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st.anthony — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:02:32 CDT

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1973-09-15: Rangers 0-1 Celtic, League Division 1 - Pictures

st.anthony — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:50:39 CDT

A Davie Hay cross from the left is met by the diving Johnstone to give Celtic the lead.

Celts for Change

joebloggscity — Sun, 19 May 2013 09:26:39 CDT

Celtic Takeover | Celtic Board | Celtic's Foundation | About Celtic

Details

Name: Celts for Change
Formed: Sep 1993
Disbanded: Mar 1994

Unsung Heroes

A group of unsung heroes (and fans) who helped to save Celtic in the 90s beyond what could ever be asked of them...

(from L to R: Brendan Sweeney, Colin Duncan, Matt McGlone, David Cunningham, John Thompson).

Amongst the doom and gloom of the barren years (1989-1995), the mood of the Celtic support had sunk so low that apathy had become deeply embedded, such that attempting to generate any energy or enthusiasm was likely to fail.

With the club's reputation at its lowest both on-field and off-field, the prime aim became the removal of the incumbents on the board and a push to ditch the "Biscuit Tin" mentality amongst its management.

The club had been allowed to flounder for too long by the self-styled club grandees, and any dissent seemed to be limited to chanting at the matches, pub arguments and fanzine articles. Individual boycotts of the matches saw attendance figures hit lows but there was no organised movement or direction.

In 1993, a group of concerned Celtic supporters banded together to form the "Celts for Change" pressure group in order to challenge the frustration and near-impotence that many fans were feeling over the events surrounding our club. The aim and focus was to channel all the supporters' energies in one direction to push for change in the club.

The original and main committee members were:

Matt McGlone (editor of the belligerent "Once a Tim" fanzine and latterly the Alternative View magazine)
Brendan Sweeney (later of the Jungle Bhoys group and Celtic Graves Society)
Colin Duncan,
David Cunningham,
John Thompson.

Notably this wasn't the first organised group, and the demise of the original "Save our Celts" group back in around 1990 was always something to bare in mind. The situation at Celtic had worsened since then and this time there was no way back for the group without potentially losing the club as well.

Word spread quickly (aided by the “Once a Tim” fanzine) and the group quickly put together various courses of action in order to be able to push for change whilst finely balancing their actions without hurting the team on the pitch. The latter was an impossible mission, and there’s no doubt the off-field tensions were hampering the on-field results but there was nothing that could be done about this.

The group organised various modes of direct action to highlight the club's plight. Regular town hall meetings grew in size and later influence, starting from an initial meeting of just 50 people to full halls of hundreds of people in a short space of time. Demonstrations outside the "Bank of Scotland" head offices (Celtic's then bankers) drew increased media attention with newspapers and television taking note, and escalated the campaign for the board’s removal. "Celts for Change" was empowering the support in the struggle and quickly after years of apathy the support in increasing numbers was backing the group as their best option to vent their views. It was a sad indictment of the old board that it had to come to this.

One of the most notable actions by the "Celts for Change" was to declare an official boycott of the re-arranged game on 2nd March v Kilmarnock. Unknown to the board, "Celts for Change" had employed an agency to calculate and count the actual numbers who did turn up at the game, having a person stand at each turnstile to count the numbers going in. Their attendance estimate was around 8225, the official club figure was around 10,055! This difference at first may seem insignificant to some, but the 10k figure actually was a significant benchmark as it was an estimated break-even attendance requirement for the club to remain operationally profitable. The level was breached and it can be taken that the organised boycott was a success albeit a sad one as well (no one wants to hurt their club but it was the only way).

There were some errors made and the group was not immune to criticism. At one of the larger meetings, Matt McGlone phoned up Michael Kelly (then a member of the Celtic board) at his home to get him to answer to the audience. It was an attention grabbing stunt but even some Celts For Change supporters claimed it was intrusive and unnecessary. Regardless of the group’s aims, Michael Kelly should not have been accosted as he was when he is at home (likely with family), it was underhand and reflected poorly on the group. If a media person had done this to one of our players we'd have been incensed about the intrusion.

The organised boycotts were also criticised. For some, watching Celtic is one of the few real pleasures and escapes they have in life, and the organised boycott created friction between certain sections of fans, some seeing it as contradicting the maxim to "Sack the Board, Back the team". However, in fairness to "Celts for Change", a boycott was probably their strongest and only real weapon and the only way to accelerate the whole process, and it produced results despite any short-term damage it may have made to the club.

One thing has to be made quite clear about the group. Daft rumours amongst a paranoid minority were spreading that the members were in the pockets of the "Rebel" shareholders (e.g. Brian Dempsey, Fergus McCann & David Low etc). At one point, allegations were made that the "Celts for Change" were working on behalf of the "Rebel" shareholders. All this was nonsense as some had never even met any of the senior players amongst the "Rebel" shareholders. It was a difficult and stressful time, and showed how petty & nasty it was getting. On the other hand, it is a fair question to ask but the most these guys likely got through the whole travails was a free pint or two from the meeting attendees.

The end game in 1994 was one played out mostly by the major shareholders and financiers, but the "Celts for Change" men were there throughout, organising members and sympathisers in picketing outside the club's offices as talks went on inside. The celebrations as the announcements were made that the board was ousted led to the loudest cheers heard at Parkhead for many a year, and relief and satisfaction for the "Celts for Change" organisers of a job well done. They'd played an important part in the whole set of events.

The victory was sweet but there was a cost to the group organisers which the rest of us never knew. Taking in the amount of time and energy that the whole campaign and organisation took up, some members had to deal with personal costs and issues in terms of lost time with family but also damaged relationships with family and friends stemming from their work for the group.

So why did they do it all and carry on with all that it entailed? The members were doing it simply for their love of the club and their fellow fans on the terracing. The club has an ethos and broad community that no other club has, and that is what fuelled them to push for change.

At the end of it all, whilst many of the "Rebel" shareholders were themselves wealthy men and found themselves to have won control of the club, the "Celts for Change" organisers simply went back onto the terracing with a pat on the back (Matt McGlone in time an exception by being offered a small role at Celtic, see below).

The revolution instituted by Fergus McCann has made many almost unaware of the club's previous state, and even blasé about it. This is dangerous, and everyone must at one point remind themselves of what the club has gone through to get to where it is. We were literally minutes away from administration. Everyone should remember the part that the "Celts for Change" organisers played in the history of our club and the struggle for its survival; they are not just a mere footnote. Too often their part has been sidelined, and this must be addressed by all commentators reflecting on that time.

The people behind "Celts for Change" are what the soul of Celtic is all about, and for their part in the removal of the old Biscuit Tin board from our club, we will forever respect them. A set of truly deserving people who have been for too long a bunch of unsung heroes. The Celtic fans will always hold them in high esteem for all that they did beyond what could ever be asked of anyone.

Post-Script
In May 2013, with renovations being carried out around Celtic Park in preparation for the Commonwealth Games of 2014, 'The Celts for Change' group was officially honoured with a plaque at Celtic Park. This is situated in front of the Jimmy Johnstone Statue at the front end of Celtic Park, and is a fitting tribute to the main people behind the group. Belated some may say but maybe time needs to pass before honouring people in this way.

McGlone. Sweeney, Lawwell (Celtic Chief Exec (not part of Celts for Change just representing Celtic)), Duncan & Cunningham

On Matt McGlone

Matt McGlone formed and ran the 'Once a Tim' fanzine as a way to push a harder edge on tackling the old board. Belligerent and blunt, there were no two ways with Matt McGlone's fanzine in their part to oust the old board and push Celtic's cause.

Later he became involved and helped to form the 'Celts For Change' group, and in effect became the public face of the group for public sound-bites on the news etc.

He was there at the meetings and took pride of place amongst the victors when the board was ousted, but even before then his story saw him involved in some interesting episodes:

trying to be hoodwinked by a Celtic director to write up a hatchet job piece on the press for him
involvement with the shareholders buying up shares in the club
meetings with the former chief executive Terry Cassidy
a board sympathiser trying to blacken his name and so on....

After the takeover, he decided to end the 'Once a Time' fanzine as he believed that it's role was primarily to help fight and oust the old board and would be wrong to keep it going in light of their aim having being achieved. Shame as it had a lot of life in it, and the internet wasn't around then, so fanzines played an important part in communication with the fans.

Later he was invited by Fergus to apply his energies in a similar manner but from within by doing a large column in the Celtic View taking a fan's eye view. Matt was a lifetime celtaholic who would have found it impossible to refuse such an offer. Problem is that he was given a lot of free reign, and the self-admittedly strong opinionated and blunt Matt McGlone created a lot of friction within Celtic (with players and staff) on some his views from the columns.

He was thus easy to fall out with and at one point the players organised a boycott after a particular rant in one of his columns, which lasted three weeks which required the intervention of Tommy Burns to calm things down. None of the players would talk to him and made production of the Celtic View difficult, the particular 'offensive' headline being something like "not fit to wear the hoops". This is obviously a tad awkward when you are writing for an in-house paper. Similar situations occurred through the Venglos season and into John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish's time in charge at the club.

In time, internal politics meant he had to sadly leave the Celtic View. To be an outspoken fan within an organisation which, to a strong degree, was seen as punting 'the party line' for the good ship Celtic was difficult. However, he kept on the writing and set up 'The Alternative View' fanzine with a strong launch and impressive initial format clearly set up to challenge Celtic View. The initial A4 glossy format quickly bombed when advertising revenue failed to kick in, but the magazine was later relaunched and then relaunched again, and has enjoyed sustained success. A difficult task in the current environment taking in the rise and power of the internet and the Celtic forums in particular.

His love for the club can never be questioned, and his part in the downfall of the old Biscuit Tin board can never be understated.

YouTube video

Celts for Change - Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysTDbkTqpNA
Celts for Change - Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMYLhAzskKs
Celts for Change - Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozlb3wt3aH4
Celts for Change - Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOFfaRu-_FI

Books

Emotionally Celtic By Matt McGlone

Quotes

"Most decent Celtic fans will be embarrassed by what Celts for Change are doing."
Chairman Kevin Kelly clearly shows how distant he was from reality and the general Celtic support(1994)

Pictures

(L to R) Colin Duncan, MattMcGlone, David Cunningham and Brendan Sweeney.

1967-04-25: Dukla Prague 0-0 Celtic, European Cup Semi Final 2nd Leg - Pictures

st.anthony — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:46:18 CDT

Match \| 1966-67 Pictures \| 60's Pictures \| The Road To Lisbon \| Year By Year Pictures \| Picture Library \| Forum

Match Programme

The Celtic team line up before the decisive 2nd leg tie in Prague. Jock Stein, for the first time in the tournament, picks the players who will go on to play in the final in Lisbon.

1953-05-16: Celtic 2-1 Manchester United, Coronation Cup SF

BigNan — Sun, 19 May 2013 06:19:29 CDT

Match Pictures \| Matches: 1952 - 1953 \| 1952-53 Pictures

Match Pictures | Matches: 1952 - 1953 | 1952-53 Pictures

Trivia

The semi final of the tournament played at Hampden in windy conditions. The other semi final was between Hibernian and Newcastle Utd. Hibernian had defeated Tottenham Hotspur after a replay and Newcastle Utd had overpowered Aberdeen.
Manchester Utd were of course managed by Scotland's own Matt Busby. He had been at the first round tie between Celtic and Arsenal and had a clear idea what to expect. Busby was most certainly a Celtic supporter and would have played for Celtic during the war years had not there then been the policy of not playing 'guest' players at Celtic during the war despite every other team playing this way.
The Glasgow Herald report of the match (below) voices disapproval of the fact that several Eire flags were flown by the Celtic support.

Review

If not the 'sparkling' game produced in the first round against Arsenal then this was still a credit to Celtic and Manchester Utd with both teams going out for the win and Celtic prevailing.
Celtic played with the wind in the first half. Both Celtic's goals were made by Tully who also injured himself during the game and was unlikely to make the Final. Peacock's first goal was made through the exemplary skill of Tully who could have shot himself but instead side-stepped his opponent and chipped a back pass to Peacock who hit the ball on the volley for a certain goal. In the second half Tully spotted Mochan's run and expected an inch perfect pass for Mochan to volley another great goal. Collins then hit the crossbar from another Tully pass.
Evans and McPhail as left and right wing halfs were again outstanding and made the game for Celtic playing Pearson and Downie out of the game. Peacock caused the Manchester Utd defence worries time and again.

Teams

Celtic:
Bonnar, Haughney, Rollo; Evans, Stein, McPhail; Collins, Walsh,Mochan, Peacock, Tully
Scorers : Peacock (24), Mochan (53)

Manchester United:
Crompton, McNulty, Aston, Carey, Chilton, Gibson, Violett, Downie, Rowley, Pearson, Bryne
Scorers: Rowley (77)

Referee: C E Faultless (Giffnock)
Attendance: 73,000

Articles

Match Report (see end of page below)

Pictures

Match Pictures

Articles

Evening Times May 18, 1953

Tully May Miss Cup Decider

(By ALAN BRECK)

Before the Coronation Cup Tournament started Hibernian were the most favoured of the
Scottish clubs to win the trophy and Celtic were reckoned to have no chance at all!

Now the two have vanquished their English opponents and it will be an all-Scottish final at Hampden on Wednesday.

The change in Celtic fortunes has been astonishing, and the Parkhead folk themselves share in the general wonderment.

Whether or not they win the cup, Celtic must go into the new season with high hopes.

Their prospects of success in the final have been dimmed by the Injury to Tully. He has a pulled muscle, and Jimmy McGrory reports he is unlikely to play.

Tully "made" the two Celtic goals against Manchester United.

Fernie is fit
BUT Fernie is fit again, and we may see him on the left wing with Peacock.

On their displays against Arsenal and Manchester United the Celts are worthy finalists. As for Hibernian they put on a terrific show in disposing of Newcastle United.

It is on the pleasure they have given us throughout the season that Hibernian will be mostly welcomed to the last stage. No other club is more worthy of this distinction.

For sheer consistency and for keeping intact the glory of forward play the Edinburgh team was almost duty bound to go to Hampden on Wednesday.

Evans and McPhail
It should be a grand occasion.

Against Manchester United the Celts repeated that gay, refreshing football which had sent Arsenal to defeat.

The United, who had delighted us against Rangers, found that Celtic had the wing half back power Rangers lacked.

Evans and McPhail played Pearson and Downie out of the game, and with that incredible energy which makes him unique, Evans would go far into the Manchester defences himself.

Matt Busby's team gave us 10 minutes or so of rare football and even in their second-half distress they tried to play copy-book stuff.

But the Celts were not having any! They declined to be denied the prize and in keeping their heads and playing real good football I give them full marks.

In Silence
YES, Celtic are worthy, If surprising finalists.

We are an extraordinarily biased people. Those Manchester players must have thought they had few friends at Hampden!

They came out to a few half-hearted handclaps and when Rowley scored his splendid goal it was received in silence!

Perhaps the crowd were displeased to some decree. The un-seniorlike Manchester habit of denying the taker of a free kick his 10 yards clearance was not popular.

If the move was intended to rile it completely failed.

I thought the referee allowed players of both sides too much freedom with their arms. British football has ever decreasing reasons to complain how continentals push.

Extra Zest
CELTIC had as many football talents as the United, and they clinched the matter by that bit of extra zest and grit—things we have failed to detect in our English visitors.

At the same time' we have been grateful for their coming.

They have showed us a good lot in how to tame the ball and in smooth combined play.

If only they had played at the speed for which English football is famed.

Camara, Henri

joebloggscity — Sat, 18 May 2013 11:24:49 CDT

C | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: Henri Camara
Born: 10 May 1977
Birthplace: Dakar, Senegal
Signed: 30 July 2004 (loan)
Left: 30 Jan 2005
Position: Striker
Debut:
Internationals: Senegal
International Caps: 99
International Goals: 31

Biog

Senegal international striker Henri Camara joined Celtic in a season long loan deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers in July 2004.

Martin O’Neill paid £1.5 million to secure Camara’s services for a year with the Bhoys having the option to make the deal permanent by paying a further £5.8m.

Camara was handed the impossible task of replacing the legendary Henrik Larsson who after seven magnificent seasons had finally bid farewell to Parkhead. It was a task Camara never came close to meeting and it took him until September 11th to net his first goals for the club when he bagged a brace in a 3-0 home victory over Dundee.

He may have been blessed with blistering pace, but Camara seemed incapable of adapting his play to suit the Celtic style and too often he was little more than a passenger in games. Although capable of scoring great goals he simply didn’t look like hitting the net anywhere near frequently and by Christmas it seemed obvious that Camara’s stay in Glasgow would be a temporary one.

In fairness, his new manager (Martin O'Neill) was little around to assist as he was caring for his wife due to personal issues, and this did not help new players trying to settle in the changing surroundings. Camara had too take too much on his shoulders to take over from Larsson, and he simply got more stick than he deserved at some points from some supporters. He scored a number of goals yet he only convinced few if any that he was a long-term solution.

However, he didn't help himself. In a 2-0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox Camara was lucky to remain on the field after an off the ball incident in which he stamped on Gregory Vignal. Video evidence later led to Camara being handed a one match ban. This was likely the beginning of the end. Fears that his temperament would be a problem in the goldfish bowl environment of Glasgow football was a concern.

In the end, Celtic decided to move on the player – who had scored eight goals - and in late January Southampton bought out the remaining period of his loan deal. His career never really got any higher or greater since leaving Celtic, and in retrospect his departure turned out to be a good move for the club. He was never going to succeed, our aims were too high.

For him, he ended up playing for almost a new club every season thereafter, although a £3m move to Wigan went not too badly, but he was never to become a great striker.

Playing Career

Club __________	From __________	To _________	Fee ________	League _________	_______	Sc Cup _________	_______	League cup ____________	_______	Other _________
Celtic	30-07-2004	30-01-2005	Loan(£1.5m)	12 (6)	8	0 (1)	0	0 (1)	0	4 (2)	0
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

Player Pics

Inverness Youth Tournament, 1986

lymmbhoy — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:09:35 CDT

The newly constituted U18 squad played in an 'International' Youth Tournament in Inverness between the 6th - 8th September. The tournament was scaled down when a number of teams withdrew (these included La Baule from France).

The squad consisted of:

Paul Gallagher, McCaskill, Gary Lennox, Ray McStay, James Gallagher, Stuart Balmer, Tommy McEntaggart, Alex Mathie, Dugald McCarrison, Jamie McEwan, Steve Duff, Russell McKeevor, Gerry Creaney, Kevin Kelly, David Elliot, .

They were coached by Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Murdoch.

The following games were played:

6th September Celtic 2-2 Augsburg
McCarrison and Elliot scored but the team let in two late goals to draw

6th September Celtic 4-0 Dunfermiline
Goals from Mathie, McCarrison (2) and McEntaggart

7th September Celtic 4-0 Highland League Select XI
Goals from Creaney (2), McCarrison and Elliot

In the Final

8th September Celtic 1-0 Dunfermiline
McCarrison scored.

All members of the squad played at some point.

2003-04-24: Boavista 0-1 Celtic, UEFA Cup - Pictures

joebloggscity — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:10:42 CDT

McAvennie, Frank

joebloggscity — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:24:02 CDT

M | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: Francis McAvennie
aka: Macca, Frank McAvennie, Frankie Bhoy
Born: 22 November 1959
Birthplace: Glasgow
Signed: October 1987/January 1993
Left: March 1989/May 1994
Position: Striker, Centre-forward
First game (1st spell): Hibernian 1-1 home 3 October 1987 league
Last game (1st spell): Hearts 2-1 home 18 March 1989 scottish cup
First goal (1st spell): Morton 3-1 home 10 October 1987 league
Last goal (1st spell): Clydebank 4-1 home 18 February 1989 scottish cup
First game (2nd spell): Airdrieonians 1-0 away 23 January 1993 league
Last game (2nd spell): Raith Rovers 0-0 away 5 February 1994 league
First goal (2nd spell): Saint Johnstone 5-1 home 30 January 1993 league
Last goal (2nd spell): Airdieonians 1-0 home 31 August 1993 league cup
International: Scotland
International Games: 5 games
International Goals: 1 goal

Biog

Striker Frank McAvennie was unquestionably one of the most popular and colourful "characters" to pull on the Hoops in the 80s, but probably will be remembered more for being one of our most controversial (in comical ways as well!)

With his bleached blonde hair, designer clothes, page 3 model wife, seemingly unquenchable love of champagne, the "burdz" and the highlife, McAvennie was the epitome of the clichéd 80s playboy footballer, as renowned for his scoring off the field as on it. But for all his off-field antics the man known to Celtic fans as ‘Macca’ will always be fondly remembered by the Bhoys support as a wonderful and blessed footballer.

McAvennie possessed a great awareness of space and an exquisite touch. Despite his love of partying the Glasgow-born forward was always prepared to put in a shift on the football pitch.

A lifelong Celtic fan, McAvennie grew up in Milton and started his professional career at St.Mirren where his performances caught the eye of scouts from both north and south of the border. West Ham United won the race to take the striker away from Love Street and it soon became obvious that the Hammers had struck gold as McAvennie forged a forward partnership with Tony Cottee that terrorised defences in the English top flight.

The goalscoring exploits of the duo saw the Hammers make a serious challenge for the league title in 1986 but in the end the Londoners fell just short of the championship, finishing third behind Liverpool and Everton.

In truth the Upton Park side never came close to reaching those heights the following year but Cottee and McAvennie continued to have their admirers. Now a Scotland international McAvennie was a major star on and off the field, even making an appearance as a guest on Terry Wogan’s primetime BBC 1 chat show. The capture of McAvennie in October 1987 for £750,000 was then quite a coup for Celtic manager Billy McNeill. He made his debut in the 1-1 draw against Hibs at Celtic Park on 3 Oct 1987.

Although Macca had not quite maintained the sensational form of season 85/86 he remained a high profile and sought after asset. His debut season for the Bhoys was the stuff of dreams. Spearheading a revitalised Celtic team Macca formed a prolific partnership with Andy Walker. Frank’s touch and vision combined with Walkers clinical finishing provided the perfect foil for the midfield artistry of Paul McStay as Celtic won a wonderful and eternally memorable league and Scottish Cup in their Centenary season.

McAvennie’s contribution to that success was significant and stylish. On January 1 1988 he welcomed in the New Year with a delectable double against bitter rivals and reigning champions Rangers, his goals giving the Bhoys a well deserved 2-0 victory.

That game had been Frank’s second Old Firm clash as a player. The first – at Ibrox on October 17 - was also memorable for Macca, but for very different reasons. Just weeks after arriving back home in Scotland Frank found himself at the centre of one of the most controversial incidents in Scottish football history. During a typically frantic derby tussle McAvennie and Rangers keeper Chris Woods squared up to each other after a clash in the box. A melee ensued with players shoving each other and Frank was grabbed by the throat as Woods and Rangers skipper Butcher set about the Celtic man. All three were red-carded during the 2-2 game and the trio - along with Ibrox-based Englishman Graham Roberts – became embroiled in an unprecedented court case where they had to answer charges of "behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace". This remarkable piece of legal action resulted in McAvennie and Roberts escaping without punishment but Woods and Butcher were fined for their aggressive actions. McAvennie was later to say on the whole matter that "it was the season where they couldn't even beat us in court!".

Back on the pitch Celtic swept to the championship in style before McAvennie capped off the season with a typically show stealing performance in the Scottish Cup final against Dundee United. With Celtic trailing United 1-0 Macca pounced twice in the last 15 minutes – the winner coming just seconds from the end - to snatch a dramatic but just victory at a sunbathed Hampden Park.

The sunshine turned to rain the next season (88/89) though as Celtic’s form slumped. Macca was missing the bright lights of London but on the pitch he still showed his quality on a regular basis and had netted 17 times by March. However, the fallout of that incident at Ibrox and the intensity of attention that comes with being a high profile footballer in Glasgow meant that Frank was getting itchy feet. Add to that the fact that Celtic were said to owe him money from when he first signed, then a parting of the ways seemed inevitable.

Macca had tasted the bright lights of the party life in London and was addicted to it, with then Celtic manager (Billy McNeill) stating that the first thing out of Celtic Park on a Saturday was McAvennie to get his flight to London for Saturday night life. Add in that he was at this point spending more than he was earning and it was inevitable that things were just not going to be sustainable. So just 17 months after becoming a Bhoy, the profligate Frank McAvennie returned to West Ham in a reported £1.5m deal. A sad loss for the support who had idolised him since he had come back to the club and it was many a year before we got another striker of his ability at his peak again.

But that wasn’t the last the Hoops support were to see of Frankie Bhoy. By 1992 Frank was a free agent. His return to London had been a disaster. The Hammers were relegated and Frank suffered a broken leg.

The glory days of the past were now distant memories after a very brief spell with Aston Villa he was set to return to Glasgow to play for Partick Thistle!

It was an embarrassing transfer saga that saw Macca wave the Partick Thistle above his head for a photo shoot before Celtic manager Liam Brady for some reason nipped in to secure his signature. It was quite poor and reflected badly on Brady especially when he denied knowing that Frank was going to sign for Partick Thistle.

The returning Frank was a shadow of his former self but in fairness he was probably in better shape than the rudderless and virtually penniless Celtic he had rejoined. Their was to be no fairytale end to McAvennie’s Celtic career which ended without a lining of silverware. In fairness, he did score a fair number to provide a boost but we needed much more than just a man winding down his career. A reunion with Lou Macari at Celtic in his short managerial spell didn't go down too well with McAvennie (they never saw eye to eye).

In February 1994, Macari loaned McAvennie to EPL strugglers Swindon Town, and he made just seven league appearances and failed to score as the Robins were relegated in bottom place at the end of a season in which they managed a mere five wins and conceded 100 goals.

He wound down his career with diddy spells at Falkirk & St Mirren.

Following his retirement from football McAvennie retained a high media profile in Scotland as he continued to live up to his reputation. But life turned sour for Frank as he became addicted to cocaine, lost his wife and he began to have regular brushes with the law. In 1996 he was found guilty of being in possession of cocaine, and in that same year he was declared bankrupt. In 1999 he was found guilty of drink driving.

Frank’s playboy persona has been memorably parodied in the TV football sketch show ‘Only An Excuse’ by Jonathan Watson who gave Macca the now (in)famous ‘Where’s the burdz?’ catchphrase, although he himself has said to have grown to hate it. Over-used it became too much of a cliché, with a one-off TV spin-off show ("I, Macca") flogging the joke to death.

Whatever people think of McAvennie’s lifestyle he remains generally a well liked figure among many in the Celtic support (for various reasons). What cannot be disputed is the fact that on the football field he was a very genuine talent who in that glorious Centenary season made dreams come true. Off the field is a different thing all together.

Playing Career

APPEARANCES	LEAGUE	SCOTTISH CUP	LEAGUE CUP	EUROPE	TOTAL
1987-1989, 1993-1994	85	9	7	4	105
Goals:	43

Honours with Celtic

Scottish Premier Division

1988

Scottish Cup

1987-88

Quotes

"There's as much chance of [Frank] McAvennie moving as there is of Rangers beating us 5-1 tomorrow."
Billy McNeil, Celtic (Manager) commenting on reports that Macca was heading back to London.
We did lose 5-1 the next day, and Macca left soon after!

"When I put the second one in, the whole stadium erupted and the crowd began singing "Happy Birthday Dear Celtic". Anyone who didn't know it was a special year, they would know then. It was all as if it was meant."
Frank McAvennie on the 2-0 victory v Rangers Jan 1988 (match)

"The old Board were all aresholes! The deal was done on a Holiday Inn napkin. I should have realised something was wrong as I was in the F****** Hilton!"
Frank McAvennie on the old Biscuit Tin board of Celtic

"When I was younger, I used to go and watch Celtic every week. My dad took me home and away. I didn't start playing football until I was 19, simply because I used to go and watch Celtic and I didn't think I was good enough. Probably a lot of people would say I wasn't. My favourite thing about match days was getting up and waiting for my uncle to come with the car to take me and my dad to the game. Walking up to the ground among the crowd and getting that buzz was amazing. I love football because it's given me such a great life. I've made mistakes but we all have - mine just get highlighted a lot more. I just love the whole concept of football. People say it's being taken away from the man in the street but I don't think that's the case. I'm a fan again and I go to watch Celtic and West Ham and I love it."
Frank McAvennie (2010)

"My chat-up line used to be, 'I know a lot of Page 3 birds - show me your boobs and I'll see how they compare."
Frank McAvennie

"It was like Goldilocks and the Three Bears."
Frank McAvennie on his 1987 Old Firm bust-up with Woods, Butcher and Roberts

Pictures

Frank McAvennie Pics

Biogs

Scoring: An Expert's Guide by Frank McAvennie & Reg McKay (Author) (2003)

Typical Macca Stories

1)Interviewer: But surely you get "bother" in Glasgow from Rangers fans...
Macca: No, they're no problem at all. I'm always treated brilliantly in Glasgow. In fact I was out in a bar up there with a Page 3 girl this one time; short skirt and boobs, the usual. Anyway, this fight broke out and there was beer and glass going everywhere. Frankie Miller, the [Scottish R&B] singer, was with us, but instead of protecting the girl, he dived on top of me to make sure I didn't get hurt! She wasn't best-pleased [chuckles].

2)Treasure Hunt!
This doesn't refer to the old 1980's program on Channel 4 (although it wouldn't be past Macca to have tried to get on this show to get close to Anneka Rice's arse), but refers to his continued charmed life. One day Frank was en route to Holland, when he was stopped and found to have £100k in a bag in the back of his car alongside drugs. The bag with the money was confiscated as being potentially drug money (as were the drugs of course), and Macca you'd think was in dire straits.

So what was McAvennie's reasoning for the large amount of money in the bag? He claimed that the money was for financing a Treasure Hunt for some sunken ship in the English Channel! Of all the daft stories ever concocted that is right up with them, but he is adamant its the truth (as he would in this situation). At least it makes you laugh and smile if nothing else.

As per usual, he got away with it all again! Don't know what to say about this guy at all! He leads a very charmed life.

3) McAvennie & Monday Mornings (taken from "Celtic Underground" 2010)
Frank McAvennie to his audience at a sportsman's dinner:“The gaffer (Big Billy) was brilliant to me when I first moved to Celtic. He knew how much I loved the club but understood the life I had in London was a brilliant one for a daft boy from the Milton. We’d agreed that I could fly down to London straight after Saturday’s match and get the early bird flight back to Glasgow on Monday morning.
"After a few weeks the gaffer started getting pissed aff with me as I was always late for Monday training mainly because when my 7am flight from Heathrow was leaving I was also just departing Stringfellows! The fines were eating into my wages big time so as I was telling my story to a mate back in Glasgow who told me he knew of someone who worked for Radio Clyde who could help me out on a Monday morning and it was only half the cost of my fine. Just you be there at the usual time on Monday morning and I’ll make sure my contact gets you to Barrowfield in time for training says the mate.
"There I am worse for wear on the Monday at Glasgow airport feeling rough after another all-nighter. As I stumble into arrivals this guys comes up to me and goes Frank I’m here to get you to Barrowfield on time for training. I’m looking at my watch and thinking to myself who is he Nigel fcken Mansell as training starts in 15 mins. No matter I goes with it but rather than leave the main exit he takes me through another door within the airport.
"I’m thinking what’s going on here but two minutes later we walk outside and turn the corner and there it is, a f**en helicopter! The pilot says strap yourself in we’ll be there in ten minutes and no kidding ten minutes later the Bhoys are doing their warm up at Barrowfield and look up only to see this helicopter landing on the middle of the pitch. They are all thinking what the f**k and they see me popping my head out the door. Everybody is lying about the pitch laughing their faces off and give the gaffer his due he’s pishing himself laughing as well. Just as I’m leaving the chopper I says to the pilot cheers mate thanks for your help oh and by the way whit’s your name. George says the pilot, Captain George from Radio Clyde eye in the sky!"

Scoring at the wrong time

By John Brewin
(Soccer.net Link)

A voracious appetite for birds, booze and drugs rarely complements a fruitful footballing career but Frank McAvennie, a striker who once scored goals as freely as he partied, made a genuine effort to marry the two.

From roadsweeper to the World Cup is quite a journey for a man who came to the game late. Though the Scotsman's footballing achievements have long been overshadowed by brushes with the law, admissions of Class A drug use and headline-making dalliance with glamour models.

His star may have shone brightly at times but McAvennie's is a classic tale of diminishing returns, rather like the cocaine he regularly shoved up his nose. Saturday 22 November will see the former St Mirren (twice), West Ham (twice), Celtic (twice), Aston Villa (briefly), Swindon (briefly) and Falkirk (even more briefly) player hit his 49th birthday. At one point that may have seemed an unlikely milestone for him to reach. Yet he's still alive and he's still causing trouble.

At the three clubs he revisited during his helter skelter career, he is remembered for a fantastic first spell and a second stint that failed to reignite the old magic. At St Mirren he was something of a late developer, only making the breakthrough to the Paisley club's first team at 21 after abandoning his previous occupation as a streetcleaner and the amateur football in which he honed his skills. In his first full season he earned the Scottish Young Player of the Year award. At the twilight of his career, he returned to Love Street for a brief but fruitless spell.West Ham fans will never forget the season of 1985-86 and he was the name on everyone's lips that season, where the Hammers achieved their best league position in a 113-year history.

McAvennie scored 26 goals while part of a wonderful partnership with Tony Cottee. Yet the season he came back to East London - 1988-89 - the Irons were relegated. It was during this latter period that his love affair with the mirror and the razor blade developed. Celtic was the team McAvennie had supported since childhood and he achieved every Bhoys' dream when he scored the goals to secure a league and cup double in the club's centenary year - 1988. McAvennie maintains this was the proudest moment of his career. His return, at 34, saw him fail to match previous Parkhead heights as the Hoops languished in the doldrums.

Like pal and fellow Scot Charlie Nicholas, McAvennie's move south saw him exposed to a world of glamour models and flowing champagne. Yet at first, the bright lights seemed to inspire the man at West Ham, in contrast to Nicholas' poor start at Arsenal. Signed for £340,000 in the summer of 1985, McAvennie's pace and goalscoring exploits soon saw him hit the headlines.

By Christmas 1985 he led the First Division goalscoring charts. Yet he was not quite as famous as he might have been. A TV blackout after a contractual dispute saw no league football shown live or even as highlights for the first half of the season. It was not until the Third Round of the FA Cup, a late win at Charlton Athletic, that an English TV audience even saw McAvennie's fashionably flowing blonde highlighted mullet in action. ITV's Saturday lunchtime Saint and Greavsie proved McAvennie's anonymity among the general public by introducing him to pedestrians wandering through London's West End.

Very few recognised him. By the time the cameras were switched on in early 1986 perhaps McAvennie's best had already been and gone, though he continued to support Cottee's own scoring exploits. West Ham went into the last weeks of the season with a genuine chance of the title only to fall four points short of champions Liverpool. Everton beat the Hammers to second too.

Meanwhile, McAvennie narrowly lost out to Toffees striker Gary Lineker in the scoring charts, which the Scot put down to the England man's taking of penalties. Lineker's ability to escape the tabloid glare when McAvennie was hitting the headlines for reasons outside football was long a bugbear too.

Those West Ham goals soon won him a call-up for his country. Alex Ferguson - as was - was interim boss of Scotland after the death of Jock Stein and McAvennie was taken to the Mexico World Cup after scoring in Scotland's play-off win over Australia.

It was always likely to happen... McAvennie fell foul of the disciplinarian's discipline. Barricading Ferguson and assistant Walter Smith into their rooms so that he and Nicholas could head out for a 'bevvy' when the team were altitude training in Santa Fe was hardly likely to secure selection and McAvennie was only used a substitute during another failed Scots campaign.

The dream move to Celtic in the summer of 1987 followed a goalshy second season at West Ham, where a burgeoning relationship with 'Page 3' girl Jenny Blyth took his mind off the football but kept him in the headlines. As at Upton Park, success on the pitch swiftly arrived at his new club. The proud Celt secured his place in the Parkhead pantheon by scoring two late goals in the Scottish Cup Final but there were already problems. McAvennie was commuting to London and back while playing in Glasgow to spend time with his busty lovely. Agent Bill McMurdo - who also represented George Best at the time - told how his charge was spending £4,000 a week while earning just £3,000.

The Bhoys were unable to pay him the cash he needed, his time at Celtic was soon over and West Ham were able to lure him back before the end of the 1988-89 season. Arsenal, going for the league title, had been sniffing around but McAvennie chose to go for the devil he knew. It was the wrong decision; the Hammers were relegated at the end of the season.
Lou Macari replaced the sacked John Lyall as Hammers boss and the relationship between manager and star striker was never remotely cordial. Further disaster struck when McAvennie suffered a broken leg at the beginning of the next season, which he missed almost totally. Not only that, a £400,000 purchase of an Essex mansion proved to be at just the wrong time. The housing market crashed and the house, shared with Blyth, was repossessed within a year of purchase.

It was during that long injury lay-off that his use of cocaine began. And, as he eventually admitted, continued once he was back playing. He eventually departed Upton Park for Aston Villa after scoring a hat-trick on his last game for the Hammers in May 1992. It was too late, as they had again been relegated.

At Villa, Ron Atkinson was able to use him just three times before a return to Parkhead, where he again found himself at a club in crisis amid Rangers' nine league titles in a row. And in came Lou Macari as manager... brief periods at Swindon, Falkirk, back at St Mirren and out in Hong Kong followed.

A brief period in America signalled the end of his football career but not his time in the tabloids. A split from Blyth, a failed marriage and being twice being arrested for possession of cocaine all made the red tops over the years. In 1994 he rocked British football by admitting his use of the drugs and confessed to blowing £700,000 on the repossessed house, booze and drugs.

Worse nearly followed when customs officers in Dover found £100,000 of McAvennie's money wrapped like a wedding present alongside cannabis and methadone. The money was confiscated, making him instantly bankrupt, and he faced a long term in jail for charges relating to drug-dealing.

After a long wait, a court in 2000 agreed with McAvennie's claim that the money had been meant for a hunt for treasure buried beneath the sea in a shipwreck. Now resident in Newcastle, the man who had been earning £5,000 a week in his latter West Ham days was penniless and jobless, being supported by a younger new wife.

In the years since, with the old "devil's dandruff" now long forsworn, McAvennie is able to carve something of a living as an after-dinner speaker and match-day host at West Ham and Celtic, living off tales from his colourful career. A tell-all confessional autobiography was knowingly called Scoring: An Expert's Guide.

Yet trouble continues to follow him. A brawl the night before a charity match on the Isle of Man saw him charged with affray and disorderly conduct in July 2008. A boozy binge with fellow hellraiser Andy Goram had gone badly wrong and McAvennie faces a court date in January 2009.

"Bad boy Frank McAvennie in pub fight" said the Daily Mirror headline. At 49, he might enjoy being given such a youthful label yet the continued controversy and brushes with the law show he may not yet have learned the lessons of a career that should have delivered far more.

Spiers on Saturday: Frank McAvennie is back in town and back on the market

Spiers on Saturday
Graham Spiers
Saturday 18 May 2013
The Herald

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/frankie-boy-is-back-in-town-and-back-on-the-market-but-this-time-he-swears-that-it-is-different.21062882

You might have heard by now...Frankie Boy is back in town.

I had heard bulletins of Frank McAvennie ducking here and diving there, so the time seemed ripe for a catch-up. "Aye, sure," Frank says to me on the phone. "I'm in the gym tomorrow morning . . . how about a coffee afterwards?" Sure thing, Frank, I tell him.

I find McAvennie at 53 looking pretty well, though he has the faintest hint of a pot at the midriff and he hobbles a bit when he walks. "I've almost just got one leg," Frank explains. "This one [his left] is finished." He tries to wiggle the ankle. "Look, it can hardly move," he says. The years catch up.

Frank is back in Scotland, it would seem, after another "domestic". Wife no.2 has just been jettisoned, the result of some pretty stark talking by Frank.

It seems he is also temporarily divorced from his driving licence, though he is keen to point out this is due to speeding offences, and not drink-related.

"My wife and I had been together for a while; 14 years I'd been down in Newcastle," he says. "But there's been a split. I'm getting divorced. Two times married, now two times divorced. It's a shame, but it was on the cards. What can you do? I'm back on the market..."

Just as I was expressing regret over this turn of events, Frank clarified it for me. "Thing is, my wife found out I wanted to come back up to Scotland . . . but not with her. That speeded things up a bit, in terms of the divorce. It went downhill fairly rapidly after that. I don't think we'll be keeping in touch. Saying that, once the bitterness passes, maybe we will. But not just now."

Whenever anyone in Scotland sees Frank McAvennie they cannot get the Jonathan Watson caricature out of their heads. I was just the same sipping coffee with him yesterday.

Does he mind this infamous send-up? "Naw, I think some of the things Jonathan does are hilarious," he says. "But there's not much reality, really, between me and him [the caricature]. Yes, I was Jack the Lad, everyone knows that. I loved chasing after girls . . . the chase was great.

"But I'm older now. I was in Corinthian [the Glasgow nightclub] recently and this girl came up to me and said, 'you know what Frank, you're a lot better looking in real life than you are on the telly.' She was referring to the Johnnie Watson character. I said to her, 'but we're different people, can't you get that?' But, naw, she couldn't. Actually, a few people have told me they think I'm better looking than the character on the telly. So I'm delighted about that. I take it as a compliment."

It is now 25 years since a McAvennie-inspired Celtic won the double in the club's centenary year. He was a terrific striker – all headers, running and goals – whose greatest season had actually been two years earlier, in 1985-86, when, newly arrived at West Ham United, he scored 26 goals and came as close to winning the First Division title.

In Scotland, McAvennie is lauded and loved for his time at Celtic. My hunch, though, is that his own most prized memory is of his time in the east end of London. "I did something at West Ham that will never be done again," he says.

"We didn't win the league but I will never get back what I had there. I scored 26 goals; only Gary Lineker beat me and he took a load of penalties. It was a brilliant time. I loved West Ham, and the fans really took to me."

It was while in London that Frank dated the busty wench-***-model, Jenny Blyth, whose mere appearance virtually made his tongue fall out. The two of them were regularly photographed out on London town. Frank was besotted with Blyth. I used to imagine a cartoon image of him skiing down the great ravine of her cleavage, his scarf flapping behind him.

Ms Blyth was one reason (perhaps two) why, after just 17 months at Celtic, Frank was begging Billy McNeill to let him return to West Ham, to which the Celtic manager finally consented in March 1989.

"I don't know where she is now," Franks ponders aloud of his old amour. "I've lost touch. Five years we were an item but I ain't got a clue where she is. She was the love of my life at one point . . . but they all were.

"Lots of stories were told about me in London, but not all of them were true. One of them says I left a restaurant at 8am one Saturday morning and went and scored two goals that afternoon. It's a great story, but it's not true. I never went out beyond a Wednesday night before a Saturday, never. I wasn't a good professional, of course I wasn't, but I was fit. And I scored goals. And in a game I'd cover more ground than anyone for the cause."

McAvennie's second tours of duty at both Celtic and West Ham were less successful, and he ended up in a bad way when his career finished in the mid-1990s. "I went off the rails. I got wrecked on booze and drugs. I started waking up in strangers' houses and would say, 'what am I doing here?' I got arrested over drugs and I said to myself, 'right, that's it, enough of this.' I was never addicted to drugs, I was just looking for something else after football. After football I didn't know what to do with myself – I had nothing.

"It was a hard time, but I got out of it. The only person that can help you in these situations is yourself. I didn't need to go to a psychiatrist or anything; I knew what I had to do. I was taking too many drugs. I got arrested, I proved my innocence, but after that, that was it. I got out of all that stuff."

And you're clean now, Frank, right? "I'm clean now. God, yes, very much so. I still take a drink, but mainly in moderation. And the big thing for me now is that I pick my friends, they don't pick me. That's the biggest difference for me."

Frank says he's got "a coupla wee business things going on" which he is excited about. In a fraught career and an even more fraught life, he earned well as a footballer but missed out on the boom times.

"I've got a decent pension but, put it this way, I've still got to work," he says. "The money I earned in the 1980s was good but it wasn't life-changing. I got nowhere near the stuff of today. Four grand a week, five grand a week; that's the most I ever earned.

"I've got a wee agency with some good players aboard. When I say an agency, I'm not an agent myself, but we employ an agent. What I do is, I introduce my business partner to my contacts – cos I've got a stack of those – and he gets on with it. When I go and talk to managers all they want to talk to me about is football and have a laugh – so that's what I do. But then my partner does the other stuff, the business.

"I've got another wee venture going on . . . I hope there is a business thing gonna happen this year that will be good for me. If it comes off it will be brilliant. Fingers crossed, it's in the pipeline."

With this, Frank is off, to play some charity golf with John Hartson. I find the guy highly likeable – perhaps Scottish football's ultimate lovable rogue.

Solis, Jerome

joebloggscity — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:51:21 CDT

S | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: Jerome Solis
aka: Jerry Solis
Born: 29 Sep 1909 [needs confirmed as "A-Z of Celts" says 6 Oct 1909]
Birthplace: [Lambeth, London] [needs confirmed as "A-Z of Celts" says Glasgow]
Died: [Jul-Aug-Sep 1974 (?)]
Signed: 11 July 1931
Left: Feb 1932 (to Coleraine)
Position: Outside-left
Debut: Celtic 7-0 Cowdenbeath, League, 26 Aug 1931
Internationals: none

Biog

Glasgow-born outside left Jerome Solis signed for Celtic in July 1931 and made his debut on August 26th in a 7-0 home league win over Cowdenbeath in which he netted once.

Signed from Maryhill Hibs Solis was a diminutive and hard working player but one who was behind Charles Napier in the first team pecking order. He made a total of nine appearances for Celtic before departing in February 1932 for Coleraine (where he won an Irish Cup medal).

Jerome Solis is also believed to be the first Jewish player to play for the Celts (even though we believe he was at St Aloysius' College), but some research puts doubt on it, see: http://celticgraves.com/topic/8351774/1/?x=50.

Playing Career

APPEARANCES	LEAGUE	SCOTTISH CUP	LEAGUE CUP	EUROPE	TOTAL
1931-32	9	0	n/a	n/a	9
Goals	3	0	-	-	3

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

Player Pics

Forums

Jerome Solis on CGS forum

Two behind McGrory here...

McWilliam, Robert

joebloggscity — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:47:18 CDT

M | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: Robert McWilliam
aka: Bob McWilliam, Robert McMilan McWilliam

Born: 24 May 1909

Birthplace: Camelon
Signed: August 1928; 18 Feb 1932
Left: 1929 (to Watford); Dec 1932 (to Yeovil & Petters Utd)
Position: Outside Left
Debut: Celtic 3-0 Hibernian, League, 8 September 1928
Internationals: ? [which international team played for]
International Caps: ?
International Goals: ?

Biog

Bob McWilliam was a outside left who played seven times for Celtic during two brief spells at the club. He was wanted by Man City with their manager willing to pay £130 for "the brand new Denny Hib". Bob though wanted to come to Celtic, and the promising youngster was brought to Celtic as a 19-year-old from his Denny Hibernian club.

His debut was in a 3-0 league victory over Kilmarnock on September 8th 1928 at Parkhead. However it was too much too soon, with one comment stating "...a mistake. A month or two ago he was only a Juvenile...he is immature, inexperienced, green. He requires nursing, not shoving into the team as if he were a read-made winger...Celtic directors will spoil him if they treat him as a matured and experienced product".

Within a year he had joined Watford but would return to Celtic for one final appearance in February 1932 following the collapse of his then current club Leith Athletic.

Playing Career

APPEARANCES	LEAGUE	SCOTTISH CUP	LEAGUE CUP	EUROPE	TOTAL
1928-29, 1932	7	0	0	-	7
Goals	0	0	0	-	0

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

Player Pics

McLaughlin, George

joebloggscity — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:37:16 CDT

M \| Player Pics \| A-Z of Players

M | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: George McLaughlin
aka: George McLaughlan [Need to check about spelling]
Born: 18 Jan 1904
Birthplace: Bridgeton, Glasgow
Signed: 25 Apr 1923
Left: 1 Mar 1924 (to Clydebank)
Position: Inside Forward
Debut: Celtic 1-2 Partick Thistle, League, 1 Sep 1923
Internationals: none

Biog

Forward George McLaughlin made just a solitary competitive appearance for Celtic.

Signed from Greenhead Thistle Juveniles in April 1923 his one game for the Hoops came in a 2-1 defeat to Partick ay Celtic Park on September 1st. Part of the problem is that he was said to be the "new Sandy McMahon". Too much to live up to and he was never given the chance to prove this or not, after just the one game. After this defeat, Tom White entered the changing rooms puffing on his cigar to boom out "No bonuses!". Charming!

After a number of loan spells George joined Clydebank in March 1924, but moved on not long after. Later on he won a Glasgow Cup medal against Celtic for Clyde in 1925.

Playing Career

APPEARANCES	LEAGUE	SCOTTISH CUP	LEAGUE CUP	EUROPE	TOTAL
1923-24	1	0	n/a	n/a	1
Goals:	0	0	-	-	0

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

Player Pics

Glancy, Lawrence

joebloggscity — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:34:35 CDT

G | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: Lawrence Glancy
aka: Lawrence Glancey [need checked was his surname spelling Glancy or Glancey]
Born: 29 July 1902
Birthplace: Cowdenbeath
Signed: 21 January 1922
Left: 28 July 1923 (to Bo'ness)
Position: Centre-Forward
Debut: Celtic 2-0 Motherwell, League, 15 Mar 1922
Internationals: N/A

Biog

Centre-forward Lawrence Glancy was signed by the Bhoys in January 1922 after the sought after 'Hearts of Beath' player had trials at Hibs.

Cowdenbeath-born Glancey had come close to signing for his hometown club before the Celts snapped him up. Despite an impressive start with the reserves his one and only first team appearance came in a 2-0 league win at home to Motherwell on March 15th.

Cowndenbeath brought a charge that Celtic had offerred Glancy monetary inducements. Cowdenbeath made an offer and Celtic topped it, and that's the bottom line with charge dismissed. Having played only one game, Celtic shouldn't have bothered.

He would leave in July 1923 for Bo’Ness.

Playing Career

APPEARANCES	LEAGUE	SCOTTISH CUP	LEAGUE CUP	EUROPE	TOTAL
1922-23	1	0	N/A	N/A	1
Goals:	0	0	-	-	0

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

Player Pics

Pearson, Eddie

joebloggscity — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:29:50 CDT

P | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: Edward Pearson
aka: Eddie Pearson
Born: 16 Mar 1863
Died: 21 Dec 1918
Birthplace: Holytown, Lanarkshire
Signed: 1888
Position: Right-back
Debut: Celtic 5-2 Rangers XI (The Swifts) Friendly, 28 May 1888
Internationals: none

Biog

Featured in the first ever 11 for Celtic

Eddie Pearson Right back Carfin Shamrock.

Born March 16, 1863 in Holytown (Lanarkshire), Died December 21, 1918 at 22 West Academy Street, Wishaw

Brother David in 1881 Census aged 13 also played with Eddie for Carfin Shamrock against Celtic in the Scottish Cup in 1890.

Played for Celtic in our debut match (a 5-2 friendly win over a Rangers XI dubbed by themselves as "The Swifts"). Eddie Pearson returned soon after back to Carfin (Lanarkshire).

1891 Census Married to Susan Connor who appears on his death certificate as Susannah Connor.

1901 Census Living at 106 Scotts Road in Cambusnethan with his wife and 5 children

Brother also played for Carfin Shamrock

Playing Career

Played in no competitive games

Honours with Celtic

none

Pictures

Player Pics

Gallacher, John

joebloggscity — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:26:43 CDT

G | Player Pics | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: John Gallacher
aka: Jackie Gallacher
Born: 17 May 1924
Birthplace: Unknown
Signed: 10 July 1943 (from Armadale Thistle)
Left: 31 Jan 1946 (to RAF); 27 Apr 1951 (free); Aug 1951 (Kettering Town)
Position: Centre Forward
Debut: Celtic 1-4 Dumbarton, Regional League 4 Sep 1943
Internationals: N/A

Biog

Centre forward John 'Jackie' Gallacher was the wee brother of Scotland great Hughie.

He signed for Celtic in July 1943 from Armadale Thistle and made a scoring debut in a 4-1 home defeat to Dumbarton in the Regional League on September 9th. On his debut, the fans actually were demonstrating demanding Celtic sign a new Centre! Despite that less than encouraging debut scoreline and fan action, Gallacher went on to form an effective frontline partnership with Gerry McAloon and he hit a rich vein of goalscoring form. By the time of the Regional League Cup in 1944 "all balls led to Gallacher", and the hope of some renewed success led to 100,000 paying fans for six games (a huge figure during the war).

However, when McAloon was not there, then Jackie was not the same playerand was dropped which led him to ask for a transfer: "I am too unsettled at Parkhead". In a career which saw him in and out of the first team he would be rejuvenated after developing a decent partnership with Tommy Kiernan.

He was at Celtic for a long period so inevitably he would decline in his productivitiy, and during season 1948-49 the signings of Leslie Johnstone and Jock Weir showed the writing on the wall for Jackie.

Must add that this was a difficult time for Celtic, and was probably our worst period for results and performances. The fact that he played and stuck with us for so long is worthy of respect. The point that he was a Rangers supporter when younger is a moot point, as he wasn't the only one even in that team or in many Celtic teams since our inception, it's just an excuse by some trying to find a reason for our lack of success. If Jackie was a reason for our low state during the war then the stats show differently. Some of our greatest players were Rangers men when younger. On his departure from Celtic, he handed trainer Alex Dowell a gold watch, so reflects respect for the people at the club and so we're sure he gave his all (his record indicates so).

By the time Gallacher was released by Celtic in April 1951 he had scored a very noteworthy 94 competitive goals in 116 appearances, although had not been played often in his last few years at the club. It's incredible that with such a record that he is not referenced more often, but then again part of that is due to it having been achieved at one of the lowest periods in our history which many try to avoid.

Playing Career

APPEARANCES	LEAGUE	SCOTTISH CUP	LEAGUE CUP	EUROPE	REGIONAL LEAGUE	REGIONAL LEAGUE CUP	TOTAL
1943-51	22	1	10	N/A	68	15	116
Goals:	14	2	9	-	54	15	94

Honours with Celtic

[....]

Pictures

Player Pics

Anecdotes

1) When he picked up his gear from Celtic Park on 13 July 1951, he gave the trainer Alex Dowell's a gold watch inscribed with thanks. A wonderful gift but it was lost in crazy circumstance. In 1953, Celtic scored the second goal in the Coronation Cup final v Hibs (20 May 1953) with 2 mins to go, at which Alex leapt up in the air, threw his arms in the air and the watch came flying off and went into the crowd! It was never seen again.
(from A-Z of the Celts by McBride et al)

2) "It can be a rough old game, the fitba’. A typical supporters’s reaction may be that of an exasperated Celtic adherent at one match at Celtic Park when Jackie Gallacher played his heavy-footed, gangling style in a team that promised much but rarely delivered. Gallacher was capable of going through a whole defence on his own in scoring, as I saw him do one Saturday against Queens Park at Parkhead. He kicked off, took the return and dribbled his way through the whole QP team before scoring an amazing goal. However, on this particular day, he was not at his best. ‘Come oan, Gallacher, for God’s sake, ye’re playin’ for Celtic,’ yelled the drigruntled supporter.
‘Play for us? He disnae even support us!’ replied another voice wearily. Actually, the second man was quite right. Jackie supported Rangers – and still does."
(from The Sevenpenny Gate: A Lifelong Love Affair with Celtic FC By John Cairney (2011))

1985-12-09: Celtic 1-2 S.V. Hamburg, Challenge Match

st.anthony — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:20:32 CDT

Match Pictures | Matches: 1985 - 1986 | 1985-1986 Pictures

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This game was arranged as pasrt of the deal which brought Mark McGhee to Celtic from Hamburg for £150,000.
Rumours abound that Hamburg get to keep the gate money on the night as part of McGhee's deal.

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1984-09-22: St Mirren 1-2 Celtic, Premier Division

st.anthony — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:59:16 CDT

Match Pictures | Matches: 1984 - 1985 | 1984-1985 Pictures

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Celtic play in change strip of lime green shirts with dark green shorts and socks.

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1984-09-15: Celtic 1-0 Heart of Midlothian, Premier Division

st.anthony — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:56:41 CDT

Match Pictures | Matches: 1984 - 1985 | 1984-1985 Pictures

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Ex Celt Brian Whittaker is sent off only three minutes after coming on as a substitute.

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1984-08-22: Dunfermline Athletic 2-3 Celtic, League Cup

st.anthony — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:13:03 CDT

Match Pictures | Matches: 1984 - 1985 | 1984-1985 Pictures

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Favourites Aberdeen are sensationally knocked out by first division Airdrie.
Airdrie draw Celtic in the next round.

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1984-08-14: Solitude Cliftonville 0-4 Celtic, Friendly

st.anthony — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:06:51 CDT

Match Pictures | Matches: 1984 - 1985 | 1984-1985 Pictures

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Celtic visit Northern Ireland for the first time since the 1950's.
Game played to celebrate Cliftonville's centenary.
Match abandoned after 79 minutes after a riot breaks out.
Fans climb on roof and hurl missiles at police.
Police respond with baton charges on fans. They then fire rubber bullets and a policeman has his gun taken from him.
Celtic fans shout 'SS RUC !' at police.
25 people taken to hospital and47 RUC men were said to have been injured.
Celtic directors complain at actions of police but they are criticised for their lack of judgement in travelling to a trouble spot to play this game.
Desmond White says David Hay 'took his life in his hands' when he went on the park to plea with the police and fans to stop.

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Celtic: Bonner McGrain Reid Aitken McGugan W McStay Colquhoun Grant McGarvey MacLeod McClair Subs: Sinclair McAdam Melrose

Scorers: Colquhoun 2 McGarvey 25 Sinclair 75, 77

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Attendance: 8,000

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1985-12-09: Celtic 1-2 S.V. Hamburg, Challenge Match

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