A couple of stories caught my eye yesterday, both of which it could be said demand immediate action.
The first comes from a reply to yesterday’s diary, showing that at least one person reads them….
From Jim Smith
I drove a round trip of approx 230 miles to go to last nights game. Because of hold ups due to heavy traffic and diversions arrived 6 minutes late only to find all turnstiles closed and unable gain admission to stadium. A rude and belligerent steward advised us to go to turnstiles round the corner if we wanted to gain admission. He also advised us that it was Celtic FC’s policy to closed gates at kick off and in future arrive on time! After futile argument we headed to next turnstile only to be met by supporters and steward heading to where we had just left. After much chaos a turnstile was opened and we tried to enter only for my card to be rejected and my partners paper ticket also to be rejected. A delighted steward told us to go to ticket office for replacement tickets. You’ll never guess? replacement tickets didn’t work at turnstile! Advised to try another turnstile they had reopened. Success at last gained admission to hear roar as we scored. Between us we spent about £130 tickets and fuel, hours of travel only to miss first 33 minutes of action. As a club we can be extremely amateurish at times.
Amateurish is one word we could use, though I’d use two.
Downright ridiculous.
This, from the reply, seems to have affected quite a few fans, and apart from the completely unhelpful stewarding, closing the gates at kick off is an idea I’ve never come across before, and whoever made that decision should be held to account.
Supporters don’t all live in the G postcode area, and as a long distance traveller myself it’s not too difficult to see why Jim was upset.
Later today I’ll be asking john Paul Taylor to seek an explanation from the club, and also some sort of assurance that this won;t happen again.
At least we know he’ll try to find out what happened and why. I’ll let you know what he says.
The second story is interesting as well. It concerns Banks O’Dee, an Aberdeen based club who play in the Highland League…
Aberdeen side Banks O’ Dee slammed with 24-point penalty
after player registration issue
The error saw two unregistered Dee players involved in eight Highland League matches, with current Highland League rules stating that a mandatory three-point deduction must be carried out for ineligible players for each game they were listed
Actually, it’s not just the Highland League who operate this rule, though there is another example of it being broken that might make you think they are.
Aberdeen-based football club Banks O’ Dee has been hit with a 24-point deduction in the Highland League due to a player registration issue.
The administrative error saw two unregistered Dee players involved in eight Highland League matches, with current league rules stating that a mandatory three-point deduction must be carried out for ineligible players for each game they were listed as part of the lineup.
The penalty follows a probe from the Highland League management committee. The issue had earlier seen Bank O’ Dee removed from the Scottish Cup before their second round tie against Dunipace FC.
An administrative error…..the punishment for which does seem rather severe. Imagine if a club…or company…had improperly, and thus deliberately, flouted this rule.
Following the punishment, Banks O’ Dee will now sit at the foot of the Highland League table, dropping 12 positions from sixth. They gained promotion to the League after winning the North Region Junior Football League play-off last season.
In a statement, Banks O’ Dee president Brain called the news “devastating,” saying that the management team and the players would be feeling “badly let down.”
He said: “This is devastating news for all involved at Spain Park. I really feel for the management team and the players as they will be feeling badly let down. However, we win and lose together, we are a resilient organisation, so over time I am sure we will recover and be stronger for it. At times like this we have to be positive and focus on all the good things we have done in recent years. Yes, of course, this is a major set back for our season.
UEFA take this sort of thing seriously, as we saw when Legia Warsaw fielded an ineligible player in a European game against Celtic, which led to their expulsion after a 3-0 win was awarded to Celtic, one of our best results in Europe in recent years.
This led to the dismissal of the lady responsible for the administrative error… Marta Ostrowska, who, incidentally , didn’t respond to my sympathetic emails offering her , er, sympathy.
If my mother was blonde, I’d never have left home. As Spike Milligan once said of Peter Sellers.
Anyway, now Banks O’Dee don;t seem to be appealing the decision, which is their prerogative, but although the rules are the rules, and must be followed, is there actually a civil case they can take to a court of law whereby they could claim that they are being unfairly punished, as there is a precedent in Scottish football that shows players need not be properly registered as at least one club, or company, deliberately flouted the rules by not revealing the full details of players contracts ?
We could, of course, email the SFA and ask them why Banks O’Dee are being punished and Rangers are not.
Maybe they’ll reply ….maybe they’ll adopt the same line as Anders Traverso, who declared , when he was head of European Club Licensing, that Rangers wouldn;t be punished for european transgressions because “rangers ” are a new club.
I’ve no doubt our media, who exist to hold those in positions of responsibility to account, will be all over this story of appalling injustice and it’s implications.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, and Ange Postecoglou is continuing his rebuild of Celtic.
We hear that he is a little more than upset at the prospect of no European football after Christmas, and the compensation of extra training ground work isn’t going to blow his frock up.
I’m disappointed as well. The football was a welcome distraction from the mess the country is in.
It looks very much like Rishi Sunak is going to pick up where Boris Johnson left off with his scorched earth policy. Bringing in Suella Braverman to replace the disgraced Suella Braverman is an indicator of that.
James Cleverly, who isn’t clever at all, said Braverman has “experience ”
What he really means is ” She has form ” , as they say in legal circles.
I digress.
Celtic are already looking for replacements, and at least one player won’t be around for the treble celebrations in May, largely because he isn’t doing what he’s told at the higher level…… and there’s a feeling from above that he has kind of let the team down…
You can probably guess who it is.
Yesterday, we had this….
Bob Smith
Liam and Noel Gallagher hold press conference to deny they are reforming Oasis
Today, a reader has sent us this one.
Now, if anyone wants to photoshop sashes…..but more importantly, what are they saying ?
Caption: After just missing out on No 10
Neil Lennon gets the next most likely job going.
His position of what Neil played is what we need,
What a cvnt.
am wae port
” isn’t doing what he’s told at the higher level…..”
Interesting
Boaby I’ve locked masel oot the system again, whit’s the password? No again Steve, ah telt ye it’s penalty2rangers1690.
Guy on left to guy on right… aye, I know Abada is onside on my screen, but from my angle he’s offside on your screen – excellent, tell the ref to chop off the goal
Who is the player not doing what they’re told at the higher level?
Penalty tae Ranjurs!
See no penalty, hear no penalty, award no penalty to Celtic.
I used to work on the turnstiles in the Sixties and a gate was always kept open at each corner of the ground until half time with two or three others not closing until a good few minutes after the kick off.
“You can probably guess who it is.”
For those of us who are obviously of a thick disposition/useless at guessing, could you please elaborate, Ralph?
Ditto.
You can make a case that quite a few of them have failed at Champions League level.
Yeah. My thought as well. No idea who they are talking about.
Yep, same here. Could be any one of half a dozen players?
Yet again the daft caption feature,which btw never gets a funny winner,is the main topic of discussion when we’ve got to guess who the player is who might be getting punted to n January, unbelievable this blog sometimes
Caption “Keep reviewing until you notice the fecker Ralph wants punted”
Yeah Ralph who are you referring to? On your other point, I have been a season ticket holder since 1992 and remarked to my son and my mate how aggressive the stewarding was on Tuesday night. Never noticed it on any other occasion.
Caption: Ref 1 to Ref 2 – thank fuck we got those singing bigot cancelling headphones fae the SMSM. Ahd be put off watchin the game wi all the staunch choonz been beltit oot
Caption;
“ fûck sake lads, the battle tunes are pure banging in these headphones “
Caption “What can we replace honest mistake with ?…I’m thinking non concomitant camera angle “
If the stewards are on the clock until KO, it’s obvious why the club close most turnstiles thereafter whilst allowing for latecomers at the odd one or two. If they all remained open that’s money wasted on manning them, as they will be in very limited use. The fannying about with replacement tix etc is classic incompetence, but the general principle to close them down when 99.99% of the crowd has gone through them makes obvious sense.
Caption …
Ffs six screens in this pub and none of them have got the gers on , quick get hesgoal up on your phone …
Caption: “come on, come on, get in the box for a penalty ranger’s”
If you are speaking to John Paul Taylor can you also ask him about the club’s relationship with Police Scotland and the later inability/ reluctance/ indifference to assist vehicles leaving the Parkhead area.
It is now taking almost a hour to leave the local area.
The complete lack of police intervention in turning off traffic lights, particularly on London Road, to allow traffic to quickly exit the area is now causing frustration amongst drivers. I’m also sure it is no fun for the local residents to have hundreds of vehicles with running engines sitting outside their houses late at night.
Indeed the cynic in me believes the the stationary traffic was one of the reasons being used to bring in the proposed parking restrictions around the stadium.
Fifteen years ago traffic lights were turned off by a Police officer and traffic could quickly gain access to the motorway. Now, despite the M74 being extended and another exit now at Dalmarnock, it is now taking double the time to get to the motorway.
I’m sure I’m not the only one getting frustrated by the lack of communication between club and Police Scotland on this issue and while people may say the club have no control over what the police do external of the stadium, the club currently play the highest policing charges in Scotland so surely they should be either approaching the police or the council, if not on behalf of their customers, but the local residents.
Whoever allowed the London Rd to have a cycle lane ( nothing against them ) for much of its length in and out of Celtic Park ? Think they knew what they were doing. The vehicle exhaust would kill any cyclists.
I have nothing against cyclists either however the only cyclist I’ve seen on London Road was on the pavement. Perhaps they put the cycle lanes in hoping to attract cyclists rather than monitoring the routes cyclists use and building the lanes there.
The fact they have reduced London Road to one lane makes it more important that traffic is assisted to exit the area. Currently the local streets are just choked with vehicles unable to move.
Of course, the cycle lane is there and presumably in use all of the time.
Whereas we’re talking, what, a couple of hours, 20 times a season for Celtic games?
Perhaps the club could try to encourage some of our petrolheads out of their cars, to walk, bus and train.
There’s a climate emergency, in case anyone has forgotten.
Cha,
And put all the ‘watch yer motor mister’ weans out of business ! In the two years its been there, going in and out, season and close season, I’ve seen ONE cyclist on it. Many walk (not alone !), supporters buses use it and Carntyne train station is a good bit away ( Dalmarnock as well). Been soaked many a time coming in from there. Again, no issue with lanes but on one of the main in and outs to the ground ?
Malace aforethought maybe.
D’oh, I’d completely forgotten about young local entrepreneurs, who’s enterprise should obviously be recognised, rewarded and encouraged.
It was more advocating for the devil, without any skin in the game, so is it possible to temp suspension of cycle lanes for an hour before and after games or is it hardwired?
I would agree with you if the train and bus infrastructure was adequate to get everyone to and from the stadium in a timely manor.
The trains for instance hold a maximum 800 passengers and run once every fifteen minutes. Busses, while more regular, hold probably a maximum of 80 to 85.
With the best will in the world that would mean some people would be waiting until 10 o’clock to get on a train after a three o’clock kick off.
Walking is a grand idea but for people travelling more than two miles to get to the stadium I don’t think it’s a practical alternative.
When they were developing the industrial units at the part of London Road where the original M74 exit is, I had hoped they would have bought a large area for cars to park and hired buses per magch for a Park and Ride. If they had charged cars £1 or £2 to cover the cost of buses that would have been a sensible plan. However even that plan would have required assistance from Police Scotland to again manage the traffic lights.
I think we are all aware that there is an energy crisis but walking isn’t an option for everyone and not everyone lives within walking distance of the stadium.
I was being slightly flippant and acknowledge that there are public transport issues for some (a lot?) of fans.
Having said that, a couple of miles would take you into the centre of Glasgow, where surely there was adequate onwards travel?
It’s what I’ve always done, from a pre-teen in the late 60s/early 70s to my more sedate Old Codger current self.
Everyone is different and I’m sceptical that everyone that drives to the game needs to.
We all love convenience but sacrificing a little of that ie for those that can’t walk any distance, isn’t that better for the common good?
Having said that, coming out of a late night boozer after a game, without buses, taxis around then I can see the attraction of a designated driver!
Unfortunately, the lack of parking is just going to get worse with authorities claiming more people should walk (true but I doubt if they hold themselves to the same standard) and lack of public transport.
On a general point, John Paul Taylor is approachable on Twitter and there’s a fans forum that everyone is welcome to join.
I know this is a hot button issue for a lot of fans and it’s always raised immediately after games.
Ralph may have more cachet to speak on behalf of the etims huddle masses but I’m sure a direct individual approach wouldn’t go a miss either.
aye and its all the fault of ICE cars, not the stupid barry stewards with batteries in their cars generating so much CO2 that they would have to travel 150k in their electric crap before breaking even with petrol cars, which is a greater range than the batteries life. VW measurements are just so convenient. There are so many dumb asses who just believe everything they are told.
Do I win a prize for just spotting 1?
What is an ICE car and how does driving a battery 1 relieve traffic congestion before and after games?
Answer these questions and you could win a Noballs piece prize.
ffs Im back at school. an ICE ya dumbass is an Internal Combustion Engine used by petrolheads. Your comments on saving the planet by not using one are bollox, since driving a battery one uses more CO2 than a petrol one unless its done > 150k, or are people walking from aberdeen to the match now. pubic transport is not an option for 50k people to get to CP.
btw, the engine it the big thing under the bonnet, usually at the front
It real isn’t with regards to traffic congestion at Celtic Park.
It’s a shame you didn’t stick at it during your initial time at school.
so why did you bring it u, you are telling celtic to encourage people not to come to CP to solve the climate crisis. If petrolheads cant get to CP in a petrol car how else are the going to get there ya dobber. pubic transport cannot cope no f.way. Not everyone lives in a 5 mile radius. The climate crisis bandwaggon solves everything except of course the climate crisis.
Caption
SFA’s porn studio showcases 3 dicks on 6 screens
Juranovic? Abada? Kyogo? Turnbull?
Shaw? Montgomery? Ayeti? Soro? Mikey? 😉 I hope Liam Scales stays cos I still think there’s a player in there.
I assume the Enigmatic Mr Malph is referring to a current 1st team, rather than a squad, player.
Has anyone stood out as being much worse than anyone else?
To me, they’ve all contributed to a “good going forward” promise but all share culpability for losing poor goals, losing possession in dangerous areas and having musical instruments that wouldn’t trouble bovine rumps.
I know that Cha, I was just messing about mentioning all those loanees. It’s a complete mystery to me as well. Apart from the benchwarmers like McCarthy, Welsh, Ideguchi etc who get very little game time there’s the young Argie Alexandro, who showed some great potential in previous games but had a stinker against Hearts and I think still has a pending court case. If anyone has an attitude problem it might just be him but that’s just a complete stab in the dark as I’ve no idea what goes on behind the scenes. I wonder what the source (if there was one) of the rumour could be – I’ve just has a quick butchers and can’t find anything on the web.
Excellent turn of phrase Sir
🙂
I read it as a 1st team starter or, less likely, a sub who detracts rather than adds to the team.
I’m flummoxed, as although collectively and individually, we’ve come up short, I don’t see a sore thumb.
On Tuesday, in the emotions of the game, I was not happy with Jura, who after the goal turned round and berated those in front of him.
Yes, the others in front did poorly but Jura ran with Mudryk, didn’t put in a tackle and stood off him, allowing him to get a shot away.
Cf CCV desperate attempt on Mudryk that should have led to their 2nd goal.
He had to attempt the tackle, which he did, as did Jura, which he didn’t.
Now that I’ve fingered my guy, who’s yours?
😉
Mooy…I’ve got a wardrobe that turns faster.
Is it Kyogo? Ange said to him he wanted goals and Kyogo is not doing it at the higher level
Skip survey. Though though. Just how,that ?
Trainer wheels on grass. Do they know the measurements of the playground?
caption, right guys turn the rangers game aff, yer supposed to be doing Killie v Hibs
Am sure he means that nice Mr foster considering he threw the boss under a buss. Personally I think he is next to hopeless as a goalie. But what would I know.
Are you Hart-less 🙁
Caption
It’s no that far from here to the Crown Bar mate.
Having had issues with entry at Parkhead with printed tickets, the stewards as a rule are extremely unhelpful. You go to the ticket office to get replacements, surely an easier system should be in operation.
Note that the muppets are claiming that they are still in with a chance of European football, Deludemol?
Caption: “so just to confirm…red button is penalty rangers? And green button is also penalty rangers?”
tae me celtic press tooooooo much and ar foked at the endy the gemme a pressin gemmes ok but they need tae learn wen its time tae take it easy ……////am no wan fur geeing a fook but this place is fulla zombies///////////ANYWAY COYBIG