PO Box 306, Glasgow, G21 2AE, Scotland
GIRUY
Congratulations to Martin and the bhoys for another sensational season. The last minute strike by big Sutty against the Darkness ranks in my top five in the Get It Round Ye's stakes. I went cuckoo, radio rental and ecstatic simultaneously along with 50,000 other fanatics. I hope the Gers fans were spewing into their sashes.
Other last minute favourites of mine include McGhee's and Walker's last minute double against the Jambos in the '88 cup semi, Paul McStay's leveller against the same opposition in the same season as well as his winner at Ibrox from outside the box, McGarvey (and Provan) in the '85 Cup Final, McCluskey against Ajax, Murdo's wonder strikes to win the league and in the 4-4 game at Ibrox (which incidentally included the strangest celebration ever by that raved porker Coisty), Wee Jinky's leveller at Ibrox in '67, McAvennie in the Cup Final of '88, Henrik v Boavista and John Collins ripping the piss out of Maxwell at the Devil's playground.
The list is endless and I'm sure your readers could suggest a few more of their all time favourite last minute (or dying mins) strike?
All the best to the hoops next season. We're all missing henrik already but I'm looking forward to seeing whoever Martin deems good enough to take over that famous number seven mantle.
CENTENARY
BHOY
by e-mail
petition
Ghirls and Bhoys,
A couple of us have gotten together to set up this petition to the Board of Celtic FC. We are disgusted as true Celts at the silence at senior levels within our club concerning the shocking levels of racism and sectarianism that accompanies each visit of our 'brethern' from the other side of the city. It's time to act! Staying silent is being complicit in their acts of racism, enough is enough.
Please sign the below petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/actnow04/petition.html I intend to e-mail this petition to anyone who will listen or sign it. PLEASE, please, please e-mail me addresses of supporters clubs, the media,individuals, mailing lhists, other Message Boards where people will see this petition, sign it and help to pass it on.
In order to get our voice heard it is imperative that this happens. Act now! To: The Board of Celtic FC We, the undersigned, are proud Celts who have been supporting Celtic and what it represents ever since we can remember. We have tasted the lows and savoured the highs and feel deeply privileged to be Celtic supporters at present with both the performances and recognition that our teams and our fhans are receiving. What Martin O'Neill has done for our club in such a short time is bordering on miraculous. What the fhans have done for our club is much the same. However, after the behaviour of Rangers fans at Celtic Park on May 8th, we, the fhans, have come to the conclusion that we should no longer be the subject of the racist and sectarian abuse that we suffered that day.
Enough is way too much. We are fed up listening to their racist chant of being 'up to our knees in fenian blood, surrender or you'll die'. We are disgusted with the racist act of throwing potatoes onto our pitch, a naked reference to the death of over 1 million people in Ireland during 'The Great Hunger', people who were considered British subjects at the time. (Can we even comprehend what the death of one million people is like?) It was because of the survivors of 'The Great Hunger', people fleeing poverty and starvation, that Celtic was formed and to see it mocked in such fashion is deeply disturbing.
We are outraged at the continued racist and sectarian abuse directed at certain players in the Hoops. This racism and sectarianism must stop now!
We are deeply concerned at the deafening silence emanating from within Celtic Park at these sickening racist and sectarian gestures and would like to know if anything is being done at senior level to counter this? Have we really to accept this vile and foetid behaviour in the 21st century? Are we really no further along the road to seeing our club accepted in Scotland? It's time to act; Celtic's Social Charter clearly states that 'Celtic will act against racism or sectarianism in any form'. We call on you, the Board, to keep your promise and ACT! We question the Board's decisions to negotiate TV rights, sponsorship, shirt deals etc. with Rangers FC. This perpetuates the myth that we are two sides of the one coin, when clearly we are not.
We request that the club stops these joint negotiations even if it means that we lose revenue in the short term because being linked to Rangers costs us revenue in the long term.
This proud club was formed in the face of blatant racism and sectarianism, fostered on an immigrant population that had lost everything. It was a beacon of hope to that community then as it still is today. It has also given great hope and joy to many indigenous Scots - and others further afield - with no connection to Ireland but who epitomise the ideals of those visionaries who founded the club to be inclusive and tolerant of all religions, colours and creeds.
To that end we, the undersigned, would like to make known to the present board of directors our disgust at the silence. We are NOT second class citizens. We are NOT going to accept racism in ANY FORM at our ground and we will no longer accept silence from Celtic on these very important issues. In the Social Charter you ask us, the fhans, to 'live up to the best that Celtic stands for', we now ask the same of you.
ACT NOW - END SECTARIANISM AND RACIST ABUSE IN PARADISE! We eagerly await your reply.
Sincerely
from:fhans@hotmail.com
by e-mail
We Gotta Get Out of this Place
Dear NTV,
I set out to pen a really in depth and incisive letter about the state of Scottish football on the back of the recent managerial move in Edinburgh. However, the following stopped me: Robertson, manager of ICT, being an Edinburgh boy, says Hibs is a massive club. Granted he is making a play for the vacant job. It then struck me, where did the manager of this massive club go to better himself? - Plymouth bloody Argyle.
I was about to take this further and lambast the state of Scottish football and how Celtic must get out, when it dawned on me that Williamson's predecessor in the Hibs job had gone to an even smaller club and, in choosing Plymouth, fat Boab is, indeed, being upwardly mobile. Big Eck wasn't so lucky!
Mine's a double
ALEX MusSTAY
by e-mail
special reserve
Dear NTV,
Celtic and Rangers reserves should join the SFL. Real Madrid play in the Spanish lower leagues, and at present the problem with Scottish football is purely that Rangers and Celtic don't produce players from the youth set ups because they can't afford to play their players in the first team on the grounds that if they do they will lose games. So we need to find a way for Rangers and Celtic to have teams that do play competitive football that can give their youth players competitive football.
The divisions below the Premier have produced huge numbers of players in this generation, Agathe, McNamara, McCann, Crawford, Kenny Miller on loan at Stirling, Earnshaw on loan at Morton, Cameron at Raith, Jamie McAllister, and many other players. Compare that to what Rangers and Celtic have produced through reserve football and youth football in terms of who they actually produced from their youth set up.
The main comparison is with Liverpool and Everton who have produced in this generation Gerrard, Rooney, Owen, Ball, Jeffers, Murphy, Carragher, Fowler and MacManaman, all from their youth set ups. Compare that to Rangers and Celtic. The main difference is Liverpool can play their players in the first team and give their players experience of competitive football while Rangers and Celtic give their players about 10 - 15 minutes at the end when they've already won. How can they ever be expected to develop as players?
By putting Rangers and Celtic reserves in the SFL we could produce the same number of players as the Merseyside clubs. Rangers spent £12 million on a training centre and then still spend £2 million a year maintaining it, yet they will never develop any players as they can't give their youth players matches.
Celtic's new players won't develop as they wont get first team matches. What is the point in wasting these players in reserve, or youth football? It doesn't produce players it just give older players a run out.
R SMITH
by e-mail
hackwatching
Dear NTV,
Which Scottish journalist received a warm text message on Christmas morning from Big Eck wishing him a very merry Christmas?
In case you're interested it was Andy McInnes of the Daily Express.
This guy has been getting on my nerves for as long as I can remember. His recent stuff last season included: stating that Rangers had a more successful season than Celtic as they have at least brought through some promising youngsters; Larsson should have been sold at the start of the season; campaigning for John Greig to receive an honour; the incredible assertion that Alex McLeish silenced the critics with a stunning win at Easter Road; Celtic are a financial disgrace as they have gone back to the biscuit tin mentality.
Andy takes holidays in David Murray's villa, went to his birthday bash and will only attend and report on Rangers matches. Interestingly Martin O'Neill doesn't speak to him as he perceives him to be anti-Celtic!
Obviously the above constitutes what you need to be the sports editor of the Daily Express and Daily Star.
By the way, his son is a sports reporter with the good old Daily Record - so he can't be anti-Celtic. If you ask me McInnes is further proof of the need to introduce drug testing at work. Cheers.
JOHN McVEY
by e-mail
celts in africa
Dear NTV,
I'm a fellow tim from Glasgow, working in Malawi where the limits of Celtic's fame and appeal knows no bounds. See my attached exchange with the sports editor of one of Malawi's national papers.
There has been loads of photos recently in the local press of the Malawi national football team in their kit; the hoops. A photo is also attached. I also see some local kids wearing Celtic cast-offs.
My exchange with the sports editor gives more on the background etc. Malawi is a desperately poor country, where football is one of the local kids' few pleasures. Most don't have a shirt on their backs never mind a football kit. I am therefore keen to get my hands on as much old Celtic gear as possible to give to some local orphanages; the rate of HIV orphans in Malawi is extremely high.
As well as bring some sunshine into the lives of very poor and disadvantaged children it would promote the Celtic cause further, in line with our principle of helping the poor and needy. What therefore are the chances of NTV publishing the attached and asking Celtic fans to send any old gear - the condition, size or age doesn't matter - to Malawi orphans? If you respond positively I'll provide my UK address where items can be sent. I can also arrange freight to Malawi at no cost to those contributing. I'll likely send a similar appeal to the View and KTF to see if there's any enthusiasm to help the poor kids of Africa.
Yours in Celtic
JOE REID
by e-mail
PS I've just had a call to say my e-mail to the sports editor has been published in the local paper. The call came from the Malawi national ladies team who are also interested in a set of hoops kit for their squad!
If you think you can help out Joe can be contacted at: reid@dfid.gov.uk
burger king of kings
Dear NTV,
I came across this fine establishment (below) while strolling down Sveavagen in Stockholm one Saturday morning.
Good to see our dearly departed Henke has invested his £1 million pay-off wisely. Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to go back for a post-pub snack so I've no idea if Magdalena herself was flipping the burgers.
Hej adjo,
TOMAS BROLIN
Stockholm
