Last night, the church bells in the fair city of Seville rang out mournfully, warning of what is to come…..
The fairytale rise of a new club continued as “rangers ” made a European final a decade after starting out in senior football. And all they had was the millions of pounds scooped up from fans of another club who at that point would have latched on to anything that told them it was their club, which had been placed into liquidation by a previous owner, who in turn had bought what was left of it after another owner had failed to realise that one had to balance the books where the business side of things was concerned.
You have to tip your hat to them. There’s a movie in there somewhere.
A rag tag collection of players that no one else wants have been somehow transformed into a sort of 21st century Wimbledon, where the idea is to hit the ball as hard as you can towards the opposition goal and hope for the best.
When they’re not kicking the opposition that is.
And in European competition, it works.
Combined with stout and diligent defending, they’ve got to a prestigious European final earlier in their history than any other side since continental competition began.
But whilst they rejoice in their triumph, and it truly is remarkable, one wonders if somewhere out there, outwith the confines of our own intrepid Scottish mainstream media, another outlet will record this achievement for posterity, so the rest of the sporting world can sit up and applaud this unique achievement.
It’s common knowledge they aren’t actually the same club as once graced…if thats the right word…the famous old stadium, itself undersold as part of a basket of assets when a Yorkshireman with big hands saw a way of filling both them and his bank account.
His part should not be overlooked, as indeed , neither should the part played with agreements such as the Five Way, which gave the new club the kick start it needed as it saw light for the first time in the lowest league.
Or how their business partners at Celtic Park..and other clubs… failed to pursue the many, many allegations of misdemeanours that cost other clubs millions, and cost Scottish football it’s reputation as a genuine sporting competition.
How we laughed at them when they had to cancel a game against Kelty Hearts when their licence didn’t come through on time..
In that short decade since then, they’ve burned through over one hundred million pounds, and are reaping the rewards now as the eyes of Europe are upon them.
Everyone will want to know their story, all the little details that make up this triumphant tale of how football was the winner, how the support rallied round and created a new entity from the flames of the old.
How together they journeyed from Stirling to Seville, from ashes back to sashes.
It really is a hell of a story, and deserves a huge audience.
But will it be told before the game, or as part of an inquest into the reason why Sevillians are now sending their children to live with out of town relatives ?
Will it be told even as the shutters are placed over windows, as streets are barricaded and churches, mosques and synagogues are placed under police protection ?
Whilst hapless Scottish hacks type fawningly over what they see as Rangers getting to a final in their 150th year, what are real reporters seeing, and when will we see their version of events ?
There is a story that should be told, and with all good stories, someone will tell it.
By the way, if they need any paperwork to back up the truth, I’m sure I could oblige…..
There’s plenty more where that came from….
In fact, sometimes, when I’m bored, I go to bars where Scottish journalists hang out, and leave it lying around on the tables.
The landlord asked me to do it, usually at last orders, as it clears the place quicker than a smoke grenade.
Hunbelievable! Surely they canny win the damn thing, especially with automatic CL group stage entry…..?! Keeping everything crucified, sorry, crossed that it will be third time lucky for our German friends!
Anyway, back to the good guys…..COYBIG!
Poor seville.
Win or lose they will cause havoc.
Third time lucky for a German club
There is a possibility of a rerun of the Second World War in Seville, Eintracht fans are not exactly a peaceful mob, look at the after match actions last night. The fourth estate, will print the usual, we even may get a March to the city centre or Glasgow Airport over the next few weeks. But they have played a certain type of football and been totally underrated by European teams.
On the other side of the coin Celtic a club famous throughout Europe as been a disaster, smoke and mirrors used by the board for years, after the disasters of Ferencvaros and Prague or the Red Imps many fans believe it is about beating the zombies. The club is bigger and better it should be achieving more in Europe, Ange was a bit of luck, now being sold as a clever move by the suits. The Brenda was unemployed when he came, the hodcarrier Lenny a true Celtic man was the fall guy for these guys, but at least they will be happy that the ‘Old Firm’ brand continues as they hang onto the tail of Sevco
I wonder how long the “joined at the hip” OF cosy relationship will last when the rioting kicks off and UEFA responds by banning ALL Scottish clubs from Europe? Can’t happen? In the wake of Heysel, ALL English clubs were banned…
Hinkel wagered on the huns.
sevco educed FC.
I sense a Glasgow legacy for friendly Scottish football supporters visiting Seville is about to get trashed. Imagine what Scotland’s number one club might have done. Ange’s next challenge is making us a formidable European team again.
I really do hope the Guardia Civil enjoy a fair amount of hunskelping.
Banned after Barcelona.
Should never have been allowed to darken Europes door again after Manchester.
Seville? win or lose there will be consequences.
Vermin.
Henke, there are either scum voting on here or ?????
Anyway, it’s important that Celtic supporters stick together and ‘see off’ the “vermin” you speak of.
I’ve also used that “vermin” terminology accurately and often.
I’ve heard it all now Vinnie, there are actually supposed Celtic supporters wishing the vermin all the best in the final. We have a problem at Celtic Park with a section of the support, dispassionate tossers who should be nowhere near a seat in the stands. I thought the support were poor last Sunday and it was the same in the semifinal. Too many rock up to the ground and put no effort into actually giving it laldy and driving the team on.
Henke, to wish that shower well from a Celtic fan? Only a total fkn idiot but it’s incredible and sickening in equal measure.
You just keep doing what you do, there’s never been any doubt in my mind that your heart and mind are devoted to Celtic FC.
HH
PS, not feeling too great as I’ve once again ‘over-achieved’ with the bevvy….I love the stuff but it’s too often both friend and foe!
If what I’m typing has already been said, I apologise to whomever typed it.
A letter to the Mayor of Seville (or suchlike) and CC’d to Seville FC:
“Dear Sirs, your FC and town are going to be invaded by fans of a new football company (not a club as it NEVER went through due process). I warn you: the fans are feral scum. They have NO ASSOCIATION/AFFILIATION whatsoever with the fabulous supporters of Celtic FC whom visited your fair city 19 years ago and were rightly given plaudits by FIFA, EUFA and all and sundry.
It, (“rangers”) was dreamt up, created and put forward by Rangers number 1, Sevco Scotland Limited, the SFA, the SPL and the SFL, and Celtic PLC who were party to, but not signatories to, the 5-way (fraudulent) agreement of the 27th July 2012.
I trust you will ‘look into’ this black hole of finance before football.
Finally, please never associate the scum you will encounter later this month with GENUINE football supporters from Glasgow, CELTIC FC supporters.
Whilst the new company that calls itself rangers has a stadium in Glasgow most of its fans come from further afield in Scotland and from Northern Ireland where they annually create havoc with their anti-Catholic marches. All allowed/promoted by the ‘authorities’ in said country. BUT, ‘the times they are a changeing’. Stay safe, ban the scum from getting to Seville.”
I was driving my taxi last night when the final whistle went. Without a word of a lie the mileage I had done was 66.6 miles. 666, the mark of the devil. When I got home this morning I sent an e-mail to Seville warning them what’s coming. The devil’s horde.
Contact (Mayor) here: Casa consistorial, Plaza Nueva 1, Seville, Spain
The FC:
Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán
C/ Sevilla Fútbol Club,
s/n 41005 – Sevilla
Telephone
954 53 53 53
Fax
954 536 061
E-mail
sevillafc@sevillafc.com
Ralph, FFS, let the contact details for the Mayor of Seville and its FC through to readers. The site’s still fukked and needs fixing.
done
Much appreciated Desi.
Not sure who coined it but “evil happens when good, ordinary people do nothing”.
I’ve emailed Seville FC verbatim to my comment:
sevillafc@sevillafc.com
It goes to show how short sighted our board have been over the past decade and how woefully we have under performed for at least seven of the last ten seasons in Europe. Shortsighted at best. Arrogant at its worst.
We have a great leader in Ange. I hope he is given the freedom and resources to take us into the latter stages of European competition as well as dominating domestically.
Exactly. Lawwell’s legacy in all its glory. Never tried to progress the club outwith our little backwater. Played the fans for mugs for years.
I fear the worst for the people and City of Seville when statement o’clock FC and their support turn up, life as they know it will be changed forever. The one thing though is the Spanish police don’t take any prisoners if the huns go looking for a fight the police will take them out. The fact they’ve reached the final shows it can be done and the Celtic board have no hiding place in that respect. Having said that 7 wins in 18 games makes a mockery of the whole tournament that a club can progress to a final with a record like that, the old system of knockout football and no seeds wasn’t broke so didn’t need “fixing”. That’s what has happened though the whole European tournament structure has required “fixing” for the teams in the big 5 league’s to gain a sporting and monetary advantage. The whole system from FIFA and UEFA as governing bodies is so corrupt, like our own governing bodies they need gutted from top to bottom. The gap between the big 5 league’s and the rest is only going to get bigger till there’ll be no point in our club’s turning up, greed is ruining the game and there’s no such thing as sporting integrity at home or in Europe any more and money is ruining the game. How long before we have the first billion pound player? It’s going to happen in the next 5 to 10 years, bang average players are earning obscene amounts and it’s not sustainable long term, some massive clubs are going to go to the wall in the not too distant future in my opinion.
DD and Peter Lawell must be so proud of the rangers reaching the Europa final, with their continued support and full backing since 2012, then they managed tae achieve one half of THEIR old firm franchise reaching a respected European Cup final, if only they’d put as much time effort and money into helping their own fkg team achieve this…God help Seville, an orc army of mutant, piss stained inbreds are heading their way….TAL
And that’s just the female orcs.
But on the plus side, they still haven’t won it yet…and to get so close and then get frankfurtered in the Final….can you imagine their disappointment, their tears, their rage? I can…and It’s gonna be tasty.
“Give them nothing…..but take from them EVERYTHING”
Well put, the man!
We live in strange times. A mediocre team from Scotland, a mere ten years old, will play a mediocre team from Germany in the Europa League Final. All the best teams in this failed to take their chances when they had them. Some in the Champions league were the same the main beneficiary being Real Madrid who should have been put out three times and survived. Let’s call the basket run what it is – a fluky one in a million set of results that sometimes happen every 30 years or so. It sucks and there it is. Never mind them – onto winning the league for us and games in the Champions league next year.
Always consider a stupid idea an idea to work with with those around who want to achieve the want.
Let us quietly move forward as Scottish League Champions.
Affiliation is fetid, Michael.
Tentacles…they will win. Do not kid yourself.
10 year on sevco FC stratagem. Pity !
Today is 7.
Mark Lawwell = Battle for Jerusalem. Imagine if the money men become the enemy ?
Some, left with… ?
Do let your flip flops (thongs) become a weapon to thy shy board. Slap the bassas much.
It is a good thing.
Dee Clark – Hey Little Girl. Sing.
SMSM, are you sure it is everyone ?
Blanket Kris Boyd ? 6 months of his wage, he will donate to his own charity if sevco FC win.
Question their guts.
Boyd and Sally have gone halvies in a jetty. Niminy-piminy acceptable sunbed joke bigots.
I hear Celtic PLC has groupies. Weekend in Glasgow.
Are we union antenuptial agreement community FC ?
Plastic card Celtic FC.
To take, understood SFA abstract. And they all rolled out.
Walker, unusual of miserable. What is wrong with him. A player is not close but running onto it.
Maintenance Bhoy ?
A player should be there in front. Yes.
No offside position. Training works. Caper.
Shall we sign for what we need ? Or be wanting to though though ?
Pressure and knacker the keeper. If you are in the box you will not be forgiven for hitting the woodwork. Score with your left.
Foul throw. Foot over the line.
What is live and what is a replay here ?
The ref always looks like he has been on a fortnight session.
Cognate knuckle.
2-1 up ? Slaughter instinct ?
Watch the fucking ball.
Unnecessary pressure
Second nature but not from all.
Pound to get ? Pound received, all will enjoy. I before.
Let us take a look. Tight one. On side. Call it out, please..
If they canny keep up on the line…watch this.
Celtic ball, ah.
A mile on side
Greek forward gone at Celtic Park next season. if they do.
Well played Bhoys..
Burst Ghirls and Bhoys. Thank you.
Though distinguished is moved on. Let us.
One could cost. Jota`s goal I reckon was
A real champions’ performace today and could have even scored two or three more. Every single player excelled with Calmac in world-class form. Impressively high energy right through to the finish. Passing and movement much better as well. Hearts aren’t a bad team but they were totally outclassed this afternoon. Absolutely buzzing.
It was a game of, do you not want to have another look of that ref, game.
G`day Yoker Bhoy,
shall Giorgos end up with a vacuum named after him ?
He wants, yes he does. Good luck running into him. Boom !
G’day Port. Hope you’re good mate. We’ve been crying out for a striker like the big fella for years and I sense he could be a great asset for us in the coming years. Wee Taylor was brilliant as well, looks like a completely different player these days.
I want to draw the Gunners. Wingers will walk past those too wide..
The vote is finished within Scotland.
Here comes the made of cause palm plant Islands.
Just when you thought, hold on..
extended diet
We were very good. They are moulded on hun physicality lines but we beat them playing pure, beautiful football. Ref and bald linesman a disgrace.
God we made the keeper keep.
A goalkeeper within the Scottish Football game never gives a penalty away.
Expect a hat-trick Joe.