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Sadly we recently lost two legends of the Celtic greatest ever era in the history of our club John Clark and John Fallon. Both men have written themselves into Celtic’s history as part of Celtic’s first 9IAR era and that famous May night in Lisbon in 1967.

John Fallon was a regular contributor to the publication since 2002 and we have his last ever column in this issue.

We pay tribute to both men who lived the Celtic dream plus we have the Celtic fans reaction to their sad passings.

This issue also contains articles from all the regular contributors who are back for another season writing about all things Celtic and we look back to the recent away trips to Las Vegas, Cork and Faro.

Also in this issue read about the player incomings and out goings at Celtic Park plus all the usual news, views, reviews and previews.

Tributes continue to flood across social media and in the MS media including a fitting video tribute on Celtic TV and the Celtic players wore black armbands on Thursday as a mark of respect when they played Ajax in Como.

 After the news broke that Celtic Football Club had lost another Legend of the club when the original holy goalie and Lisbon Lion, John Fallon, had passed away. John left this World peacefully surrounded by his loving family.

He was born a Celtic fan and in 1958 all his dreams came true when he signed for Celtic. He left Celtic after 14 years to join Motherwell but his heart was always in Paradise.

It all changed for Celtic in 1965 after the return to the club of Jock Stein. John and his Celtic team mates lifted the Scottish Cup and the most famous Celtic team of all time were up and running. Those players would rule Scotland for almost a decade and conquer Europe in 1967.

John was so proud to be a Celtic player, born into a Celtic supporting family he lived for Celtic and lived all of our dreams picking up 1 European Cup, 6 League titles, 2 Scottish Cups and 5 League Cups and he was so proud when he was reunited with his missing European Cup medal. As recently as a few weeks ago he was in Ireland as a guest of the Ballymena Shamrock CSC showing off his European medal.

John seldom missed a Celtic game home or away and distance was no obstacle when it came to travelling to supporters functions. He never said no to Celtic supporters clubs.

I had the pleasure of travelling with him to Norway, Canada and the US. Interviewing John on stage was never dull and his passion for the club always shone through. I will cherish all our chats both in public and in private.

We first met John in Las Vegas at the NAFCSC where Henry McGarvie arranged an interview with him for one of the early editions of the fanzine back in 2001. He then agreed to do a column for the fanzine. Since then Henry has recorded his column for every issue. Scottish Referees were never far from his thoughts

His column for the next issue has already been submitted and we will look through the archives of columns and interviews we have with him to insure we play our little part in his legacy which will live on for ever with the 12^th Lion project when a school will be built and called after him in South Sudan, Africa.

John’s faith was very important to him and meeting Pope Francis in Rome was another highlight if his life. He is now with his loving wife Ester in heaven surrounding by all the Celtic greats no doubt giving out about referees.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

 

Celtic play their last pre-season game tonight against Saudi side Al-Ahli in Como at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia in Italy.

The game kicks off at 19:30 and will be shown live on Celtic TV.

Al-Ahli are big spenders and former Celtic transfer target Ivan Toney made the switch last season from the EPL side Brentford for the riches of the  Saudi League.

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When the final whistle sounded last night I got the same feeling that the Newcastle fans had at the weekend when Celtic pumped them in the only pre-season home friendly. Disappointment but thankful it was only a friendly game.

The Como Cup game against Ajax ended 5-1 to the Dutch team. Celtic went 1 nil down after 16 minutes but Yang scored less than 5 minutes later to level it. Celtic were wasteful in front of goal in the first half which was competitive and Celtic looked decent.

The second half was a different game. The Ajax manager had figured out Brendan Rodgers game plan and within a minute or so of the restart Ajax were 2 up. From then on it was one way traffic with the team Amsterdam scoring freely from outside the box and they had the luxury of bringing on teenagers from their academy to rub salt into the wound.

On a positive note CCV returned to first team action and a Kieran Tierney pass for Yang goal which split open the Ajax defence showed us what a great addition he will be to the first 11 this season. KT was taken off at half time and his presence was missed in that poor second half.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tried to spin some positives after the game on his players performance in his post match interview. In private he will be disappointed with that second half performance from the players and with his own tactics. Celtic were out thought and out fought after half time.

Celtic will now face mega rich Saudi side Al-Ahli in the final pre-season game on Saturday night the game will be streamed on Celtic TV. Tournament hosts Como will now face Ajax on Sunday after they defeated Al-Ahli 3-1 on Wednesday night.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Podcast 

 

 

The Celtic players and supporters head off to Como in Italy this week for the last two games of pre-season after a really good work out at Celtic Park on Saturday against Newcastle.

Eddie Howe finally got a taste of what it is like to sit in the Celtic Park dugout and he can have only been impressed by the Celtic side.

Celtic running out 4-0 winners with Engels from the penalty spot,  Kenny, Yang and Scales all on target.

The Newcastle fans travelled in their numbers with an estimated 10,000 of them adding to the Glasgow economy. Many of them making their presence known in rangers pubs. It was the biggest attendance by away fans to Celtic Park as thousands of Celtic season ticket holders refused to buy tickets for the game after already forking out their hard earned cash on season books.

In the past Celtic offered such friendly games as part of the season book package but not any more as they continue to get as much out of the pocket of the dedicated followers of the club.

The game was billed as the Adidas Cup and the three stripe trophy will now be on view alongside the Cork Super Cup for visitors to the Celtic Trophy Room.

The Adidas marketing team never miss a trick and they seem to be releasing a piece of Celtic kit every other week.  Every time a Celtic jersey is released it creates plenty of the debate among Celtic fans about the design and price. For me I don’t really get involved as I am more interested in what player will be pulling on the jersey on match day.

One player who made his return to Paradise on Saturday was Kieran Tierney. He is a player we are all excited about to see pull back on the hoops. Kieran’s arrival back to the club has grabbed plenty of headlines and he got a brilliant reception from the fans on Saturday when he came off the bench to replace Hayato Inamura. The Japanese player who came to the club with no fanfare but has looked really decent in all the games he has pulled on the jersey.

Kieran Tierney showed what he can bring to the team this season with an almost perfect cross in to the box which met the head of Liam Scales and he powered it into the goal in front of the Newcastle fans. Many of the visiting fans at that stage had seen enough and had already headed for the exits.

Como next and Ajax, lets hope their fans can behave themselves.

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

 

This evening we lost  a great friend and a Celtic Legend both on and off the pitch. Good Night Old Friend, we will all miss you on match days, reading your column in the fanzine and your rants about referees.

You never said no when it came to attending a Supporters function. I don’t think I interviewed any Celtic player more than you but I think our trip to do Celtic AM in Philadelphia was the highlight.

Thanks for everything over the years, the lifts to away games and hospitality you and your family always showed to me and my family.

God Bless You John Fallon

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast 

 

A fearless lion left us today,
With grit and grace, he led the way.
A keeper bold, a Celtic soul,
Whose hands and heart would guard the goal.

For those in green, you’ll never fade
A name etched deep where legends stayed.
With every cheer and thundered cry,
The Holy Goalie soars the sky.

He wore the Hoops with pride and fire,
Through rain and storm, he’d never tire.
Two finals graced on Europe’s stage,
A hero carved on football’s page.

His Irish roots he held so dear,
Sligo’s call rang strong and clear.
A passport gained in twilight years,
Fulfilled the dream he chased for years.

He once told me a tale so rare
Of angels clad in green out there.
They walk among us, watch and guide,
Forever with the Celtic side.

Ah, but referees his lifelong feud,
A stubborn curse he’d not elude.
With heartfelt laughs and honest fight,
He made his mark in green and white.

And now with tears we say goodbye,
Our lion rests beneath the sky.
Goodnight, God bless, your spirit’s free
The Holy Goalie, eternally.

Slán go fóill

J. J. Whelan

Just like in Cork last week Celtic fans enjoyed the sunshine once again this week on the Algarve. The game against Sporting CP was the highlight of the trip for those of us flying in and out for the match. Many Celtic supporters took the opportunity to take a holiday in the very popular resorts along the coast of Portugal with the game being an added bonus. While others included the first team squad enjoyed the  pilgrimage to Lisbon to see where Celtic lifted the European Cup in 1967.

We stayed in Faro and it is a lovely spot. Old buildings and cobble streets full of cafes and bars. A nice harbour and some beaches to enjoy during our short midweek break.

The locals were really nice and food and drink was cheap. Buses and Uber cabs were also great value for getting to and from the airport and the ground. Estádio do Algarve was built for the 2004 Euros and now hosts Gibraltar’s international games.

Many Celtic fans will have been there before supporting the Ireland and Scotland teams in recent international campaigns. It was nice to meet up again with so many familiar faces and share a few beers and swap stories pre and post match. One thing on most Celtic fans minds is the lack of transfer activity which came up in a lot of conversations.

As Pre-Season Friendlies go this was one of the better ones with both teams up for the game as they build their fitness levels ahead of their upcoming seasons and in 30 degree heat. We were in the lower tier of the stand facing the dugouts. The stand was full with both sets of fans mingling together and on occasions breaking into song.

A small group of the Sporting Ultras took up position behind the goals. I’m not sure what the attendance was but it was no where near the crowds who turned up last week in Cork.

Celtic squandered a number of good goal scoring chances in the first half but soon after the restart Johnny Kenny who had just come on to replace fellow Irish man, Adam Idah at half time was taking down in the box. The referee was quick to award the penalty which Reo Hatate converted.

Second half substitute Luke McCowan added a second after coming on during the the second half after good work from Johnny Kenny with the assist.

It was good to see Kieran Tierney back in a Celtic Jersey and new bhoy Nygren had a really good game. Brendan Rodgers made 2 changes at half time and then on 67 minutes he made wholesale changes. This did not affect the flow of the game and soon after we were celebrating the second goal.

Next up is a return to Celtic Park when Newcastle visit on Saturday. The game has left a sour taste in many Celtic season tickets holders mouths after paying for season books they were then asked to stump up cash for the game. We used to get a pre-season game as part of our season package but no more as the board go for another cash grab out of fans pockets.

For more on the trip keep an eye out for the August edition of More than 90 Minutes.

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

Another away day trip for the faithful as we head to Faro in Portugal for Celtic v Sporting Lisbon. We arrived last night on the same day that another Celtic jersey was launched.

I checked the news yesterday morning online to see if Celtic had made any signings capable of walking into the first team but there was nothing to report apart from the usual transfer gossip.

The Celtic website was proudly boasting a really good promotional video for the new Celtic away jersey following on from a clever cover of the Celtic View inspired by Oasis and the Gallagher brothers comeback.

I have not bought a Celtic jersey since the late 1990’s or the early 2000’s not sure the exact season but NTL were the sponsors. When my son, Conor was younger, he regularly wanted the new strip but thankfully now he is old enough to buy his own when you see the asking prices for the official Adidas strips and merchandise you’re glad you don’t have that added expense to the season.

I am more worried about what players will be pulling on the jersey this season and to date we have not exactly set the World on fire in the transfer market but there’s still time to add quality to the starting 11.

I may not buy Celtic jerseys anymore but I am a fan of Adidas trainers and tops and I do think Adidas and Celtic have done really well with this marketing video. The match theme could not be more like my own and so many other Irish based Celtic fans weekly experience travelling to see Celtic home and away by air and by sea.

In the promo video Bobby Gillespie, from Primal Scream is in McChuills bar were I have had the pleasure of spinning the tunes. On the night Primal Scream played Glasgow earlier in the year I enjoyed a few beers in McChuills with resident Mod DJ, Paul Molloy before we went to the gig On that night listening to the guvnor, Nick Stewart Senior on the decks. It was great to see Nick in the video, a Glasgow legend and the man famed for bringing the Pogues to Glasgow for the first time back in the 1980’s . Although I’m hearing Average Joe Miller from Not the View was not allowed in for a pint of Stout during filming. Which is a shame as he has become part of the furniture there along with so many other great match going Tims.

Celtic legend, Henrik Larsson is featured in the video and can be seen in the pub and on the ferry. The ferry was our mode of transport when we travelled from Belfast to Scotland week in week out to see Henrik one of the greatest players ever to pull on the Celtic Jersey. We toasted him on many a return journey across the Irish sea.

Familiar football faces Callum McGregor, Kelly Clark, , Charlie Mulgrew and John Collins also feature in the video alongside some famous Celtic fans from the Rock & Pop World, Brooke Coomb and Rianne Downey, plus DJ Jasper James all make cameo appearances in the ad. Rianne Downey has been knocking it out of the park lately with her own band and with Paul Heaton who’s appearance on our own Celtic Soul Podcast is one of our most watched and listened to podcasts.

Set to Primal Scream’s classic 90’s hit Movin’ on Up, which is on my own DJ set list. The video is really cool and you can now pre-order the away kit ahead of its release date on Thursday July 24.

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast