PO Box 306, Glasgow, G21 2AE, Scotland
celtic in europe
Having seen that the Hoops are amongst the top twenty sports teams in Europe in relation to income generated, and only missed out on a higher position because of a poor TV deal, I think it's time Celtic really started to turn our beloved club into the global attraction we all know it can be.
Hearts realise that Celtic have a global appeal and wanted to capitalise on that by playing us in Australia. Playing in Australia sounds good but I've got no interest in filling Hearts' pockets. I'm more interested in filling ours.
I don't know how many Celtic fans we have down under but it would seem we have a good few and a great way to utilise Celtic's global appeal would be to have an end of season tour there. Lots of big clubs have these tours of places where football isn't the main sport. We were involved in one this season with Man Utd in the USA. However, Celtic kind of screwed that up a bit by not providing merchandise to be sold outside the stadia while Man Utd had mobile shops selling strips and all the rest of it set up for days before and after the game.
So we learn from our mistakes and this time we take strips, flags, scarves and whatever else across with us and we make a real Celtic occasion of the whole thing. If the Australian support is as big as some people say it is it could be a way to let Celtic fans attend games who might not get to them any other time, as well as raise our profile and attract a whole new audience down under. It could even maybe bring in a whole new revenue stream.
Also, with huge glamour games like the Barcelona tie, why don't Celtic sell merchandise over there and around the stadia of other teams we're drawn against? Travelling Celtic fans will know that shops around European opposition stadiums are always full of tims buying their strips for themselves and friends back home. I think it would be safe to assume that fans of other teams in Europe would be interested in buying ours. Most Europeans teams have a small travelling support and those few thousand will only generate a relatively small amount of cash, whereas they could have a 50,000+ seater stadium packed to the rafters with a lot of those punters willing to shell out on the famous green and white hoops of Glasgow Celtic.
With the fans doing our bit to create ties with teams and their fans on the continent and to create interest in the club, maybe Celtic should be using that to make us truly into one of the Giants of European Football.
Hail Hail.
MATT McGARR
Falkirk.
world huddle hassle
Dear NTV,
It has been a very disappointing day here in Toronto, Canada for my family and me. The process of buying tickets to just one Champions World match has been so frustrating and disappointing that it just ruined all my hopes and expectations for a wonderful soccer experience.
About a week ago I heard about the upcoming Roma v Celtic match here in Toronto and although I found the 'reservation fee' rather outrageous ($50 US turns into about $70 Canadian) I joined the Celtic World Huddle to ensure that I would have a chance at the best seats at Skydome.
This, for me is a once in a lifetime thing. I have played soccer here in Canada for 42 years now, since I was 7 and I still enjoy the game today. It is my passion. So I threw caution to the wind and paid for a Champions World membership. I was hoping to seat my family near the centre of the field, with the best possible tickets. I was informed by email that I would be able to purchase my 'reserved' tickets on Saturday March 27 at 9:00. I made sure all plans focused on being available to book tickets at that time.
The problem is this: On Friday March 26 I received an email indicating that tickets for game were now on sale - I was totally confused. Something about 'Mastercard'. So I followed the links and just to see what happened I went right through to see what seats I would get - and the system gave me great seats. Exactly what I wanted. But I had a 'reservation', so should I buy these tickets or wait till Saturday to user my 'preferred reservation'?
I sadly gave up these great tickets safe in the knowledge that my Celtic World Huddle membership would guarantee me better seats than those on sale to the general public. I waited till Saturday morning and at 9:00 a.m. I logged on and tried, for over 40 minutes, to use my reservation. Incredibly frustrating. At the same time, I phoned the 1-800 number and continually got a busy signal. The morning was ruined, the day was ruined. When I finally got throught to the page that let me book tickets, things got even worse - the tickets my 'reservation' gave me were much worse than the tickets I could have bought the day before!
Why was the general public able to buy better tickets the day before my 'preferred membership' could? I have never been so disappointed in my entire life.
I know this sounds bad - it's just a few tickets. But for me it was to be the greatest day of soccer ever. My membership in Celtic World got me nothing, my preferred reservation got me nothing and I am completely and disappointed in the whole process. I hope other soccer fans going to the tournament in the summer are treated with more respect. The Celtic World Hudle has no value to us soccer fans
CHRIS UTTLEY
Ontario,
Canada
by e-mail
when the league flag flies
Dear NTV,
Now I hope I'm not being too hasty, but I think it's fairly safe to assume that we're going to win the league this season. Strange to reflect on where we were a few years ago, the badge halved in two on the back of the Record and the almost daily stories of the biscuit tin and of us being the most likely Scottish club to be scrutinised by our bankers.
The whole thing has come full circle. The priorities of getting the stadium sorted out, addressing the debt, giving the fans a stake in the club and of course the prevention of 10 in a row for Rangers were a tall order, but all were achieved. We did go through a sticky spell where money was undoubtedly wasted and the wrong management team was put in place, but again we moved on and now have the basis for long term success.
So who do we have to thank? Cast your mind back to one of the most shameful incidents witnessed within Celtic Park in the past few years (no. not the Inverness game). We had been sent on the right road and the man who put us on that road was being booed by the greatest fans in world football.
It still embarrasses me to think of that day against Dunfermline when the man with the bunnet came out to address the support and run up the league flag. He had of course not endeared himself to the Scottish press because he saw them for what they were while many Celtic supporters naively still believed what they read in the Daily Record or the Sun. He saw through guys like van Hooijdonk, who subsequently went on to cause trouble at every club he joined, he saw through Cadete and his blatant using of Celtic and he saw through the lies and the badge kissing of that six month wonder Di Canio. He challenged and toppled Jim Farry over his anti-Celtic behaviour and he delivered on every promise he made when he arrived. The stadium, the debt, giving fans a share in the club and the winning of the league in that vital season were all achieved under his stewardship.
When the league flag is being hoisted at the start of next season Celtic Football Club has the opportunity to right the wrong that was inflicted upon Fergus McCann. Name a stand after him, name a suite or restaurant after him or hold a dinner in his honour by all means, but let's get him back for the first match of next season and let the real Celtic supporters turn up and show their appreciation of the man who laid the building blocks for the success we now enjoy. 'When the league flag flies' there should only be one man running it up the flagpole, Fergus McCann.
JOHN McVEY
Edinburgh
Tims on film
Dear NTV,
With regard to Earwig's recent spotting of Celtic stuff in the movies and his request for more, he should check out the recent Robert De Niro movie 'City By The Sea'.
In one scene de Niro is making his way into New York by train. Sitting opposite him is a guy wearing a woolly hat. The hat is clearly bearing a Celtic crest.
No suprise there then as the director of the film is Michael Caton-Jones (he also directed Memphis Belle among others). He is a huge Celtic fan who hails (Geddit) from Bathgate.
Yours etc.
THE AL BUNDY CSC,
Jiggly Room Branch.
still dancing like a celt
Dear NTV,
Hello all Celtic fans. I wrote to Not The View some time in 1998 where my letter was published. I am a Celtic football admirer since those days from 1996 when some of the Celtic matches were shown on Ghanaian television on foreign sports highlights.
I live in Ghana in West Africa and I am a Ghanaian who loves football too much. Any time Celtic loses a match then I become sick for some days. I have been reading about Celtic and any time I read about Celtic in the Ghanaian newspapers I become as if I am in Scotland. All the people in my community call me a Celtican!
I love this team too much and I never want them to lose any football match, be it a friendly or a real encounter. I love their colours, white and green, I love the fans and mostly I love the players, especially the 1998 winning squad.
I was damn happy recently when Celtic whacked Rangers by a massive three goals to nil. Please Celtic, I would be so much happy if any Celticans will help me by sending me some more and future informations about this, my darling club which I love so much. I love Larsson, Boyd and Stubbs just to mention a few and I know some have left or cross carpet to some other clubs. I love the management, the sponsors, any and all of those who contribute to every success of Celtic Football Club. I salute all the supporters.
I would have been a much happier person in my life if anyone could invite me to Glasgow to watch Celtic playing any of their matches. Oh, I love Celtic. I love other foreign clubs but Celtic is the best I love in my heart. Their supporters are marvellous. Please, I am calling any Celtic supported person to respond to me. I eat football, I dance it and I love reading about football. Even though I do not see Celtic playing I need them. I need to see them playing nakedly with my natural eyes.
Ghana is a well crazy loving football people. we love football so much. I, Musah Peaceman Mumumi, is still a Celtic man. Even though there might be another Celtican in Ghana I believe I am number one. So I am appealing to any Celtic fan in any corner of Scotland to help me in all information on Celtic FC.
Dear editor of the Celtic fanzine, or any Celtic worldwide network, I want you to use your widely read sports magazines to advertise my name and needs to all Celtic fans to help me. Thank you.
MUSAH PEACEMAN
MUMUNI,
c/o Mr. Inusah Sabani,
Regional Education Office,
Post Office Box 1906,
Kumasi,
Ashanti Region,
Ghana,
West Africa
you are my sunshine
Dear NTV,
Here's six things I think Martin could be saying to Henrik Larsson between now and the end of the season:
1. Celtic,
as a club, has always advocated summer football.
2. We've applied to join La Liga - honest!
3.. Have you seen the long-term forecast for Spain - the weather's shite?
4. Skies are never grey in Spain, you won't make them happy.
5. Short sleeves shirts are so last season.
6. Gonnae no go?
Yours in
forlorn longing,
HARRY WORTHATRY
by e-mail