Days of Thunder

 

Days of Thunder

The Champions League draw has given Celtic that much sought after blend of glamour and hope of progressing. RB Leipzig, Shakhtar and Real Madrid will provide a huge test for Ange Postecoglou’s side but there are grounds for at least a glint of optimism. Celtic is a developing young side with much potential and is capable of giving any team a good game at Celtic Park. Picking up points on the road might be more problematic, although Shakhtar are likely to play their home ties in Poland and forfeit home advantage due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This could help Celtic as could the fact that Shakhtar have lost key players in the past year as the crises in Ukraine saw a UEFA ruling allow foreign players to walk away from their contracts. This infuriated the club as they had exchanged contracts with Fulham for the sale of winger Manor Solomon, only for Fulham to say following the UEFA ruling, we won’t be paying the agreed fee as we can now have Solomon for free. It remains to be seen what sort of side Shakhtar can field but they are no mugs and Ange Postecoglou will ensure Celtic are properly prepared.

 Real Madrid, the current Champions of Europe will provide daunting opposition but most Celtic supporters will approach those ties with a ‘nothing to lose’ attitude. Give it a real go and we’ll see where it takes us. We know the quality of players like Kroos, Benzema, Modric and Casimero, but we want to see the best at Celtic Park and test ourselves against them. Amid the bread and butter of the Scottish game, ties like this are a rare taste of caviar and we should all relish them.

The tie with Madrid comes a few days after the first Glasgow Derby of the season and Celtic Park is sure to be rocking on those two days of thunder. The atmosphere at such games is unrivalled and two of them coming in such close proximity will leave Celtic fans drained but hopefully happy. Which one would I rather win? If Celtic can’t win both then it’s an obvious choice that defeating Real Madrid would be epic. We play 4 or 5 derby matches in a season but haven’t faced Madrid in competitive action for 42 years. It’s a big dream getting a result from a team of superstars like Madrid but we’re allowed to dream. Teams like AC Milan, Juventus, Barcelona, Manchester United and of course Real Madrid have all fallen in the east end of Glasgow. The gap between the elite sides and the rest had widened hugely since George McCluskey and Johnny Doyle put Madrid to the sword in 1980 but you never know in football.

I got involved in a discussion online with a Celtic who suggested taking the flag of the second Spanish Republic to Madrid as a way of annoying the perceived right-wing element among the Madrid support. It was pointed out to him that the Spanish civil-war is still a raw topic in Spain as dreadful atrocities were perpetrated by both sides. We can see from the experience of the troubles in Ireland how the folk memory and bitter experiences are passed down the generations.

Celtic Ultras taunted Lazio’s fascist fringe with a banner depicting a dead Mussolini hanging upside down in Milan in 1945. It may have been that those thugs would have attacked Celtic fans in Rome anyway, but that banner made it more likely. Trips to Europe can be great fun and Celtic will take far more fans to Madrid than the 1800 tickets they have been allocated. However, it can be dangerous in some places too and it’s wise not to antagonise the more unhinged locals and in doing so put other Celtic fans in danger.

Season 2022-23 has got off to an exciting start and the Champions League draw has demonstrated the importance of European football to clubs like Celtic. Much as our I enjoy watching my team play anyone, there can be a degree of over familiarity when you face the same Scottish teams three, four or even five times in a season. Europe adds glamour, excitement and is the best test of how your team is progressing. It can be a harsh and unforgiving environment too and Celtic will need to take the chances that come along and avoid silly defensive lapses.

Postecoglou’s side is built to go after other teams and score goals but away from home in Europe will he need to be a little more pragmatic? Celtic have the players to play an intelligent counter attacking game but the manager may simply stick to his principles and set Celtic up to play in their normal style. Brendan Rodgers found out in Paris and Barcelona, if you go toe to toe with the best you can be on the end of some spankings but we want to be at the party with the best in the business and we’ll accept that risk as part of the deal.

There are exciting times ahead but as Ange will doubtless tell his side today, we need the points at Tannadice so put all thoughts of Europe and Glasgow Derby matches out of your mind and go do the professional job you are paid for. These nights in the champions league are won by being relentless in the SPFL. I expect a strong side to play today and put in a performance. Ross County in the league cup next week may be the time to wrap some key men in cotton wool for the challenges ahead but today Celtic need the points to return to the summit of the league.

I’ve seen some great teams and fantastic players play at Celtic Park over the years and I’m glad we’ll see some more this season. When that music plays and that roar goes up, you know you’re in Paradise. Bring it on.

 

Renaissance Men

 

Renaissance Men

John Glass ran his hand across the thick stubble of his beard, ‘I tell you truly Andrew, the new piece of land is a suitable size but it is a former quarry and brickworks. It’ll take a herculean effort to fill in the great chasm and level it.’ The Marist brother nodded, ‘I’ll put the word out at Sacred Heart school and get the good Fathers to do the same at St Mary’s, St Michael’s and St Alphonsus. Sure, we had volunteers by the hundred when we built the first little stadium and we have grander ambitions now.’  The bearded Donegal man nodded, ‘Andrew, it will take tens of thousands of barrowloads of earth to fill this quarry. There is much water on the site too and God only knows where the old mine workings are. No one recorded where they tunnelled.’ Andrew Kerins smiled, ‘sure, we’re doing God’s work her, John. He’ll provide as he did in 88 and our people will respond to the call.’ John Glass smiled at his old friend, ‘sure you Sligo men could talk the birds out of the trees. We’ll put the word out that we want our able-bodied men on the site come Saturday morning.’

The site had been enclosed by a rudimentary fence for some time before the committee took out a lease on it. As John Glass stared at the huge hole in the ground that he had somehow to transform into a football stadium in six months, he sighed. ‘Bejesus, you could fit Dublin cathedral into that hole.’ The foreman coughed behind him to attract his attention. Glass turned, ‘Ah, tis yourself Pat. Are we ready to begin this arduous task?’ Pat Gallagher, an experienced builder from County Antrim nodded, ‘have a look, John.’ Glass turned to see scores of men walking towards the site in the light rain, the tools of their trades in their hands. They pushed wheelbarrows and carried planks of wood; one even led a horse onto the site. ‘Would ye look at that now,’ Glass said quietly, ‘our people have risen to the challenge again.’ He turned to Gallagher, ‘come, Pat. They’ll need direction and orders.’

A steady drizzle was falling over the hushed streets of Glasgow’s east end as Thomas Murphy trudged towards the meeting point. He puffed on his white clay pipe which was his constant companion. He had etched his initials onto it to ensure no disputes over ownership. Over his shoulder he carried the tools of his trade; a thick handled pick and a shovel. Dawn was slow to come on such grey days and a few smoking chimneys told him he was not alone in feeling the chill of this February morning. From the closes and Wynds of this, the poorest part of Glasgow, others trickled out to join him on his walk. Some pushed wheelbarrows while others brought a variety of tools required for the work at hand. Padraig Coll, a stout labourer who hailed from Belfast, joined Thomas on his walk. ‘Morning to ye Thomas. Not a pleasant day for our labours.’ Thomas nodded, ‘Aye to be sure Padraig but there’s much to be done and little time to do it.’ As the trickle of men reached a fenced off area adjacent to London Road, they could see that a hundred or more had already gathered around a horse drawn wagon upon which stood the familiar figure of John Glass. Thomas Murphy and Padraig Coll joined the small crowd of men and listened as Glass spoke. ‘Our first task is to fill the quarry and the old mine workings. We already have tons of earth on site boys so go where the Foremen send you and put your backs into it. Tis a fine endeavour you undertake this day and you have my thanks.’ With that the crowd of men entered the site for a day of hard labour.

 

The quarry hole in the centre of the site was over 30 feet deep and wide as a large church. The bottom of the quarry was covered in slimy water of uncertain depth and a stout rope was kept nearby in case anyone fell in. At the far end of the site a large hand pump was being operated to try to suck some of the water from quarry. Thomas and Padraig were assigned to the wheelbarrow squad who formed a continuous line from a huge mound of earth to the very edge of the quarry hole. Like a line of worker ants, the men shifted tons of earth and dumped it into the vast hole. As they worked Padraig Coll, a man noted for his fine singing voice and encyclopaedic knowledge of Irish folk songs, began to sing a familiar air…

 

‘Oh, tell me Sean O’Farrell, tell me why you hurry so,

 

Hush me Buchal, hush and listen, and his cheeks were all aglow

 

I bear orders from the captain, get you ready quick and soon

 

For the pikes must be together at the rising of the moon!’

 

From around the site, as the wheelbarrows squeaked along the planks laid over the mud and the hammers and picks swung in familiar rhythm, scores of voices joined the chorus…

 

‘'At the rising of the moon, at the rising of the moon

 

The pikes must be together, at the rising of the moon

 

Thomas barely looked up from his work as the men grafted and sang in that quintessentially Irish way. These men knew what a day’s work was and were in demand in the factories and docks of Britain because of it. Less than a mile north of where they laboured, the great Beardmore’s Iron works pumped black, acrid smoke into the Glasgow sky. Much of the muscle which kept the great steel works moving came from the poor Irish community which supplied the men who were giving up their one day of rest to make ready the land by Jean Field cemetery.

 

As the morning progressed and the large pile of earth began to diminish a huge Shire horse was brought in to haul timber across the site. As the small man leading the horse neared the wheelbarrow squad, they parted to let it pass. The big animal lumbered past them and as it reached a point near the edge of the quarry the earth began to crumble under its hooves. ‘Watch out!’ shouted Thomas as the earth gave way and the huge horse reared up before crashing into the quarry below. Thomas reached instinctively for the small man who controlled the horse and grabbed him by the jacket just in time to stop him joining the animal in the sludge of the quarry. As he did so his favourite clay pipe fell from his mouth and into the quarry hole. It was a small price to pay for saving the small man from joining his horse in the pit below where it lay in obvious distress, neighing forlornly.

 

A brief discussion was held and it was decided that as the horse had clearly broken a leg and was beyond rescue that they should put it out of its misery. A runner was sent to fetch a certain Mr Cleghorn who dealt with sick and wounded animals. He duly arrived carrying a long slim case which contained a rifle. The situation was explained to him and after a brief look at the horse lying 30 feet below him in the quarry he nodded sadly before he opened his case and assembled his long rifle. As the labourers paused in their work to watch, a loud, echoing shot split the quiet morning air and the horse’s suffering was over. Work resumed, although the men were a little quieter.

 

Padraig Coll turned to Thomas, ‘That was bad luck but we must continue nonetheless.’ Thomas nodded, ‘Aye, and my best pipe was lost in that hole too.’ Coll smiled, ‘Sure a pipe is easy to replace, yer man who lost his horse had a tear in his eye.’ Thomas nodded, ‘Aye, you’re right Padraig. All in a good cause though.’ As the earth was shovelled into the pit the horse was soon covered and lost from view. The hard work continued all that long day until darkness once more shrouded the city.

 

And so it was that community gathered together for 8 arduous weeks to create their field of dreams and give a fitting home to their team. The old stadium, barely 400 yards away was lost to a greedy landlord who had demanded a huge sum of money to rent it. This grated with many as greedy landlords back in Ireland had done the same to many and driven them from the land. The people had built that first stadium too and now they gathered again to build a second Celtic Park. There were those who would like to have seen the new club stillborn but it was people’s club and the people would never desert it. For men like Tommy and Padraig seeing the turf laid and the grandstand rise gave them immense pleasure.

 

As they walked home when their labours were over, Padraig smiled, ‘I look forward to seeing the Bhoys play on the new field. Tis a grand thing we’ve built here.’ Tommy nodded, ‘It is indeed and to think they’ll be running out over a ground which holds so much of our sweat and of course, O’Malley’s horse.’ Padraig Coll regarded him with a grin, ‘Sure it holds your pipe too, Thomas.’ Thomas Murphy nodded, ‘Aye, it does and I hope it brings them luck.’

 

Postscript: Glasgow 1994

Tony McCready eased his van carefully through the gates of the muddy building site. He stepped out to regard the huge steel frame of the North Stand rising into the east end sky. His workmate and lifelong Rangers’ fan, Andy Carrol, gazed at it too, ‘Looking impressive Tony but will your lot fill it?’  Tony replied, his eyes still on the huge skeleton of the stand, ‘I think we will Andy.’ A gruff voice cut across them, ‘Tony, get yer arse intae that trench and check they pipes. The concrete will be here at nine!’ Tony nodded towards the foreman and walked towards the trench cut into the muddy ground a few yards from where the Jungle terrace used to be. He clambered in, his boots splashing muddy water onto his jeans. As he examined the joints on the sewerage pipes something caught his eye. He reached into his toolbox and removed a small screwdriver and dug gently around a white object embedded in the wall of the trench. It came free in his hand and he dipped it into a bucket of water to clean the mud from it. ‘What have ye got there, Tony?’ asked Andy. Tony examined the small object carefully, ‘Looks like a smoking pipe?’ He noticed some letters etched onto it and what appeared to be a harp and a shamrock, ‘Looks Irish and it says, T. M, on it?’ Andy shrugged, ‘Well we’ll never know who dropped it but that’s your initials anyway so ye should keep it as a souvenir.’ Tony nodded, ‘Aye, I will. Wonder who T.M was though eh?’

Tony wrapped the pipe carefully in a cloth and placed it in his tool box. He’d find a spot for it somewhere at home and it’d remind him always of his time working on the new stadium. He turned back to the task at hand and playing his small role in the rebuilding of Celtic Park. He longed to see it finished and to hear those familiar songs echo around the new stands. He would always be proud of the small part he played in Celtic's renaissance.

 

Dedicated to the memory of the community who built the second Celtic Park and had it ready for it’s first game on 20^th August 1892. We owe the founding community a great debt, we owe them Celtic.

Let This Moment Linger

 

Let This Moment Linger

As a boy, I used to walk along the Gallowgate, holding my old man’s hand and I can still remember that first flush of anticipation when I saw the floodlights of Celtic Park illuminate the dark, winter sky. There was a magic about flowing with the river of people towards the stadium and feeling that you were following in the footsteps of all those countless thousands of people who have followed Celtic since 1888. It was as if you gave up part of your individuality and became part of something that was much bigger than you. There’s a point on my journey to Celtic Park where I turn the corner of Holywell Street into Janefield Street and the stadium Looms ahead like the great cathedral of football that it is. That old excitement I felt as a boy is still there and in honesty I hope it always is. I felt that feeling last Sunday as I turned that corner and viewed the new banners adorning the Jock Stein Stand.

 

The game against Aberdeen was preceded by a full stadium display set up by  and paid for by the fans. It was a memorable sight and one that set the stage for a game which Celtic controlled throughout although it took 75 minutes before Jota’s thunderbolt administered the coup de grace. It was a decent start to the season from Celtic and the feel-good factor from last season, when Ange’s revolution began, still resonates. There was a moment before the match when the whole stadium joined folk singer Liam McGrandles as he sang the wonderful old love song, ‘Grace.’ I glanced around at the packed stadium and let the moment linger, thinking, ‘yeh, it’s good to be home.’ This old place has been home to five generations of my family now and that sense of history lingers. I know it’s the same for so many Celtic families and I guess it always will be.

 

This weekend we saw Celtic’s ‘never stop’ attitude tested against a stuffy and physical Ross County side. Some lambasted their ‘park the bus’ tactics while others pointed out that if they were to open up they’d be picked off and perhaps lose heavily against superior opposition. It wasn’t pretty to watch at times but Celtic scored two fine goals in the latter phase of the game to secure three deserved points. Jota demonstrated against that he was an absolute steal at £6m, a fee Celtic paid for Chris Sutton 22 years ago. He had a hand in all three goals and possesses the skills needed to open these packed defences and perhaps even trouble some of the big boys in Europe.

 

There is no telling how the coming season will pan out, few predicted Celtic’s new side would gel so quickly last season and storm to the title, but we can be confident that Ange won’t accept any drop in standards. The team has had a full pre-season to recharge the batteries and work on their cohesiveness. Players like Hatate and Maeda got the sort of rest they needed after completing the J-League season before going straight into the thick of it in the SPFL with Celtic. This season will be somewhat truncated though as it will halt for a month after Celtic’s match with Ross County on 12^th November as the World Cup will be taking place. Celtic will fly out to Australia for some sunshine then and play Sydney FC and Everton in the Sydney Super Cup. They will do this  minus any Japanese players selected for their national team in Qatar. No doubt Ange’s homecoming will be emotional for him and he’ll send out his side to win. He is the first Australian coach to manage a big European club and his success has been much lauded in his homeland.

 

The Champions League will also a huge challenge for Celtic given the quality of sides in the tournament. Pot one contains the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, AC Milan, whilst Pot 2 contains teams such as Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool, Juventus and Barcelona. Pot three looks no easier with the likes of Dortmund, Napoli, Benfica, RB Leipzig and Inter Milan lying in wait. Make no mistake about it, this is the most challenging club tournament in the world and Celtic will need to put in pretty flawless performances to make an impression in the big boys’ playground. That being said, Postecoglou’s young side are playing in a style that may suit the European arena and will certainly give it all they’ve got. The supporters love those big nights under the lights and will show again that when it comes to atmosphere, Celtic Park is among the best in Europe. The club will gain from participation in the Champions League in a financial sense but also in terms of exposure around the world. Ange’s young side will also learn from playing against some of the best players in the world. You risk the odd spanking at that level of football but I’m sure we’d rather be at the banquet than watching with our noses pressed up against the window.

 

The fans, that constant heartbeat of Celtic, always look forward to a new season with optimism. They have an exciting young team to back and a manager who knows what he is doing. He said of the atmosphere at the Aberdeen game…

‘The crowd were unbelievable. You’ll never walk alone is outstanding and spine tingling. The thing about our supporters, they’re always on it, mate. We’ve just got to make sure we match it with our performance every week.’

That symbiotic relationship between Celtic and their supporters is as strong as ever. They feed off each other and the energy of the supporters lifts the team, especially in those big European games. As a banner of recent years said: ‘We’re in here for you, be out there for us.’ I’m confident that Celtic will do well domestically this season and make a good fist of it in Europe. I’m certain the support will create a noise and spectacle in those big games that will have me looking around the old place and letting the moment linger.