Celtic Fan + lighter = thief

The Sun newspaper

Manchester United fans fear about visit of Celtic fans

source: http://www.redcafe.net/f6/celtic-away-215886/

by heightmassive
"I'm not a fan of Celtic, in my experience in testimonials and Europe from 86 to 08 it's been IRA songs, anti English songs, pissing on the street and munich aeroplanes.

The last time we played them in Europe was dreadful, it'll be the same this year, aggresive drunken balloons."

by Utd heap
"As long as they don't attempt to take over the Stretty like last time.
Kicked off in K stand and tier 2.

Scuffles etc, nothing big.

Loads got in at Celtic without tickets, meaning people with tickets were turned away...

More events will happen again."

by ralphie88
"with the exception of Keane's (which I wasn't at), all those were before the IRA bombed Manchester city centre. That incident unfortunately soured relations.

And I'm afraid I have seen Celtic fans (even those who also support United) singing pro-IRA songs in Manchester pubs"

Celtic; Rotten to the core from day one

We conclude the second part of our look at the Origins of Hibernian Football Club today, reaching 1888 and the formation of a football club that was intended by some at least to be a mirror image of Hibernian. In the event things did not work our quite in that manner, and it was to spark a major crisis for Hibernian....
Birth of Celtic Football Club

Brother Walfrid was doing a great deal of good work in Glasgow’s East End, through his Poor Children’s Dinner Table charity. He had called upon the good grace of his friends in Edinburgh many times, and did so again in 1887, asking Canon Hannan if Hibernian might play in a charity match against Renton in Glasgow. Canon Hannan of course immediately agreed, and the game took place on Clyde’s Barrowland ground. An astonishing 12,000 people turned out to watch the Scottish Cup holders draw 1-1. The money raised from this one game was beyond the dreams of anything Brother Walfrid had managed to raise in the past, and it is believed that this was the moment when he made up his mind that Glasgow should have their very own version of Hibernian Football Club.

The Irish Catholic community in Glasgow at this time numbered around 250,000, and Brother Walfrid knew that if Canon Hannan could raise so much from the Little Ireland community of Edinburgh that was a mere tenth of that number, then surely a similar side in Glasgow could do much more. It should not be thought that he in any way wished to harm Hibernian, far from it, he appreciated very much the help that he had received from Canon Hannan and the St Patrick’s CYMS. His reasoning was that he could not continue to expect Hibernian to help his community when they had so much work to do in their own. He endeavoured then to copy the lead of Canon Hannan, knowing that the Edinburgh priest would do all he could to aid him in his task.

Over the coming months several meetings were arranged in Glasgow to drum up support for the idea of a new ‘Hibernian’ in Glasgow. Some Irish Catholic leaders however could see some of the danger signs, as it was becoming apparent in these meetings that some of the men coming to the fore where business-minded with hints that personal gain rather than charitable aims were uppermost in their thoughts. Brother Walfrid however appeared oblivious to this as he pressed forward with his plans, taking everyone at face value.

By November Brother Walfrid was ready along with his supporters from St Mary’s Parish, and they revealed that a new football club would be formed. While most wanted the new club to be named Glasgow Hibernian, Brother Walfrid opposed this on the grounds that it would cause confusion. He got his way, and Glasgow Celtic was born. The real men behind this move however proved to be the businessmen, a builder from Donegal named John Glass and Pat Welsh, a tailor who had left Ireland under furtive circumstances 20 years previously. These men had seen the earning potential of a professional football club, and their subsequent methods of achieving their aims was to prove catastrophic for Hibernian Football Club.

Misguided Delight

Hibernian though were delighted on hearing the news of the formation of Celtic Football Club, and typical of Hibs they made an immediate donation towards the expenses of forming the new club, letting it be known at the same time that anything they could do to help would be done. Hibernian continued blissfully unaware that the founding of Celtic might cause them even the slightest problem, after all did every Irish Catholic not see football as they did, as a means of doing some good for their communities? More important at this time for Hibernian was their first ever tour of Ireland; at last the men of Little Ireland were to visit the homeland of the fathers.

Michael Whelahan was joined by a large party of officials and players for the trip, including John and Philip Farmer who would play a major part in the future of the club. Hibs first game came on Monday 2nd April 1888 against Belfast Distillery, with Hibernian running out winners by three goals to one before a very large crowd. Twenty four hours later and Hibs defeated a United Belfast side 4-1, Hibernian this time earning a standing ovation from appreciative Irish fans.

One month later, Hibernian travelled to Glasgow to fulfil a promise Canon Hannan had made to Brother Walfrid, Hibernian would formally open Celtic Park with a game against Cowlairs. The match ended in a 0-0 draw but was a highly entertaining one for all that, the new Glasgow club benefiting greatly from gate receipts with Hibernian paying their own expenses. On 28th May, Celtic played their own first game, against Rangers, but as they still did not have a full team they leaned heavily on their friends from Edinburgh and seven of the players in their side that day had connections with Hibs – Celtic won the game 5-2.

On Borrowed Time

In the following weeks Celtic played several games and each time used players borrowed from Hibernian. There were rumours doing the rounds of course about the intentions of the new Glasgow club, but these were dismissed by the Hibernian committee who simply would not believe that their close friends would mean them any harm. It’s a great pity that the Hibs men were so trusting, as John Glass and his partners were already making their own plans and these included financial inducements being offered to the best players in the Hibernian side that they might join Glasgow Celtic for the following season.

By August 1888, the Hibernian committee men had learned that the rumours where in fact true, and the cream of the best football side in Scotland would not be turning out for Hibernian, but rather had defected to Celtic and the riches being promised. Just as shocked as the Hibernian men were most of the Celtic committee as well, who had not been aware what John Glass and his supporters were doing. Even if Hibs had wished to take Celtic on like for like, they could not do so, the very being of Hibernian was that every penny earned went to charitable causes, Celtic had undertaking no such principles.

John Glass had recognised the massive financial rewards that would ensue from professional football. The game had gone professional in England sometime before, and Scotland was about to follow, all the same the way he set about using the loyalties of the Irish immigrant population left a sour taste in many a mouth. Celtic were seeking to have the best of both worlds, they would sign any players they wished while still retaining an appeal to the Irish community. Business had, not for the first time, trampled over idealism, money had spoken and it was not the first time in the history of Hibernian Football Club that they would suffer for their own ideals.

Pic: Brother Walfrid

This concludes 'The Origins of Hibernian'. Look out for more articles following the history of Hibernian football club to be published on this site soon. For a detailed history of Hibernian, you can purchase the three volumes 'The Making of Hibernian' by Alan Lugton, available via the Club store.

Stuart Crowther

Celtic Fans spat at Sean Connery

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-news/2008/08/26/celtic-fans-give-me-pelters-since-i-switched-loyalty-to-rangers-says-sir-sean-connery-86908-20711797/

Celtic fans give me pelters since I switched loyalty to Rangers, says Sir Sean Connery
Aug 26 2008 By Kevan Christie
SEAN Connery yesterday revealed he gets a hard time from Celtic fans - because he switched his allegiance to Rangers.
The former 007 dumped his boyhood favourites when he met and became close pals with the Ibrox side's chairman, David Murray.
But he laughed off the switch and joked that he gets spat at by Celtic fans when he returns to Paradise.
Connery, who was celebrating his 78th birthday yesterday, was speaking as he launched his autobiography Being A Scot at the Book Festival in his native Edinburgh.
First Minister Alex Salmond, the actor's brother Neil and wife Micheline were among those in the 300-strong audience.
Connery told them he had been a Celtic supporter when he was younger, after being introduced to the club by his father Joseph.
He said: "Football was a great passion of mine while I was growing up.
"My father introduced me to Celtic and we played football in what we called the back green which was, in fact, made of concrete.

"I have maintained my love of football. I went away from it when I was really busy on films and then I really got back into it when I was involved in Celtic and I remember helping with the Jock Stein benefit game."
But he joked about the stick he faces since switching sides to Rangers.

He said: "I changed my allegiance with David Murray. I met him when I got the freedom of the city here and immediately we had chemistry.

"We enjoyed each other's company - he's an amazing chap and we've stayed very, very good friends since."
He added, to laughter from the crowd: "And I get spat on if I go to Parkhead."
A promising footballer, Connery claimed he turned down a contract with Manchester United offered by Matt Busby in favour of acting.

He also talked about his love of golf and revealed his enthusiasm for Donald Trump's plans for a £1billion golf resort in Aberdeenshire.

Connery told the audience: "My first response was I couldn't see anything but benefits for that part of Scotland because it's pretty neglected, apart from the oil fields."

Drunk Celtic player leaves hotel wrecked

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article1591344.ece
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/scottish-football/spl-football/celtic-fc/2008/08/22/exclusive-artur-boruc-booted-from-poland-squad-for-breaking-curfew-86908-20707272/
BAD-boy Celtic goalie Artur Boruc partied with rogue Poland team-mates in a late-night booze bash which left a posh hotel room WRECKED.
The controversial goalie was booted out of the squad’s five-star base with two fellow stars after breaking a strict curfew.

And Boruc, 28, now looks certain to miss his country’s opening two World Cup qualifiers as he was sensationally AXED from the team.

Last night, a source in Poland said: “The players got drunk and Artur Boruc was definitely one of them.

“They basically had a party and drank lots of alcohol.

“Other guests rang reception and said they were loud. The hotel staff reacted and they discovered the room was destroyed -especially the bathroom.”

The Scottish Sun can reveal that Boruc, along with team mates Radoslaw Majewski and Dariusz Dudka, disobeyed a direct order to not leave their rooms in the Ukraine on Wednesday night.

Beenhakker’s boys had just lost 1-0 in Kiev and the Dutch coach was in no mood to let his players relax.

But Boruc and co sneaked out of the rooms at the five-star Opera Hotel in the capital and joined several journalists for a drinking session in which the hotel manager claimed the bathroom was wrecked.

Polish Football Federation spokesman Zbigniew Kozminski last night confirmed: “Boruc, Dudka and Majewski took part in an alcohol party with journalists and acted unprofessionally.

“This is why they have been excluded from the national team and our disciplinary committee will now investigate this issue.


“These three players will now NOT be called up for our forthcoming World Cup qualifying games against Slovenia and San Marino.”

However, Boruc denied any wrongdoing claiming people were out to get him and the team to unsettle them.

Boruc said: “It is not true. Someone wants to destroy the atmosphere of the national team.”

But another source in Poland insists the claims are true.

They said: “The players got drunk and Artur Boruc was definitely one of them.

“Leo Beenhaaker said after the game the players were supposed to stay in their rooms on the fifth floor.

“But they didn’t listen to him and went to the sixth floor which was a room of a Polish TV journalist.

“They basically had a party and drank lots of alcohol.

“Other guests rang reception and said they were loud. The hotel staff reacted and they discovered the room was destroyed especially the bathroom.”

The hotel manager refused to be named but says he has footage of the three players entering the room.

The fall-out between Boruc and Beenhakker has sent shockwaves around Poland.

Boruc, capped 37 times, is a huge fans’ favourite after his heroics in this summer’s European Championships.

Poland’s World Cup qualifying campaign gets underway in two week’s time with the nation praying the rift between the pair can be healed.

Majewski and Dudka both refused to comment on reports of the incident.

This not the first time Boruc has hit the headlines with his behaviour.

He has constantly landed in hot water with police and officials for winding up opposing fans.

In April he faced an SPL probe after he wore a ‘God Bless the Pope’ t-shirt during an Old Firm match at Parkhead.

He paraded in the top just seconds after his side beat Old Firm rivals Rangers in a crucial league match - to the fury of the away support.

It was the latest in a line of incident where the keeper - who signed from Legia Warsaw - for ‘irresponsible behaviour’.

Two years ago he was cautioned by police for inflaming the crowd at another clash with Gers at Ibrox.

He angered the home support by blessing himself and laughing at them.

He was rapped after it took cops ten minutes to restore peace in the stand.

Last year he apologised to Rangers fans after he ran about Ibrox with a flag saying ‘Champions’ - after the Parkhead side landed the title.

It was the FIFTH time in 16-months the star had been accused of potentially causing bother with opposing fans.

Months later he was also slammed by Hibs and Dundee Utd fans for making rude gestures to them.

In 2005 he was again reported to police by angry Aberdeen fans when he was accused of making obscene gestures to them at Pittodrie.

Earlier this year Boruc became a dad when his wife Katarzyna gave birth to their son Aleks.

Celtic fans intent on causing trouble at Scots v Irish match

Below is extract from message sent to Northern Ireland fans traveling to Scotland for international friendly football game.

"Hi All

Just a couple of things before we all head off to bonnie Scotland.

We've been advised by the SFA that some Celtic fans plan to cause some trouble in and around the Hampden area on Wednesday, i would urge you to tell anyone travelling with you not to rise to this bait.

It's unfortunate that these people may attempt to tarnish the wonderful image we as an Amalgamation have all over the world because don't forget that if any of our fans should get involved in any of this type of nonsense then who do you think will get it in the neck from the press."

Celts stars' street scrap hell

CELTIC star Darren O’Dea was fined by cops over an incredible street scuffle which left his team-mate Scott Brown battered and bloody.
Defender O’Dea, 21 was nabbed outside trendy Glasgow nightclub Bamboo just moments after 23-year-old Brown was allegedly jumped by boozy punters.

Last night, a witness said: “The place was crawling with cops.”

It is believed fellow Celts Aiden McGeady and Gary Caldwell were also on the night out — at the same nightspot where McGeady was targeted just four months ago.


Targeted ... Brown
But neither was drawn into the shameful scenes in yesterday’s early hours.

The witness added: “Guys were giving the players real pelters. It looked like Brown was punched.”

Scotland midfielder Brown was allegedly attacked after simmering trouble in the club spilled into the street.

Another source said: “Brown had a big gash above his eye.”



Cops rushed to the scene and O’Dea was arrested and given a £40 on-the-spot fine for breach of the peace, before he was sent home in a taxi.


Bhoys club ... trendy Bamboo nigtspot
O’Dea and Brown were unavailable for comment last night.

But a woman at O’Dea’s home in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, denied he was fined.

Last night, a Celtic insider confirmed the rap and said: “Scott was jumped. All Darren did was give the guys a bit of verbal.”

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said: “A 21-year-old male was issued with a fixed penalty and released.”

She added two men, aged 18 and 19, were arrested and charged with assault.

Celtic said they are probing the row.

Celtic hero in armed siege

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article1561463.ece
FALLEN ex-Celtic star Mike Galloway was last night facing jail for threatening cops with a knife during a bizarre armed siege.
The 43-year-old alcoholic was only arrested after officers ended the two-and-a-half hour stand-off by zapping him with a Taser gun.

Now Galloway — whose football career was ruined by a horror car smash — could be caged for up to SIX MONTHS after he appeared in court to admit carrying the blade.

Last night, the troubled star said: “I was drinking beer from the Friday to the Tuesday — I honestly can’t remember how much.

“I knew I was heading for self-harm and called the police to help.”

Officers watched as the ex-Hearts hero threatened to slash his own throat at his home in Tweedmouth, Northumberland.

The dad-of-two — who has a history of self-harming — also told them: “I’ll stick it in my stomach.”

At one point, Galloway even left the house during the August 5 drama — to take his dog for a walk.

Hack

But it only ended when he dropped the knife and was shot with a Taser.


Celtic's Mike ... in happier times
Prosecutor James Long told Berwick Magistrates Court: “The defendant was aggressive and volatile.”

But defence lawyer Gillian Ford said: “The knife was only to self-harm.”

She said Galloway was now regularly attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

The case was adjourned until September 4 and Galloway was released on conditional bail. But he was warned he could face up to 26 weeks in jail.

Galloway’s world collapsed when his legs were smashed in a 1995 car crash while on loan at Leicester City.

He was given a given a £200,000 testimonial at Celtic Park a year later.

But in 2001, he was banned for eight years for his third drink-driving offence in four years.

In 2006, Galloway told The Scottish Sun how he’d tried to hack off his leg with a PIZZA KNIFE after his wife Lorraine, then 41, kicked him out.

Galloway is now coaching at Northern Alliance club Berwick United. He scored eight goals in 103 games for Celtic after moving from Hearts in 1989.