In mount St Michaels Cemetery , Dumfries late last night, an old fellow out walking his dog later told his wife that he was absolutely certain that he heard a soft Irish accent repeating the phrase
“No, no, thats not what I meant at all ”
There was no one else around, and the voice seemed to be coming from no particular direction.
I know where it was coming from.
And I know why…
Celtic shrugged off any pretence that they were in any way any different from all the other football clubs with an announcement yesterday…
CELTIC Football Club has announced that it will today make a Proposal of Application Notice to Glasgow City Council in relation to possible further development of the Celtic Park area, including the potential creation of a new hotel, retail store, ticketing facility and museum.
The application is part of Celtic’s long-standing masterplan for the area, a vision which aims to deliver benefit to the Club and our supporters and allow further re-generation of the East End of the city, something to which we are totally committed.
This application represents only the first stage in this process. It is important to emphasise that considerable work and investment over a number of years would be required to bring this project to fruition. There would be a number of challenges to overcome to complete a development of this scale.
Celtic aims to be a world-class football club in everything it does. We are pleased to have made significant investment in recent years to develop the stadium and public realm area for the benefit of our supporters.
Any further development of this kind would be a hugely positive step for the Club, for our supporters and for the local community.
What sets Celtic apart from all the other “world class ” football clubs are the people who support it.
Within us pervades an empathy towards those who haven’t had the breaks, those who have fallen on hard times, and deep down we feel a kind of collective responsibility to do something about it.
We turn to the club as a symbol of all of that. Success on the field is something we all share in, something we all feel that we are a part of.
Success off the field is only success if those who need help are helped.
Thats who we are.
Building hotels isn’t something that sits comfortable with me. It puts the soul of the club in jeopardy, and continues along the pathway to the land already inhabited by a number of English clubs who have completely forgotten that they are English clubs.
Perhaps we need to look a little deeper into our own consciences to remember what we are all about, because it sure seems to me like the board have forgotten.
The club was created to put food on the table for children. These days, there are a multitude of foodbanks in the city, there are more heads than beds, and there are people going without light and heating because they cannot afford the fuel bills.
Whilst I am fully aware that the club, via the Foundation and other charities does a lot more than most to attempt to ease the burden, both on and off the record, for me the announcement of a hotel being built was akin to when I found out that at least one church uses its funds to indirectly invest in global arms companies, and despite their attempts to justify it, there remains a sour taste in the mouth.
When Celtic raise money for charity, most of it comes out of the pockets of the support. Not from the club itself.
If Celtic want to build a hotel, thats fine. After all, it is a business, and money must be made to satisfy the shareholders.
Although shareholders who question the clubs inaction on allegations of fraud and collusion don’t get quite the attention that they merit….though there is time to put that right.
On social media there was a lot of gloating, a lot of images where Celtic were seen to be flaunting their wealth, usually at the expense of another club on the other side of the city.
Ironically, our support was doing exactly what we used to dislike about their support.
What happened to us ? When did we slip off the tracks ?
Celtic FC shouldn’t be building hotels. They should be building shelters for the homeless, they should be setting up and paying for soup kitchens, maybe even towards solar panels on tower blocks.
Thats why I’m a Celtic fan, because there used to be something that made you feel a little bit taller, a little bit more useful.
A little bit different.
Today, it feels like Celtic are just a club like any other.
You make some good points and I too felt the gloating was reminiscent of days gone by, only it’s fans doing it and not the press!
Perhaps the real reason for this is to ensure that the Celtic movement is preserved by advancing the club to a higher place in world football and therefore guaranteeing the good work done for charity continues forever?
My glass is Half full on that one.
Hail hail
I agree with roythebhoy, I think this will allow Celtic to do more to help the needy through increased revenue and all that it brings.
If we can create employment in an area that has suffered over the years then it will be a good thing,we the supporters won,t ever lose their soul.
A bit much this time bud. We will continue to raise and give money to charity and good causes, of that I have no doubt. I don’t see this as flaunting wealth, it’s about securing future revenues for the club so we can continue to progress. The money could be spent on a player, and that doesn’t always work out and it could turn out to be a waste of the funds. This is just a means of securing a future income and undoubtedly improving an area of Glasgow which has needed it for some time. It will create jobs so that people can earn a living, the whole basis on which our club was built.
Ralph, whilst I share your concerns about our club losing its historical soul to corporate madness for reasons you have eloquently outlined, how else are we supposed to survive as a viable challenger to the clubs in Europe who have money to burn unless we invest in such things as hotels etc ? Let me stress – I want our team to remain all about football and true to the founding principles, however, unless we suddenly gain access to the millions available south of the border and beyond, I don’t see another way forward. Sadly.
Couldn’t agree more with the article.
Plus the design of the proposed structures are horrendous.
Seumus,
Not sure if the images used are the exact designs, i hope not because i thought it looked shite!
As for the goading and gloating Ralph, well it’s payback only this time it’s our own legitimately earned cash. I agree though the club could and should do a bit more for the needy.HH
Albert,
What would you like the club to do, in terms of “more”?
It is not celtic you should be pointing to, this is a football club, it’s the government that has to shoulder the blame for the homeless etc, we have come a long way since brother Walfrid, the supporters do their bit, let celtic get on with it and enjoy the moment before us this going to be exiting times ahead embrace it
Ralph,
I personally don’t give a fuck about Hotels, superstores or how comfy the seats are in the ticket office.
Celtic to me is all about the strength of the team, the quality of players emerging from the tunnel with our Hoops on and the keeper obviously.
Success on the pitch, the collection of silverware and a team to always be proud of.
Celtic IS different, we as a support ARE different, our origins born of famine and our club created to help the destitute and impoverished within our community.
We as a support and a club overcame all obstacles and are now, in my opinion, the greatest club in the world, an inspiratiom and a beacon of light through the decades, giving hope and focus when there was none.
Hotels being built is all fine and well and will further enhance the area and overall approach to the stadium, it will also bring jobs which is always a good thing.
Celtic must always be seen to be actively helping our East end community though, the ordinary guy with a family who is below the bread line, who cannot feed, clothe or help themselves, the club must be out there in the City and feeding people.
Those are the reasons i love Celtic, why i follow Celtic, the connect between fan and club must be as one.
Build the Hotel, build the retail store and ticket office, but always remember where we came from, remember why our club was formed and most of all….remember and cherish those who NEED our club.
Remember Brother Walfrid’s vision and hopes, always keep that at tbe forefront of what we do as a club and a support.
Do that and we won’t go far wrong.
Celtic first and Celtic last and Celtic overall!
HH
Sorry but cant agree with you, to sugest that making the area around Celtic Park is anything other than a force for good and regenration of the area is not what Brother Walfrid would mean is pushing the bounds of credibility. This is exactly what he would have wished for after all he built a football club to generate money to give to the poor, the current board are building a hoels etc to make money, some of which will go to the Celtic Charities to distribute to the less fortunate, its the same but in a modern era. Oh and I like the design and the fact that it sticks in the craw of the establishment huns!
Good article Ralphy, plenty to chew on there, I like yourself have mixed feelings about this application, we are a fitba. club not a hotel business. Where does our prioritise lye in the future. Do we invest in the hotel or in the team? this is a problem when business men run fitba. clubs, the eyes come of the fitba. and prioritise the “business”.
But on the other hand, in an impoverished league, we have to raise monies in any way we can,to keep the club moving forwards and ensure its future, so on balance of Celtic first, last and FOREVER, then this is a sensible diversion, H,H.
Ralph
Couldn’t agree more with your sentiments that the board seem to be losing the plot regarding the founding ideals and ethos of our Club, and they don’t seem to care that those very real sentiments are why many many of us really feel that we are part of/make up this great Celtic family. I don’t think you are advocating that the board abandon future proofing or building a sustainable future with sound investments – but I do feel like you that they are losing sight of Brother Walfrid and, sometimes us. When we expect them to come out and defend us against “the establishment”, or the game in general they do seem to be either reluctant or decidedly silent. Now, they may have – to them- sound business reasons for doing so, but I can’t help thinking that they have only their own financial interests at heart and not the interests of the support or the clubs integrity/ ethos. I am thinking particularly of the silence and poor responses to recent issues over law breaking, liquidation and cheating by a certain club, res 12 and the low wage issues at CP etc – shows us in a very poor moral light. I too have that sour taste – but like all of us it won’t stop me loving our team.
Thought provoking stuff Ralph.
I’m OK with this project – the east end of Glasgow was a midden and Celtic are at the heart of the regeneration.
Remember the GEAR project? A 25 year plan to transform the area between 1989 – 2014 that delivered very little?
This will bring benefit longer term.
BTW – totally agree with you about the gloating of some fans. Poor.
Hail hail
Jack,
In terms of gloating being ” poor “? May i suggest you’re talking a lot of pish?
It’s our turn, and it’s our right to stick it to our fucking enemies!
So let the fans indulge in a bit of ” gloating ” i think we deserve it!
So if any lurking monkeys are looking in here, GIRFUY….Monkey!
Totally agree.
Gloating for the sake of it is bad taste, however, this is payback, karma, revenge and it’s been a long time coming.
We should rub their noses right in it and when they complain remind them who started it.
Monti my man, I could’t agree more.
The change in the area at Celtic Park and the stadium itself over recent years has been brilliant.
I am all for investment in the fabric of the Club with the proviso that the team comes first. It seems Brendan is getting the changes he wants so fair do’s to funding it.
As for gloating… Aye Fuckin Right and I hope the younger ones who knew only Hun cheating to keep them down… Those who came to Celtic during the lean years more than old uns like me who saw the Glory of the coming of Jock Stein… For those Bhoys, fill your boots with a good gloat, you deserve it… Faithful Through and Through, enjoy the Ibrox fuck up while it lasts but more so enjoy the TIMS success and the MSM all spewing it. 😉
Utter pish we can still have world class facilities and be a very charitable family,get a grip it’s not the 17th century we’re living in.
I’m proud of the way the club is going,if you’re not you don’t have to follow.
Easy tiger!
Come on really? What do new and expanding businesses bring? Jobs. Who gets them? Well some go to locals – especially if the employer is open to inclusion – that means unemployed, disabled. What does that do? Lifts people of poverty. I think pressure on Celtic to be a responsible employer is valid. But please – remember the place in the 70s?
More jobs in construction,
More jobs for suppliers.
More jobs for the East End, full and part time.
Better supporter facilities for our Irish and Southern supporters, who wont need to get up and back in the wee sma hoors.
Brother Walfred would be happy with that, oh yeaaah.
More income for the club, making it more secure.
Mike,
Exactly my friend!!
Mike,
Spot on mate.
I hope the hotel rooms are better than the Eurohostel on Jamaica street 🙂
I heard they’re planning the ‘Jungle Suite’ when every 15 minutes the concierge will come in with a greasy pie and roasting hot bovril, pish down your leg,utter a couple of obscenities and shout hail hail whilst holding his hand out for a tip.
🙂
Monti has it right; we as a club and as a support are not forgetting our roots you only have to look at the Green Brigade food bank every year to see what the club and the support feel about it.
For generations the east end has been neglected, Celtic a beacon for many and a club THAT WAS ALWAYS INNOVATIVE, to the first enclosed stand to glass covered weather breakers.
You come across as a bit Myopic Ralph, Investment is much needed in an area blighted by poverty. This is a great plan and will only be good for the fans, the club and the city.
I see this as exactly what Celtic should be doing to secure our long term financial future to invest in players and give more to the needy. Perhaps the hotel could have a small tax on bills that gets donated. It brings good jobs to an area that needs them and enhances the stadium area. Makes perfect sense to me.
Gloating wrong .
Vision valid but I agree too narrow, too business as expected.
Part of the problem is the club cannot afford to spend the windfalls predicted on more expensive players as the wages will be prohibitive to the club. Yet they do not want to be seen to squander the opportunities these funds could offer.
However your article raises an incredibly simple yet poignant cry from the heart of the Celtic fc fan. The cry that set up the club. The cry that supports the oppressed that donates to the less fortunate and that has this sort of discussion in the first place.
How to reconcile both. Could we ,should we propose some sort of percentage contribution to local causes. I don’t want to affect the playing side. So how about 1% of money spent on non-playing costs is also budgeted to select local approved causes. Child poverty , homeless isolated elderly etc. We are a unique club and I feel we should strive to maintain this identity. The fans do it all the time. Maybe the surprise with which this hotel has been met will nudge the club also to do that wee bit more. Win win.
” Myopic “? I’ll need tae fucking google that 🙂
Remember to put yer glasses on first(!)
Btw,I agree with you on the hotel. The regeneration of the area has come on leaps and bounds recently,but there are limited opportunities for Celtic to further improve the area. A hotel,etc,complex is probably the best option. And I especially like that it will include a museum at last!
I actually laughed out loud at that.
🙂
cant see how this is a bad move? we want to be an elite club and this is a step in the right direction
We want to be an ‘elite’ club. Wrong terminology big ears.
im sorry bent nose
Oh dear, bent nose, what is this fascination with beaks?
next time you see him look at his nose…. that’s what happens when you mess with me 😉
🙂
Very interesting article Ralph.Can see both sides of the discussion.Hotel good idea for travelling fans and tourists attending Paradise and Emirates.Musuem,great idea,big attraction for all,maybe not all! Downpoint was in statement from Club talking of a “masterplan”,doesn’t sit well with me.Does it sound like an old club that thankfully got its comeuppance? HH
Oan the other hand, news that Dembelle belly, might just might want to stay for four years is good news to my bent ears, you have to hand it to his agent and the Moussa, they continually say the right thing all the time, in that, Moussa is not interested in or motivated by money
well I say, that is a fucking great statement and shows a degree of maturity beyond his years, clap, clap, well done Moussa, a player like few others.
COYBIG.
Welcome to the Hotel Califenian ( copyright Cartuja on Twitter)
All entrants please rememeber:
You are a customer ( copyright Fergus) not a supporter.
Celtic are a business with brand potential. Buy in or buck off.
Next thing you know you will be asking for matchday toilets to be made available…for nowt!
Sorry for my flippancy. I’m still laughing at the 3 Match Hospitality offer that went out this week…Hamilton – Partick, Rangers…£840 plus VAT!
Naw, you have to PAY THEM!
Gross exaggeration, it’s only £830, so change out of £1000 after VAT! (is that a monkey?).
Celtic departed from Walfrid’s vision when it became an LLC 120 years ago and anything to sustain it is just marketing pish.
I wonder if all those creaming themselves over this will still be happy when STs are ramped up to pay for it and tickets are vaccumed up for guests.
Desi,
I’ll just get a cashline machine :)….nnnnnntttttt
as an irish supporter, I think this is a brilliant idea.
it also means that jobs will be provided, which are better than hand outs.
it will also generate more money for the club, hopefully, which will generate more money for the team and our charitable endeavours.
also anyone who is old enough to remember the Kellys and the Whites knows that idealism of Brother Walfrid lives in our supporters, not the boardroom.
I hear what you are saying Ralph but most of us on here lived through the shite we had to put up with in the 90s from the tax dodgers. It was hell on earth at times and Im loving every minute of their pain.
I do however agree about us becoming like the English clubs. Souless and full of tourists. HH
A very thought provoking article, Ralph. I would suggest that one can argue that we “lost our way” when we became a Private Limited Company in 1897. I wouldn’t imagine Brother Walfrid was too pleased when that happened because it was at that moment business took over to the detriment of charity.
In 2017, the Celtic Foundation do marvelous work for local charities and it is a bit disingenious to state that this is funded by the fans. In 1888 it was the fans who funded the charity dinners too simply by paying to watch the Celtic. Celtic FC is merely the conduit for that.
I hate what has happened to football. I hate that money and greed and corruption have changed our game almost beyond recognition. But I still love my club and while I do not agree with everything this board do I think they deserve credit for trying to navigate the fine line between remaining a viable, sustainable and successful club while maintaining a commitment to our charitable origins. Do we remain true to those origins when we spend millions on players or on upgrading the stadium? What is so different about a hotel? If it helps the club prosper then it can only be a good thing, surely?
We remain more than a club. As TB said, Celtic are a “people and a cause.” A hotel won’t change that.
Bob Cobb
I agree with all of that mate, well said my friend.
jesus Christ trust you to put a dampner on it….
The Green Jedi,
Jesus Christ only puts a dampener on Evil!
Interesting. Very interesting. I see your point about not what Brother Walfrid intended. But who knows?
What I do know is that Walfrid’s legacy lives on through the great work of the CFC Foundation and through the Green Brigade’s marvellous food bank collections.
I have my reservations about the hotel (excuse the pun) but if these ventures ultimately provide more money for transfers and more money hopefully for the Foundation, then I’m provisionally in favour of it.
Thought provoking though Ralph.
BrenCelt
What was it Colin Farrell said in True Detective, “I strongly suspect we get the World we deserve.” Or, in our specific case, “We’re on the one road…..until a fork appears and then you’re no!” More historical repeat. I made my decision, as I have repeatedly stated after LNS, and now I’m over the raging disappointment at the loss of my Club. I look at Celtic and their fans the same way I do at O’Brien’s. I love saying that to old Tim friends because I know how much it hurts. Small potatoes in return for how I felt when I knew the Club left me behind. Still it was a gas while it lasted-best years and times of my poor working life. Being Cool is a gift but it rarely stays in perpetuity, just ask Liam Gallagher.
Has Charlie saiz passed away?
no he will be cutting of his balls and coming back as his sister this time
Lol, seriously tho i hope he’s fine!
Monti,told you about the jet.Charlie ,being of the “Oldco” made the sacrifice.Have you heard from the crooked man since,the truth could be Out There! HH
I get (and sorta agree with) where you’re coming from Ralph, but, I can imagine there are loads of fans from Ireland or further abroad who’d welcome the chance to stay in a hotel owned by Celtic, rather than giving their money to some faceless hotel chain in the city centre.
Sure, we’d all like to see the club do more to honour our charitable roots, but I don’t see that providing a service to those who can afford it is necessarily a bad thing towards those honourable causes.
How far would you take your argument that the club should be “building shelters for the homeless” instead? If, for example, our roofs (rooves?) were in as bad a state as those at Ibrokes and it was a choice between a new roof for a stand, or shelters for the homeless, it would be difficult to argue a case that the charitable option should take priority for the club, don’t you think? ….
Even if the board pay little more than lip service to the ethos behind “more than a club” and see it as a corporate brand/money making exercise, they’re only doing their job so – whether we like it or not – it’s up to US – the fans – to uphold the spirit of Walfrid. Providing we (in the shape of the GB,Foundation etc) keep that flame burning bright, there’s no reason we can’t continue to be proud of ourselves – the fans – for achievements on & off the pitch (including improvements around the stadium).
Carl,
How is it ” just up to us “?
Carl,
I strongly disagree with you mate……Celtic as a club and board should be at the FOREFRONT of charitable work.
THIS IS WHY OUR CLUB WAS FORMED, IT IS THE REASON WE SUPPORT IT!
The supporters will always do their bit, but i expect Celtic to STILL and ALWAYS to be helping the most needy in our community!
HH
I’m not saying it SHOULD be just up to us, but IMHO that’s the SAD reality of hows things stand, whether we like it or not.
…. Having said that, I 100% agree with your sentiment above – the club should be at the forefront, and we need to continually remind them of that proud heritage and force them into doing much more to uphold it. All I’m saying is the reality may not always match our expectations
Carl,
Well said!
HH
F❌⚠️K charity. The most British of Institutions. Shameful business really with a damning resume. I watched the tic and wanted to be a Tim because it was as close as I could get to being a Provo.
Hahahaha
Hand wringing pish.
Sure is.
Hawl Ralphy ya whingebag….the club can do both!
Grow as a club….provide more local jobs…enhance the east end which was ignored by all Govts for over a century….continue to raise the profile of the club and in turn provide more support to those who need it most.
Everyone can be a winner!
Celtic has been a business for decades, charity is what a section of the supporters do the club has little to do with it. They have the foundation and it does a lot of great work with the supporters money and the green Brigade and others have been fantastic in the foodbank collections. But to start criticising the club for acting like a business is a bit rich (pardon the unintended pun). The dinner tables stuff is the stuff our grandfathers told us about but it is far down the list of priorities at Celtic and the vast majority of the clubs supporters. The past 20 years has saw it almost disappear. I can’t see what is wrong with expanding the club or the match day experience in this way. I was more outraged when the unemployed gate was discontinued and the reaction of Fergus McCann to the anger of a small number of supporters. remember when eh said ‘well Tennents don’t have an unemployed discount when they sell lager’. There was not much outrage at this. Football is no longer a sport it is a multi-billion pound industry. And whether we like it or not Celtic are part of that.
Have to disagree Ralph, as touched on above where do you draw the line on how the club spends money? If we sign a player for £3m do we say “Aw no get a guy for £2.5m and give the £500k to charity?
Previously you have rightly touched on the matchday experience at Parkhead eg toilets, food etc. Surely having a museum celebrating a rich history is the kind of thing to entice (particularly young) fans along and enjoy the day all the more. Perhaps discounted rooms for travelling season book holders etc. There are things that could be provided that will be of benefit in terms of jobs and for fans on matchdays so I see this as positive if managed correctly. And by managing correctly I mean increased revenue in turn meaning increased charitable work eventually.
Will the Museum be free entry to the poor, and will the wee boy with his ‘ba tucked under his arm stood outside watching people go in, parents with not a penny to rub together, his dreams, his burning dreams to play for Celtic, be allowed in?
He fucking better be!!!
Too right Monti.While we’re on prices,get the ticket prices reduced! From £26 to watch PISH opposition in games is a joke.Figures today stated 41% of working people earn under 18k per year.What a society we live in.HH
Rob,
Well put m8
“Ironically, our support was doing exactly what we used to dislike about their support.”
I’ve been saying this for a while now, I don’t indulge the 90s are still fresh (or at least that part is). Pride comes before a fall as the old proverb predicts. Additionally, the more we taunt, flaunt the more we validate the same club myth, in their minds they are being taunted just like Rangers so they must be Rangers.
As to the Hotel, I think it is a great idea, but I’m with you that the club should also be doing more for those that need it. Charity, or more to the root of it, love and kindness, is the basis of our club and will continue to be the foundation of our future success if we embrace it.
It is a business, they do have shareholders to satisfy, however the overwhelming majority of Celtic Shareholders (not perhaps the majority of shareholding) believe in what you describe has made us Celtic. Celtic’s origin story is powerful, but over the years it will become less so unless there are deeds along the way that demonstrate our commitment to honour our founders vision.
Katanes,
I disagree with you a little bit, we are goading and gloating because THEY are fucking dead, they were cheating bastards and they got their dues for not paying their dues!
We should be gloating, fuck them!
That honestly made me LOL ..and there is definitely truth there………. I’ve truly enjoyed the peace by just leaving some old hun pals well alone with the occasional statement about how much I enjoy the peace…. 🙂
Last time I heard from them was the Barca away game……I just laughed at them….. it’s too easy right now….
🙂
It’s not all down to the club to help these poor unfortunate people, but to people who have a conscience and do what we can for these people it might be as little as a soup out of greggs on a cold day to helping out at the foodbanks
Well said Ralph, it goes with our board pretending that the Hun club are the same Hun club to keep the dosh flowing. Do you think it will be called the Dembele Inn as the money they make from the bhoy will fit out a few rooms?
Celtic is a club like no other. It’s us the fans responsibility to carry on the values ”A football club will be formed for the maintenance of dinner tables, for the children and the unemployed.” If we must build it ourselves, with a clear plan we can utilise the fantastic online network of fan groups, blogs, podcasts, Celtic fans basically have their own media network, outside mainstream media, outside of the “news” which contains lies and propaganda, us the Celtic fans have the tools. Online crowdfunding, grassroots, being in and around glasgow, at the games, by appealing to human decency with truth and integrity we can be a shining example of light in these dark times of global fascism. I ultimately believe in our fans, maybe a kick up the arse is needed, it’s easy to get distracted, be vigilant.
Remember Celtic were heavily criticised by every other club in Scotland in the 1890s for bringing business into sport. I am sure I read that Queen’s Park refused to change, in what was a new stand, ‘the Grant Stand,’ because they were still amateur and considered Celtic’s professional approach vulgar. There was also an element of anti Irish Bigotry in it as well. Celtic were also criticised and investigated for circumventing rules about signing and paying for players, as the club had bought pubs for players who would otherwise have gone down South to play. these types of business deals were scandalous at the time, although Celtic were merely ahead of the game at this time and wanted to compete with the bigger clubs down South. Which is exactly the same thing that these new business ventures are attempting to do. As someone else point out, if we are going to quibble this is nothing knew going right back to the 19th century.
1890’s?
Pensionerbhoy will remember that…..:)
Ralph,
Very thought provoking piece.
Whilst I, like most Celtic fans, support/applaud the great work of the Foundation (and GB) and have contributed when possible (3 trips up the Ben with the Highest Huddle being the peak of my contributions, pun intended) it is easy to poke a stick in the direction of the Board (Res 12 and Minimum Wage being examples of a well-deserved poke).
In my opinion, we do however need the Corporate structure and governance that began in earnest with Fergus and has served us well over the last few years, and love or hate the current Board, just look at the clusterfuck across the road and you can appreciate where we are. Despite their 500,000,000 fans (lol) Sevco is not a global brand, we most definitely are. We are rightly applauded around the world for the way we handle ourselves as a Club and a fanbase and that translates into success, and hopefully that has a knock on effect in the community (regeneration/jobs etc).
Back to the Hotel, not sure we need one. Fans from further afield will be better placed to comment on that. I think the Museum idea is a worthy one, especially if this mirrors the Nou Camp or Bernabeau Tours, although they have more European Cups than us.
Even if the Hotel turns out to be a giant hovering hoax by big Pete, it gave us a great laugh and a proper GIRFUY to our friends across the city who are circling the drain at enormous speed. They are no longer our greatest rivals despite what the MSM would have people believe, they are as irrelevant as the scene in T2, stuck in another century while we prosper, what’s not to like 🙂
For it’s a grand hotel to stay in
For it’s a grand old place to stay
And if
You know
The history
It’s enough to make your heart go
“Do Not Disturb”
We don’t care what the Travelodge say
What the hell do we care?
For we only know
That there’s gonnae be a show
And the Glasgow Celtic will do rooms
🙂
ffs wits a matter wae ralph the day did someday steal his pint as for the gloating i personally wouldnae waste ma time gloatin on twitter but ile defend tae the death anybody elses right especially if it upsets the zombies
Celtic a club like no other,
Watch a game,
eat out in our many restaurants,
Get pished, in our bars.
Spend a night in our new 4star hotel, the Walfred.
Spend your dosh in our betting offices,
or mibbee our new casino,
Purchase oor new strips, or kits, or clothing range,
Watch the gee gees, go round our new upcoming race track, (brigton and back).
If you have any dosh left, be frisked by security and hand it over for gratuitous payments.
There you have sampled all the facilitis that oor great club offer, welcome back, come back and see us soon.
ile be back
like asaid ime no wan for gloatin but ………….
https://youtu.be/gXuRvthgn4U
https://youtu.be/SgUYUOGvVZM
oh a nearly forgot ralph shut your mouf ha ha
The romantic notion of Celtic is long gone get over yerselfs ffs.
The club was dying, Fergus came along and the rest is history.
The Hotel is a wonderful addition,to the club. As will the museum, many many fans want to stay near the ground when they come to visit,this provides that. The Emirates is well used,again a wonderful oppertunity for people visiting the sports there to stay at the hotel.
What’s not to like?
We carry the torch each and everyone of us, as to the true Celtic way. We were handed It down,by our fathers and grandfathers,we pass that on,to our loved ones, and so it goes the circle of Celtic. Charity, social justice, it is within us,so let the club do what it does,and we will do the rest.
Of course it’s a business, it has its heart and soul with us,but it has to achieve,we demand that,and if a hotel generates money,for us to be successful on the field of play,and keeping the Hun down,then I’m with the plan.
Yes we are a club like no other, never forget that.
HH
well said jimmy though i do think we should have a REALLY poor peoples section we could let them in for half price just so even the poor people could gloat
https://youtu.be/ULeDlxa3gyc
why the religious clap trap at the beginning of the article
Shut the fuck up Donny….you’re out of your element!