is full (& it usually is) you still have plenty of space to enjoy a pint or two. It might be in the opposite side if the city from Celtic park, but if you’re here for a couple of days, its more than worth the detour.

Martin Donaldson is a Glasgow East End Bhoy,  He made my first trip to Celtic Park in 1983 for a 0-0 draw with Brechin City & thankfully that never put him off going back.   He now sits perched high in section 409 of the North Stand with his 2 kids making memories along the Celtic Way.

He loves picking out those matches from yester-year to find out much more about the legendary names & faces that have graced the Celtic Jersey over the years.  He is a keen fundraiser for The Celtic Foundation & The British Heart Foundation as they both strive to  make a difference and to change peoples lives all over the world.

Issue 130 Print Edition is SOLD OUT but you can still download the latest digital version.

Dropped points at home and away along with the confirmation of our European wooden spoon wasn’t exactly the start to the festive season we were hoping for. The banning of the green brigade and growing discontent around the lack of ambition from the board doesn’t exactly scream ‘unified front’. Thankfully the Ultras are back ahead of the Glasgow Derby. 

Injuries and suspensions have laid bare the paucity of talent in a bloated squad outside the tried and trusted first 14 or so. The maddening transfer policy of trying to spend as little as possible at every juncture in every deal has led to a scattergun ‘punt’ approach which has left us high in quantity and low in quality. 

Rodgers is a high-quality coach and the board will certainly be hoping for a derby win to stop people asking awkward questions and get the bandwagon rolling again.

And it will roll, early European failure at least gives fans more time to forget how bad it all was before they’re asked to buy the expensive three-hammering package again for next season. Win the league, gloat, fail to invest, fail in Europe – repeat, it’s the modern Glasgow Celtic way. 

Winning any league is an achievement but Celtic could be so much more than we are now if we had a coherent, modern policy around recruitment. We could win the league as a matter of course and always be striving to go as far as we can in Europe, instead the current custodians are happy for us to be just a bit better than a poor rangers’ side, it’s such a waste. 

Similar and smaller sized clubs from comparable leagues have found ways to compete almost exclusively through smart recruitment, incrementally increasing their outlays on their next star, slowly and steadily building better squads, and improving. They live in a similar financial reality to the Celtic board, they just don’t fear it as much, they’re looking for an edge and clearly, finding it. 

The danger becomes getting left behind, utterly cut adrift from what we recognize as a club capable of playing at a high European level. The last few years suggest the Champions League is a bridge too far and in our current state, we’re a token entrant there to collect the money, take the hidings and slip out the trapdoor by game 4. 

That money of course is enough to keep us ahead of that poor ranger’s team and for an increasing number of the fanbase, that’s just not enough anymore. If the total of your ambition is to be just a bit better than a not very good team, then just how ambitious are you really? 

That’s also been reflected in the stands in this strange, strange season we’re having. The green brigade ban undoubtedly left a hole in the atmosphere as the ‘they don’t speak for me’ brigade continue to sit on their hands. Then we have the on-pitch fare which has veered wildly this season from the sublime to the shambolic – most recently it’s seemed to settle around ‘turgid’.

This was a big feature of the football in the manager’s second season in his first stint here, a lot of games were drawn that season, the patterns have felt familiar in this season’s games against Motherwell, Hibs and St. Johnstone where we have lots of the ball but struggle to create or break down the opposition. Admittedly, that’s been made more difficult for him considering this season’s squad is considerably weaker than last season’s. 

What would help is a busy January – particularly in the outgoings section, there’s far too much dead weight in there and the addition of some actual first team ready players in the areas where we clearly need them. It won’t fix everything, but it would at least show that the people in charge are at least paying slight attention to what’s happening on the park. We’d all be much the better for it if they primarily focused on the park and less on vendettas on fan groups in the stands. It’s going to be an interesting 2024 

Eoin was born and raised in Dublin and studied print journalism back when that was a thing. Aside from blethering on about Celtic he can often be found at Richmond Park bemoaning another poor St. Pat’s performance. Once saw Tony Cascarino score a goal for Celtic. Temporary stand survivor.

Issue 130 Print Edition Fanzine is SOLD OUT but you can still download the E-Zine to read more quality articles.

It’s the early nineties and I am a wide eyed young Bhoy on the way home from Paradise on the Naomh Padraig C.S.C bus. Supporters club legend Ger Brady passes by me as I am leafing through the match day programme after another disappointing result and slaps a “Celtic Fans against fascism” sticker in the middle two pages.

Young and old the message was clear. There was no place for racism within our support. No exceptions, no excuses, No Pasaran. Thankfully, barring a few isolated incidents this has always been the case in my time following Celtic. Despite our on-field success, that story of the immigrant underdog overcoming the odds against such a ferocious barrel of hate has rung so through over decades among the Celtic faithful.

Within that social backdrop of tolerance, respect and empathy for all those struggling in life, I was horrified to see events in my own City ,Dublin on the night of 23.11.23, which saw throngs of youths, having been whipped up by Far right agitators, attempt to destroy our Fair city and attack anyone they didn’t deem “Proper Irish”, in response to a horrific attack on young schoolgirls earlier in the day.

Images went viral across the world and the reputational damage to Dublin and its inhabitants may take a long time to heal. Truth is, those that tried to besmirch our City are a small minority that offer society nothing only hate, division and fear. What sickened me in the days that followed were some so called “Celtic fans” here in Ireland, from wannabe Youtube “Superfans” to the usual faceless posts on social media try and peddle the narrative and playbook we have seen so often from those in the far right, with references to “Military aged Men” and constant refences to “Undocumented males”.

The fact that some of the video posts were made with the individuals wearing a Celtic shirt, a club lets be very clear founded by refugees shows you the level of intellect you are dealing with. There can be no debate with such hate and we as a support have a duty to tackle it head on. The statement from the committee of our C.S.C put out the day after the terrible events of that Thursday night, we feel truly reflects the spirit of Dublin and the spirit of Celtic.

We in Naomh Padraig C.S.C Dublin along with so many throughout the Country are still coming to terms with what the City went through yesterday. All our thoughts and prayers are with those horrendously injured by the grotesque attack on innocent school children and their teachers outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square.

We were all horrified to see the actions that followed by a small but vocal minority attempting to besmirch the name of all those who reside in Dublin and blatantly try and destroy the livelihoods and places of employment that make up our Fair City. We have watched in disgust as a growing Far Right minority have tried to whip up frenzy, fear, and hysteria against those they do not deem to be “Proper Irish”.

For us Celtic fans this is like a history playbook that we have all read before. We are hugely cognisant that those migrants who founded Celtic suffered immense hardship, blatant racism and xenophobia from a section of the indigenous population in the west of Scotland who questioned their “Purity”. Celtic Football club, born of famine and oppression will always be a club where refugees, minority groups and those that don’t fit into the narrative that the far right peddle shall always feel at home.

You don’t get to be a Celt and be racist. To those who tried to besmirch our city. You will never win. Our city is a multi-cultural bastion of so many different creeds and cultures that have added vibrancy, passion, charm, and an eclectic mix of energy that continues to resonate off all our cities’ streets.

In every culture in life, you will find some bad eggs, but let’s be clear, we as proud Dubs have benefitted so much from those who have left their own lands and decided to call Dublin home. The spirit of Walfrid and the tolerance, respect and will to overcome that our Founding fathers showed when setting up Celtic football club on November 6^th 1887 continues to flow strong in our City.

To those who try and push through their hate filled agenda, you will never overcome that spirit. Naomh Padraig C.S.C stands with our fellow Brothers and Sisters who have suffered at the hands of such hate. We Shall Never Be Defeated!!!

Ciaran Kenny is a member of Naomh Padraig CSC in Dublin since the early nineties. Ciaran is also a regular to Paradise and beyond since 1995, he is a season ticket holder at Celtic Park since 1999. and a Shareholder and also a member of the Celtic Trust. Ciaran has worked closely with the homeless services in Dublin City working with Don Bosco Care since 2001. Ciaran is also Chairperson of the Irish aftercare network which advocates for better outcomes for young people in care throughout all of Ireland. Ciaran has contributed to Mt90M since 2008.

Issue 130 Print Edition Fanzine is SOLD OUT but you can still download the E-Zine to read more quality articles.

A late November friendly International match between the Republic and New Zealand was hardly likely to create a lot of interest especially when it came after a disappointing Euro qualifying campaign for the Irish which ended with the manager Stephen Kenny relinquishing his post. 

New Zealand, unlike their famous counterparts, the All Blacks, sit 101 in the world rankings and the Republic 47, it was a game as attractive as Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer discussing Scottish Independence. 26,000 attended and we were part of the smallest crowd at a Republic game in living memory as a 1-1 draw confirmed the malaise which has descended on the Aviva since the days of Jack Charlton, Trapattoni and Martin O’Neill. 

The Republic were regular participants at World Cups and Euros since ’88 but have fallen off the radar in recent times. A young boy was born in Derry in ’89 just after a Gary Mackay goal for Scotland had jettisoned the Republic to the Euros in Germany in a perverse way. 

James McClean was born to be a footballer, growing up in the Bogside in Derry, not exactly a child of the conflict but playing ball on the streets of the Creggan which had seen turmoil for 3 decades. Derry was always a soccer city, the GAA stadium ironically sits beside the Brandywell (Derry City stadium) and is called ‘Celtic Park’ but while the Derry county team came close to winning the All Ireland last year it’s the soccer team which has always claimed the allegiance of the Derry working class fans. 

McClean graduated through the ranks at Derry and played almost 80 games for his hometown team before signing for Sunderland in ’08 and his career blossomed under a certain Martin O’Neill, a Kilrea, Co Derry man himself. While playing over 60 games for the Premier League outfit his career began to have problems out with football when he refused to wear a poppy for the annual Remembrance Day commemorations, as a Derry man where British Paras had murdered 14 innocent civil rights marchers less than 20 years before he was born there was no way he was going to wear the little flower which has also caused controversy at Celtic over the years as well. 

McClean moved on to Wigan where the controversy followed him but the club backed his principled stance unlike Sunderland but he still received abuse at every ground he played at. His next career move was back to the Premier with West Brom but the controversy followed him as his own supporters gave him abuse and even player confrontation. 

Stoke City was his next port of call and he actually played his best football there and voted Player of the Year and also converted to overlapping left back from his normal left wing. As his career began to wind down McClean joined Wrexham who had been bought by Irish American film directors. 

While not an outstanding Premier league player he has had a steadfast career and is a player who I personally think would have done a great job at Celtic. I always thought McClean was a perfect fit for Celtic, imagine his first tackle v Rangers as he did with the Republic and put the left winger in row Z, the Green Brigade would have loved him. Whether it was the greater money available in the EPL or maybe Lenny, BR or Ange didn’t fancy him is hard to fathom, there was also the chance it wouldn’t work out as in the case of Shane Duffy.

But it’s James McClean’s International career which has been the signature tone of his life. While born in Derry and eligible to play for ‘Norn Irn’ it was never a consideration for him. He did feature 7 times for the ‘NI’ U-21’s but when called up for the full international he declined and waited for the Republic to call.

This was a decision made by many nationalist players born in the 6 counties and especially the better players. The reality is that if you play for ‘NI’ you have to stand for ‘God Save the King’ and the Union Jack flying over Windsor and also listen to the Linfield/Rangers fan base who support that team, McClean wasn’t prepared to do that. 

To quote McClean; ‘You are looking around and seeing Union Jacks and listening to the songs and I just didn’t feel at home’. He made his debut for the Republic in 2012 ironically replacing Celtic man Aiden McGeady. He then played at the Euro finals against Spain and although the Republic lost 4-0 against the magical Spanish tiki-taka team of Xavi and Iniesta, McClean would definitely have felt at home as the Republic fans took over the stadium in Poland with a last 15 minute rendition of ‘the Fields of Athenry’.

McClean would go on to claim a regular spot on the Republic team and played at the Euros in ’16 in a stellar career which brought him 103 caps and the 5th most in the Republic’s history, many more than luminaries like Liam Brady and Roy Keane. 

James McClean was probably the most victimised Irish footballer in England ever, but he was a strong character and refused to bend the knee, he has strong principles and explained as a Derry man there was no way he could wear the poppy. 

He said if it was just about WW1 there was no problem but it includes every campaign that the British Army have been involved in since which includes Palestine and Ireland, McClean’s stance was recognised by many including the Wigan Chairman. Most Irish players in England take the money and keep the head down but McClean was different, Neil Lennon received similar abuse for his principled stand from sectarian bigots during his career and was also abused with death threats and physical assaults. 

We went along to the game, we have two season tickets and go regularly this game wasn’t the most attractive, if truth be told it was in recognition of James McClean who took us up on a cold night in November. The Derry man was a special player, a family man with an autistic child and recently diagnosed himself with a form of it; it took great courage to go public with it. 

On the night he played his last time for the Republic, the President Michael D Higgins shook his hand and a beautiful girl singer serenaded ‘Amhran na bhFainn’ with the flag of the Republic fluttering in the wind, James McClean was at home.

Paddy McMenamin was born in Belfast with Donegal and Tyrone parents. He spent the 70’s in Long Kesh. He has been going to Paradise since the Benfica game in Nov. 1969. He lived in Donegal for 30 years but now lives in Galway. He returned to University at 50 and became a secondary school teacher of history and English.

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It was interesting to see EFA President Aleksander Ceferin on Thursday when he said “football is not for sale” in response to new proposals for a Super League. The remarks came after a European Court of Justice ruling that UEFA and FIFA contravened EU law by stopping the formation of the European Super League.

Football may not be for sale yet! but do UEFA only care about money and big sponsorship? They might pay lip service to football fans and supporters groups but do they really care?.

Below is just another example of why I believe UEFA don’t care about us the football fans.

Our latest adventure in Rome was another sad tale of defeat and travelling football fans being treated poorly once again. Shame on UEFA, Lazio and Celtic for letting the game kick off while so many Celtic fans were outside the ground with some fans only getting in for the last half an hour of the game.

I have been to the stadium before on that great night when Celtic beat Lazio back when Neil Lennon was in charge, and I strolled up to the ground close to kick off and breezed through security and was able to enjoy the experience of watching a game of football. So why was it changed for this game?

Celtic’s European campaign is over for another year, and I will be 53 next year for the next campaign but do I want to continue to be treated so badly and on so many occasions at away football games in Europe? How come I can attend other sporting events and music events and I am treated with respect?

UEFA preach about respect yet have no respect for the very fans that are the lifeblood of the sport who travel home and way and go to great expense to support their teams.

I love travelling to European cities to see Celtic, experience the culture, taste the local food and drinks on offer and see the sights. You also meet up with so many familiar faces and make new friends. The experience is only ruined by the match going experience in some countries.

In recent years the way we were treated in Madrid (v Real) on entering the stadium and Warsaw (v Shaktar) on trying to exit the stadium are fresh in the mind, but Rome topped them all for disorganisation. I knew we would be held in the ground after the game. The Rome Police informed Celtic, and the club informed the fans. This happens in many countries we visit. You either leave early or you must wait to get out.

The problem was getting in. We received our tickets by PDF which are a disaster as anyone can print off an extra one for someone without a ticket or take a screen shot once, they are in and send it to as many fans without tickets outside.

I waited 20 minutes after the game had kicked off in the queue before deciding to go back to a café close to the ground and watch the rest of the game before I left, I spoke to the two Celtic stewards who were positioned between the first ticket and passport check and the second one.

They had no information on how long it was going to take to get in. I also approached a plain clothes Police man who brought me to a head Lazio steward who told me all fans would get in eventually, but it was taking longer than expected to check passports, scan tickets, and do security checks. When I asked why it was taking so long, he told me barcodes were not scanning.

So still in the dark I opted to watch at least some of the game on the TV. The last time I was locked out of a game was in Blackburn in 2002 when Celtic fans with forged tickets were blamed. It never seems to be anyone else’s fault, but the football fans and UEFA and the clubs just wash their hands of the problem.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes and host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

So much has happened this season so. We celebrated 25 years of St. Margaret’s CSC and the impact our supporters club has had in our area for Celtic fans wanting to watch Celtic in the flesh.

The friendships made, the highs and lows of following Celtic and the success Celtic have had in that time since the first bus left the village of Duleek bound for Glasgow.

The late great Jock Stein said, “Football without fans is nothing” and for many Celtic fans, supporters’ clubs are the life blood of their Celtic matchday experience. It is there for encouraging to see the Green Brigade return after been banned from the North Curve and the Bhoys also returning to their section after it was disassembled in the corner of the Jock Stein stand when they walked out in solidarity in support of  the North Curve.

Celtic’s Ultra groups have always split the Celtic fanbase. Some fans love them, and some fans don’t but I think we can all admit the atmosphere is not the same without them.

I applaud all Celtic fans for their stance on what is happening in Gaza to innocent Palestinian people, highlighting the injustice and for showing solidarity and support.

The Celtic board may control the purse strings of the club, but they will never control the hearts and minds of the Celtic Fan base. Thankfully the Ultras and club had talks to iron out the problems and now we see both Ultra groups returning to the stadium to create the atmosphere and colour that they bring to the Celtic Park.

Against Motherwell the Ultras turned up to welcome the team on Paradise Way in front of the stadium. A middle finger from celebrity Celtic fan, Rod Steward to the groups signalled what side of the fence he sits on. While Rod was enjoying his hospitality at his table, the Ultras made their way back to CSA to watch the match and the corteo will leave there CSA base for their return v Livingston.

In the absence of the Ultra’s in recent games some Celtic fans did try to give the team a lift vocally on occasions but without the Ultra choir leaders, megaphones and drums beating, the atmosphere can be flat just like Celtic’s performance on the pitch recently in the SPFL.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes and the host of the Celtic Soul Podcast