Author Archives: celtic

A night in the Queens Drive at Number 10

Last Saturday we were on the 6.30 am train from Oranmore, Galway to Heuston, Dublin with a 10 minute stop at ‘The Fields of Athenry’. At Heuston, named after one of the signatories executed in 1916 we jumped an Airport Express to catch a Ryanair flight to Glasgow, the mad rush of the morning was over at security and we sailed through.

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We met More than 90 Minutes Editor Andrew Milne as we tracked along to Gate 113. The flight was delayed an hour, then it wasn’t as Michael O’Leary produced another 737 from Belarus or somewhere exotic and we were off.

We took a taxi to the 10 Hotel on the southside of the city but by this stage it was 2.30pm and we decided to give the game a miss as I was carrying a Golf injury to my leg and I was struggling.

Andrew, being the intrepid sort he is, jumped a cab and witnessed the 7 goals we missed. Well we might have missed them in the flesh but I had the game on my IPad courtesy of Celtic Pass and so with an afternoon lunch and a few beers we settled into the hotel bar and enjoyed the demolition of the Saints before the More than 90 Minutes Annual Dinner which kicked off at 7pm.

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As the the guests arrived they were all in great form after such a quality performance from Celtic earlier. The evening at the No. 10 was hosted by Andrew and Celtic poet Erin Boyle, I loved her ‘poe-yums’ as they pronounce it in Glasgow.

There was a great mix of people there helping to raise funds for The Kano Foundation and The Paradise Steps. Both charities had representatives in attendance who spoke about the work of both groups. One making football free for children and the other feeding children in Malawi.

Andrew then introduced each themed table they came from Cork, Donegal, Glasgow and from all over all with a common love of Celtic. Players, Writers, Boxers, Politicians and Publicans all enjoying each others company.

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Our table, ‘Celtic Soul’, had writers Liam Kelly ‘Our Stories & Our Songs’ & ‘The Holy Grounds of Glasgow Celtic’; ‘Paul McQuade, ‘Celtic Daft-Johnny Doyle’ & ‘Said Lizzie to Philip’; 1980’s Anti Fascist Action members ; and myself with my latest book, ‘Armed Struggle to Academia which is on sale at Calton Books just getting that plug in and indeed the book sold on the night and I thank everyone who bought a copy, much appreciated.

The meal was beautiful dinner and the wine and conversation flowed. We had the pleasure to listen to Celtic legends John Fallon and George McCluskey regale us with stories from days gone by and get their opinion of the current crop of players and the Ange effect.

John of course part of Lisbon Lions squad and that famous 1969 final when Celtic  obliterated the bears. George will always be remembered for his deflected goal from a Danny McGrain shot which won the cup in 1980 and led to the infamous battle on the pitch après match as the bears like their counterparts in the 6 counties decided that Celtic fans couldn’t celebrate on the pitch or walk ‘their’ streets.

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The replica European Cup was in situ for patrons to get photos with although photos with the only man to touch the real one back on that famous night in 1967 were more popular. As always with Celtic nights the great sum of £4760 was raised for deserving charitable causes.

The ethos of the Sligo Marist priest Andrew Kerins aka Brother Walfrid is well and truly ensconced in the Celtic tradition carried on by More Than 90 Minutes in true Celtic tradition, led by another Andrew in the modern era flying twice a week to every game, home and away, from Drogheda to Dublin and then to Glasgow and onto where ever Celtic may be playing.

A route well travelled over the years by so many like minded Celts following the same route of the Donegal Irish from Famine times which then made this club what it is today.

The tricolour flying proudly flying over Paradise, we always know who we are.

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Paddy 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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Planes, Trains and Fixture Lists

The SPFL announced the remaining fixtures and for Celtic fans like myself it was straight onto airline websites to try and get some cheap flights. I had opted not to play the guessing game and book flights on the off chance like so many fans who thought we would play the Rangers on the first Sunday of the split and the last Sunday would be a potential homecoming trophy day with Celtic sitting 6 points clear and a healthy goal difference on our nearest rivals from across the city.

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I only had to pay over the odds for one return flight and was able to get value for money on all the others but many fans who took the gamble have got burned but hopefully they are not too much out of pocket and can afford to re-book new flights to see Celtic during the business end of the season.

We kick off the league again after the Scottish cup semi final with a Sunday trip to Dingwall for a 14:30 kick off against Ross County and when we visited the highlands a few months back we had to wait until the 97th minute to see Tony Ralston secure all three points for 10 men Celtic and send us all down the road very happy. Tickets will once again be like hens teeth for this one.

The Rangers will cross the city to visit Paradise the following Sunday for a midday kick off and lets hope they leave their broken bottles at home this time and that Celtic can once again turn on the style like we witnessed the last time they came to the East End of Glasgow when the bhoys were excellent especially in the first half.

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Hearts also come to Celtic Park for a midday kick off on Saturday 07 May having already qualified for Europe. Ross County, Dundee United and Motherwell will battle it out for fourth European place up for grabs.

Wednesday 11 May sees us visit the Tannadice where we won the league back in 2008 for Tommy Burns on an emotional night. Demand will far out weigh supply for this away trip once again.

Finally Motherwell visit Celtic Park on Saturday 14 May for 12:15 kick off hopefully we will be celebrating as Callum McGregor lifts the SPFL trophy. All our split fixtures will be shown live on Sky Sports and Celtic TV.

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Ross County v Celtic FC

Sunday 24 April

KO 1430

Celtic FC v Rangers

Sunday 1 May

KO 1200

Celtic FC V Hearts

Saturday 7 May

KO 1200

Dundee United v Celtic FC

Wednesday 11 May

KO 1930

Celtic FC V Motherwell

Saturday 14 May

KO 1215

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Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes Celtic Fanzine which he started in 2001. He has been involved with fanzines since 1989 and has written for numerous publications and online about Celtic.  He is a former newspaper columnist with the Daily Ireland and the man behind celticfanzine.com. He is host of the Celtic Soul Podcast, Talk form the Terrace Podcast, Grand Auld History Podcast & Celtic AM pre-match events at Murphy’s in Glasgow on match days and follows Celtic Home & Away. He is a season ticket holder for Celtic FC and the Republic of Ireland. He is also P.R.O. of St. Margaret’s CSC, a member of the Celtic Trust and the Celtic Graves Association.

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Saturday will see a triumphant homecoming for Celtic

Saturday will see a triumphant homecoming for Celtic after what seems like an age since we played on the hallowed turf.

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It is fact only a few weeks since we ran out 4-0 winners over Ross County before the international break interrupted the league season and last weekend’s visit to Ibrox.

The game last week saw Celtic stretch our lead to six points with a great second half defensive performance stopping Sevco from coming close with an equaliser in the 2-1 hoops win.

Tom Rogic looked finished at the club before Ange Postecoglou arrived, the Aussie has not only reached levels that he had under Brendan Rodgers but, in my opinion, surpassed them and playing the best he has. Tom has always loved a goal against Rangers and is now reaching the levels of Thompson, Sutton and Hartson although his six goals are still a bit away from the 15 Larsson scored against them.

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St Johnstone are in decent form having had a tough season so far, the Saintes are unbeaten in their last three with a 1-0 win over Livingston last week. Celtic have beaten St Johnstone three times this season, twice in the league and the other in the semi-final of the League Cup.

The last match between the sides was a 3-1 win at MacDiarmid Park on Boxing Day. This was the last time we seen Kyogo play before he went off injured, we could see him return tomorrow. Despite their recent good form, St Johnstone still find themselves second bottom of the league, six ahead of Dundee and six behind both Aberdeen and St Mirren and automatic safety.

A win over St Johnstone would take Celtic nine points clear with Rangers away to St Mirren on Sunday.

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Mick Kane hails from Glasgow. He has been hooked on Celtic since he went to his first game when he was 7. Celtic beat Hamilton 8-3 at Celtic Park on the 3rd of January 1987. His favourite player at the time, Brian McClair scored four goals.

He started going regular as a 16 year old when Celtic played at Hampden for the season, being a Southsider it meant a short train journey to get to Hampden. From then he has had a season ticket travelled around Europe for games as Celtic became the dominant force in Scottish football again. A nice change from growing up during Rangers run to 9 in a row.

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From Doom and Gloom to Va Va Voom: Angeball has us believing again

The date is the 30th January, 2021. Celtic sit a miserable 23 points behind Rangers, having played 3 games less. A pathetic performance at home to St. Mirren means that the Buddies had won their first game at Celtic Park for 31 years, beating Celtic 2-1 on the day. The date for this game will be relevant later, and we will come back to it.

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Of course, many had already conceded the title weeks before this game, but days like these were all too common last season. Dingwall, Easter Road on the final day, Ibrox, Tannadice. No fight. No determination. No passion in the jersey, or for the fans they repre- sented, who were locked out of stadiums.

Watching Celtic had become a chore. A weekly highlight for me had become the worst hour and a half of the week, watching a disinterested and beaten Celtic side on the Pass to Paradise (which was a hot mess pretty much every week) on a 20 inch screen limp to a draw or a slender victory. You’d have been forgiven for wondering; what’s the point?

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Player of the Month – On Form Giakoumakis

Giorgos Giakoumakis has been named the Cinch Premiership Player of the Month for March following a string of impressive performances and crucial goals.

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The award comes on the back of the manager, Ange Postecoglou, winning his third Cinch Premiership Manager of the Month prize for the same period.

The 27-year-old scored five goals in total in the month, with three coming in the league. All three league goals came in the one game, as the Greek striker notched his second hat-trick of the season, and second in two months, in a 4-0 home win over Ross County.

Those goals took his tally to 12 goals, which have come in 13 starts and 23 appearances this season as Giakoumakis has become a crucial member of Ange Postecoglou’s squad.

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They are “the people” but I’m so glad I ain’t one of them and instead belong to Glasgow!

I have been attending Ibrox for games for decades but Sunday was the first I’ve been there since the allocation was reduced to hundreds.

Here’s my thoughts on it: Police entry strategy for visiting support was shambolic and it was far from safe. Car park was full before 10am so on our approach, crawling in traffic at Broomloan roundabout we were not allowed access to the assembly point/car park, despite remonstrating with cops and pleading for some common sense to be used and a cone to be moved, we were sent a detour route back through the home hordes about a mile before having to approach from North towards another cordon.

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Having no idea if the area we parked would be safe on exiting the stadium or if we’d be surrounded by orcs. I then had another assertive discussion with the Police at cordon about their responsibility of maintaining public order and ensuring our safety, but the problem is things are either black or white with them, nothing in between and common sense not strong in many of them.

Ibrox was not a safe venue for 700/800 Celtic fans on Sunday How they can get away with this sh*te is beyond me. Then at the car park hundreds of police and horses surrounded the visiting fans pushing them back to where there’s nowhere to go, instead of letting them filter safely towards the ticket checks and search area.

Safety of supporters was not high on Police Scotland’s to do list it would seem. Anyway, inside the ground around 90 minutes before kick-off, and as the home support filters in all is okay until the ground is full, then the missiles start at sporadic intervals, which included glass bottles coming from top of Govan Stand into away corner below.

Ticket holders for some seats are told they can’t go to them and have to find a space elsewhere. The exit strategy after the game was a big improvement on the entry but that bar was low. As for during the game, missiles fired at players, plastic cups and plastic bottles are one thing but glass bottles fired at your keeper and staff members injured is beyond a joke.

The “This is the Old Firm” signage around the stadium was ludicrous. It was great to win the game but it’s just not the same experience now with the allocation so small and for me it’s lost its unique atmosphere. Millions around the world held this derby in high regard in the past not because of the quality of play but because of the fanatical and sizeable support for both sides, now it’s mediocre at best.

They’ve almost killed it and it will probably never get back to what it was. In all honesty it’s sh*te and they’ve ruined it. But on the flip side they want to cling on to the “Old Firm” tag. The PA system blasts out “Rangers” songs one of which just happens to have the same tune as the Famine Song. What a strange coincidence.

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Even their tifo display was a rip off of one Ultras Celtic had conjured up years ago featuring the Glasgow skyline. And as usual in the wake of their defeat there were reports on Sunday night of attacks on Celtic pubs and people in hospital. It would seem the self-proclaimed “people” who follow the new Rangers incarnation still have the same superiority complex of the previous lot. And yet we’ll have the usual whataboutery spouted by the media and their fans that both sides are as bad etc etc. All I can say is GIRFUY.

Bottle incidents rightly being highlighted, but just a reminder that there were more thrown from top tier of Govan stand into the away sector. Thankfully no serious injuries though. They are “the people” but I’m so glad I ain’t one of them and instead belong to Glasgow!

Michael Pringle is a journalist from Glasgow. He is a member of the Garngad Millburn CSC and has been a regular contributor to More than 90 Minutes since 2004. As well as following Celtic home and away he can also be found on the south terraces of St. Pauli’s Milerntor staduim during the football season, where he is a club member.

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