Details
Name: Billy Connolly
aka: The Big Yin
Ref: Seminal comedian who changed the face of the stand-up globally, and a very keen Celtic fan too
Note: Patron of The Celtic Foundation
Born: 24 November 1942
Birthplace: Glasgow
Background
| “It’s the manifestation of 90 minutes, don’t let go. They never know when they are beaten. That’s why I love this club.” Billy Connolly |
Billy Connolly is one of those very special people who can be uniquely identified with one city, and there are few others who can embody the often positive but baffling and self-effacing social side of a blue-collar upbringing in Glasgow and the West of Scotland better than Billy Connolly.
He was born in a Scottish Irish family, but life was harsh as his mother abandoned the family when he was still a child, and Billy Connolly was to be raised by his aunts & father in what was a tough family environment (details left for a more suitable forum than here). When he left school, he started working in the shipyards, but with his natural wit & merciless humour, he left that field with the encouragement of his colleagues to become a musician, comedian and stand-up, and life was never to be the same again.
He changed the mould of stand-up comedy, where the standard comedian in the old days was just a drunk who spouted racist & pejorative jokes, he instead reflected the changing times as he was a bit of a hippy at heart. He was soulful and joked about life recalling stories from his experiences, often just from the top of his head, and gave commentary on the social landscape of the day.
Local success grew fast, and he was to be a national icon in Scotland, and then it grew to the UK celebrity circus and then globally. A favourite of all chatshow hosts, he was just perfect to listen to.
He was to be a star on stage, TV and even in films.
A major part of his life was always Celtic, and he has been a common sight on Celtic videos reminiscing about the past which all can relate too, all done with a joke & smile.
He also has some classic sketches on Celtic v Rangers, which will have you rolling on the floor with laughter, catch them on YouTube. He doesn’t shy away either at what can see as the controversial aspects of the social history of Glasgow, he doesn’t pander to anyone either.
“What’s distinct to Glasgow, however, is its special relationship with bigotry. I’ve known people all my life just being around Glasgow, guys who would go to Rangers matches and shout that stuff then come off and not be like that.”
Actually when he started on the pub scene with his folk band in the old days, he used to have to claim he supported Partick Thistle to avoid losing any custom, but thankfully once he was popular enough he was open in his support for Celtic.
He nowadays mostly spends his time outwith of Scotland, but is still a regular visitor to Glasgow, and is a regular at matches and very welcome too.
He reflects more than just the entertainment field. His love for Celtic, an often ambivalent relationship on Glasgow, nationalism and loss of religious faith is something that many can relate too in their lives. His love for the common man but also a wish to better himself is also something that many see themselves in him. He embodies much of the at times conflicting emotional issues that make up being a Glaswegian & Celtic fan, but in his own way he has helped to reflect The Celtic Way, a charitable man who wants goodwill & respect for all.
Billy Connolly has a deserved seat for life in the Celtic Park stadium, gifted to him by Fergus McCann and marked by a permanent plaque in the main stand.
He is a special son of Celtic & Glasgow, another one we are proud to number amongst our own.
Links
“It’s the manifestation of 90 minutes, don’t let go. They never know when they are beaten. That’s why I love this club”
Billy Connolly
“My father was always disappointed that I never played for Celtic. I bet he’s not disappointed now!”
Billy Connolly joking on the then woeful state of the Celtic first team back in the tumultuous days of Sack the Board (pre-takeover) (1994)
“I often think of big Sammy. He was a caulker and a real Rangers supporter. I called him a bluenose b*****d when I was an apprentice.
“He grabbed me and he held me down. The carpenters and platers used to line off the deck with French chalk – they would mark those lines with blue paint and do a little right angle of blue paint. He put me on the deck and he painted my nose blue.”
Recalling a clash with a Rangers supporter in the shipyard where he started his career as an apprentice welder in the 1960s.
Articles
Connolly
Big Yin eager to put bigotry in shade at Celtic
Published: 00:47
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/big-yin-eager-to-put-bigotry-in-shade-at-celtic-1-911869IT THREATENED to be as much of a mis-match as is likely to be witnessed at Celtic Park this season.
Billy Connolly facing the Scottish press, a breed he holds in about as much esteem as competitive race walkers, NCP car park attendants, and those people who are simply dismissed for being “beige.”
“God, this is awkward,” he muttered, peering over his Harry Potter-style spectacles, as he entered the room, locks bouncing in the backdraft, orange-red beads hanging from his neck, and the rest of his outfit, his entire persona, dazzling in the austere Celtic boardroom. Beige he was not. The snakeskin shoes were a particularly nice touch.
Not that he looked comfortable, or not at first. As he admitted, only one thing could have enticed him into this throng. Bigotry. “That’s my favourite bit,” said Connolly excitedly. “Not that I favour bigotry. I really strongly favour doing something about it.”
The comedian’s presence at a Celtic press conference was to announce his appointment as patron of the Celtic Foundation, which is dedicated to a range of community and charity activities in Scotland and internationally.
Connolly explained that on one of his visits to Celtic Park – he gets to four or five games a year – he was diverted into the office of the chief executive, Peter Lawwell. “I was sidelined into the office one day here by Peter Lawwell. I was with the chairman at the time, and I was squashed into a couch and lectured. I wouldn’t say I was bullied into it but I kind of had no, eh …
“I’ve always liked what the club stood for,” he added, regaining track, and settling into that familiar Connolly song-like rhythm of stretched-out vowels and – if his speech were being written exactly as it was spoken – a smattering of randomly placed exclamation marks. “I liked its charitable beginnings, and I like what it has stood for over the years. I like what Fergus McCann did. And I like that he brought back the whole charitable thing [the Celtic Charity Fund established in 1995].”
“McCann,” added Connolly, “is one of my heroes.” But it is the progress made in the fight against bigotry that encouraged him to say yes at the conclusion to that lecture in Lawwell’s office. “I must say the appeal in my heart was the bigotry bit. The rest of [the Foundation’s work] is incredibly impressive I find, especially the numbers. The number of kids involved is breathtaking.
“But for me the whole drive is the recent drive of the anti- bigotry movement. I’m very fond of that movement.
“It’s a long, long battle, but the answer is in the young people. I don’t think you can teach an old bigot all that much. I don’t think I’m going to impress an old bigot that much … I agreed with Gordon Strachan, when he said, ‘If your parents didn’t tell you, what am I going to tell you?’
“It should start with kids – that’s where all the energy should go. Wee boys and girls. With them, there’s a place to go. And I just fancied being part of it.”
Connolly believes there is evidence of progress in his home city. Controversially, he suggested that the wearing of replica kits – by fully-grown adults – could be construed as progress. Though, to be fair, he did question that even as he said it.
“I see an extraordinary difference,” he enthused. “Some would disagree with me, but I’m not sure it would have been okay to walk around Glasgow with the full Rangers or Celtic strip on in the middle of day or night when I was growing up. I’m not sure, maybe I’m wrong, maybe my picture of how it used to be is wrong, but I don’t think that would have been cool. It was weird enough with a scarf in some places.
“But when I see adults and kids, some adults even with the full strip, though I’m not sure if I think that’s a cool idea or not… but when I see people walking around like that, I think things must have improved over the years.”
Although he admitted to being an optimist, “a glass half full guy”, Connolly did get worked up when he discussed the treatment in Scottish grounds of the departed captain, Neil Lennon. “People have blethered on about the answer to bigotry,” he said. “No Catholic schools, no Orange marches … but that’s not the answer. Education is the answer. Talking is the answer, getting these things out into the open, giving them air, giving them oxygen. Silence is not the answer.
“People saying ‘I didn’t know that was going on …’ Yes you do! Neil Lennon, booed up and down the length of Scotland, everyone knew why, but nobody said it! There was silence – and silence is where bigotry thrives.”
As for what his role as patron will involve, Connolly admitted that he is unsure. “Originally I was just to have my name somewhere, and then all of a sudden there was a press conference, and you know my deep love of the Scottish press. I had a wee party in my heart! And now here we are. And it’s a joy to be here.”
And just when he threatened to go off on one of his famous tangents, he gathered himself: “I don’t fancy just being a name on a piece of paper, I’m happy to do much more. I’m a patron of West of Scotland Ballet, and I do show up.
“One of my talents, if I have any talent at all, is communication. I seem to communicate very easily with the young. I’d like to talk to them as they come in here.”
It was an appropriately sincere and earnest Connolly who spoke at Celtic Park yesterday. Which is perhaps why he seemed initially uncomfortable – until he was asked for a prediction for the season ahead. “We’ll skoosh it,” he replied.
“Ask him, he knows more about it than me,” he added, gesticulating to the club captain, Stephen McManus, seated beside him, but then carrying on, even as McManus opened his mouth to speak. “Nah, we’ll clatter them. It’ll be a skoosh.” And the Champions League?
Football has always been comic Billy Connolly’s one true passion… from marching towards the Jungle at Celtic in a Rangers scarf, to performing for Denis Law and the Scotland squad… and even being asked to sign a police horse in Parkhead!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9044401/Love-life-Football-Billy-Connollys-one-true-passion.html
Scottish comedy legend Billy Connolly has opened up on his love for football
Connolly was once asked to autograph a police horse outside Celtic Park
He also wore a Rangers kit to briefly referee a testimonial in the early ’70s
The Scot also performed a stand up set for the national team in Germany
Connolly’s exit from the stage will be marked by a programme on ITV this month
By HUGH MACDONALD FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL
Published: 22:04, 11 December 2020 | Updated: 00:19, 12 December 2020
He has stood down from stand-up but Billy Connolly has gone into time added on in an exclusive interview with Sportsmail that reveals the laughs and the lessons offered by football.
Comedy is the focus of the Big Yin’s genius but fitba’ is his passion. Both unite to produce tales of how he marched towards the Jungle at Celtic in a Rangers scarf, how he was asked to autograph a police horse, how a player who could sing a bit was his favourite and how Ross County fans lifted his spirits after a dispiriting defeat.
There are also nods to Denis Law, John Greig and the Hunchback of Nuthin’ Daein’.
What kind of player were you?
I was never really a great player. I was keen, always gave 100 per cent and, as the old saying goes: “Everyone loves a trier”. The last organised game I played in was in the mid-70s when I guested for a Radio Clyde select team in a charity match.
I think Jimmy Gordon, who later became Lord Gordon, was the driving force behind that one. We played at Blanefield and I think the cash we raised was to build changing facilities for the local team.
Didn’t disgrace myself but the best part was half-time when I could get a quick cigarette. Always the athlete. Changed days. I used to smoke back then.
Can you remember your first big match?
Attending? It was probably back in the mid-50s. Celtic had some good players but, to be honest, they weren’t a great side. They had guys like Bertie Peacock, Charlie Tully, Willie Fernie, Bobby Collins and Bobby Evans.
You would think with players of that calibre in the side, they might have won a few things. Willie Fernie was a great dribbler. The ball was stuck to his feet like a magnet. And I remember Bobby Collins had thighs like tree trunks. Wee Bobby went on to play for Leeds and was their Player of the Year and a bit of a legend down Elland Road way.
I also went to Firhill a couple of times with some pals, but don’t really have any stand-out memories of the Jags. Mind you, I have tried to forget their 4-1 victory over Jock Stein’s Celtic in the League Cup final in 1971 but it never goes away! Great result for the Maryhill Magyars.
Who was/is your favourite player and why?
As a nation, we have produced some great players. Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness and Denis Law, to name but a few. All world-class players.
In recent times, Henrik Larsson was brilliant. Scored goals out of nothing. Ally McCoist did a similar job for Rangers. But for me, wee Jimmy Johnstone wins it.
Jinky was unstoppable. Absolute genius. He would get kicked all over the park by defenders who towered over him and yet just pick himself up and get on with it. I also have to say that the wee man wasn’t a bad singer either.
When were you happiest at a football match?
I have quite a few happy memories from games I have attended. I don’t just mean Celtic games, either.
When Scotland qualified for the 1974 World Cup, the game against Czechoslovakia was amazing, as was the qualifier against Wales at Anfield for the 1978 World Cup.
I went out to Germany a week or so before the 1974 World Cup kicked off that year to entertain the Scotland team. Willie Ormond was the manager. It was early on in my career and, although I was getting quite well known in Scotland, a lot of the Scottish guys who played in England didn’t know much about me. I think I was a bit of a shock to some of them.
I remember Denis Law coming up to me and saying I was the funniest guy he had ever heard. I loved that. I was in among some of my footballing heroes and here they were telling me how much they had loved the gig. Great times.
As far as Celtic happy moments go, fortunately there have been many over the recent history but one that stands out was down at Love Street in ’86 when Celtic had to win by five clear goals and Hearts had to lose at Dundee. Celtic went five up and played brilliantly and then we all had our wee transistor radios on listening to events unfold at Dens Park.
Albert Kidd scored twice to give Dundee a win and Celtic, under David Hay, the title. It was mayhem and a memory I will always treasure. To this day, there is even a Celtic Supporters’ Club called the Albert Kidd Celtic Supporters’ Club.
When were you the most miserable? (We’re Scots, so there has to be a sad question)
I try to take the positives of life on board and I don’t dwell on misery. What is the point? You are not going to change it. Anyway, with football you always try and block out the bad moments with the happy ones.
Oddly enough, when Celtic lost the Scottish Cup semi-final against Ross County in 2010, my spirits were lifted almost instantly. I was walking past the County fans and they all started to chant my name. I went right in there and stood among them blethering away and signing things. I realised how much this win at Hampden had meant to them all. It was a day to remember for ever for them.
What was the funniest thing that happened to you at a match?
There have been a few. But a couple stand out. Some time ago, a Celtic select side were playing against a Manchester United select and a huge crowd turned up. I was there with a pal of mine and Celtic had kindly organised a car-parking space when the school was at the bottom of what is now Celtic Way.
We came out through the gates and were immediately swamped with fans. It was chaos. Everyone wanted photos or autographs. We were getting nowhere and my pal, Russell, pushed his way through the crowd and managed to get two security guards to help clear a path. That didn’t work. Next thing Russell arrived with two big Glasgow polis.
Progress was slow and one of the cops called in for support. Next thing was another two of Glasgow’s finest arrived but this time on horseback.
Now we were getting places. Just as we got to the fenced area at the front door, one of the Mounties patted the a*** of his horse and quipped: ‘Billy, would you sign this?’
The other bizarre thing that happened was also at a Celtic match. It was a European tie, I can’t remember who was playing. I arrived in Glasgow from my home up at Braemar and parked my car in the Merchant City for a bite to eat with my daughter. Cara.
When I returned to my car, I discovered that it had been broken into and my bag with a change of clothes, my medicines and everything needed for a couple of nights’ stay in Glasgow, was gone.
I bought a change of clothes and made my way to Celtic Park, again with Russell. At half-time, we came downstairs from the stand when a big polis with the white braid on the cap collared me. He said that they had recovered my bag with everything intact and that we could collect it at London Road police station after the game.
Seems a wee woman in High Street had been having a famous Glasgow ‘windae hing’ observing everything going on around the Glasgow Cross area, including the wee gardens that used to be there. She spotted a guy opening a bag, looking at what was inside and then throwing the lot into the bushes. She phoned the police and they duly recovered the bag.
When we went to get the bag after the game, the big desk sergeant had it to hand. A lot of the police who had been on duty at the game were also arriving back. They were brilliant. I said: ‘I have been lucky enough to travel the world and I have never met a better police force than the Glasgow Polis’.
They retrieved my bag and had it returned to me before I even had the time to report it stolen. The big sergeant had a great reply: ‘Billy, with respect, the thief probably looked in the bag and thought who the hell is going to buy a green-and-white-striped suit to fit a 6ft 1in guy in Glasgow?’ Great stuff.
What was the funniest thing you heard at a match?
That is an easy one, not sure if it is the funniest, but it is a memory that will never leave me. There was a testimonial game at the old Celtic Park. Must have been the early 70s and Jock Stein got in touch asking me if I would referee the game for a couple of minutes.
Up I trot to the stadium and I am warmly greeted by the legendary Mr Stein, who shows me into the changing room to don the ref’s gear.
I am confronted with a Rangers tracksuit, Rangers scarf and Rangers tammy. I said to him: ‘I can’t run out there with this on, they will eat me.’ The Big Man laughed and said: ‘They will love it and it is only for ten minutes.’
Okay. Out I ran from the tunnel to be met with deafening jeers. I kept running straight out and I went to the old Jungle and produced a red card sending them all off. To this day, I don’t know how the hell it happens, but the fans seem to all have been equipped with some sort of strange communication device that they all tune in to. It happens in every stadium. Anyway, I am standing there frantically waving the red card when, to a man, they suddenly start chanting: ‘You can stick your f*****g wellies up your a***.’ A memory that will live with me for ever.
Your talent brought you into contact with some great football names. Was there one moment when you said to yourself: “This is unreal. I am talking to…”?
I mentioned a couple of the greats earlier and I have been fortunate enough to meet many superb players. Some players are great but for different reasons.
John Greig was a lovely man to meet even though when he played the corner flags wore shin guards. Willie Henderson is another gem. Wee man with a big heart. Always has a smile and life has thrown him a couple of lousy shots. Bertie Auld and Bobby Lennox are a great double act. They crack me up. Last time I met Bertie, he introduced himself as the Hunchback Of Nuthin’ Daein’.
Can you explain your love for Celtic?
I am not sure I can explain that. There is more to the club than just the team. The Celtic FC Foundation is the charity wing of the club and I am fortunate to be Patron of the Foundation.
There is more to the club than just the players. There are a host of great people who work there behind the scenes. Ultimately, the work they do reflects on the overall image of the club. I consider myself lucky to be a tiny part of that. Their work in the wider community is to be admired, especially at Christmas when they help many needy families, and especially in the East End of Glasgow.