Celtic Underground: Recent Episodes
The Celtic Underground
One of the Celticunderground team. Writing articles about Celtic. Recording podcasts about Celtic. Making videos about Celtic. Creating pictures about Celtic.
Podcasting since 2006
Celtic commenced the season with a 1-0 victory over Dundee. It wasn’t the most thrilling of games so was it first day nerves, ring-rust or something more sinister.
If you’re a member of the CU community you’re getting this week’s podcast 12 hours before everyone else. If you’re not a member of the CU community and you want early access, exclusive podcasts and some of the best coverage of the B-Team then you know what to do.
Meanwhile, the bhoys assemble to discuss.
Enjoy…
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35 years ago, Liam Brady’s time as Celtic manager began. Fans hoped the Celtic team would match the Irishman’s playing skills.
Instead, it was a time of challenges and failure, on and off the park.
This latest history podcast tells the story of Brady’s time at Celtic.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also soon buy the two-part book series ‘Green, white and silverware’ by Matthew Marr, describing Celtic’s less well-known trophy wins.
To get details, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X and Bluesky or keep listening to the Celtic Underground.
Enjoy…
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Fourteen titles out of fifteen and we still never tire of winning and want more and Celtic Underground never tire of discussing Celtic and w’re about to do just that for our 21st season.
We start the campaign with St Anthony and Matthew of Hail Hail History as we discuss the players in, the lifting of the gloom, the prospect of more players in and the start of a new season. We also have a go at predictions.
Enjoy…
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The St Mungo Cup
75 years ago, Celtic enjoyed yet another ‘one-off’ trophy win.
The St Mungo Cup was a story featuring many victories – and huge fight at the end.
This latest history podcast describes the full story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
And a new book will soon be released which tells the tales of Celtic’s less well-known trophy victories.
The two-part book series ‘Green, white and silverware’ by Matthew Marr is out later this year.
To get details, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X and Bluesky or keep listening to the Celtic Underground.
(Don’t forget, you can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com)
Enjoy…
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
In this episode Andrew is joined by members of Malahide Celtic Supporters Club, a Dublin-based supporters group with a proud connection to Celtic.Based in the coastal town of Malahide, the CSC brings together Celtic fans from across the area, creating a community built around matchdays, friendship and a shared passion for the club, with many members regularly travelling over to support the team.The recently hosted a meet and greet with some of our title winners from last season and put on a tremendous event for those who were in attendance.You can find them on both Facebook and X (links below)Malahide CSC - FacebookMalahide CSC - X (Twitter)Our thanks to both Paul and Sean for sharing the story of Malahide CSC with us and we hope that if any of our listeners find themselves over in Malahide that they’ll pop by St Sylvester’s GAA Clubhouse on Church Street in Malahide, Dublin for a pint of the good stuff.Hope you enjoy
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
We’re a little over a week to the start of the season and the bhoys decided to jump on the podcast to review which of the summer signings they are most excited about welcoming to Celtic Park…oh, that’s right, there is only one.
So we then discuss whether we’re all getting a little to excited with still around 6 weeks left in the window, or whether a poor track record gives us every right to be concerned. Ultimately only time will tell.
This is part one of a two parter with the second part out tomorrow for members of the CU community.
Enjoy…
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55 years ago, a Celtic legend’s life came to an end.
Charlie Tully was an iconic Celt in the 1950s, famed for his skill and the excitement he brought to those who followed the hoops.
This latest podcast tells the story of Celtic’s ‘cheeky chappy’.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
It’s part 2 of the CU Top Ten for season 2025/26 and we’re into the final fab four. With the season we’ve just had, arriving at the Top Ten and even the top 4 was hard for many - there was no standouts. The most common comment was ‘best of a bad bunch’ but we (well you) got there.
If you’re a subscriber you may well be reading and listening straight after the release of Part 1 but whatever, if you’ve been on holiday or just stumbled across Part 2, make sure you go back and listen to part 1 first.
Enjoy…
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20 years ago was a small piece of Celtic history.
The days of season ticket booklets came to an end. In their place came credit card-style tickets.
This latest podcast tells the story of season tickets at Celtic Park.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Thanks for reading The Celtic Underground Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Two years ago members of the CU Community got access to the interview with Geir Jordet who wrote the book about how to win a penalty shootout. Since then, Celtic have been in a couple of penalty shootouts, we’ve had in game penalties and of course we’ve got penalties going on during the world cup.
In view of all of that we thought we’d re-visit the podcast and, looking at the World Cup ones and thinking about all our penalties, you can see where we have adopted his strategies and who at the World Cup has adopted them.
If you want to know more, you can read his book:
Pressure: Lessons from the psychology of the penalty shoot-out
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pressure-Lessons-psychology-penalty-shoot/dp/1915780217
Enjoy
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The Celtic Underground Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Well folks, it’s that time of year - the end of season awards and unlike the press and players who vote with a month remaining, we wait until everything is done and dusted, perspective is gained and the joy & frustrations of the season have faded away. So here we have the CU Top Ten for season 2025/26.
The announcement is in two podcasts, this week and next, with this edition containing the details of those in places 10 -5 inc. A week today we’ll have the final fab four along with a discussion about those who missed out except…
If you’re e meber of the CU Community, you can listen straight away and find out before everyone else who that winner is. I know, the excitement is unbearable.
Enjoy…
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30 years ago – in July 1996 - the Lisbon Lions stand was opened at Celtic Park, continuing the ground’s redevelopment.
There are four stands at Celtic Park: the main stand, North Stand, Lisbon Lions stand and Jock Stein stand. Each time one these has been opened, matches have been held to celebrate this.
The original Celtic Park opened in 1888 before 1892 when the Bhoys moved the short distance to the second site, which remains the location where the Celts play.
Over the years, the look of this venue has changed significantly, with many stands and structures being built and then knocked down, and in the case of the original pavilion, burned down as happened in 1929.
If looking at the current Parkhead, the history of this can be traced back to 1971, when the main stand was built, although the foundations of this are much older.
The oldest of Celtic’s stands is the main stand. Work on this began in 1970 and was eventually completed in 1971. It ran behind schedule which led to one very strange scenario.
By 14 August 1971, the League Cup campaign had begun but Celtic could not yet play at home due to the building works. This meant that their match versus Rangers had to be played at Ibrox – but with Celtic as the home team, and Celtic season tickets being valid!
11 days later, the main stand was finally ready for use. In terms of opening games for this new facility, there are two relevant fixtures. The first of these came in the League Cup on 25 August. Morton travelled to Celtic Park and the main stand was now open for fans.
To say the least, this was a less than auspicious occasion to mark the stand’s maiden game. Despite getting a penalty – which was missed by Kenny Dalglish – the Celts fell to a 1-0 defeat. Although Celtic still made it through to the final, they famously lost 4-1 to Partick Thistle.
However, this Morton fixture was not the main stand’s official opening event. Instead, that took place a week when Nacional from Uruguay were the glamour opponents invited to mark the occasion.
60,000 supporters were in Celtic Park, with the main stand being ticket-only and sold out. They watched on as Celtic legend Jimmy McGrory – the club’s all-time top scorer and former manager – performed the official ceremony.
This was a much brighter moment as the Hoops won 3-0 to officially christen the new stand with victory. Although there were also complaints from the Scottish League who were upset at the game being played during the season, despite the Scottish FA agreeing to this.
In the following decades, little major reconstruction work took place at Celtic Park. By the early-1990s, this left the club facing a major problem. The Hillsborough tragedy had led to a demand that all football stadiums be all-seated.
In this era, Celtic faced major financial problems and simply did not have the money to build such a venue. Pipe dreams of moving to Cambuslang soon disappeared. Eventually, this led to Fergus McCann’s takeover, after which there was rapid building progress at Celtic Park.
In the 1994-95 season, the Bhoys vacated their usual home and instead played at Hampden. Whilst they were away, Celtic Park was razed to the ground, except for the main stand. Building work soon followed at a cost of £17 million.
In place of the old Jungle section of the ground, a massive new North Stand was built. Quite simply, this towered over what had been the former ground. Also, with seats for 27,000 supporters, this was one of the biggest stands in Britain.
By 1995, everything looked brighter again for Celtic. The takeover had long since been completed, the Bhoys had held a successful share issue to raise much needed funds and, most importantly, the club’s first silverware since 1989 sat in the Parkhead trophy room.
In addition, the North Stand was now finished and ready for an official opening. On a gala day on 5 August 1995, fans got their first experience of this new venue.
A sell-out crowd turned up in Glasgow’s east end, with the brilliant sunshine capturing the general mood of optimism. Rod Stewart did the official honours at the ribbon-cutting to open the North Stand, before a friendly match was held.
Celtic’s opponents were Newcastle United, with a team full of stars including David Ginola and Peter Beardsley. They all helped entertain the supporters in a 1-1 draw. John Collins got the first goal in front of the new stand, thanks to a 30th minute penalty, before Les Ferdinand’s second half equaliser proved to be the last scoring of the match.
Now that one part of Fergus McCann’s new construction was complete, it would not be long before more building work took place. Behind the west stand – or old Celtic end – a temporary stand was erected, but this was only a short-term solution.
One year on, there was yet another new stand to be opened. And like in 1971, there were two relevant matches when it came to doing this.
Throughout the 1995-96 season, more building work had taken place at the east end of the ground, on the site of what had previously been referred to as the ‘Rangers end’. Now this stand was complete and ready for action.
On 31 July 1996, another English team made their way north of the border. This time it was Arsenal’s turn to experience the new Celtic Park, but it was also the first time for Celtic fans too.
Another sell-out crowd – this time with 47,300 fans – were in the ground. They witnessed a 2-1 win for the home side. In fact, Arsenal led for most of the match thanks to a Lee Dixon goal, but two very late strikes from Simon Donnelly and Phil O’Donnell ensured a green-and-white win.
Despite Arsenal being high-profile visitors, this match was not the official opening of the stand. Instead, this took place a few days later.
On 3 August 1996, Billy Connolly this time was given the opening honours. Wearing a standout green suit, the Glasgow comedian officially opened the new east stand, before a clash of the hoops where Celtic played Sporting Lisbon.
This match showed the best and worst of Celtic in this era. The Celts looked good going forward and enjoyed a two-goal advantage thanks to goals from Jorge Cadete – playing against his old club – and Simon Donnelly.
However, with ten minutes remaining, this good work was undone in little more than a minute. As the clock struck 80, Luis Filipe halved the deficit. And very shortly after this, the unfortunate John Hughes knocked into his own net, to seal a 2-2 draw.
In fact, you can argue that this stand has had three official openings. The first two came in 1996 when the building work was first done. The next happened four years later, but this time without any building changes.
Instead, the event in the year 2000 concerned a change of name. The stand was simply referred to as the east stand, although some fans referred to it using the old ‘Rangers end’ adage. But now Celtic wanted to use the venue to honour the club’s greatest side.
It was agreed that the east stand would be officially christened the ‘Lisbon Lions’ stand in celebration of all those players who contributed to European Cup glory in 1967. This was in response to a public vote in the choice of name, with Fergus McCann being runner-up.
On 1 February 2000, Bayern Munich came to Celtic Park. In front of a less than full Celtic Park, the Germans claimed a 2-1 victory. In truth, it was an unimportant game, and it was one that almost did not happen.
The previous Saturday, high winds had damaged some of the stadium, including the new stand. This had forced the postponement of Celtic’s Scottish Cup clash with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The weather eventually calmed down enough to fix the roof and let the Bayern game go ahead.
But, of course, when it came to replay the Scottish Cup tie, the Celts were left wishing that the weather had again stopped this. Famously, ‘Super Caley went ballistic’ and knocked the hoops out of the cup, considered to be one of Celtic’s worst ever results.
In fact, when the Lisbon Lions stand received its official name, the full ground was now complete. After the east stand was finished in 1996, attentions turned to adding the final piece of the Celtic Park jigsaw.
Where the temporary stand had stood at the west end of the ground, construction began. By 1998, this was finished and ready to be opened for fans to use. The completed 60,000 stadium was an impressive sight; the biggest football ground in Scotland.
Once more, two matches were involved in the opening of this new stand. On the face of it, the first game played in front of fans should have been a major moment. As well as a fully rebuilt stadium, the Celts were in the qualifiers of the Champions League for the first time since it was rebranded from the European Cup.
On 22 July 1998, Dublin side St Patrick’s Athletic came to Celtic Park. 56,864 were in the ground. They watched an utterly lacklustre match which ended 0-0. There were even boos as the team left the pitch at full-time, although Celtic did at least go on to win the second leg.
This disappointing fixture was not the official opening though. Instead, that took place just over two weeks later. Liverpool were the latest team from England to open a Celtic Park stand.
Before the match began, there was a poignant ceremony. This latest stand was to be named after Jock Stein, the man who had led Celtic to Europe’s pinnacle. His wife Jean opened the stand, and she was joined by most of the Lisbon Lions, who showed off their famous trophy.
This time it was a sell-out and 59,727 supporters crammed into the ground, a sight which has become common in the years since. They did not get to cheer a goal as the Merseyside men claimed a 1-0 win, but Celtic knew they were on the upward track.
The changing face of Celtic Park has been truly remarkable, including the surrounding areas. For now, the ground has a fixed feel to it although there are always demands from supporters for further changes, including another tier being added to the main stand.
In addition, there are regular fan discussions about whether more names should be added to the ground; figures such as Brother Walfrid or Fergus McCann are usually promoted in relation to this.
Whichever stand you sit in at Celtic Park, it is one that has been witness to so many memorable moments in the club’s history. The club’s home since 1892, it’s one place that you know where there’s going to be a show.
Enjoy…
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45 years ago, Celtic completed their own Olympic Challenge.
For the first time, the Bhoys played a game in Africa, completing the full ‘Olympics Rings’ set of continents.
This podcast tells the story of how this happened.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Celtic have finally appointed Maloney and Fotherignham and the bhoys discuss what the delay in getting this deal done say about the club. Were they sweating every pound or simply penny wise and pound foolish? We’ve also appointed a designated set-piece coach and that gets universal approval.
The chat’s more than that, but have a listen. We also have a follow up podcast covering Scotland’s departure from the World Cup and that leads to a discussion about youth development and our own youth set-up. If you’re a member of the CU community you can get that today.
If not, then click below…
The Celtic Underground Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Enjoy…
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This is episode II of our special series focussing on supporters clubs from near and far. In this week’s episode, Paul shares the rich history of the HWEU CSC, its traditions like the Tommy Burns Supper, and the unique Edinburgh-Celtic culture. Andrew & Paul explore the club’s origins, memorable stories, and the deep-rooted community spirit that keeps the club vibrant.
We’ve had some fantastic guests and the Name of the game series taking in fans special match on Sunday mornings and these are usually exclusive to the CU community however this week, with the CU community getting two Harry monopods we thought we’d release this More Than A Club episode to subscribers as usual on Sunday and everyone else on Monday.
If you would like your supporters club feature, then just drop us a line.
Oh - and don’t forget you’ve only a handful of days left before voting closes on the CU Top 10 for 2025-26 season.
Enjoy…
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25 years ago, the Celts completed their first 21st century treble.
This achievement – delivered by new manager Martin O’Neill – was the club’s first triple celebration since the days of Jock Stein.
This podcast describes the whole story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com
The domestic season may be over but there’s still football and Celtic to chat about. Andrew & I decided to have a 30 min Celtic news chat followed by whatever other football stuff was going on but we ended up chatting Dermot and Celtic for nearly an hour before nipping on to talk signings (or lack thereof) managerial changes for the 3rd & 2nd placed si…
50 years ago, Celtic Park rose to acclaim two club legends: Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox.
And this testimonial match even included another poignant event.
This podcast tells the full story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Will he/Won’t he? The big debate in the days following the cup final seemed to be whether Dermot would or wouldn’t appoint Robbie Keane. all the while, many were saying that it was MArtin’s job if he wanted it, and he very much did and so (despite, as I write, no official confirmation) it has come to pass that Martin will be confirmed as the continuing/new permenant manager of Celtic.
There’s various pros and cons to the appointment, but he’s our manager now. The club know where we’re going, the recruitment team has scouted players that suit Martin and we should now be ready to go. The transfer window opens 15th June, so let’s give Martin the tools to do a proper job next season.
Set your diaries - Martin v Jose the rematch, June 5th 2027.
Enjoy…
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This week, Scotland begin their World Cup campaign, the first time they have done this in the 21st century.
95 years ago, it was Celtic’s turn for an American first when the Bhoys first made the journey across the Atlantic.
This podcast tells the full story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Thanks for listening to The Celtic Underground Podcast! This post is public so feel free to share it.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
For decades, football, boxing and other contact sports have thrilled millions, but an uncomfortable question continues to grow louder: what price do athletes pay for repeated blows to the head? In this fascinating discussion with expert (and Celtic fan) Paul Fivey, we explore the latest research linking sport-related brain injuries to neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and motor neurone disease. From the pioneering work that first identified CTE in boxers to groundbreaking studies involving former professional footballers, we examine what the science now tells us about the long-term consequences of repetitive brain trauma.
The recent news that former Lisbon Lion Jim Craig is living with Alzheimer’s disease has once again brought the debate into sharp focus. We discuss the evidence surrounding heading the ball, how brain damage develops over time, the differences between various neurodegenerative diseases, and what governing bodies, clubs and medical professionals are doing to make sport safer for future generations without losing the essence of the games we love.
Two websites recommended on the chat are:
https://www.brainhelpandhope.org/
&
https://www.headway.org.uk/
Enjoy…
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Controversy in matches featuring Celtic and Rangers is hardly unusual.
One particularly notable game took place 80 years ago this week. It featured poor decisions, arguments – and on-field drunkenness!
This latest podcast tells that story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
The Celtic Underground Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Celtic’s 1921 ‘Tour de France’
105 years ago, Europe was still hurting from the tragedy of World War One.
In 1921, the Celts took part in their own ‘Tour de France’ a journey of football and also remembrance.
This latest podcast tells that story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
The Celtic Underground Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com
The podcast was supposed to be recorded Wednesday night but circumstances moved it to Thursday and as luck would have it we get to record within 30 minutes of the SFA audio confirming that not only did Hearts know the game was ended by the ref, but they asked for it! Oh the tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive - It is perhaps apt tha…
This weekend, Celtic face Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup Final.
It will be the sixth meeting between the sides in a national final, and the previous games involve numerous interesting stories.
This latest podcast describes these matches, with often surprising outcomes.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Apple podcasts
Spotify
Amazon
Player.fm
Spreaker
Audioboom
Youtube
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Celtic had a woeful summer transfer window. In October we wrote a piece setting out why we were playing so poorly - in the summer and previous Jan window we’d sold players who, in the 12 months prior, had scored 86 goals and had 41 assists and replaced that with 28 goals (16 Nygren). That paucity of attacking options has been evident all season. Chuck in the injuries to CCV, AJ and Jota and the club was in a poor place. It was the principle reason behind the fan unrest.
After Brendan left, we looked at Rangers and said “hold my beer” and brought in Nancy.
The effect of all of this is that we have lost 8 league games. Martin O’Neil has had to overcome an 8 point then 6 point deficit - yet here we are. Win and the title’s ours.
It’s been the most unexpected title decider and it’s previewed tonight.
Enjoy…
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A Celtic win – or even draw – tonight will ensure that this year’s title race will go to the final day.
Over the years, the Celts have had numerous momentous ‘final day’ moments that have brought the League flag to Celtic Park.
This podcast describes the whole story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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When Martin O’Neil arrived back at Celtic Park we were 8 points behind leaders Hearts. He closed that and handed a level playing field to Wilfried Nancy. That incredible gamble failed and he came back with the club 6 points behind again. We now go into the final 2 games of the league campaign just 1 point off the lead. It’s there for us to claim history.
On this weeks podcast the bhoys discuss the 3-1 victory and THAT goal. As Keith says, IF (and it may be a big IF) this is Martin last derby then his tenures at Celtic have been bookended by 2 of the greatest Glasgow Derby goals - the Henrik dink and the Maeda overhead.
Enjoy…
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There’s now just 4 games to go in the search for an unlikely double, 3 of them in the league. At the weekend Celtic (and the officials) made the victory over Hibs much harder than it should have been and then there was the Hearts v Rangers game where every outcome could be seen through positive or negative eyes, depending upon your outlook. Hearts won and it has now become a two horse race.
Victory on Sunday guarantees Celtic a Champions League play-off and confirms 3rd spot for Rangers but we’ve not played well all season and haven’t beaten Rangers over 90 mins for far too long.
The bhoys review and preview.
Enjoy…
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65 years, the Celtic career of one popular Celt came to a conclusion.
Bertie Peacock – the Bhoys’ ‘Little Ant’ – ended his time in Glasgow, an era with some notable Celtic moments.
This latest podcast tells Peacock’s Celtic story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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To quote George Michael “If you were there, you’d know…”
I don’t think there’s any Celtic fan of 50+ who couldn’t tell you in minute detail about every aspect of that cold May Day at Love Street. For most of us now, those memories are the TV ones, the fans errupting behind Jim Stewart as the news of the Albrt Kidd goal comes through on the trannies, the…
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com
We’ve been here before - disputes between fans and The Board and for those us old enough to remember, the names of the protagonists are seared in our memories. The Kelly’s, The Whites, The Grants, The Weisfelds, Brian Dempsey and Fergus McCann. Just like today, everyone was a Celtic fan and just like today all had different visions of who would achiev…
40 years was one of Celtic’s most celebrated league triumphs. It was a day when the club’s biggest hero was not wearing green-and-white.
This is the story of Albert Kidd and 1986.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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In this week’s episode the bhoys take stock of our recent run of results and what it means for the title race. While a strong winning streak has pushed Celtic into a commanding position, the discussion is far from complacent. Injuries, squad depth, and recurring tactical questions remain key talking points. The bhoys deliberate on whether Celtic are peaking at the right time or simply getting the job done.
The consensus is that momentum is with Celtic, but the margin for error remains slim and how we navigate the final run of games will determine whether this season ends in success or frustration.
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45 years ago (25 April 1981) was a small piece of Celtic history. For the first time, the Bhoys received the League trophy in an on-field presentation.
The way things are going, that might not be an issue this season!
This latest podcast tells the story of Celtic and the League trophy.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
FREE Celtic history walks - upcoming dates Learn more about Celtic's Glasgow story:Celtic in the West EndSunday 26 AprilCeltic in the southsideFriday 1 MayCeltic in the city centreSunday 26 JulyTo book or find out more:https://celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com/about/
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This week Andrew is joined by a couple of voices you’ll have heard before but not on the regular main podcast as Stephen and Keith join him to talk up the chances of an incredible double. The 6 goals (4 in jig time in extra time) have buoyed up the bhoys and they look positively forward whilst drawingon positive memories.
Five 1-0 victories is all we’d need.
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Andrew sums up this chat right at the start when he talks about organisations like The Kano Foundation being the best of us. Most match goers will be aware of the section at the front of the Lisbon Lions stand that houses loud and enthusiastic kids every week and most will know that they are there with the Kano Foundation. For a large section of our support there is little knowledge and understanding of who this group is and the work involved in organising these visits. If you want to know more, listen is.
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In this episode, Andrew is joined by Saint Anthony to take a hard look at the current state of the club, with a focus on recent performances that have raised serious concerns about structure, cohesion, and identity. The discussion highlights a team that appears disjointed and short of ideas, with midfield imbalance, a worrying lack of creativity, and a growing goal drought compounding the issues. Player form and fitness come under scrutiny, from struggling confidence levels to questions about squad depth, while tactical adjustments, or the lack of them, are examined in detail.
Beyond the pitch, the conversation turns to bigger-picture concerns around coaching, recruitment, and the possibility of managerial change.
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Every week we have multiple podcasts for your listening delight. Interviews every Sunday, post game monopods along with history podcasts! This podcast is public so feel free to share it.
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Celtic have had many dramatic title wins. But 110 years ago to day (in 1916), the Bhoys had to play two games in one day to become champions.
This latest podcast tells the story of these unusual events.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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In May 1971, it was time for Celtic to say farewell to the men that won the European Cup.
For the final time, the Lisbon Lions XI walked out together onto the pitch. This latest podcast tells the story of that momentous day.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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When people think of five-a-side football, they probably associate this with friends playing for fun and to get fit.
However, in Celtic history, five-a-side football was often an important part of the club’s experiences.
This is the story of the five-a-side Celts.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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In this week’s free podcast, Andrew, Matthew and Ross pull no punches as they dissect a dismal 2–0 defeat against Dundee United at Tannadice. On a pitch that looked closer to Prestwick Beach than a professional surface, Celtic somehow managed to be just as poor as the conditions. The performance lacked structure, urgency, and any clear game plan, prompting serious questions about tactics, leadership, and direction. As one comment neatly summed it up: “Where’s the strategy? Where’s the game plan?”
Beyond the immediate frustration, the discussion broadens into Celtic’s wider struggles this season… a team “living close to the edge” and relying too often on moments rather than method.
On a less depressing note, there is a reminder of the club’s deeper foundations, with attention turning to the upcoming Celtic history conference, a timely nod to a past built on clarity, innovation, and purpose. The contrast with the present could hardly be starker.
Enjoy…
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Most footballers would love to be a hero at just one club; one famous Celt achieved this in two countries.
Johnny Madden was at the heart of Celtic’s rise to success, and then became a legend in the Czech Republic. This is his story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Jimmy McGrory (the fact he wasn’t voted the greatest ever Celts is one of the reasons I’d never have such votes, but that’s for another day) bowed out at Celtic in October 1937. Since then we’ve had the 2nd world war, Charlie Tully, Neilly Mochan, Bertie Peacock, Bobby Collins, John McPhail and Bobby Evans. Then McNeil, Johnston, Murdoch Auld & Hay. …
Some men are truly born to ‘wear the green’. That was certainly the case for Johnny Doyle.
A popular Celtic player in the 1970s and 1980s, his life ultimately ended in tragedy.
This is his story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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John Clark was a true Celtic legend.
Not only was a Lisbon Lion, he is also the second longest serving figure in the Bhoys’ history, having been a player, coach, assistant manager and kit man.
This is his fascinating story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
On Sunday Celtic visited Ibrox. Of the players in the 1st team squad who would be expected to start if all fit, the hoops had almost an entire XI missing - KT, AJ & CCV at the back, McGregor & Engels in midfield with Jota from the final 3rd and Osmand missing from the team that won the league cup semi under Martin earlier in the season.
The current poor squad was further depleted. And still they couldn’t win. So angry at losing on their patch, the Kendo Nagasaki loyal invaded the pitch at the end.
We discuss it all - including another Hail Hail History walking tour.
Enjoy…
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“Day-ta” or Da-ta”. “Shed-ule or shced-ual”. It’s the important things in life that are discussed weekly on the CU Podcast and that’s why you keep coming back and have been doing so for 20yrs!
This week we review Ibrox (the points not raised on Harry’s Monopod) and we review Pittodrie. Then we preview Ibrox and it’s all bundled up in a neat 50 minute podcast prefaced with the state of teeth for the 50+ gent and whether pronunciation is the American or UK version.
Enjoy…
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When celebrating Celtic’s history, few people will think of the 1889 Glasgow North Eastern Cup.
But for the Celts, this is where it all began, the club’s first trophy.
This latest podcast tells the story of that competition.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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This week, Andrew is joined by legendary Scottish football writer Hugh MacDonald to explore the history, identity, and modern dilemmas of Celtic.
From European triumphs to agonising near-misses, the discussion revisits defining chapters in the club’s story including the enduring legacy of Billy McNeil and the transformative influence of Jock Stein, whos…
This Sunday, the Celts will head to Ibrox, a ground that has been home to both of the Rangers teams.
However, Celtic have also been the ‘home’ team at Ibrox on various occasions.
This latest podcast tells these surprising stories.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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This week we decided to go back to basics with The Collective. When you’re online all the time talking about Celtic, it can be easy to forget that many people just dip in and out of the Celtic chat and therefore some of the detail of the Celtic fan
dispute with the board can pass them by. For that reason we decided to go back to basics with a who, what, why, where podcast.
Enjoy…
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Harry and Andrew briefly revisit the dramatic victory over Kilmarnock before the focus quickly shifts to the looming European test against VfB Stuttgart. The bhoys discuss Celtic’s fluctuating performance levels, the psychology of late wins, and whether scraping through domestically builds resilience or masks deeper issues. They explore how trust within the squad, particularly in midfield, remains fundamental to controlling games and why conviction in possession will be critical against stronger opposition.
Celtic’s character has been tested repeatedly in recent weeks; now the question is whether they can translate late drama into sustained authority. Winning remains the priority but doing so with consistency, clarity, and confidence will define the weeks ahead.
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95 years ago this week was the birth of Bobby Collins, one of the most popular Celts of the 1950s.
Collins was involved in numerous memorable Celtic moments, as well as having a very successful career in England.
This latest podcast tells his story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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135 years ago this week, the Celts had an important reason to ‘love’ Valentine’s Day.
The Bhoys won what is considered to be their first major trophy, the Glasgow Cup.
This latest podcast tells the story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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This week, Harry and Andrew begin with a wander through childhood memories - growing up in the 1970s, when health-and-safety was optional, teeth were questionable, and television meant characters like Harry H. Corbett and Steptoe & Son. Those early reflections set the tone for a conversation about how upbringing, culture, and shared experience shape the way supporters view football today.
Nostalgia gives way to a broader discussion about how fan expectations have evolved, and how moments of joy in football often land harder precisely because they sit alongside frustration, cynicism, and long memories.
The emotionally draining cup win against Dundee was a game that summed up much of the current Celtic experience. Celtic’s struggles in midfield, questionable game management, and ongoing refereeing controversies are all examined, alongside wider concerns about why fans boycotted and the curent and the direction of the club.
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The story of Jimmy Delaney
80 years ago, the Celtic career of one famous Celt came to an end.
Jimmy Delaney was a hugely popular figure at Celtic Park in the era of World War Two.
This latest podcast tells his story.
Every week you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours that visit the sites that have shaped the bhoys history. To find out more you can visit www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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There’s a glass half full and a glass half empty way of looking at this window. It’s a window where it’s possible to have multiple thoughts all happening at once and all seemingly contradictory.
-
Are we stronger today then we were going into the window? Absolutely.
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Did the manager get his preferred options of 2x strikers, a right winger and a centre half. Again, absolutely.
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Have the two we’ve seen so far looked like an upgrade on what was in the squad 31st December? You’d better believe it.
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So all the fans will be delighted? Ehhhh…naw!
The proof of the pudding in judging any window is how the players perform when here. We’ve secured 5 signings and people are understandably concerned that they are all loans. It’s what I expected with a temporary manager so I’m pretty ambivalent. It all looked like it was going south early evening and that is no doubt where so much of the fan angst is coming from. If you leave it to the last minute you give yourself no wriggle room.
But do I think this window has made us more likely that we’ll win the title than if the players didn’t come in? 100%. Do I think the current boardroom will be the one that runs next January’s window? I’d be very surprised.
Anyway, Andrew and me discuss all 5 newcomers (even though 1 was confirmed 10 mins after we’d finished).
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In this episode, Humza Yousaf reflects on what it meant to be the first Scottish First Minister who was openly a supporter of Celtic Football Club, and why he chose authenticity over caution.
(Issue with video for first 15 mins or so but up and running thereafter)
He speaks candidly about the pressure, early in his political career, to downplay his love …
In January 1921, Celtic players gathered to celebrate the career of a remarkable club figure.
By the time he retired, Alec McNair had spent an amazing 21 years in the Hoops, making him Celtic’s longest serving player.
This latest podcast tells his life story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Sunday was a match long on incident but short on quality. Celtic took the lead twice and twice allowed Hearts back into the game, in what was widely agreed to be a poor contest of football. The main talking point came at 2–1 Celtic, when Trusty was shown a yellow card that was later overturned to a red following VAR intervention by John Beaton. The bhoys argue why it should have remained a booking, and that the sending-off fundamentally altered a game that Celtic were still trying (and struggling) to control.
Beyond the referee controversy, the discussion turns to deeper structural issues. Celtic’s tactical approach is criticised as blunt and ineffective, with individual performances (including Callum McGregor’s unusually low pass-completion) raising concerns about form and fatigue. The conversation widens to the transfer window, the recurring absence of a Director of Football, and the growing sense that Celtic are once again asking the same squad to solve the same problems. With Europe looming large and domestic margins tightening, the message is clear - We need to chase it, we need to strengthen the squad, and we need to get through in Europe.
Whether the club has a coherent plan to do all three remains the big unanswered question. One week to find out.
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The Tragic Tale of Celtic’s First Tommy Burns
This Burns Night, Celtic fans’ thoughts will be of Tommy, rather than Rabbie. However, the Celtic player and manager was not the first Bhoy with this name.
The life of Celtic’s first Tommy Burns is a tale of tragedy and the dangers involved in football’s early days.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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In this episode of Andrew H in Conversation, Andrew sits down for an open, thoughtful chat about Celtic, its roots, and what the club has always meant to so many of its supporters. From the very beginning, Celtic was born out of solidarity, community and standing alongside those who needed help most. That spirit still matters to fans today, and it’s impossible to talk about modern Celtic culture without touching on the long-standing connection many supporters feel with the Palestinian cause, whether that’s through banners, flags, or vocal support from the stands.
To chat this through, Andrew is joined by Jill Thomson from Scottish Sport for Palestine.
Enjoy…
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Over the years, the Celts have faced numerous teams who have later gone out of business.
Some of these sides have notable places in Celtic history. This latest podcast tells these stories.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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This summer, Scotland will head to the Americas in their first World Cup since 1998.
The national team could be playing in the USA, Canada or Mexico – all countries in which Celtic have played at least once.
This podcast tells the interesting and sometimes controversial story of Celtic in the Americas.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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In this episode we get straight into the fall-out from pulling the plug on Wilfred Nancy after just 33 (thirty three) days. It’s one of those situations where you can feel sorry for the guy on a human level, but still accept it simply wasn’t working. The performances were grim, the fit was clearly wrong, and the decision (harsh as it looks) was inevitable. We talk about how this sort of thing isn’t actually new in football, but how social media has poured petrol on the fire, ramping up pressure, shortening patience, and making every bad result feel like a crisis. And inevitably, that brings us back to the board: not so much the sacking itself, but why we ended up here in the first place.
From there, the chat moves on to what comes next and why Martin O’Neil’s return is about steadying the ship and getting back to basics. There’s a belief that confidence, so clearly missing, can come back quickly with clarity and authority, but only if recruitment finally starts making sense alongside the manager rather than cutting across him. With winnable games coming up, there’s a chance to reset the mood and get a bit of momentum going again. But the wider point is clear: Celtic need a plan, not just another reaction. Accountability, joined-up thinking, and a proper football vision are long overdue because misery might love company, but it’s not something the club can afford to keep around.
Enjoy…
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2 January 2026 will mark the 55th anniversary of the Ibrox Disaster.
This 1971 tragedy claimed the lives of 66 football fans, a catastrophe that affected families and communities across Scotland.
This podcast tells the story of Celtic and the Ibrox Disaster.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Tomorrow, Celtic fans around the world will celebrate Christmas. In the past, they could also have gone to watch the Bhoys in action.
This podcast tells the story of Celtic’s last Christmas Day game.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…(and Merry Christmas)
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This podcast starts with Harry asking Andrew & Matthew about the Aberdeen game and discussions around the game last for about 10 minutes before, in our usual way, they meander into a completely different topic where we discuss the squad Nancy inherited, the fan anger and whether it’s justified and the inherent causes.
Someone once described our podcast as a Celtic fan equivalent of TMS. I think in this episode you can see why.
Oh and then the bhoys are asked - if you could have one Celtic present from Santa, what would it be.
Ho Ho Ho - Merry Christmas to you and yours from all here at Celtic Underground.
Enjoy…
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Andrew and John discuss John’s book ‘Jungle Days’, exploring the deep connections between Celtic Football Club, Irish identity, and political consciousness. They reflect on the historical significance of Celtic as a cultural institution, the role of community in shaping identity, and the ongoing tensions between fans and the club’s leadership. The discussion also touches on the club’s anti-racism stance and its relevance in today’s socio-political climate, as well as personal memories of supporting Celtic during the 1980s.
By the author of This Boxing Game: A Journey in Beautiful Brutality, this engrossing book is perfect for all Celtic fans and anyone interested in social history.
During the tempestuous 1980s, when Thatcher and Thatcherism ruled the roost, Wight found sanctuary and meaning in Celtic FC.
The book is out now and you can pick it up in most good book shops
Enjoy…
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Celtic’s final match of 2025 involves a visit to Lanarkshire to face Motherwell.
This will be an appropriate way to end the year that marked Fir Park’s 130th anniversary.
In 1895, Celtic were the first team to visit, and over the years it’s been a big part of Celtic history.
This podcast tells the story of Celtic and Fir Park.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Following defeat to Roma, the murmurings of negativity and uncertainty around the appointment of Nancy have increased from some online fans and the main press. For those who just want Celtic to win every game and every trophy, this cup final on Sunday is big and it’s even bigger for Nancy to prove that with time on the training pitch he can make Celtic an appealing prpospect.
Andrew & Ross join Hary to review Roma and preview St Mirren.
Enjoy…
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30 years ago (12 December 1995), one Celtic servant celebrated his significant place in the club’s history.
Paul McStay – a one-club player – marked his years in green-and-white with a testimonial game. This is his story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Souness had arrived at Rangers along with the England Captain, Goalkeeper and right back. They were the Hollywood team of Britain and things looked bleak when all we could muster was the signing of a young Andy Walker from Motherwell. Andy and McAvennie went on to form a dynamic front two that secured a Centenray Season double and etch their names int…
60 years ago, The Celtic View was published for the first time.
The Celts’ in-house newspaper was once a staple of the weekly experiences of all Celtic fans. This is its full story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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Recorded: 19/11/2025I had the absolute pleasure of spending an hour chatting with MLS and NWSL analyst Catalina Bush about all things Wilfried Nancy, with a little World Cup talk thrown in at the end. If you’d like to learn more about Catalina and the ASA, you’ll find the links below.
A huge thanks again to Catalina. She was an outstanding guest, genuinely brilliant to speak with, and I’ve no doubt that once she graduates she’ll become a top-class analyst (Celtic take note). It’s easy to see why she was recommended to me, and I’m excited to see where her journey takes her.
Hope your all enjoy this as much as I did.Ross HLinks:Catalina Bush
American Soccer Analysis
American Soccer Analysis (@americansocceranalysis.com) — Bluesky
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Celtic beat St Mirren on Saturday night. That’s about all we can say, but the bhoys try their best to spend more than 10 mins reviewing the game. Next up is Feyenoord followed by Hibs and we debate how Martin O’Neil is likely to approach what is almost certainly going to be his final 2 games in football management before the arrival of Nancy.
Enjoy…
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In 1903, the Celts switched to their new world famous hooped shirts.
However, the Bhoys are not the only club to pull on green-and-white hoops; many others clubs have done so too.
This is the story of many of those sides, including this weekend’s opponents, Hibs.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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The 2025 Celtic AGM started badly and went downhill from there!
Straight after the AGM, Andrew and I retired to the car park and the warmth of the car. Well I say straight, we chatted with a few people offering differing opinions on the events, dodged the waiting media outside and then retired to the car to record this podcast.
If you followed on twitter you’ll know that it was “interesting”.
Members of the CU community wcan listen right now, whilst others will need to wait until the morning.
Enjoy…
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This weekend, the Celts head to St Mirren Park in Paisley.
Celtic were the first club to play at the original St Mirren Park – better known as Love Street – but this is just one venue where the Bhoys were the first visitors.
This latest podcast tells many of these stories.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
Thanks for reading The Celtic Underground Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it.
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Celtic and the First World War
95 years ago, the Celts took part in a game which played a role in commemorating the tragic events of World War One.
Like all other people and football clubs, the Celts were hugely affected by events during the 1914-1918. This latest podcast tells that story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Despite what it says on the Celtic badge, the club was formed in November 1887.
Just as there is sometimes confusion over this issue, so too are there arguments about why the club was founded.
This latest podcast examines the influences of charity, religion, politics and business before reaching a conclusion.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Listen to the podcast and you’ll understand the title - Andrew & Matthew join Harry the victory over Rangers.
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The first half was the best Celtic has played this season.
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Celtic’s performance showed energy and aggression.
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Coaching dynamics between O’Neill and Maloney are crucial.
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VAR decisions continue to spark controversy.
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MacGregor’s role is pivotal in midfield.
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Celtic’s goal-scoring opportunities were abundant but not capitalized on.
And if you’re the subscriber in my row at Hampden - sorry I never got your name!
Enjoy…
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In Celtic’s history, as well as the club’s many successes, there are also some genuinely sad tales too.
One of these is about an early Celtic hero called Mick McKeown, who found on-field fame but eventual disaster away from football.
This latest podcast tells the story of tragic Celt, Mick McKeown.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Ross Hall and me recorded a podcast this evening about the Hearts game that morphed into a discussion about recruitment and where it may have gone wrong (and that pod will be up for Subcribers this week).
We finish the pod.
Ross goes off to read badtime stories and I go to make a cup tea. Then what starts as a trickle of whatsapps from informed friends soon turns into an avalanche and at 9:44pm Celtic release a statement confirming the departure of Brendan. Then at 9:59pm we have the personal statement of our 34% shareholder and goodness gracious me!!!!
Anyway, after stories and a cuppa, Ross and I jumped back on for this emergency podcast.
Brendan’s gone.
Wow!
Enjoy…
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Celtic’s Record Scoreline
130 years ago this week, a notable piece of Celtic history took place. Dundee came to Celtic Park and were hammered 11-0, and this is Celtic’s all-time record scoreline.
This latest podcast tells the story of Celtic’s highest scoring games.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Preview:thecelticunderground.substack.com/p/coming-soon-the-academy-podcast-guestJosh and I could have spent hours on this discussion and it is something we plan to revisit in the future as it’s something we are both passionate about.We hope you enjoy.Ross
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Alan Rough - where do we start.
For younger listeners he’s the light hearted pundit. For older listeners he’s the afro’d keeper of the ill-faited Argentina 78 World Cup campaign and for many he’s just Thistle’s keeper.
Some will have that memory of his brief time in goals for Celtic but did you know it could have been a much longer spell between the Celtic sticks is Jock Stein had got his way and Roughie would have loved that. Roughie wanted to play for Celtic.
Here’s Andrew and Alan Rough in conversation.
Enjoy…
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Being a dentist and a footballing legend tend not to go together. But one Celt did this and is revered by the club - despite twice scoring for Rangers!
This latest podcast tells the story of Lisbon Lion Jim Craig, and his life on and off the field.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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After arriving late because I was watching my mate come 4th for over 55s in the Glasgow Half Marathon, I made my own mad dash across the city to watch our beloved hoops and good ness I wasn’t expecting that!
A goal in the first half of a game. Conceeding 2 goals to go behind and then coming from behind to score including an injury time winner. Gotta love football.
Also, there was the unusual sight of an anti-board banner in the main stand. It was facing out towards the main stand and not the board who would have been around 6 ft away.
We won. Magic.
Enjoy…
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This week Harry sat down with Duncan Smillie to discuss the recent developments surrounding the Celtic Trust and the formation of Celtic Supporters Limited. Duncan outlines the goals of the new organization, emphasizing the importance of amassing shares to gain voting rights and influence over the club’s direction.
Duncan sets out his issues with the current Celtic board, detailing his concerns about their performance and the need for change. He also looks at the work being done by the Celtic Collective (recorded before tonight’s statement about the Collective & club meeting) and the potential for fan engagement to drive meaningful change within the club.
Enjoy…
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Celtic fans v Celtic Fans
In recent weeks, relations between Celtic’s fans and the Board have fallen to a major low.
But this is far from the first such falling out in the club’s history. This latest podcast tells the story of what happens when the fixture is Celtic versus the Celtic fans.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Celtic this weekend host Hibernian. The two sides first met one another in a competitive game in 1894.
This latest podcast tells the story of this first meeting, which was controversial affair.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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There’s a lot going on at Celtic and for those asking “where’s your fan protest podcast?” like Christmas it’s coming. We want to ensure there’s a breadth of voices and opinions on this and Ross has had a cold so his voice wasn’t fit for recording and others have been busy so getting a date for all has been difficult - but it’s coming.
Meantime, Celtic commence their Europa League against Crvena Zvezda (formerly Red Star Belgrade). The bhoys try to find the correct pronunciation and decide to stick to Red Star!
Enough of this ramble, here’s the podcast.
Enjoy…
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To paraphrase Bono - There’s been a lot of talk about the club, maybe too much talk…
Since the last day of the transfer window, through the barren spell of the international break there’s been a lot of chatter amongst the support. Online has been full of chat about the club. For those filled with frustration, this has been a righteous anger about the m…
Celtic are back in League Cup action this weekend.
The Bhoys are aiming to retain the trophy this season, in what will be the 80th Scottish League Cup Final.
This latest podcast tells the story of Celtic in the League Cup.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past, as told by Hail Hail History.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Brendan Rodgers Presser
Box office Brendan. There’s no other way to describe today’s press conference. If you get the chance there’s the wee nods and winks. He know what he’s doing and this is explosive.
The coub should do better in transfer windows.
After the window he wasn’t angry, he just felt empty.
The story in The Sun last Saturday was cowardly. He know who did it.
He works closely with Michael, Dermot & Chris. Michael & Chris are great guys who work every day for the betterment of Celtic. He knows who wrote the story. Michael & Dermot are good guys who he works closely with….are you getting the picture.
I (Harry) got to ask the final question.
Should the person who leaked the story to The Sun resign - “There’s no doubt!”
Enjoy…
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50 years ago today (10 September 1975), a Celtic legend first stepped onto the park.
Roy Aitken went on to play for the Bhoys for a decade-and-a-half, including captaining the Hoops to a centenary double. This latest podcast describes his story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past, as told by Hail Hail History.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Celtic Debuts
The transfer window closed this week and over the course of the window (and beyond) Celtic have brought in some new players – even if it’s not as many as fans would like and we even had to go another 24 hours.
These new Celts will look forward to their debuts. In Celtic history, there have been some memorable – and also infamous! – debuts. This latest podcast tells some of these stories.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past, as told by Hail Hail History.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Nothing happened at Ibrox. It was a nothing game. Nothing happened in the window. We signed one player of Celtic quality. And yet out of this nothingness the bhoys manage to create a 1-hour podcast.
Numbed by inaction, the bhoys sound more resigned than angry. Ross sets out why he believes the Head of Football Operations should take responsibility and Harry points the finger at the largest shareholder behaving like the owner and making executive decisions.
Tuesday 2nd September is the meeting of the Celtic Trust - Grace’s Candleriggs, 7pm.
Enjoy…
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It’s been some week and some start to the league and European campaigns for both teams. One club is a walking disaster. They cannot get anything right and they have a baying group of fans calling for the head of everyone and the other…nope. I’m not going to do that joke!
Celtic visit Ibrox on Sunday. We have won every domestic game played and perform…
Over the years, Celtic have enjoyed some famous victories against Rangers – both versions!
Ahead of the Bhoys’ visit to Ibrox this weekend, this latest podcast tells some of these stories.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past, as told by Hail Hail History.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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You can use whatever negative expletive you want to describe the game, performance and circumstances around Celtic’s exit from the 2025/26 UCL and none would be sufficient. That’s why we’ve taken over an hour to do that rubbish justice.
Hopefully it’s not all completely negative and you are able to gain some enjoyment.
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August 1960 saw the debut of a Celtic legend.
‘The club’s own ‘Yogi Bear’ first stepped onto the Parkhead turf, and he went on to have a big role in footballing history.
This is the story of Celtic’s John Hughes.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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In our pre-match podcast, Andrew, Saint, and Ross discuss Wednesdays Champions League playoff match between Celtic and FC Karat. Not unexpectedly for a podcast with Saint, there’s a discussion about nerves along with expectations. The bhoys analyse the strengths and weaknesses of our opponents and reflect on Celtic's squad depth (or lack thereof). The bhoys highlight the importance of Champions League qualification for Celtic, the need for new signings and end with predictions for the match.
There’ll be a postgame podcast recorded for subscribers.
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This week’s In Conversation podcast is an emotional one that we’re making free for all. In it, Andrew Smith and Matt Corr reflect on the legacy of Pat Woods, Celtic’s pre-eminent historian who recently passed away. They discuss the unique contributions of Pat and all the Celtic writers and historians, emphasizing the importance of their work in preserving the club's rich history. The conversation delves into the impact of Celtic's early days, the significance of storytelling in football, and the camaraderie among Celtic writers.
Thanks for listening to The Celtic Underground! This podcast is public so feel free to share it.
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In 1890, the Scottish Football League was formed. In August of that year, the first games took place.
But, confusingly, it is not quite clear what was Celtic’s first League game, a mystery caused by illegal payments and legal fights.
This is the story of Celtic’s first League game.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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The phoney war is over. We’ve had the pre-season preview, the full season preview. Now it’s the first podcast of the new season and it’s season 20 for “The World’s Longest Running Football Fan Podcast.” Yes, for 20 long seasons you’ve listend to this garbage and you’re still here so we thought we’d treat you to an old school Eddie & Harry show.
We sta…
150 years ago, Hibernian Football Club were established.
They would have a profound impact on the Irish and football in Scotland, not least their influence in Celtic’s establishment.
Celtic and Hibs would have an often uneasy relationship. This podcast tells that story.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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And we’re off…. It’ season 2025/26. We’ve had the pre-season podcast and discussed whether we FINALLY managed to win the pre-season cup and now the phoney war is over the season’s beginning.
Many of the team are just returning from holiday and we’ll have some bumper pods coming up to celebrate the 20th season of the world’s longest running football fan …
25 years ago, arguably Celtic’s most important manager since Jock Stein took charge at Celtic Park.
Martin O’Neill arrived in Glasgow’s east end and quickly set about transforming the club’s fortunes, including achieving notable European success.
This latest podcast tells the story of Celtic and O’Neill. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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With Eddie & Harry on holiday, Andrew, Matthew & Saint Anthony run the rule over the pre-season and the summer transfer window so far.
The bhoys focus on the frustrations surrounding the transfer policy and the club's financial strategy. They explore the impact of domestic dominance on fan expectations, the importance of strategic signings, and the role of the manager and director of football in shaping the club's future.
This is part I of the two podcasts prior to the start of the new SPFL season 2025/26 - a season which is also the 20th season of the world’s longest running football fan podcast (and there’ll be more about our 20th birthday celebration coming up over the coming weeks).
The Celtic Underground Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
30 years ago, a notable Celtic event was first witnessed.
Celtic’s pre-match Huddle was used for the first time, a site that has since become a key part of the club’s pre-match preparations.
This latest podcast tells the story of Celtic and the Huddle. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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This year marks 30 years since the redevelopment and reopening of Celtic Park.
Although Celtic Park will always be home for the Bhoys, in fact, numerous grounds have been used as a base for the Bhoys – even Ibrox!
This latest podcast tells the story of all Celtic’s home venues. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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Every Celtic fan knows the story of Jimmy Johnstone drifting out to sea when his boat lost its oars.
But decades before this happened, another Celtic hero had his own maritime disaster.
This latest podcast tells the story of Johnny Madden and the Clyde boat disaster. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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Many, many, many… (enough) moons ago, when Eddie presented and Harry was just an occassional guest the Celtic podcast world had few places to get your fan chat but like the famous Christmas truce of 1914, Eddie & The Homebhoys took their ball out onto no-mans land and provided a CU/Homebhoys crossover. These bevy filled pods slipped off into distant memories and were replaced by the siloed listening habits of the Celtic faithful through the explosion of fan podcasts more numerous than managers of other Glasgow clubs. Would we see the likes of the Homebhoys/CU collabs? Could we once again see two pods extend a hand of frienship across the wire?
Yes we bloody well can! Hurrahh you all shout!
The Huddlebreakdown extended that hand of friendship and we yanked (I said YANKED) them out of the trench, slapped down the jumpers for goalposts, sifted through our sack of cliches to say “come on over to our place, we’re having a party!”
This is part 1 of a two our podcast special with Alan, Juco James, Eddie Pearson, Ross Hall, Harry Brady (and guest starring Andrew H) to discuss ALL the hot topics of the moment. From Brendan’s future, through to Tony Bloom’s Hearts, a past it guy’s book selling to an old rocker’s Glastonbury set this is everything you need. It’s like the Beano Summer Special merging with 200AD. It’s that good!
Once you’ve listened to Part 1, jump over to
(How the f’k did that big banner arrive on the page?)
Anyway, Enjoy…
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Next week, the Celts will be in Cork to play a friendly.
Over the years, there have been numerous Celtic connections with Ireland’s ‘rebel county’.
This latest podcast tells some of these stories. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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There is often a fight about Celtic and the fans’ political beliefs.
Over the years, there have been numerous direct connections between Celtic and politicians from around the world.
This latest podcast tells the history of Celtic’s political links. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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Now that summer is here, Celtic fans’ attentions are drawn to the transfer market, as they wonder what new players might walk through Parkhead’s gates.
But in the 1890s, football transfers were very different, and they sometimes even involved kidnapping!
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells the story of some of these signings and the strange circumstances and people that were involved.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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The Name of the Game - That unique and special game that will live for you forever and, in the first episode Andrew is joined by Lawyer and Celtic fan Martin Kelly where they hdiscuss Liam Brady’s last game as Celtic manager away to St Johnstone in October 1993.
The bhoys don’t just talk about the match itself; they dive into its significance beyond tha…
This is part 3. The shortest of the end of season review and the final episode that’s free to all. If you want to listen to the final part (part 4 for those struggling with numbers) then subscribe and that will also give you free access to our brilliant chat community.
Part 4 will be out to our communityvery very soon.
Enjoy…
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First things first, this is part 2. If you’ve not listened to part 1 yet then get around to listening to that bit first. Now I’ve kept Eddie’s intro in so don’t think you’d missed it and listening to part 1 again.
Ok, so have I used the word ‘part’ enough yet?
Anyway, if you’re a member of the Celtic Underground chat community you can be listening to this right after listening to part 1. For everyone there are 3 parts of the podcast and for subscribers there is a secret 4th part just for you that has Ross, Andrew & Eddie engaging with all the questions posed by our chat community.
If you’re new to the world’s longest running podcast and not sure how to get this on your favourite podcast provider, CLICK HERE for instructions.
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Andrew, Eddie, Matthew, Ross and Saint Anthony got up early on the morning of Saturday 7th June and broadcast a LIVE 3 hour+ podcast review of the season. Whilst all podcasts are recorded live (we’re not dead), this one is was available on Substack and Facebook as it went out!
We didn’t publicise as we didn’t know it would work so we’re sure the email to those in the CU community would have come as a surprise. Future live pods will be publicised in advance.
Anyway, this podcast is available to EVERYONE but if you are a member of the Celtic Underground community, you can listen to Part1 and then IMMEDIATELY listen to part 2…wow! For everyone else you’ll need to wait 24 hours.
If you cannot wait, but are not a member of the community then click on the link below and you can join and get exclusive content.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Across the entire season 2024-25, there was surely no louder cheer than when James Forrest scored at the end of the season.
This wrote him into history by scoring in 16 consecutive seasons, a truly remarkable and historic.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells the full story of all the other men who have consistently scored for the Bhoys across multiple seasons.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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Thanks for listening and reading The Celtic Underground Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it.
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This week Andrew chats all about Celtic fandom and memorabilia with Manus Gallagher. The bhoys delve into Gallagher's extensive collection of the Wee Green Book, his early memories of supporting Celtic, the influence of family on his fandom and his role as a Celtic Tour Guide.
This is for Celtic Underground Club Members only. If you are a subscriber but don’t know how to get your paid chat at your usual podcast provider, here’s two guides:
https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/4519588148244-How-do-I-listen-to-episodes-on-my-podcast-app#:~:text=Click%20on%20the%20publication%20you,On%20the%20Spotify%20app
https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/25303480158228-How-do-I-listen-to-paid-episodes-on-Spotify#:~:text=1.,From%20the%20Spotify%20app
55 years ago – in May 1970 – the Celts played in their second European Cup Final.
Despite this notable achievement, the game can sometimes seem to be forgotten when telling the Bhoys’ history.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells the full story of Celtic and the 1970 European Cup. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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It was supposed to be our first live podcast on substack but it ended up being the first live podcast on Facebook and not live on Substack at all. We’ll see how to fix it for the next one but meantime we’ll release this on Sunday night for paid subscribers and everyone else will need to wait until Tuesday morning. There is a little freebie bit for eve…
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com
Saturday provides an incredible opportunity for Celtic to secure their 6th treble in 9 seasons. Despite trebles becoming as common as a new Rangers manager, win or lose this has been another wonderful season to be a Celtic fan. Indeed, if a treble is secured and taking into account Europe, it may even surpass the invincible season as our best since Se…
The Celts face Aberdeen this Saturday, with the Bhoys hoping to win their 43rd Scottish Cup.
Over the years, some of the Celts’ most exciting games have come in the Scottish Cup Final.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells some of these tales. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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You may not know Peter Broughan but you will be familiar with his work. The producer of Rob Roy, The Flying Scotsman and Your Cheatin’ Heart (among others) has turned his attention to his great passion for Celtic and has set in motion the production of Paradise - the film that tells the story for the formation of our club.
Please listen to or watch the podcast and if interested go to:
https://gofund.me/aa8c6ba9
Paradise is a compelling narrative that dramatises one strand of the tragically eternal immigrant experience. The film is centred on the foundation of Celtic Football Club by the post-famine Irish community in Glasgow in 1888.
The lead character is the Marist teacher Brother Walfrid, who had survived "the great hunger" as a child in Sligo. The club's founding mission statement encapsulated his charitable vision.
"A football club will be formed for the maintenance of dinner tables for the children and the unemployed"
If you want to know more about the film you can watch on youtube
You can fund it by clicking here
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
In 1905, Celtic faced Rangers in a very unusual game. It was a playoff game to decide that season’s title winners. The Bhoys’ victory set them on a path to a then world record six successive league titles.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells the full story. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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80 years this month (May 1945) saw the end of World War Two in Europe. Millions celebrated on VE Day, and Celtic also claimed another trophy.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells the full story of this victory, and also examines Celtic’s World War Two experiences.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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50 years ago – on 3 May 1975 – Billy McNeill’s remarkable playing career came to an end.
Fittingly, this saw Celtic win the Scottish Cup, ensuring that the iconic sight of McNeill holding aloft a trophy was again repeated.
This latest podcast from hailhailhistory tells his life story and on Sunday morning we have a piece from St Anthony with his own reflections on the 50th anniversary.
Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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This unholy trinity of CU sages discuss Celtic's title win and the cultural identity of the club. They reflect on personal experiences, family connections to the game, and the atmosphere during the match. The discussion also touches on ticket pricing, fan reactions, and the legacy of players like James Forrest, highlighting the emotional ties fans have …
Six in a row
Tomorrow Celtic can secure their 55th league championship. However, the coming days also mark the anniversary of another notable Celtic title achievement.
Celtic fans have great memories of the club’s two nine-in-a-row league winning runs, from 1966-74 and 2012-2020.
Before this, there was another titles tale. From 1905-1910, the Celts set a then world record for successive league wins.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells the full story. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
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In this weeks post game podcast, Harry and Andrew discuss their experiences attending a recent cup final match, focusing on the app setup for tickets, the performance of the teams, the atmosphere at Hampden, and the key incidents in the game.
They discuss how straight forward the app was, their thoughts on the game itself, and the overall experience of …
This conversation delves into the complexities and controversies surrounding VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology in football, particularly focusing on offside decisions.
The discussion highlights the limitations of current technology, the challenges of accurately interpreting video footage, and the implications for the integrity of the game.
Harry and Bjørnar emphasise the need for better understanding and transparency in VAR operations, as well as the importance of maintaining the joy of football amidst technological interventions. The chat delves into the complexities and controversies surrounding VAR (Video Assistant Referee) in football. highlighting the impact of VAR on refereeing, the challenges of making accurate decisions, and the public's perception of referees. It also explores the specific context of VAR's implementation in Norway, the technology's limitations, and the role of fans in shaping the future of football.
If you are a subscriber, read the accompanying article where Bjørnar sets out why decisions can be wrong by over 30cm.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
55 years ago this week, an important figure from Celtic’s history first pulled on the green-and-white jersey.
Sean Fallon made his mark not simply as a Celtic player and captain, but more notably as Jock Stein’s assistant as the Bhoys climbed to Europe’s football pinnacle.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells his life story. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history.
To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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In this week’s episode Andrew Smith and Ross Hall discuss Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Killie, reflecting on the team's performance, fan reactions, and the impact of social media. They analyse individual player performances, tactical insights, and game statistics, while also looking ahead to future matches and potential player selections.
The bhoys delve into various aspects of Celtic's performance, focusing on player roles, expectations, and coaching strategies focussing on Adam Idha's positioning and effectiveness, the significance of Greg Taylor's contributions, and the pressures surrounding Celtic's ambitions. The discussion also touches on the relevance of the League Cup, the dynamics of squad engagement, and the importance of set pieces in football. Furthermore, they explore the development pathways for young players and the challenges they face in breaking into the first team.
They also look at how modern football's reliance on statistics can sometimes stifle the joy of the game, emphasising the need for players to have confidence in their abilities.
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Celtic’s history is replete with stories of exciting players, yet few have achieved the legendary status of one notable Irishman: Patsy Gallacher.
The skilful forward made his mark at Celtic, not only as one of the Bhoys’ all-time top scorers, but also as scorer of one of the club’s most famous cup final winners, which happened 100 years ago this week.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells his life story. Every week, you can listen for free to more stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history.
To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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When you think of Celtic, it’s natural to think of Glasgow’s east end. However, the Bhoys have numerous connections in the west end too.
Whether it is some of the most famous figures in Celtic’s history, links to war and tragedy and some momentous footballing firsts, it is a fascinating tale.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells more. Every week, you can listen to free stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history.
To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com.
Enjoy…
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In this weeks matchday review podcast, Andrew and Matthew discuss recent Celtic matches, focussing mainly on the Hearts game, the impact of key players, and the ongoing tensions between fans and policing.
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The recent match against Hearts was strange but ultimately successful for Celtic.
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The importance of key players like McGregor and Maeda in the team's performance.
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Tensions between fans and policing are a long-standing issue in football.
-
The need for legal challenges against perceived overreach by police.
Enjoy…
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70 years ago (in March 1955), Bertie Auld walked into Celtic Park for the first time.
It was the start of enduring and famous relationship, which saw Bertie help the Celts to the pinnacle of European football.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells the full story of this. Every week, you can listen to free stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history.
To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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We have been blessed to have some very special guests join us for Andrew’s “In Conversation” podcasts and this week believe we have one of the most interesting yet.
Peter Nasir is the General Secretary of the East Jerusalem YMCA (EJ-YMCA), a position he has held since 2019. Under Peter's leadership, the EJ-YMCA continues its mission to empower youth an…
The history of Celtic has political connections, particularly in the club’s earliest years.
One obvious example is Michael Davitt. He was a prominent Irish politician in the late-1800s, and also a patron of Celtic.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells this tale. Every week, you can listen to free stories from Celtic’s past.
You can also take part in free walking tours which visit the sites that have shaped the Bhoys’ history. To find out more, visit: www.celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com
Enjoy…
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Celtic take on Rangers this Sunday in the 3rd derby of the league campaign. According to Andrew, a 2-0+ victory for Celtic will be the best home season on the derby since the late 70s. According to Harry any victory will be the first time any Celtic manager has beaten either versions of Rangers 6 times in a row at home…ever and according to Ross, he d…
Celtic defeated Hibs in the Scottish Cup at the weekend with one of the largest away supports in years at Celtic Park. It was billed as the domestic game of the year so far with the league leaders and champions elect against the form team, unbeaten in 15 games. It was no contest as Celtic breezed past Hibs who struggled to lay a glove on Celtic and barely a shot on target.
Both Eddie and Harry were at the game and roasted in the unusual March Celtic Park sunshine. They review the weather, the game and the experience with so many away fans present.
Enjoy…
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Jock Stein
10 March 1965 was a massive day in Celtic’s history.
Jock Stein took charge of the club as the manager, and in doing so started on a road which made him a legend.
Stein is one of the true giants of Celtic history – and this latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells his story.
There’s a Celtic history tale out every week, free to everyone, whether a CU Subscriber or not and to find out more about the free Celtic walking tours visit Celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.
Enjoy…
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31 years ago – on 4 March 1994 – one story ended for Celtic whilst another one began.
Fergus McCann’s takeover was finally successful, removing from power the club’s old Board.
It was a change that transformed Celtic, and built the foundations of the club’s 21st century dominance.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells the story of those events.
There’s a Celtic history tale out every week, free to everyone, whether a CU Subscriber or not and to find out more about the free Celtic walking tours visit Celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.
The full details of this is told in the latest podcast from @hailhailhistory.
Enjoy…
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One of the things that makes football supporting so great is the joy of the moment and the celebration of the club’s history and this is never more evident that the work undertaken by The Celtic Graves Society.
This week Andrew is joined by Frank and Jim to discuss the motivation behind the society, how it came to be formed and the work it does in keepin…
Willie Maley
85 years ago, in February 1940, one of the most significant chapters in Celtic’s history came to an end.
Willie Maley – player and manager for more than half a century – ended with time at the club.
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory tells Willie Maley’s remarkable Celtic story.
There’s a Celtic history tale out every week, free to everyone, whether a CU Subscriber or not and to find out more about the free Celtic walking tours visit Celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.
The full details of this is told in the latest podcast from @hailhailhistory.
Enjoy…
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Celtic and floodlights
A power failure in Glasgow’s east end last month threatened to turn out the lights and end Celtic’s game with Dundee.
This would have been the latest chapter in Celtic’s floodlight history, a tale that goes back to the 1890s, and even includes joint teams with Rangers.
There’s a Celtic history tale out every week, free to everyone, whether a CU Subscriber or not and to find out more about the free Celtic walking tours visit Celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.
The full details of this is told in the latest podcast from @hailhailhistory.
Enjoy…
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There are piviotal occassions in your Celtic supporting life when you realise everything has changed. For me, one of those was the night we went out on pens to Valencia. I went to work the next day and proudly claimed - we’ll reach a European final.
Tonight is one of those moments. We have an elite manager who has, through tactics and motivation, convinved our players they belong at this level. There is now no turning back. No more signing players for games against Dundee Utd & Motherwell. We are on the cusp of becoming a standard last 16 UCL team. It’s time for the Michael, Chris and Dermot to give the manager what he needs, both personally and with the squad to take that final step.
With all that in mind, Andrew H and Harry B discuss their pride, the fine margins on show tonight and agree on how proud we are of Brendan and the bhoys.
Enjoy…
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Valentine’s Day is a night for couples – and it’s a day for Celtic fans to love.
On 14 February 1891, Celtic won what is considered their first ever major trophy. It’s a tale of success and controversy.
To tell this story, here is the latest podcast from @hailhailhistory.
There’s a Celtic history tale out every Wednesday, free to everyone, whether a CU Subscriber or not and to find out more about the free Celtic walking tours visit Celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.
Enjoy…
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Another transfer window closes and another load of whailing and gnashing of teeth from the Celtic fans (online at least) from many disgruntled hoops who wanted more. On this site we have had Andrew H’s positive review and a critical take (as you’d expect) from Critical Bill.
Earlier in the season we had Ross Hall of The Football Talent Report provide us with his review of the summer window and so he is now back to review the January window. Harry B asks him was it good bad or indifferent. as you’d expect it’s a bit of all.
The review of the window leads to a wider discussion of the youths and the challenges of getting them into the first team discussing the facilities, the coaches and of course us, the fans and how we all have an impact.
Enjoy…
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Celtic’s worst ever result
Raith Rovers come to Celtic Park this Saturday for a Scottish Cup tie.
Any mention of cups and the Fife team will always bring back memories of the 1994 League Cup Final.
Losing a final to lower league team is never a good result – but what is Celtic’s worst ever scoreline?
This latest podcast from @hailhailhistory examines ten of Celtic’s poorest games.
Enjoy…
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As most will know, our ‘In Conversation with…’ series is usually exlcusive to paid subscribers but we decided to make this one free. It’s a wee bit different to most in conversations with Jenna talking openly and emotionally about both her mum and her dad.
It’s quite an emotional discussion and one that will be appreciated by anyone who has lost their parents.
You can listen to our podcasts wherever you pick up your pods.
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Celtic today travel to Birmingham to face Aston Villa in the Europe’s premier competition.
But one 1890s clash between the two sides aimed to decide who was the best team in the world…
This the latest tale from Celtic’s history brought to you by @HailHailHistory.
Enjoy…
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With the postponement of the Dundee game on Saturday (result - I was away in London and would have missed it) then there’s only one show in town for this week’s podcast and it’s Europe.
The last match podcast was a preview of the Young Boys game and so in this podcast we review (in our usual complete ramble that doesn’t really review) the YB game and preview the Villa match. In between we discuss VAR, Kyogo, Maeda and Jota.
For nearly 20 years we’ve been rambling away like this, but you keep coming back for more so please enjoy…
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There was tear in the eye for many a Celt today with the departure of Kyogo, a player who clearly appeared to loved playing football, performing with what seemed like a permanent grin. But his departure has been tempered with the return of Jota.
The deal was officially confirmed by Celtic today with the press conference late afternoon.
Enjoy…
(Oh and there’ll be a Eurovision podcast out very very soon).
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Most Celtic fans prefer to toast Tommy rather than Rabbie on Burns Night.
However, in the past, some Celts were involved in a famous tribute to the Ayrshire poet, who is remembered each year on 25 January.
This the latest tale from Hail Hail History History.
Enjoy…
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A product of the Celtic youth system, Mark was unfortunate to come into the first team around the time when fans had lost faith in the senior management running the club. It wasn’t a happy time to be around Celtic and Mark and others suffered from the general environment. Despite this he achieved what many of us could only dream of - puling on the hoo…
It;s exactly 14 days since we released our last matchday podcast. In that time, there’s been around 15million hours of alternjtive Celtic chat on other Celtic podcasts and almost the same number of Celtic games.
The bhoys briefly chat about the games and the “weak as piss” performance in the second half at Dundee. We discuss playing teams from Dundee almost every week and the excessive fixture calendar preventing any coaching, any rest and whether that impacts enjoyment.
We discuss transfer gossip, the forthcoming YB and Killie games and rarely mention THEM - apart from H reminiscing about telling David Murray he was talking shote about fixture congestion.
Enjoy…
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Celtic are back in Scottish Cup action this weekend, and aim to retain their trophy.
The Bhoys have long and successful record in the Scottish Cup. But of all their victories, arguably none was more dramatic or historic than the 1904 final.
For the full story - including how its legacy is felt even today - listen to the latest tale from Hail Hail History history.
Enjoy…
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Over the near 20 years of the CU podcast we’ve been blessed with the array of Celtic fans, celebrities and players who have accepted our request to come on the podcast. Here at CU towers we like to mix up the guests between players and famous fans and following last weeks Brian O’Neil/Pierce Brosnan mash up (that joke only works if you watched the podc…
The story of Celtic is a fascinating one, with many different aspects to it.
First thoughts of Celtic will naturally turn to Glasgow’s east end, but in fact the Bhoys have connections right across Glasgow.
If you’re looking for something differenet for the new year, a series of walking tours tell more about these tales, and are free to attend.
This is the latest tale from Hail Hail History , who runs these walks.
Enjoy…
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Looking more like Pierece Brosnan than the fresh faced lad who played for his bhoyhhod heroes, Brian O’Neil sat down with Andrew H to discuss his Celtic career. For the younger listeners (do we have any) Brian was a tall elegant midfielder, turned in a centre half, turned into a striker. Yes - Brian was mucked about by managers working with the limite…
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To quote Nick Berry - Every loser wins. Every dog has its day and Rangers had their day on Thursday. They played to the best of their ability and we played to the worst of ours and when both sides hit those extremes, the best they could muster was a 3-0 to bring themselves to with 11 (eleven) points of the finest team in Scotland.
In this podcast for p…
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It was the oddest of odd seasons. 50,000 supporters bought season books for games they never saw in person. Instead logging on to Celtic TV to watch games that were instantly forgettable as the players struggled to perform in empty stadia. Covid tests, social distancing rules and punishments that seemed to change with the wind in a season where mira…
Celtic will head to Ibrox tomorrow for their first game in 2025.
This season marks 125 years since the opening of this ground, and Celtic have a fascinating history there, including some unique firsts and achievements.
The full story can be heard in this latest podcast from Hail Hail History
Enjoy…
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The end of 2024 is nearly upon on us. The Rangers chat about VAR has come to a screeching halt now that there’s been a blatant error in their favour and the Celtic chat centres around how brilliant we are, how marvellous 2024 has been and could 2025 get even better.
With everything going on, Eddie & I decided to log-on and have a chat to discuss the recent events in our game, discuss the Motherwell & St Johnstone games have a preview of Jan 2nd and a brief chat about any ongoing transfer gossip.
Enjoy…and Happy New Year
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Season 2019/20 was the first full season of Neil Lennon’s second term and Celtic went on to secure a 4th consecutive treble - in the strangest manner possible with it taking place over 2 seasons because this was the Covid curtailed season.
It was one of the strangest seasons we will encounter in our lifetimes with debate about whether to call the season early amid mass spreading events and the on-off nature of the Celtic v Rangers game at Ibrox that wasn’t to be.
Enjoy….
This will not be the last episode in the Second 9iar Chronicles. Just like last time, we have one final episode discussing why 10 didn’t happen.
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First recorded way back in 2010 (yes, we’ve really been going that long) this tale reviews our history of playing on Christmas Day. It may seem strange to many hoops that football leagues had a full fixture card on Christmas Day but it used to be a regular occurrence.
Here’s the story.
For more on our history go to
https://www.thecelticwiki.com/
Enjoy…and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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The Celts celebrated last Sunday as penalty shootout victory handed them the League Cup.
Celtic have a long and varied history with penalty kicks settling matches, with games involving finals and different continents.
The full story of this is the latest tale from Hail Hail History
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On Sunday Celtic secured another Hampden victory over Brendan with a penalty shoot-out league cup win. Celtic were below their best and Rangers capitalised on mistakes to make this cup final closer than it should have been. Unfortunately the marvellous efforst of Maeda (goal and penalty) and Schmichael (save and penalty) have been overlooked by the fallout from a “more outside” penalty call. Listening to the coverage, it seems that penalties in extra time are like playing the joker in It’s a Knockout and would have counted for double.
Just before we recorded we had the SFA Var show where Collum threw his staff under the bus and said “they’re rubbish”, but as the boys say - we’ve had bad decisions in the past and were told to get over it so Clemente and Co - it wasnae give…get over it.
As we’re approaching Christmas, this pod’s free so please share the CU love.
Thanks for reading and listening to The Celtic Underground Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it.
Enjoy…
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I have been obsessed with penalties since I was a young kid. The first time I played for any team was in a competition that we won on penalties. I was in goals and saved a couple. After that I loved penalty shoot-out practice and picking the shooter’s side and so when, over the years, I hear pundits saying penalties are a lottery I’ve always thought - nonsense.
In recent years, Celtic have had a less than stellar record in penalties and that got me trawling the web for solutions which I where I stumble across the wisdom of Geir Jordet and his book ‘Pressure - Lessons from the psychology of a penalty shootout’. What a book!
This podcast was recorded with Geir before the Cup final victory over Rangers but after you listen, watch again. Watch the teams before the pens. Look at who is (and not) in the huddle. Watch our players v theirs at the halfway line and in particular watch Schmichael with the ball after every pen and watch the keeper dependant technique of Engels.
This podcast is free. Please share with all your friends the joy of CU.
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This Sunday, the Bhoys have the chance to win the season’s first trophy.
Taking on Rangers at Hampden, the Celts will hope to bring the League Cup back to Celtic Park.
Ahead of this game, this podcast – the latest from hailhailhistory – tells the story of Celtic’s previous League Cup Finals.
Enjoy…
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Celtic breazed past Hibs (in terms of goals for) on Saturday but gave up an alarming array of chances. Harry and Ross debate whether that was tactical issues, players being too relaxed, the weakest game out of 4 or other reasons.
The bhoys then move on to Tuesdays UCL away game in Croatia and assess whether it will be another sore one in Europe or whether we have really turned a corner.
Enjoy…
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Celtic Advent Calendar
It will be Christmas time soon, and many people are counting down the days using an Advent calendar.
This Celtic Advent calendar tells you more about interesting numbers in the club’s history.
This is the latest tale from @hailhailhistory.
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Long standing listeners will know that the Celtic Underground Podcast and Mogwai go back a long way. If you’ve ever heard the Tales from The Celtic wiki or the more recent Hail Hail History Tales you will have heard The Sun Smells Too Loud playing in the background and, for the unitiated, that is by Stuart’s band Mogwai.
Born in Lanark, Stuart is a founding member of Mogwai and after 10 studio albums, there is now a film out about this iconic band - If the Stars Had A Sound, which takes us from the bands formation through to the most recent album. The Guardian describes the film as follows “It has a purist approach, taking cues from the band’s anti-logorrheic approach by offering only a loose biography and comparatively little by way of analysis. All the better to let their majestic instrumental squalls fill the space, unencumbered by too much guiding commentary.”
But as we all know, Stuart has a love of Celtic and he and Andrew explore all of this on the podcast. He also gives us an exclusive on how we nearly had the perfect Celtic/Mogwai collaboration.
As a taster to non-subscribers of the quality of content produce by Celtic Underground, we’ve made this “In Conversation” podcast free to all.
If you like it, why not subscribe, or share the joy of CU with others…Christmas is coming afterall…
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We are now at season 6 of 10 that we discuss in the second 9iar chronicles and what a season! It started with 13 ,000 at Celtic Park welcoming and manager and it ended with 13 ,000 at the Hydro celebrating 60 years of the Lisbon Lions. I don't think I've given a spoiler away. I think most listeners know what season this is.
It's quite a season.
Enjoy…
I…
30 November marks Scotland’s national day, celebrating the country’s patron Saint, Andrew.
Over the years, many Andrews have turned out for the Celts, and there have been various other connections between Celtic and the name Andrew.
Learn more in this latest tale from Hail Hail History
Enjoy…
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Episode 1 - The Meat Loaf Pod
People on twitter and bluesky may be aware that regular podcasters (Remy & Paul T - both have been on here but more familiar to bytheminceltic listeners) have been joined by Barcajim3 for The RGC podcast. This is episode 1.
It really needs to get out before the game against Club Bugge so apologies for the hap-hazard nature of the logo and the intro. It’s the best I could do between being a taxi driver to Harry B jnr and bedtime on Tuesday evening.
When I get a minute I’ll source their podcast links.
Enjoy…
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This was Ronnie’s second season in charge. Cheated out of a double by blind officials, we all went into this season hoping that we would see progress and perhaps even a treble. We knew the new Rangers were coming but their meteoric(!) rise had stumbled (of how we laughed).
It was the first season without a Celtic v Rangers match or Edinburgh derby in…
Recent news of a planned demolition in Glasgow city centre will take away a big piece of Celtic history.
The building which housed The Bank restaurant – owned by legendary manager Willie Maley – is to be knocked down.
This was a venue which was right at the heart of Celtic’s heritage.
Leanr more about Willie Maley and The Bank in the latest tale from Hail Hail History
Enjoy…
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Saturday 9 November marked 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, seen as the symbolic end of the Cold War.
The Bhoys had various experiences playing behind the Iron Curtain, but only one trip to East Germany.
The story of this game is the latest tale from Hail Hail History
Enjoy…
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The 3rd season of the second 9iar chronicles would end up being the last season of Neil Lennon...for a while. It was one of the least memorable of the 9. We romp the league losing just 1 game and achieving 99 points but that would be the only silverware.
We reached the group stages of the Champions league but that would be the end of the achievements i…
Willie Maley nicknamed Willie Lyon “Celtic’s Bayard - the Knight without fear and beyond reproach.”
Willie Lyon is widely regarded as one of the finest captains in the rich history of Celtic. He was of that generation whose life was turned upside by the war, suffering a serious leg injury at Normandy and his football career ended at the age of 32.
Here’s the story.
For more on our history go to
https://www.thecelticwiki.com/
Enjoy…
PS - If you are a free subscriber and to see if all the bonus stuff is worth the cost (and of course it is) then use this link for a 30 day free trial but be quick, the link’s not valid for long.
https://thecelticunderground.substack.com/5061e026
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This podcast is released on the 137th birthday of the hoops. The basic elements of our formation are known by all fans…or are they?
A club formed for the dinner tables of the porr of the East End, everyone knows that charity was at the core of our creation but the part played in this story by Brother Walfrid (an Irish Marist Brother) and John Glass (prominent in Scotland’s Irish community circles, including those with Irish home rule political allegiances) has led to some debate among fans as to whether religion and/or politics were equally motivating among the founding fathers.
Andrew and Matthew of Hail Hail History chat through all aspects of the history of our formation and its impact on other Scottish/Irish clubs.
Enjoy…
To celebrate our 137th birthday, this is a free podacast available to all. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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This was our 125th birthday season and for the first time in our history, there was no Rangers FC to compete against, that club had died with a new team being wished all the best by the old emerging from behind the Brechin Hedge. How would we fare in this brave new world?
Domestically we would win a double and in Europe we would reach the last 16 of th…
McKeown Ghost Story
In this Halloween week, here a spooky tale from Celtic’s history.
It’s the true story of how a dead footballer came to face the Bhoys, and come to Celtic Park.
This is the latest podcast from @hailhailhistory.
Read on. If you dare…
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No Kelly No Keltic
Another tale from the CU archives and the home of Tales from The Celtic Wiki
To fans of our generation, the name of Kelly sparks memories of Michael and Kevin and the early 90s battle for the future of the club. But whilsy these battles for the future resulted in the end of their tenure at Celtic, it should be remembered that the name of Kelly resonated throughout our history.
This is the story of an older time and how, without the Kelly’s there’d possible be no Celtic.
We’re republishing these 10+year old tales from the Celtic wiki along with new history tales from @hailhailhistory and there will be a Celtic history story out every Wednesday.
Enjoy…
PS - If you are a free subscriber and to see if all the bonus stuff is worth the cost (and of course it is) then use this link for a 30 day free trial but be quick, the link’s not valid for long.
https://thecelticunderground.substack.com/5061e026
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Back in the dark days of the Covid lockdowns, we recorded the 9 in a row chronciles - a fan recollection of those 9 amazing seasons. We always knew there’d be a second series but what period would it cover? We soon found out!
We got the gang back together (well, almost - Lachie was on his boat so subbed out to Andrew H) and have recorded the second 9iar chronicles.
The first one is an incredible season that starts with Rangers seeking their 4th consecutive title and Neil Lennon’s coat on a shoogly peg and ends with Celtic Champions and Rangers dying…wonderful times.
This episode is free to all, but the remainder will be out every Sunday to paid subscribers only HOWEVER if you want to trial out the paid service you can use the link below for a free 30 day trial!!
https://thecelticunderground.substack.com/5061e026
Enjoy
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Celtic and 1974
Another story from Hail Hail History
Saturday 26th October 2024 is the 50th anniversary of the 6-3 final versus Hibs. This podcast tells that that story, and all of 1974 too.
Celtic have played in some momentous cup finals.
However, when it comes to goals, few can match the 1974 League Cup final, when the Bhoys beat Hibs 6-3.
It was another remarkable day in a calendar year that saw many Celtic highs and lows.
Here is the story of that year, the latest tale from @hailhailhistory.
Enjoy…
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19 October is a notable Celtic anniversary.
On this day in 1957, the Bhoys recorded one of their most famous scorelines:
Celtic 7 Rangers 1
This is the full story of that remarkable day, another great tale from @hailhailhistory.
Enjoy...
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Younger listeners will be stunned(!) to know that the BBC used to have quite and anti-Celtic stance and coverage. Under the authority of Peter Thompson, they really didn’t seem to like Celtic at all. Under Thompson, BBC Scotland’s Sports Department employed a sectarian recruitment policy akin to Rangers. Prejudice seeped into every aspect of BBC Sport coverage in Scotland but Jock Stein would have none of it.
Here’s the story.
For more on our history go to
https://www.thecelticwiki.com/
Enjoy…
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Celtic & Sligo
Another story from Hail Hail History
This week, Brendan will take a Celtic XI to play in Sligo, and in many ways he’s taking a team to the spiritual birthplace of the club.
This will not be the first time Celtic take a team across the sea to Sligo, with Celtic playing there back in 1975 with a team managed by Sligo man Sean Fallon.
For more information on Celtic’s history or the forthcoming free walking tour, go to @Hailhailhistory on Twitter
Enjoy…
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Lee Dornan is a Celtic devotee who works in international affairs for SCIAF, a charity he sees with so many parallels to his beloved football club. And tying the two together is his claim that he has set up the first Celtic supporters' club in South Sudan.
He tells all about that and, with an accountant's obsession, how poring over Rangers and Celtic ac…
Straight after the 7-1 humbling to Dortmund, Lawrence Donegan and I sat down to review the game (and to discuss his substack daily blog about his travels across America).
The game was a tough watch but we tried to remove the rawness of the moment and discuss in the reality of the way the team plays week-in, week-out and and the players available.
After the trauma of the game, we then went on to talk about Lawrence’s roadtrip across America from California to Mar-a-Lago which he is documenting daily over at goodbyedonald.substack.com (and as he explains - it’s supposed to have a ? but substack don’t allow that in titles).
Enjoy…(if you can)
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Judas Part 2
Another tale from the Celtic Wiki
Last time we told the tale of the striker’s arrival at Celtic and his performances that contributed to the dramatic last day title win over Hearts. Today we hear about the story that led so many Celts to simply call Maurice Johnstone Judas.
Enjoy…
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The Celts are off to Germany this week on Champions League duty.
The Bhoys will hope to build on their fantastic 5-1 start with another good performance.
It's far from Celtic's first visit to Germany. For that, you have to go back almost 120 years.
It's a tale of boats, trains, big wins and even the death of an iconic Celt.
For more, follow Hail Hail History on twitter.
Enjoy…
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Judas Part 1
Another tale from the Celtic Wiki
For Celts of a certain age, there is not a name that illicits greater emotion than Mo Johnston. Signed in a record deal in October 1984 he was part of a Celtic forward line that should have achieved even more than it did and during that spell. He completed perhaps the greatest team goal in Celtic’s history in the 5-0 title triumph at Love Street.
He left but was set to return in a dramatic move in 1989 as Celtic set to try and wrestle the initiative back from Rangers.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Enjoy…
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When Celtic take on St Johnstone tomorrow they will be going for a remarkable league clean sheet record. Matthew from Hail Hail History tells us more.
Enjoy…
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Celtic fans will still be dreaming of the 5 goals we scored last midweek against slovan Bratislava and looking forward to the rest of the European campaign with renewed ethusiasm and a sense of expectation of what could be.
Following that marvellous result, Matthew of HAILHAILHISTORY decided to look back on previous big Celtic European results.
Enjoy…
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Subscribers to The Celtic Underground podcast will have getting their weekly free 10 minute Celtic history hits on their podcast feed and substack emails. You may have noticed that interspersed in among the human torpedo re-runs of the tales from The Celtic Wiki that we’ve had some new history hits. These Hail Hail History hits have been proving very popular and se we thought we should hear more from the man behind the stories.
In addition to the history tales on CU, Matthew has his own twitter feed with regular history updates and quizes Hail Hail History and he also has his Celtic history walking tours.
We’re sure you’ll want to know more so here’s Matthew with Harry.
Enjoy…
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This is the remarkable story of when the Chief Executive of the Scottish Football association actively engaged in preventing Celtic from fielding their new star striker signing. Fergus want to war with Farry and eventually won.
Here’s the story.
For more on our history go to
https://www.thecelticwiki.com/
Enjoy…
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Tonight Celtic face Slovan Bratislava 60 years on from the two clubs first meeting. That previous encounter was in the quarter final of the Cup Winners Cup. The home leg came first. It played in February 1964 in front of 53,000 expectant fans.
This is the story of that game.
Enjoy…
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This week Celtic kick off our 13th UCL campaign and do so in the new UCL league format, we shall see what that brings.
The boys, with the help of a scouting report from Ross Hall, preview the game and discuss the UCL in general. The boys also discuss the forthcoming subscriber vote on the greatest Celtic UCL XI.
Enjoy
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This Saturday sees the first visit to Glasgow this season by the team from Midlothian. We don’t have an especially warm relationship with the team often referred to as the lesser version of a certain Glasgow team and the obvious question - has it always been thus? Well, listen to this tale from Matthew of Hail Hail History to find out.
Enjoy…
The Celtic Underground Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Robert Austin Thomson played for Celtic from 1929 into the 1930s alongside club legend Jimmy McGrory. His finest year in a Celtic jersey came in 1931 when he was the star of the cup final against Motherwell. Thomson lived a life of excess and died suddenly at the age of just 30 leaving a wife and two young children.
Here’s the story.
For more on our history go to
https://www.thecelticwiki.com/
Enjoy…
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Celtic pulled the rabbit out of the hat that Andrew H mentioned on here and brought in players on the final day of the window - lifelong Celtic fan Luke McCowan and Belgian prodigy Arne Engels.
Signed on the last night of the window, the players both made their debuts in the comfortable Glasgow Derby win and then met with the press this week.
We have the audio and video from the meetings with the fan media.
Enjoy…
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It’s the international break and there is therefore still some football going on and we decided to use this two week fallow period to chat with a former Celt who is still playing at international level and down in the EPL.
In his chat with Andrew, Ryan covers his time at Celtic and gives an insight into how fraught a transfer window can be. He also disc…
This weekend the Celtic legends secured a penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford. This charity game saw thousands of pounds raised for the respective foundations. It was also another chapter in the annals of the famous links between both clubs and Celtic’s experiences at Old Trafford.
We therefore thought it appropriate to sneak out another tale from Hail Hail History
Enjoy…
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Sometimes small actions can have big consequences. 8 September 2024 is151 years since the opening of Sacred Heart Church in Bridgeton. Without this event, there is a chance there would be no Celtic.
For more information, follow Hail Hail History
Enjoy…
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
Celtic’s First Cup Final (Glasgow Exhibition Cup)
Season1888-1889 not only saw Celtic’s first competitive game, but Celtic’s first, second and third cup finals. It would be a year of learning, losing, wining and controversy starting with The Glasgow Exhibition Cup, held to coincide with the International Exhibition of Science, Art & Industry.
For more information, follow Hail Hail History
Enjoy…
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Everyday is a school day as they say and we’re trying something different so if it doesn’t work out, we’ll have another go!
For your listening and viewing delights we have a mixture of prsentations (allegedly).
If you are a paid subscriber to the platform, you can watch or listen to the podcast featuring Andrew H, Ross Hall and Harry B was we discuss the …
Down to business
Another tale from the Celtic Wiki
In an ideal world, Celtic would never have been formed, because in an ideal world there would have been not poverty and discrimination.
But we don’t live in an ideal world and this tale from the Celtic wiki talsk about the formation of the club and how/when we changed from a charity to a business.
For more on our history go to
https://www.thecelticwiki.com/
Enjoy…
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
St Mirren 0 - 3 Celtic
Celtic travelled all the way along the M8 to visit St Mirren in Paisley and ran out 3-0 winners.
The scoring began inside 3 minutes and from that point on Celtic looked comfortable and were never in any danger of dropping any points. Three games into the season, three wins and no goals conceded (the only goal against so far was against Hibs in the League Cup).
It was two midfielders and a defender who got the goals today and the post match discussions with Brendan were all about whether we’d sign players and would they be the standard he is seeking.
We have the post game review and the post match presser by Brendan. He’s in a good mood but bery pointed. He knows where the issues lie and so do the executives.
Enjoy…
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Celtic comfortably beat Hibs 3-1 in the Premier Sports League Cup fixture at Celtic Park today.
Following the game Harry B and Andrew H discussed the game and the general positivity about the club.
The Celtic Underground Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
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Nineteenth season! Let that sink in. 19 seasons most of you have been listenning to this guff. Will you never learn? There are listeners to this podcast who weren’t born when it started. Goodness - there’s even a football club playing in the top flight that didn’t exist when this podcast started.
(You can pick up this podcast for free on this Substack app, apple, amazon, google, spotify or wherever you get your podcast listening.)
The Celtic Underground podcast gets up in the morning, looks in the mirror and thinks “who’s that old bugger looking back at me?” It looks on with a paternal smile as some of the whippersnapper podcasts trumpet their new guest providing “exclusive insight” into an event of days gone by knowing that we interviewed that guy years ago when we both had all our hair and all our marbles. Enough of this maudlin meandering, we’ve got a new season to discuss!
On Sunday 4th August at 4:30pm the proper football returns with Celtic hosting Kilmarnock in our defence of the SPFL Premiership title and as we bid for our 4th title in a row and our 14th in 15 seasons (there’s a gap there but no-one went and no-one witnessed it. If no-one saw it can we even say it happened?).
Having already bagged the pre-season cup (first time in decades) we start our campaign with the possibility of winning up to 4 major trophies. The podcast features Hullbhoy, Ross Hall, Eddie Pearson and Harry Brady. There are obvious concerns about the lack of transfer activity in and the possibility of transfers out, but in general the bhoys are in fine fettle, predicting great days ahead.
Oh and for our brand new listener in Cambodia…can’t wait to hear of your tales of advanture!
It’s season 2024-25. It’s CUs 19th. Enjoy…
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If you’ve been online recently you will have noticed an increase in the number of bloggers and tweeters (or whatever people or X are called these days) review players and talent. One of the best of these guys is Ross Hall (the scout, not the hospital).
The Celtic Underground Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
In this podcast, Ross takes us on a journey that has seen him give up a succesful finance career and jump into the world of scouting and how and why he uses stats and uses his own eyes. Who does stats best and how they can be used to the benefit of Celtic. The chat went on for so long, we decided to postpone the analysis of the Celtic squad to next week. You never know, by then we might have actually signed an outfield player.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
A Rough Justice
Another tale from the Celtic Wiki
In March 2011, Celtic & Rangers engaged in “The Shame Game”. It was a match that involved Rangers players losing the plot and finished with the hyperbole of Alex Salmond summoning then CEOs of Celtic and Rangers (Lawwell & Bain) to a summit to discuss the bahviour of both clubs.
At the time The Human Torpedo recorded this slice of Celtic History from The Celtic wiki to look back at troubled games from the past, starting in 1949-50 season.
Enjoy…
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If you’ve not already done so, please listen to Part 1 of this two part interview with Andrew H Smith on what it was really like being inside Celtic before, during and after the McCann revoltion. As he says - Fergus was a man on a mission and a man with a singular vision on how he wanted Celtic to be as a club and Andre was there, every day, documenting the process.
Enjoy - This is exclusive to paid subscribers for 1 month.
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The Man Who Couldn’t Be Bought
Another tale from the Celtic Wiki
What is it about Jimmy McGrory that makes him one of, if not the, greatest ever Celts?
He’s our all time leading scorer with 522 goals in 501 games and holds the record for the most goals in a season, with 62 goals from 46 games.
Although he was only five feet and six inches tall, he was renowned for his prowess and ability for headers. His trademark was an almost horizontal bullet header, which he performed and scored with regularly, and which earned him the nicknames "the Human Torpedo.”
A man the Garngad - St Rochs and Celtic, when Arsenal came calling, despite the best efforts of the board, he couldn’t be bought. “Jimmy McGrory of the arsenal doesn’t sound right.”
Enjoy…
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
We debated long and hard as to whether to publish this podcast because no matter waht we did, we couldn’t resolve the sound distortion issues - especially with Eddie’s mic. Ultimately we decided - what the heck. The worst of it appears to be at the beginning and the end.
So this is a free podcast from Celtic Underground. It can be picked up wherever you get your podcasts as well as on Thecelticunderground.substack.com.
There’s loads of paid and free content coming over the next few months with at least one bit of audio every week.
Enjoy…
The Celtic Underground Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts direct to your inbox and to support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
French Farce
Another tale from the Celtic Wiki
The Anglo-Franco-Scottish Friendship Cup was a short-lived Inter-League football competition organised by the French Football Federation that would see teams from the English Football League and the Scottish League compete against teams from the French League.
The original idea was to have four teams from Scotland and four teams from England competing together as one nation competing against eight teams from France. Due to the objection by the Scottish League this ruling was cancelled.
Two separate trophies were cast - one for Scottish clubs competing against French clubs and one for English clubs competing against French clubs. Individual clubs could not win the competition, so each country was awarded 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
Due to disagreements as to when matches should be played, neither of the matches between Celtic and Reims took place.
Enjoy….
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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe
The Rebels have won
4th March 1994 and Fergus McCann and Brian Dempsey step out into a dark and rainy Glasgow night to make the famous declaration - The game is over, the rebels have won.
Jubilation abound and tonight, as we publish this tale from The Celtic Wiki, we remember one of the unsung heroes of that takeover battle - John Keane who sdaly passed away today - 16th June 2024.
John was the honourary Chairman of Celtic and he got that role because, with no ownership and no certainty that he wouldn’t lose every penny, John stepped up and paid £1m to the bank to save the club from the ignomy of administration and pave the way for Fergus to take over the club.
In tribute to John, we’re therefore publishing this classic tale.
Here’s a link to the club’s statement on the passing of John - https://www.celticfc.com/news/2024/june/16/celtic-pays-tribute-to-john-keane/
Enjoy…
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Working at Celtic During the McCann Revolution
Fergus McCann came into Celtic Park and changed everything. He changed the board and replaced family inheritance with business acumen. He changed the ground from seats on Terracing to a 60,000 seated stadium. He built all the foundations that have now established Celtic as THE premier club in Scotland. He is one of the greatest Celts in history.
The transformation in Celtic pre and post March 1994 was incredible and one of the few people with a front row seat both before and after was Andrew Smith. working at The Celtic View he was part of the team who had to put out the messaging of the old board and their proposals for a move to Cambuslang. He was then part of the McCann messaging as he sought to transform Celtic through a share issue and the building of a new stadium.
The tales from Andrew are incredible, and his impersonations aren't bad either.
This is a 2 part podcast. Part one is out on our standard feed and part two will be available on TheCelticunderground.substack.com
Enjoy...
In the past week we've had the league secured at Rugby Park, a title party at Celtic Park rounded all off with the Cup Final at Hampden on the iconic date of 25th May. Who else could I ask to discuss this than full-kit Jow Hart love-in man Remy McSwain.
Remy and I review everything and jump all over the place because an easy verbal ramble through the past 10 days became a rushed preview and review because the IT set up/wifi crashed.
The audio is good because the crap bits are editted out.
Enjoy...
Following securing the league, Andrew Smith met with Celtic FC Foundation CEO Tony Hamilton to ask about the work of the Foundation and discuss the forthcoming charity game against the Dortmund Legends.
Andrew asks searching questions such as - aren't all chairtie just a tax on the poor? But Tony robustly defends the work of the Foundation and the input of the club who are by far the biggest contributors to The Foundation.
To get tickets for the game, which takes place after the cup final, log on here
https://www.celticfc.com/tickets/celtic-legends-v-borussia-dortmund-legends/
Enjoy...
Winners…again
This Saturday saw the final Glasgow Derby of the league campaign and for listeners to last week’s podcast the result will have come as no surprise. Despite the comments of pundits, this is a game where form does not go out of the window. It is a game that the form team (or more appropriately the better team) nearly always win.
Celtic are the better team. Celtic won.
Whilst the league is not mathematically secured, we’re almost there being 6 points clear with just 2 games remaining. We therefore got two boys to discuss with Harry their thoughts on the game and where we are as club. So listen to Eddie Pearson and Andrew Smith wax lyrical about the game, the manager and the club.
Enjoy…
Fun Bhoys Three
We have the final Glasgow Derby of season 2023/24 coming up this weekend and so we have organised some experienced heads to discuss the prospects with @Pault1888 joining Andrew & Harry to discuss the game.
We roll out the metaphors and the cliches to preview the game in the context of our performance on last weekend when Brendan finally had his full first choice 16 to field.
As Andrew H says - use your testicular metaphor of choice when previewing the game and have some fun.
Enjoy…
Smith and Brady - Dundee review and Hearts preview
This week Andrew H Smith joins Harry to review the performance and result at Dens Park. The chat takes a meandering turn as the bhoys discuss the events at Dens almost 34 years ago to the day when Celtic really blew the 1979/80 season by losing 5-1 to Dundee during the title run in. Andrew was there and experienced the vitriol.
When they get on to the 21st Century tie they get on to discuss how brilliant James Forrest is and anyone who disagrees will go on Wolfie Smith’s list.
Finally, the bhoys get to the Hearts game.
Enjoy…
Smith & Brady - The Scottish Cup Semi Final
Following the dramtic 3-3 draw and subsequent penalty shoot-out victory, Harry Brady and Andrew H Smith review the cup semi and discuss all of the action.
There’s a review of the defensive short-comings and like every discussion by Celtic fans of a certain age, 20+ year old Hampden games are shoehorned in.
Enjoy…
What’s Going On?
There’s hasn’t been a podcast in ages and then, in usual style, two come along at once. If you’ve not listened, then get your ears around St Anthony’s Recollections podcast out earlier in the week. It was a short sharp pod all about Paul McStay.
For the longer form podcast (and it’s very long) we have Remy, Lawrence & me asking (and attempting to answer) the simple question - what’s going on?
The answer seems to be Dermot with everything flowing from that!
It’s nearly two hours long so you’ll maybe listen in instalments.
Enjoy…
Recollections - Paul McStay
Paul McStay was born on 22nd October 1964 in Hamilton, Lanarkshire. Grand-nephew of former Celtic team captain and manager Jimmy McStay, playing for Celtic was in the family blood.
A hotly tipped youth prospect Paul McStay was a member of Celtic Boys Club who burst onto the football scene in remarkable style when he hit two goals and was man of the match as Scotland schoolboys defeated their English counterparts at Wembley in front of a live TV audience in June 1980.
He signed for Celtic aged seventeen and made his senior Celtic debut in a 4-0 home Scottish Cup win over Queen of the South on January 21st 1982. Part of a great Celtic dynasty – his Great Uncle’s Jimmy and Willie were both Hoops greats while brothers Willie and Raymond also played for the club – Paul McStay seemed almost destined to write his name into Celtic folklore….
Enjoy
Are we at the end of the road
The Green Brigade - ostensibly a small group of fanatical “ultra” supporters below the age of 30 so who better to discuss their behaviours than a group of aging middle aged fans…?
Hullbhoy, Lawrence, Eddie & I appreciate that none of us share the likely demographic of the supporters group that we discuss, but Celtic is a broad church with fans from 1-100 and all within that spectrum are entitled to their views. Online is principally in one place on the GBand so one element that we discuss is whether the wider fan base are broadly supportive of the GB and their actions or whether there is a “silent majority” who passionately disapprove. Like all things the truth is probably somewhere between these two positions.
In general (and this is not a judgement by us, mere an assessment of the dynamics) we all agree that it’s probably the end of the Green Brigade as a recognised group within Celtic Park. We discuss the damage the banner of 7th October did or didn’t do to Celtic’s reputation and yes, we do get on to talk about football, specifically the Motherwell game.
We very rarely edit the podcast and tend to put out the audio “as live” (as the recent ‘mother-in-law comments showed) however at times the debate got a little heated and there is a small section where we all talk over each other and it’s pretty much unlistenable and so if there sounds like a jump in the recording, it’s where this bit was taken out.
Enjoy….(if you can).
Born to lead the green & white
Any goal for Glasgow City, another victory for the cause, another reason to giving another cheer just for the bhoys.
All week I have heard and read ill-informed nonsense about Celtic getting a heavy defeat and responded the same way - have you seen them? We the best manager in Scotland and one of the best in Britain. He’ll spend all week getting the team right…and he did.
A marvellous preformance by Celtic. Bossed the first half and controlled the game to preserve the lead in the 2nd. Should have scored on the breakway and we only get better from here.
Top of the league, one away Glasgow Derby down and 4 points clear of the Glasgow rivals and 2 points clear at the top.
Not bad for a club with half the 1st team missing.
Enjoy…
Sense and sensibility
Podcast No1 of the new season had 2 of us, podcast No2 had 3 of us and this week, podcast No3 we’ve got 4 (four) of us on it! Whatever next…?
Following the victory over Aberdeen, we’ve got Eddie, Saint Anthony and Paul T on to discuss the game, where the club are at, signing gossip and the forthcoming game against Killie in the cup. This weeks’ podcast is not as long as last week’s marathon but it’s still an hour of Celtic chat by middle aged Celtic fans - just what we all need on a regular basis.
Enjoy…
Just like buses…you wait months for a podcast and then two come along in a week and what a podcast we have for you. I’ve no idea if it’s any good but it’s long, my goodness it’s long. Nearly two hours of Celtic chat (although, it could be argued that it’s 2 hours of sport chat with around 45 mins of Celtic chat but I’ll let you be the judge of that).
Anyway, I am joined by Lawrence Donegan and Eddie Pearson to discuss all things Celtic, Scottish Sport, male grooming products, VPNs, youth development and everything in between. In fact if you’re an avid listener and get all the way to end you’ll get a discount code for our Patreon site (if we were to ever have one!)
We enjoyed recording it and hopefully you’ll enjoy listening to it and if you do please rate us on apple podcasts and if you don’t then unsubscribe because they’re all like this!
Enjoy…
But who’s the left back…?
Nice to see you to see you…nice! It’s good to be back and especially when we’re back to talk about the new seaso, with a new manager, new signings, new signing gossip and all for our 18th season of podcasting.
This week it’s the old team of Eddie and Harry who ramble and rumble over everything from fans objecting to people moving on, fans on message boards taking transfer rumoutrs too seriously, what those transfer rumours may be and our predictions for the next game.
It’s a huge bumper edition to kick off the new season so please enjoy…
Ange train keeps on rolling
Sunday saw the coronation of Celtic as back to back champions in Scotland. It was the 11th title out of the last 12 and the 11th of 11 titles were fans have been in attendance. All in all a remarkable period of domination by Scotland’s most succesfull living club.
The game itself was a 2-0 triumph with Hearts trying hard for 20 mins or so before normal service was resumed. A (valid) red card helped but no doubt Celtic would have gone on to win as they have done in all bar 3 previous domestic games.
Antony Murray is on the podcast this week to review the game compare this team with the invincibles and preview the next Glasgow derby.
Enjoy…
Double Denim Edition
First up an apology. After every podcast this season we have promised the the paucity of podcasting provision from CU will ceases and a plethora of podcasts will follow. If you’re being pedantic you could say that promise after every pod has been a pile of pish - and you’d be right. So sorry.
With that out of the way I can talk about this week’s podcast -it’s a mamoth 2 hour extravoganza that starts by talking about the cup wemi and then just gets into a ramble and covers just about every topic - including (but not exclusive to) toxic masculinity and can grown men carry off double denim in the 21st century?
We also discuss being better than Rangers - in every department!
Enjoy…
I should be so lucky
Once again the lucky bhoys triumphed and Ange won his 3rd out of 4 domestic trophies he has competed for and Bullshit Bingo Beale went home with his tail between his legs.
Celtic won the league cup on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Rangers in a game that was pretty comfortable throughout and that Celtic could, in the end, have won by 3 or 4. St Anthony was at the game with Saint Jnr and they were larging it up with the young team in the Celtic End and so I thought who better to call up and discuss the game.
We review the match, the crowds, the Tifos and preview St Mirren.
Enjoy…
The Celtic Da Podcast returns
You can have all your whipper snapper podcasts with your Xthis and that but there is only one podcast that can continually hark back to the 90s and earlier and it’s this one - the world’s longest running football fans podcast.
We’re now in our 17th season (18th year) and although we may have taken a break, you can be sure that we will always have something old and hackneyed to say about the modern game and this episode is no different.
We discuss the League Cup semi-final victory over Kilmarnock, we discuss VAR, how rubbish Scottish refs are, group think of refs, the transfer window and then touch on the forthcoming St Mirren game. Amazingly in all of that we manage to debate whether the Lambert challenge on Albertz was indeed a penalty.
Enjoy…
We’re in the mix
Tonight, before recording this podcast, I was in a whatsapp debate about how to describe the draw with Shaktar. I described it as brilliant, others said disappointing.
Personally I couldn’t see how you could describe an away UCL prefromance wehere we should and could have won by 2-4 goals as disappointing. Yes, there’s disappointment that we didn’t win but surely it’s absolutely brilliant that we were that good that we feel disappointed about only drawing away?
Anyway, enough of the use of the word disappointment in one small section of text - I am joined by Antony Murray as we discuss the draw with Shaktar, the away game to St Mirren and I also debut my open all mics try-out as Napoli get 2 pens as we record.
Enjoy…
The Celtic Steamroller
Saturday 3rd September Celtic played Rangers. Saturday 3rd September Celtic toyed with Rangers.
We played them off the park in the first half and coasted the second. You got the impression that if Ange had told the team at half-time that they needed to score another 4, we could have.
We startt the podcast with a quick exert from the Heart & Hand Podcast that someone sent us previewing the game, we then move on to a review of the game before a preview of the game against some team from Madrid.
We hope you like it as much as we liked recording it.
Enjoy…
Tifo or Tifno…?
Sometimes the title doesn't really give an insight into the real content of the podcast but I've got to write something and I quite liked this so, there you go.
Anyway, this week the middle aged podcast by middle aged fans for EVERYONE returns (have we mentioned we are the world’s longest running football fans podcast?). Anyway, back to the point…we are enjoying lige under Ange and so we are enjoying life in general. Lawrence is on his usually summer sabbatical to the Raploch and Eddie’s life is just one big long holiday. With both of them having time to spare I connected the phone line, dialled them up, listened to that weird screaching noise you get with dial up internet and I connected to the two guys to discuss life, the arts and the football.
First up was the V & A. Next up was Eddie discussing whether Tifo’s are for him and finally we reviewed the Aberdeen game and then previewed the Ross County game.
It’s a bit of a ramble and if you want xyz and tactis chat…you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Enjoy…
When we started this podcast (did I mention it’s the world’s longest running football fans podcast) we never thought it would last 17 seasons. It’s ebbed and flowed and the young kids have arrived with their xg, xa, xt, abc, easy as 1,2,3 but we’ll always be here - the middle aged podcast for the middle aged fan who loves the hoops and gets mildly irritated.
And so we are back for that record breaking 17th season (every season is record breaking because I’m not sure I’ve mentioned it but we’re the world’s longest running football fans podcast). This week I am joined by Duncan, St Anthony and Lachie Mor to preview the season, discuss the Aberdeen game and even get around to questioning if Queens Park can become Glasgow’s second team.
Enjoy…
Celtic today secured a draw against Rangers to put us just one win from the title. It's the 4th time in a row we have secured either a draw or win against the team from the South Side of the city.
It's a game that Celtic had the chances to put to bed before the Rangers equaliser. We didn't and a few players looked exhausted towards the end but we held on, secured the draw and now only a dire change of form will prevent Ange picking up another trophy and his first Scottish title at the first time of asking.
This week I am joined by Eddie Pearson and Lawrence Donegan to discuss their favourite podcasts, whether Zebedee is an outdated cultural reference and the meaning of various police hat colours.
Enjoy...
Now where were we....ah that's right, we're on track for a treble!
Sorry it's been so long but you know how it is, life, work, IT issues - they all get in the way of creating the latest episode of the world's longest running football fans podcast. Anyway, the IT issues have been resolved (like most I'm not sure about volume of hours in work) but we're ready to go.
This should have been out a week earlier but the aforementioned IT issues prevented. Anyway - it's Saint & me discussing the recent victory at Ibrox, just prior to the 7 goal victory over St Johnstone.
Welcome Home
The podcast is back for another episode and we have some old and older voices for you in the names of Lawrence and Eddie. Yes, Lawrence is on and fresh from his recently return on a Sunday night on Twitter Spaces, we are joined by Eddie Pearson.
The boys go on to discuss Ange-ball, whether the board should get praise or not for the transfer window. Also following the departure of French Eddie we discuss the top 3 post Larsson strikers. We also take 5 mins to discuss the weird and wonderful world of “fan media”.
Enjoy…
Ange-ball Rolls On
Celtic have tonight come through what was at times a very nervy evening (a very self-inflicted one) to progress to the group stages of the Europa League and they can now prepare for Sunday.
I was unsure about organising a post game podcast. I always recall Mark Cooper bemoaning that everytime I organised one with hime we lost. But I am not a believer in “what’s for you won’t go past you” or the concept of “tempting fate” so I organised one. We lost but we’re through and that’s all that matters.
I am joined this evening by Anthony and Season to review the game, discuss our stresses and celebrate the overall result. We also breifly touch on how crap the other clubs are to not achieve the Conference League and have a brief review of Sunday.
Enjoy…
The Game Episode 7 - Barca 125
November 7th 2012. The night before a Mass was held in St Mary’s to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the forming of Celtic Football Club and that week illustrated that Big Billy’s words about there being a fairytale about this club were never more true.
We has invited the board of Barca to share in our commemoration mass and the following night they visited the Cathedral of noise that was Celtic Park as 60,000 fans and 13 players put on a show that had the whole world talking.
On this weeks podcast Antony Murray and I discuss The Game with Ewan McLean (@_ewanmclean). We talk about what he was doing at the time and the marvel of that evening. Paul Hayward of The Telegraph wrote “ Somehwere between madness and love, this fanaticism did for Barcelona on a night when the Celtic team and their disciples were indivisible. Money can’t buy you that”
What a night! The world's greatest team beaten by the world's greatest club….
Celtic and our Irish heritage
This week St Anthony takes control of the podcast to discuss Celtic and it’s Irish heritage. Saint is joined by Sean McDonagh who lecture politics and Scots/Irish history at OU.
There cannot be a Celtic fan out there who does not know some basics of the coubs formation and heritage however it is always good to get the details from an expert in the field and Sean provides that in spades here.
Enjoy….
The Game Episode 6 - Udinese draw and F’ UEFA
The current situation at Celtic could be better and so our guest wanted to pick a game from happier times. It’s the winter of 2011 and the team has had a dramatic turnaround since being 3 nil down at Rugby Park and Neil Lennon looked like being on the way out. They pulled things back in the 2nd half of that game and started to really motor. At the same time RFC where spiralling to their death and we were all having a right laugh on this podcast.
Our guest, Matthew Mochan was listening in and enjoying every moment and he wanted to recall a game that took him back to those fun times.
Celtic went into this game still with a chance of qualifying past the Europa League Group stages.
It wasn’t to be but we did have a very good performance in this 1-1 draw and we also had a UEFA fine because some fans unveiled a banner that said “F**k UEFA”.
Enjoy…
Podcast Xtra
Ange & the starman
On Saturday31st July Celtic commence the new league season away at Tynecastle. The current state of the first team squad has some fans concerned but we have the new Swede and an update on the new Japanese striker in these pre-game interviews from Ange Postecoglou and Carl Starfelt.
Enjoy…
Season 16 - Let’s go round again
Baby we’re back! Welcome to the 16th season of the world’s longets running football fans podcast. To celebrate our new season we will have
NO new features NO new graphics NO new music NO new opinions
The podcast will be just as you like - same old usual rubbish but it’s this consistency that has kept our listener numbers the same all these years.
We really appreciate everyone who takes the time to listen or rate us on iTunes. We don’t have any awards but then, you have to self nominate so where’s the fun in that?
CU - The podcast for the generally optimistic but occasionally midly irritated middle aged Celtic fan.
Enjoy…
Welcome Ange & Dom
Today was the official unveiling of Ange Postecoglou as Celtic manager and of Dom McKay as Celtic CEO. Both spoke very well. Talk is cheap as the negative people say however I was very pleased with what I heard today.
No-one comes into a new job and criticises the people or the past but it’s clear, reading between the lines, that Dom wants to address the stagnation in our business model over the past 10 years and Ange will have his own people in coaching roles sooner rather than later.
We have the fan media questions first followed by the broadcast media press conference.
Enjoy…
The View from Down Under
Ange Postecoglou is the new manager of Celtic. Fans are filled with trepidation about a manager with no European track record. The pessemists are trotting out the usual “he’s sh!te3” stuff whilst the optimists are noting the exceptional level of positivity coming out of Australia for this guy.
Based upon this mixed view, I called up our friend Mike Mehall-Wood (now based down in Aus) and sought his view.
Enjoy…
Ange Postecoglou First Interview Celtic have today appointed Ange Postecoglou as the new manager of the club and we have the audio from his first interview. Interstingly in the chat that follows with Dom McKay, he once again mentions modernisation. It seems to be his theme and listeners to the last podcast will know we heartily agree.
Dominic McKay: Ange is an outstanding leader and an outstanding manager Dominic McKay is delighted that Celtic have appointed an experienced manager who knows what it takes to win, and he believes that Ange Postecoglou’s vision for the future of the Club aligns with his own.
In an exclusive interview with Celtic TV, the Club's incoming Chief Executive, who officially takes over on July 1, explained why the Australian manager is the right fit for the Club, and explained that he has already started working with the new Celtic manager to pave the way for future success.
“I’m delighted that we’ve managed to secure Ange as the new manager of Celtic Football Club,” said Dominic McKay. “Ange is an outstanding leader and an outstanding manager.
“In all my discussions with him to date, I’ve been really impressed by his enthusiasm for Celtic, and his keenness to work with me to modernise and develop the footballing structures and the non-footballing structures to make sure we are the successful club that we need to be for the generation ahead.
“His experience at the international level, having taken Australia to World Cups is hugely impressive, as is his experience of winning both in Australia and Japan, so I’m excited about securing a winning manager and in securing someone who wants to drive forward the club in a way that I think everyone will be really proud about.
“We’ve spent a lot of time chatting through the playing side, the coaching side and the footballing operations side.
“It would be fair to say his phone’s been busy over the last number of weeks and I’m excited that we’re getting information across to him to make decisions and get feedback on all the various aspects you would expect us to be considering ahead of the new season.
“We’ve been talking about recruitment in particular and the plans for the season ahead, so we’re very active in that regard. There are some important fixtures coming up so we need to make sure the team is in the best shape it can be, and I’m sure Ange will share more information with the Celtic support as soon as he can.”
Dominic McKay also shed light on how his own vision for delivering success to the club aligns with Ange Postecoglou’s ambitions.
“We have a shared vision and that was very important to me to make sure we had a new manager who bought into the modernising, evolution and development of the club, both on and off the field,” the new Celtic CEO said.
“In terms of his style of play, I think he will excite the fans. In terms of his communication, I think he will be great in engaging with supporters and, importantly, his philosophy, which is borne out of his experience at international level going through World Cups but also in winning competitions. I wanted a winner and I’m delighted that we’ve managed to secure Ange.”
An analogue club in a digital age
This week we’re back to talk about The Celtic! We will be having more of The Game series but we thought we’d take a break from that to discuss the managerial situation at the club. First we’ve had the rejection by Eddie Howe and then the appointment of Ange (or at least the likely appointment of Ange as nothing has happened yet…).
This week we get Saint Anthony, Hullbhoy and Sean together to discuss the situation at the club.
Enjoy…
The Game Ep5 - Tirollercoaster This game had everything - a new team under a new manager with a new striker scoring an og in a 9 goal thriller where Celtic were out with just 6 minutes to go. It had a full house and so everyone who was a Tim at the time could say “I was there” but for some reason it’s never one of those games everyone talks about with reverence…and it should be. Celtic 6 Tirol Innsbruk 3. What a night. The Celtic Wiki describes it as follows: An incredible European night. A nail-biter all the way down the line finally settled by goals in the 87th and 94th minute. * It looked like Anoni was for the off. Allegedly this was all down to a training ground bust up between him and Jansen on pre-season in Holland and he had been on the injury list for some time. And just to prove it Jansen included him in the squad – so much for newspaper rumours. * Surprise surprise when Bebeto was not going to be signing for Celtic. The 33 year old returned to Spain and although it was said he would return to Deportivo la Coruna he eventually joined Sevilla. * Darren Jackson was taken ill prior to the match and immediately after was admitted to hospital for tests. He complained of a migraine and was too ill to play.
Teams
Celtic: Scorers: Donnelly (34, pen 69), Thom (44), Burley (70, 94), Wieghorst (87) Tirol Innsbruck: Scorers: Mayrleb (39), Larsson (45og), Krinner (82) Enjoy…
The Game Ep4 - Boavista Away 2003 For those of us lucky enough to remember Seville it was all made possible by this night - a victory away at Boavista. A crap game, a sclaffed shot and a penalty claim….but we were through. Remy of ByTheMinCeltic fame joins Antony and I to share his recollections of The Game. This is how The Celtic Wiki describes it… With so much at stake, the opening exchanges were tentative, but Celtic settled first and created the game's first decent goalscoring opportunity. A hopeful Alan Thompson free-kick was flicked on by the head of John Hartson, allowing Larsson a sight of goal, but the Swede uncharacteristically pulled his shot wide under pressure from Eder Silveira. Celtic were forced to bring Chris Sutton into the fray rather earlier than planned when Paul Lambert was forced off with an ankle injury with just over half an hour gone. In the second half Alan Thompson had a fierce drive deflected wide on 70 minutes as they sought that elusive away goal. It finally came eight minutes later, when Larsson played a slightly fortunate one-two with Boavista defender Filipe Anunciacao before finishing clinically from 12 yards. The performance may not necessarily have been vintage and will be overlooked by the Celtic supporters as we prepare for the trip to Seville, where the team will play Porto in the final on 21 May. Boavista v Celtic, 24 April 2003, was one of the most frustrating games of football I’ve sat through. Needing to score, for 78 minutes Celtic were moribund; they made not a single attempt on goal. Instead, they did what most teams do away from home, condensed midfield and defended, while Boavista, who would qualify for the Uefa Cup final if the game ended goalless, did much the same. The goal appeared to take place in slow motion. Henrik Larsson moved forward to the end of the D and tried to pass to John Hartson, but a defender intercepted. Unfortunately for Boavista the ball was returned from the interception to an unmarked Larsson on the edge of the box. It spun from his preferred right foot onto his left but the shot gently arced inches away from the goalkeeper’s grasp. The goal was a deflection, although we didn’t see it at the time. The keeper was moving his weight from right to left as the ball drifted to his left. It may have been a turgid game of football decided by a deflection but it was also one of the most intense sporting occasions in our 125 year history. The sheer release of tension when the goal went in was incredible. 15 minutes, and one generous refereeing decision later, Celtic were in a European final. Since then we have become accustomed to our position as a credible European team but it was very different in season 2002-03. This was the first Christmas Celtic were in Europe since 1979; each milestone along the way, Blackburn Rovers (a far more credible team at the time), Celta Vigo, Stuttgart and Liverpool, was celebrated with something close to astonishment. The triumphs of this season, qualifying for the Champions League group stage instead of losing to Basel, then progressing to the knock out rounds, are greater than the achievements of April 2003, but they will never feel that way. That game, that season, trophy-less though it was, changed our entire landscape. Nothing would ever be the same again. Enjoy…
The Game Ep3 - Partizan Belgrade To this day, this is one of the most incredible games I have ever attended. Yes I’ve been at the Barca game, the Invincibles Cup Final Game, victories and defeats at Ibrox but for utterly incredible drama few can match this game - Celtic 5, Partizan Belgrade 4. A future Dundee Utd Manager, the dad of a future Celtic striker and a guy wearing trackie bottoms - this game had it all (all except a Celtic victory). Antony and I are joined by Lawrence Donegan as he name drops his way through his memories of The Game. Here’s how the Celtic Wiki describes it: This was one of the most remarkable games ever viewed at Parkhead with an absolutely disastrous ending for a brave Celtic team. Scoring went as follows: 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4. With Celtic leading 5-3 and going through on aggregate with just two minutes left, Joe Miller lost the ball at the Partizan goal corner flag. A quick break down the left wing saw a cross come in and Scepovic headed it for goal. The despairing Bonner got a hand to out and only served to divert it past Paul Elliot who was on the goal line and would have cleared had Bonner not knocked it past him. Celtic players and fans were devastated at time up and stood in stone silence as jubilant Partizan players and coaches danced for joy on the Parkhead turf. Billy McNeill was heavily criticised afterwards for not making one substitution when Celtic were leading 5-3 with minutes to go which would have broken the game up and killed some time. It is thought that Darius Dziekanowski could have laid on another cert, but went for a personal five. He was later lambasted in the changing room despite having scored four goals, and maybe others were more culpable for the defeat than Jacki. Enjoy…
The Game Ep2 - Palm Sunday
This week marks the 30th anniversary of the Palm Sunday gubbing of Rangers, a game that holds special memories for our guest Kevin Schofield as it was his first Glasgow Derby. It was dark times for the club and these victories were smal glimpses of light.
We had beaten Rangers the week before for what became known as the ST Patrick’s Day Massacre. That was a game that saw Rangers receive 3 red cards and so for this match, Not The View gave out red cards and Nisbet duly obliged by getting himself sent off and leaving the pitch to a sea of aforementioned red cards from the crowd. Anton Rogan was the star of the day, scoring the opener in the 3-0 victory over Rangers in March 1991, his first against them (just day before his birthday), but he also set up the second and cleared a goal off the line.
Enjoy…
The Game Episode 1 - Shame Game 10 years ago this month was The Shame Game. A silly title for a game that saw no shame apart from the terrible behaviour of the soon to be defunct Rangers players and assistant manager. But with its notoriety and coming to the fore we thought we’d kick off the new series with a review of that game. Here’s how the Celtic Wiki describes it: As one-side a match against the Huns you'll ever see. Celtic were on top throughout this game, and despite the Huns being able to break well at points, they were simply playing for penalties from early on. With injuries/resting players like Lafferty & Jelavic, the Huns were relying on some rough tactics with heavy tackling on the menu. Luckily, Celtic's pressing on fairer referees has paid off with Murray officiating well and taking to half measures. He allowed around 20-25 mins before dishing out yellow cards, and Whittaker was first to be ordered off with two yellows. Harsh the first card may have been but it wasn't for that challenged alone (he had committed a few bad tackles before hand). From then on, Celtic took control (in particular in the midfield) however we weren't makign enough of our advantages. Wilson was exceptional and has been on a bit of a goal glut of late (3 goals in 6 games) and he scored with his second chance today just after half-time to send the support into raptures. From then in, there was only one team in it. Rangers had a late burst but their runs were cut short..... and Rangers were out the cup!!! YESSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More important is the rammies that occurred. Diouf was in everyone's' face, with match offs with Brown and then inexcusably with the Celtic bench. He should have been sent off early but the referee was too soft. Next there was a rammy with Mjallby for Djouf in the tunnel at half-time! It was comical. The unbookable Bhougeira was sent off! Amazing! Daft tackles were the cause, he's scum like Diouf. Diouf was sent off after the final whistle for not keeping control of his senses (not possible for him). A farce and scumbag. The home support were in his face and we all laughed. The worse he is on the pitch, the worse his antics are... Match ended with a spat between Lennon & Ally McCoist (Hun assistant manager). McCoist approaced Lennon in our dugout, Lennon politley held out his hand, then McCoist whispered something in his ear, Lennon retorted, then it blew with some shoves and people jumping in to separate the two. McCoist should be hammered for it. Anyhow, we won, it's great to be a Celtic. Crazy: The match has been criticised by the First Minister as a disgrace with head police officer calling for possibly stopping all games v Rangers or play them behind close doors! Absolute joke, total mock outrage. Enjoy…
Podcast Xtra - John Kennedy & David Turnbull
Celtic are looking to engage better with the fan media and this was the first step in 2021 of that new engagement with a specially organised fan media press conference. To be fair to the club, bringing this together is slightly more complicated than it seems. As I’ve joked recently, there are now a plethora of podcasts and how do the club make sure everyone gets access, how do they balance this with those fans who do excellent written work but not the spoken word - do they let on every podcast and website (not matter the numbers of listeners readers). Do they have a cut off and how do they measure that cut-off? etc etc.
Regular listeners and readers will know that we have been fortunate enough to have engagement before but it is good to have some further engagement after a little bit of a hiatus.
We have David Turnbull and John Kennedy first up, John being especially generous with his time and providing very full answers. I have met with John before and found him a very impressive and engaging man. I have yet to meet a football person who isn’t impressed by John. I hope you are too.
Enjoy…
Pieces of Eight
Yes, it’s the pirate podcast (you’ll understand when you listen) and we are reviewing the tenure of Neil Lennon as Celtic manager. We look at his departure last time, his re-appointment and assess whether this was some catastrophic turn of unlucky events for Neil or the inevitable outcome of appointing someone not qualified for the job and I would suggest that the panel have a range of opinions along that spectrum.
A change is gonna come at Celtic and we suspect that it will have an alpine look to it but whatever it is, there are always grounds for omptimism when you support Celtic so we (mainly) agree that next season is going to be very exciting.
Saint Anthony, Sean and Antony all discuss.
Also, we’re pulling together a series on Celtic matches, key games that might now have mythical status among the support. We’ll be starting with The Shame Game. Email your memories of this and also let us know hat games you would like us to feature.
Podcasts@celticunderground.net
Enjoy…
Celts on The Rocks
This week I am joined by Lachie Mor and Duncan Smillie of Glasgow Rocks to discuss the current situation at Celtic.
We review the inept Ross County performance and then go on to discuss the nature of the vitriol against senior people at the club (manager CEO) and question if that is the “Celtic Way” - can we not disagree with the board’s decision on Lennon without being so disagreeable? Duncan has a go at me for the agressive language of the Ferencvaros podcast. Lachie is taken aback and patently didn’t listen to it!
We review the need to get more young players coming through the academy into the first team and generally wish this season would just go away.
Enjoy…
Marketing Celtic
I know, I know, all we want is a succesful team on the pitch and you have no time for all this marketing and “brand” chat that revolves around modern football and if that’s the sum total of your thoughts on marketing a football club then this podcast is not for you. If, however, you see maximising income as the way of getting the best players in the pitch then hopefully you will find this of interest.
I look at our club as failing to communicate well with the supporters. I therefore wonder if we are so poor at speaking with the fans, are we even worse at communicating with a wider audience, and is that poor communication impacting on the business as a whole?
Whilst I can have a view, I always think it best to ask an expert and so I asked the Managing Direcor of Sporst Marketing experts Fuse for some input. It does help that not only is Stephen an expert on sports marketing, he’s also a huge Celtic fan. We therefore have a marketing expert talking specifically about our club and how we might get those marginal benefits that allow us to get better players on the park.
Enjoy…
And so after 17 years in the job Peter is leaving. Peter Lawwell was first employed by Celtic as the club's Financial Controller from 1990 to 1991 under then Chief Executive Terry Cassidy. In September 2003, he returned to Celtic succeeding Ian McLeod as Chief Executive. The job title was changed for Lawwell to Executive Director, Head of Operations as many of the previous Chief Executives had performed poorly in that role. Arsenal were interested in appointing Lawwell as their chief executive in 2008, but Lawwell rejected their approach. Lawwell has been credited with increasing revenue, reducing debt and is considered a tough transfer negotiator. He has attracted criticism since 2008, however, as Rangers had won three championships in a row. In particular, Celtic fans cite the club's refusal to increase their offer for steven Fletcher in January 2009, after which Rangers overhauled Celtic to win the 2008/09 SPL. In 2010 it was reported that Lawwell earned a wage of more than £700,000 a year, after receiving a 25% rise from his previous contract for the 2008–09 season. Everything at Celtic changed in 2012 when Rangers went to the wall and this saw the club commence an incredible period of dominance, winning trophies and building cash in the bank for a rainy day, We had the Brendan era followed by the appointment of Neil Lennon in the showers and for many, the diasters of the current season were sewn on that day. Peter leaves and Hullbhoy and I assess his legacy. Enjoy…
Dear Dr Jo
This past week saw the passing of Big Shuggie Edvaldsson and formerCeltic manager Dr Jozef Venglos.
Jóhannes Eðvaldsson signed for Celtic in 1975 and made 127 appearances for the club. He scored 24 goals for Celtic playing in defence, midfield and attack but made his name mainly as a central defender.
Dr Jozef Venglos was the first foreign born & raised manager of a club in the English top tier league(now it's the EPL): Aston Villa. He won the European Championships at under 23 level, and then his finest moment in coaching, the full European Championship with Czechoslovakia in 1976, beating Netherlands in the semi-finals and West Germany in the Final, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the Italia 1990 World Cup. Appointed President of the European Coaches Union in 1995 as well as being chosen to coach European and World select teams in the 1980's and 1990's. AT Celtic he signed the great players Lubo & Mjallby for Celtic. Truthfully, he never made a bad signing. Disgracefully treated by the local press whilst in Scotland (quite petty patronising racism in some cases).
Enjoy…
Tell me when it’s over
And the hits just keep on coming… This past week Celtic have dropped points to Livingston twice (once to a team made up of their fringe players) and still the management team remains unchanged. On the podcast we discuss the possible rational behind this, the issues with the players, the Livi game and of course that press conference.
As a podcast that has (at times) been very aggitated with the team - coaches and players, we try our best to take a step back and assess how and why. We discuss the board and what we should be doing. Tanks on the lawn with a firm statement of intent that this will never happen again.
Enjoy…
What’s going on?
Who could have predicted, that going to Dubai, in the middle of the world’s worst pandemic in 100 years could end up being a PR disaster…?
Sunday night the news broke that we had a player with Covid. Then it started to come out that, due to the nature of everyone being in close proximity, 13 players and 3 coaches would be unavailable for the game against Hibs. With perhaps a 5% chance still left of winning the league, we needed to win every game left this season and this wouldn’t give us the best chance of starting that run, yet we nearly achieved it.
Antony Murray and I discuss the game, the trip and basically ask - Celtic - What’s going on?!?
Enjoy…
2020 - A Year in Review
Twenty Twenty vision was hard work - a year of two halves. We ran away with the league until Covid came and we were robbed of the 9iar celebrations. When won a quadruple treble and again robbed of the celebrations. In the grand scheme of things it will be just one year of missing going to games and there are worse things happening in the world however it hurt to miss them all the same.
It WAS supposed to be a review with @antonymurray25 and @hullbhoy @stephen4_2 and myself but for a variety of reasons it was just Saint & I but we still managed to ramble on for 2 hours reviewing the seasons past and present in 2020.
Hullbhoy and Antony will be on again soon.
Meantime, please enjoy…
I don’t want to talk about it!
The maltesers edition.
And there it was - in the 62nd minute the final flickers of the 10iar dream were snuffed out when Nir Bitton climbed all over the back of Alfredo Morelos and Madden was presented with the opportunity to reduce us to 10 men and any chnce of clawing back the huge deficit went.
It wasn’t the Bitton sending off that killed the chances of winning the league and securing the 10. The seeds of this defeat were sowed long ago with a various key points since February 2012 when, presented with an opportunity, Celtic made the wrong choice. The key to losing the ten was when the club decided to focus on demoestic rather than European dominance. Set your standards low and and you achieve low.
Antony Murray and I review a game which, for the first hour, was dominated by Celtic.
Enjoy…
Quadruple Treble
No illiterative headlines name for the podcast - it’s a simple history making name. The remarkable dominance of Celtic over Scottish football continues as the third and final trophyof the 2019/20 season is secured and Celtic become world beaters by securing a fourth consecutive treble.
After a first 45 mins where we looked like we would go on to score 4 or 5 it was squeaky bum time and penalties were required.
I am joined by Antony Murray and Saint Anthony to discuss why that might have been, to review the game, the players, and the unique achievement of 4 trebles. We also (briefly) preview the Ross County game.
Enjoy…
Custer’s Last Stand
And the hits just keep on coming…..this week it was St Johnstone. Where do we go from here? Is it down to the lake I fear?
After the Ferencvaros game Antnony Murray and I were very critical of the manager and after 30 mins I got St Anthony on to be the voice of reason and calm us all down. Since then there has been no discernible improvement in performances and so we thought we’d get Saint back on.
We review the St Johnstone game, discuss the Cektic statement, try and think why the board are thinking as they are and then discussing whether we believe that 10iar can be saved.
After the analogies of Julius Ceaser, this week it’s Cowboys and Indians.
Enjoy…(if you can)
No longer surprising
Sorry to have such long breaks between podcasts, honestly, we’re not just waiting for defeats but I know many will be in the working every hour God sends boat at the moment and getting an hour to do a podcast is challenging.
Enough of that negativity - onto the hoops! As you’ll hear on the podcast, Antony Murray has just been teaching Julius Ceaser and one quote from that came to mind that our coaches and board would do well to think about;
“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.”
Something has to change, new coaches, new attitudes, I don’t know, but something.
Here’s hoping it’s soon.
Enjoy…
Count The Trophies
Following the Scottish Cup Semi-Final victory Celtic are on course for another treble - 4 in a row would be quite incredible and you would assume that everything in the garden is rosy…but it’s not. Thursday night saw another abysmal European result for the club and another performance were body language was dreadful on and off the pitch and it was hard to believe that this is a team coached to play together.
After the Feroncvaros defeat we had an immediate post game review (more of a rant) with myself and Antony Murray, later joined by the voice of reason Aint Anthony. This time we decided to hold off for a few days for a more taional debate.
We discuss everything and go back 8 years in reviewing where we are just now.
Enjoy…
Don’t forget that antony can be found on twitter @antonymurray25
With success in mind
Saturday’s result and performance could have been better…!
Rather than have a knee jerk rant, I thought it would be more appropriate to have some positive thinking on the podcast and who better than the guru of Scottish positive thinking, Mr Jack Black.
I first came across Jack around 1997 when my then boss handed me some audio tapes and said - I think this will be right up your street. The days before Apple Car Play or even in car CDs, these tapes were of Jack’s Mindstore lectures and they were a huge eye opener. At the time he was working with Rangers and it came as a revelation to me that he is actually a Celtic fan. Even more of a revelation was that he was a fan of our podcast and so when I discovered this I knew I had to get him on.
Work, work and more work have got in the way of late and so it’s simply a coincidence that he is on straight after THAT Rangers performance.
If you want to know more about Jack after listening you can log onto https://www.mindstore.com/
He’s also on twitter @jack_mindstore
Enjoy…
Many listeners have been enjoying the lifetime XI series of Antony Murray. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and this series is coming to a close, butnot before we have at least one more episode. This week Antony returns and we have episode 7 of the series.
Enjoy...
Celtic in the Black & White Era
There’s a new book out and St Anthony chats with the author, Steve Finan
This brand new book features hundreds of previously unseen classic Celtic photos from the glory days.
Even if you know the history . . . have you seen it like this? These photos have lain hidden in archives for 40, 50 or even 60 years. They show the great events such as the European Cup triumph of 1967, Hampden in the sun, Gil Heron’s debut, the John Thomson tragedy, and the Leeds United European tie of 1970. There are also scores of behind-the-scenes photos, images of Celtic heroes of the past as you’ve never seen them, and “new” old photos of the great games.
It is the ideal gift for any Celtic-minded person — nostalgia for those who remember, a chance to experience the halcyon days for those who don’t.
There’s never been a Celtic book like this!
Enjoy...
Garbage
Tonight Celtic played a team who are vastly inferior to us. They had three attempts on goal and scored with two of them. Meantime our manager picked a starting 11 with no striker and didn’t bring one on until the 78th minute. I get that Ajeti may not quite be fully fit and I fear Klimala not starting is because the manager doesn’t rate him. what a shit show
We wanted to get a podcast out and to your ears as quickly as possible and so we start with just Antony Murray and after 25 mins are joined by St Anthony. We discuss what to do and don’t come up with solutions, just moans.
If you can, enjoy…
Viva Espana
We have had a very eventful time of things both on and off the park at Celtic since our last podcast discussing the current squad. In that last podcast Juco James disected the pros and cons (minus the pros) of continuing to play Scott Brown. we then had the Killie game which was the usual purgatory on plastic. We lack creativity and gave away a stupid goal and many fingers pointed at Jullien and Brown. After that we had the Boli 24 hour Spanish holiday jaunt. In between we signed Ajeti.
With all this going on we needed a podcast and we needed some calm heads and so we have Hullbhoy and Duncan to discuss all this and more.
Enjoy…
Antony Murray returns to discuss the all time Celtic XI of another hoops fan. This week Paul Rutherford picks his favourite Celtic XI with some alternative options from the norm.
Enjoy...
The first game of the new season has just finished with a 5-1 victory over Hamilton so if you're looking for Celtic chat, we have episode 5 of the Lifetime XI podcasts. It's the first official podcast of our 15th season and features our old friend Lawrence Donegan.
He's had plenty of time to get the pronunciations correct so hopefully no mangling.
It's Antony Murray with Lawrence Donegan's best XI.
Enjoy...
Big Data, The Squad and Brown
Data and statistics are increasingly playing a big part in sport but our guest today suggests that football remains largely in the dark ages in this field. His belief is that this is changing, and rapidly and those clubs that are late adopters will find themselves at a long term disadvantage.
For those who follow him on twitter, @Jucojames has been at the forefront of detailing the numbers behind Celtic performances and, once we get past how he ended up being a Celtic numbers fanatic, we use the data to discuss the elephant in the room - at his age should Brown be playing so much football?
I’ll not do a spoiler but your head will tell you what your heart denies on that one.
Hope you enjoy the podcast - all 2 hours!
Enjoy…
This week we continue with Antony Murray discussing with guests their all time Celtic XI. This week the guest is our very own Lachie Mor. Regular listeners will know that Lachie has been attending games since before Stein and so with an array of talent to choose from including the Lions, the first 9iar team and the Seville team his all time XI will be an interesting listen.
Enjoy...
It's a simple concept, get a guest on and ask them to choose their favourite/best all time Celtic eleven but sometimes the simplest things are the best things and today we bring you episode 3. Hosted by Antony Murray listen and decide if you agree. If you don't tweet myself or Antony or email podcasts@celticunderground.net and we'll get you on.
Transfers and season books
Most of our output during these past few footballless months have been our specialist series - the 9iar chronicles and the new Lifetime 11 podcast series. There has been little else going on bar the season-book stooshie but far more important things going on in wider life and therefore we haven’t been as prolific as usual on the podcasts. We decided that needed to change!
We contacted Lawrence Donegan and Antony Murray and had a chat about all that is going on at our club - transfer gossip, season book sales and preparation for the new season. It’s all here in spades.
Sponsored by Ask Jeeves and My Space
Enjoy…
It's like buses, you wait for ages and then they come along with the frequency of, well, buses! It's episode two of the Celtic Lifetime XI podcast from Antony Murray. This week his guest is Kes Devaal.
Both guys can be found on Twitter @KesDevaal and @antonymurray25
This is the first in a series of Celtic Underground podcast where Antony Murray discusses with guests their lifetime Celtic XI.
This week Antony chats with Gregg Kennedy to review his Lifetime XI.
The 9iar Chronicles - Season not the ten 1974/75 Two Cups - but no Ten-in-a-Row
- League Position – 3rd - finishing 11pts behind Rangers who won the Leagueand 4pts behind Hibernian
- League Cup – Winners
- Scottish Cup – Winners
- Drybrough Cup - Winners
- European Cup - First Round
Celtic were to miss out on a world record of ten consecutive League championships this season and had to be content with the two domestic cups and the Drybrough Cup in it's last year. This season saw the retirement of Billy McNeill and the departure on free transfers at the end of the season of the last true veterans of the golden age with the release of Jimmy Johnstone and Jim Brogan. The only remaining Lisbon Lion at the end of the season was Bobby Lennox. Celtic did not travel abroad for any pre-season games this season but used the Drybrough Cup and domestic friendlies to sort the team out. There was an embarrassing one-off trip to West Germany to play Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen which ended in the joint highest defeat under Jock Stein so far. Interest in the Drybrough Cup was faintly raised when the final threw Rangers and Celtic together with the game ending in a draw and Celtic winning the rights to the Cup 4-2 on penalties. This was the last season this Cup would be played though it would return in 1979. The performances were somewhat jaded and lacking in enthusiasm one normally expected from a Celtic team but this was put down to a short inter-season lay-off period with the World Cup and Scotland's involvement in that also taking place during the shut down. Added to this would be that Danny McGrain had returned from the World Cup having been diagnosed diabetic. The League Cup saw Celtic in Group 4 with Motherwell, Dundee Utd and Ayr Utd. The format had been changed with one team qualifying from each group for the Quarter finals and the rather silly offside rule used in the Drybrough - only being offside beyond the 18 yard box - persisted with even though it was disliked by all. In the second game Celtic received a shock losing to Ayr Utd. The jaded performances were for real and Jock Stein found himself with three immediate problems :- a goalkeeping crisis, a vulnerable defense and the strike force misfiring. These all needed to be addressed. None could be addressed with immediate effect. Celtic, however, duly put the results together to qualify for the quarter finals with a game in hand in the Group Satge and were drawn against Hamilton Academicals managed by ex-Celt Eric Smith. A 2-0 win at home followed by a 4-2 away win saw them comfortably through to face Airdrie in the semi final. This was a turgid affair settled by a single goal from Stevie Murray in the second half. Hibernian had also made it through all the way and the final was a classic Celtic performance with Dixie Deans scoring a hatrick as well as Joe Harper also getting a hatrick and ending on the losing side. That was one Cup in the bag done and dusted by the end of October. Already Celtic had seen George Connelly walk out and state that he was quitting football. He did relent and returned to train and eventually win a starting place again in November and December. But the assessment of the team had seen Jimmy Quinn, Vic Davidson, Jimmy Bone and Andy Lynch all told that they could leave on frees. Also by this time Celtic found themselves out of the European Cup at the first hurdle. A 1-1 draw at home achieved after the sending off of an Olympiakos player was not enough and in the flare and smoke of the Athens game Celtic went down 2-0.Olympiakos were an unfancied side and they duly made their own exit at the next round. Was this an indication of European fragility? The side that had won the big cup, made the semi final twice and had been described as European attack masters looked woefully out of sorts. What happened in the League to lose the tenth successive title is really a continuation of the faults that had been seen at the start of the season being cruelly exposed in the second half in the New Year. By that point Ronnie Glavin had been signed after much beating around the fee from Partick Thistle. At the age of 23 he had been the Jags captain and leading player as well as a Scotland U-23 cap. Signed in November for a club record of £80,000, Glavin had been a target for a number of clubs and Partick Thistle, under manager and ex-Celt Bertie Auld were looking to cash in. Glavin arrived to add extra firepower and to help Dalglish who was turning out to be easily the most competent and rounded player in Scotland. After a successful scoring debut he found it not as easy as first thought to fit into the team and in January he found himself dropped as Stein wrestled to find a winning formula again. The catalyst that started to bring the house tumbling down was the 3-0 loss to Rangers at Ibrox in January. Celtic did not play too badly but there were too many first team players that failed to hit form and this was worrying. With a further 4 points dropped in the next five games which included dispiriting draws away to Arbroath and at home to Dumbarton. With the goalkeeping crisis much in evidence Peter Latchford was recruited from West Bromwich Albion. Latchford came up and played in a Friendly and in wizard time he was duly signed on an initial loan deal and saw out the rest of the season as first choice keeper. At times the support and Jock Stein must have thought what they had taken on as Latchford was prone to the occasional howler and soft goal. But he would develop substantially from this his first season at Celtic. Despite trying everything the crisis could not be averted and Celtic would drop a further 13 points in 10 games to finish third behind Rangers and Hibernian. Needless to say this was a shock to the supporters who had come to see over the last 10 years the Championship as a permanent feature at Celtic Park and the League programme kicking off each season with the raising of a new Championship flag. The reality was that the flow of players coming through had dried up. Though Dalglish was without doubt the most accomplished footballer in Scotland he could not do it all by himself. The midfield lacked a David Hay type player. George Connelly, whilst a gifted sweeper and defender as well as having exquisite skill, was now emotionally fragile. McNeill was reaching the end of his career as too was Jim Brogan. Add to that a lack of bite upfront, despite Paul Wilson having his best season ever, it was more a collective malaise within the strike force that saw them missing chances and playing underpar when before they had been the Green Machine. The retrieval of the season came with the Scottish Cup winning 3-1 against Airdrie who were in their first Cup Final since 1928. By this point the League had already been lost so it was with absolute faith that Jock Stein sent them out onto the Hampden pitch knowing that they would return with the cup. At the end of that game Billy McNeill announced his retirement. If the club felt low at having to bear the loss of the tenth successive League title then they could console themselves with two trophies at least. Things could not get worse. Could they? Enjoy…
The Rugby League Podcast!
Welcome to the Celtic Underground Rugby League podcast. Listeners will be wondering why a Celtic fans podcast is talking about rubgy league - because we want to.
Although born in Scotland, all my relatives are from Cumbria and specifically, for those who know the area they are from an area steeped in rubgy league history - Whitehaven, Cleator Moor and into Workington.
When I grew up my mum’s dad was in to horse racing and Rugby League, Working Town Rugby League to be precise. He obviously entertained football chat with his Celtic daft grandkids, but for this man from the mines, League was the sport for him. It ingrained in me the concept that league was proper rugby and as I grew older and saw Union as the Toffs sport but arrogantly referred to as Rugby I retained that soft spot.
I’m not an avid watcher but I’ll look in when it’s on and will watch the Grand Final every year. I have always felt League and the towns where it is based have a close affinity of the central belt of Scotland where football is so strong and so I thought I’d do a podcast with an expert, providing a bit more detail on what the sport is, why it is different (and better) than Union and what better time than now in lockdown with limited sport but the Australian NRL starting up this weekend.
Enjoy…
A Double and Nine-in-a-Row
- League Position – 1st - Ninth League title in a row - a record
- League Cup – Losing Finalists
- Scottish Cup – Winners
- Drybrough Cup - Losing Finalists
- European Cup - Losing Semi-Finalists
The most outstanding accolade of the season was the completion of nine League championship titles in a row closely followed by reaching the semi-finals of the European Cup for a fourth time they had reached that stage or beyond since 1967. For a club the size of Celtic in a nation the size of Scotland this was exceptional. That they never went on to the final was down to the cheating aspects of their semi-final opponents, Atletico Madrid, and the left-over taste of the nature of the games with them has remained with the club and supporters ever since 1974.
The season began slowly with Jock Stein saying that he wanted to see the team play differently. The early Friendly games saw Celtic playing a one-touch game where the team endeavoured to control the ball and maintain possession. The early season Friendlies in Ireland saw this style of game unfold. These games were followed by the what looked to be annual performance of the Drybrough Cup, a trophy which seemed to challenge everyone to accept it as a legitimate enterprise but, although the teams taking part played out the games fully, there was always the feeling that it was a somewhat half-hearted affair as shown by the willingness to change the rules of the game. This was the first season that two substitutes were allowed in all matches and the Drybrough Cup continued with a half-baked moderation of the offside rule. This experiment continued through the League Cup and was a reflection of views of change within the world of football at the time. Celtic again failed to win the Drybrough losing in the final to Hibernian for the second year running .
The League Cup followed with the bastardised offside rule continuing, Celtic qualifying from the seeded Group Stage behind Rangers who they would meet again and defeat at the semi-final stage. Between that game there were wins against Motherwell after a replay, and Aberdeen. The semi final saw a comprehensive 3-1 win for Celtic with Harry Hood scoring a hatrick. The final against Dundee played at Hampden with a 1:30 kick off due to anti-floodlighting measures imposed under the state of emergency regulations, was a game that neither side wanted to play with the Hampden pitch frozen and rugged. Referee Bobby Davidson had other ideas and the game went ahead. Celtic duly lost to a single goal thus losing the fourth League Cup final in a row.
In the League the Celtic green machine rolled on with generally the expectation that Celtic would win every game they undertook. That might have been the supporters and the pundits expectations but the other teams in the League had other ideas. It was Hibernian that provided the challenge mainly, along with the Tayside clubs and a rejuvenated Motherwell under the new managership of Ian St. John. The games against Rangers saw Celtic win well with 1-0 wins which neither reflected the overrall domination over the blue horde nor told the full story. But a comprehensive lead in the league was established and Celtic lead the table for the greater part of the season. The losses were instructive.
A home game was lost to Dundee in February, the first Sunday game, with McNeill and Hay recovering from 'flu and George Connelly only just restored to the first team after his voluntary absence from Celtic Park. In fact the problem for Celtic with David Hay and George Connelly tainted the whole of the early season. Hay was one of the few people that George Connelly, an enigma in the minds of many but a potential footballing superstar who had it all, trusted and called a friend at Celtic. When Hay wanted more in his contract he was transfer listed and when he threatened to go on strike he was suspended. Celtic handled the complete situation badly. Hay was wanted by other teams, but what Davie wanted was to stay but not at the terms that Celtic were offering. Celtic wanted the best they could get in allowing a valuable player to leave. George Connelly reacted in solidarity to his great mate, and saw himself dropped for a long period to the Reserves. These were two great players whose ball playing and passing skills were missed.
Eventually it got sorted out and Davie went on to a good season but George broke his ankle in the home leg against Basel and was out for the rest of the season. Their importance as footballers could be gauged by the fact that both were included in the Scotland World Cup squad. The League was won with three games to spare, against Falkirk with a draw. Celtic finished with a four point cushion to Hibernian in the runners-up spot.
The European Cup started with the usual high aggregate thrashing of some unknowns. This year it was Finnish side TPS Turku with 6-1 away and 3-0 home wins. In the second round Celtic were draw against Danish champions Vejle. These were no pushovers and Celtic underestimated them at home with a 0-0 draw badly missing the leadership of Billy McNeill. They got out of jail free in Denmark with a 1-0 win playing a holding game after going ahead. This brought Celtic to face Swiss champions FC Basel in the quarter finals. Basel had grown and moved on immeasurably since the team that Celtic had overcome in 1969. They were well organised and confident. The away leg was first and Celtic lost 3-2 with Evan Williams losing two goals he should have saved and sealing his fate for the taxi at the end of the season.
With Scotland keeper Ally Hunter injured Stein had to resort to Denis Connaghan, the No. 3 in the blind spot position for the return. It was a tense game not helped when George Connelly broke his ankle after only five minutes. But Kenny Dalglish and Dixie Deans, who was rapidly turning into the ace scorer of the season, had Celtic 2-0 up and Tommy Callaghan got the aggregate equaliser taking it to extra time. Barely into the first period Steve Murray, who played a major part in the season, lobbed a beautiful ball over the goalkeeper and Celtic were through. That brought Atletico Madrid and a return of Argentinians to Celtic Park. So much has been written about the game. The home leg was a travesty of football and the 0-0 draw saw the Spanish side celebrating like they were already into the final. The away leg which UEFA insisted had to be played, was pure intimidation. Celtic took their collective eyes off the ball and dulty lost 2-0. So another year and through to the semi and undone by bad sportsmanship. The feeling still lingers with any mention of Atletico Madrid.
Celtic won back the Scottish Cup with a 3-0 win over Dundee Utd. The run had started with two 6-1 wins over Clydebank and Stirling Albion. Motherwell proved harder opposition requiring a replay after a 2-2 draw at home. The 1-0 semi final win against Dundee bore no relation to the domination Celtic showed over Dundee throughout the game. And two goals in 25 minutes saw Celtic kill the final.
Of the players so far unmentioned Danny McGrain made his mark this season establishing himself as an overlapping defender of exceptional quality. Billy McNeill led from the front at the back (so to speak...) Everyone wanted to know how long he would go on playing and it looked as if he would think about retirement. The next season would see his Testimonial and his final season. Bobby Murdoch went on a free transfer in September to Middlesbrough where he would have a second career. Pat McCluskey established himself in the team and vied for a starting role with George Connelly. If anything Jimmy Johnstone faded from sight at the start of the season and Stein told him to buck his ideas up and screw the nut. Jinky duly applied himself and he was back to his best for the latter half of the season going on to be kicked black-and-blue by the goths of Madrid. Brian McLaughlin who had been seen as the up-and-coming new 'wunderkind' suffered a serious knee injury which saw him miss much of the season. And the forwards just rolled on. Deans was top scorer in Scotland,; Harry Hood continued to confound people; Dalglish was the best Scottish product since Macari left; Paul Wilson had a supersub tag; and Bobby Lennox, now over 30, confounded everyone with his bursts of speed. If there was a failure it was the inability of Jimmy Bone to fit in and Andy Lynch languishing in the Reserves.
But the team worked well as a unit. There were young players coming through (a certain Tommy Burns was called up at the end of the season from Maryhill Juniors where he had been farmed out) and there was no reason to believe that the following season would again see Celtic challenging.
The Celtic Underground Top Ten season 2017-18 A topical podcast this week as we review the top ten players for the 7th season of the current 9iar….but don’t worry, the first 20 mins are disccusing the fact that tonight, as we record the podcast, Celtic are officially champions of Scotland AGAIN and have officially achieved 9iar AGAIN. First up we have a very special message from the manager to all our listeners (yes, we actually do) and then we have a 20 minute chat about achieving 9iar and how it is better than expected. From there we get to the meat and bones of the podcast and discuss your votes for the 2017-18 CU Top Ten. You may wonder why it is season 2017-18. Well, we collated the votes but unfortunately I was too busy with work and nevergot around to actually recording the podcast. We must have a complet record and so the podcast is recorded. We will be doing 2018-19 and voting is open now (until midnight on 10th June) for the 2019-20 season Top Ten and Samars moment. You can email podcasts@celticunderground.net The voting was as follows;
| 1. Scott Brown
| 2. Forrest
| 3. McGregor
| 4. KT
| 5. Ntcham
| 6. Ajer
| 7. Rogic
| 8. Boyata
| 9. Edouard
| 10. Dembele
|
| Samaras Moment;
| 1st - Lustig Hat
| 2nd - McGregor Equaliser v Bayern Munich
| 3rd - RFC Fans cheering getting us in the cup - be careful what you wish for Enjoy…
The 9iar Chronicles - Season 8 1972/73 (Courtesy of The Celtic Wiki) The New to the Fore.
- League Position – 1st - Eighth League title in a row - a record
- League Cup – Losing Finalists
- Scottish Cup – Losing Finalists
- Glasgow Cup - Not played this season
- Drybrough Cup - Losing Finalists
- European Cup - Second Round
So close to being a Double; so close to being a Treble! And in the end a record consecutive eighth League Championship title. Season 1972-73 should have been the season when the club-developed players of the Quality Street Gang became the new Lions. It was the best season so far for them, with Kenny Dalglish showing himself as the most exciting footballer in Scotland at the age of 22; where George Connelly had it all and was very nearly an ever present in the side; where Davie Hay showed what a great utility player he could be,the emergence of Danny McGrain as a great overlapping full back. But it was also the season of the wayward youth, with Lou Macari - spotted and developed by the club - demanding more and then heading south when he didn't get his way. Suppoprters opinions of Macari tend to be tainted by the later period when he returned to the club as manager between 1993 to 1994. As a player for Celtic, Macari was a superb goal scorer and poacher. But he was a very different kind of beast from players of the Lions era. Macari had not only quickly endeared himself to the Celtic support but had made the full Scotland international team early and had been on international tour to the States and to Brazil. He had married in St Patrick's Cathedral, New York, and it was very clear he did not like the fishbowl life of football in Scotland. In the closed season he had played in Brazil for Scotland with Tommy Docherty as Scotland manager and Docherty had woven him tales of football south of the border. At the start of the season when he returned to Celtic he began or continued to make demands for better terms. As the season wore on towards 1973 these demands continued and unrest began to ferment in the dressing room. Finally Jock Stein and the Board had enough in December. He'd been injured through much of November and came back for the away game against Dumbarton in early December and then he was out with 'flu and a 'stomach upset' and out over the Christmas period. This coincided with a crisis period at the club with Jock Stein taken into hospital with a cardiac scare. By the New Year Macari was on the transfer list. It was no longer a question of 'if' he would go but 'when' and 'where' and 'for how much'. Would it be Liverpool where he was a guest at their home match after inspecting the club facilities. But it was to team up again with Tommy Docherty, now manager at Manchester Utd, that he always wanted and there he went for £200,000. (There is a very good appraisal by St Anthony of Macari's playing time at Celtic here.)
Such was the surfeit of riches at the club at the time that it could be argued that his departure was barely missed. And the £200,000 his transfer brought in allowed the purchase of Ally Hunter, Andy Lynch and Steve Murray. The season had begun with the sterile competition that was the Drybrough Cup, with altered offside rules, with Celtic losing to Hibs in the final, the game going to extra time after Celtic pulled back three goals to level the match at the 90. But Hibs found the gaps in extra time and lifted the trophy.The League Cup also had changed format somewhat with teams now seeded in the Group stage and winners and runners up going through to a home-and-away second round before the quarter finals. Everything went well till Celtic met Dundee in the quarter finals. In the away leg Dundee had scored after 20 minutes and then withstood strong Celtic pressure to carry a single goal advantage to Celtic Park. There, a weak linesman and referee Bobby Davidson contrived a 3-2 scoreline which saw a replay on a Monday night at Hampden. The Bhoys made no mistake here and ran out 4-1 winners. A semi-final win over Aberdeen set up the final against Hibernian. And on the day Celtic ran up against Stanton in great form. Two Cups played. Losing finalists twice! And the third Cup would go the same way. It began well with 4-1 and 4-0 wins against East Fife and Motherwell respectively. At the quarter final Celtic played Aberdeen who came to bore everybody to death. On top of that Jimmy Johnstone lost the place and was sent off. The replay at Pittodrie was nearly as boring - except on 86 minutes up came Big Billy and the ball was headed in the back of the net. Dundee, as in the League Cup but this time at semi final stage, and for some reason Aberdeen's defensive tactics caught on and Dundee bored everyone to death with a 0-0 draw. The replay saw a continuation of dull football but a tactical switch which saw Hay switched to defense and Connelly to midfield resulted in Jinky receiving the ball and scoring two good goals and Dalglish getting one. And so.... on to the final against the auld enemy in their centenary year. A cut-n-thrust game in which Connelly scored a penalty (in the light of a succession of missed penalties in previous games from other Celtic spot-kick takers) saw Forsyth on the goal line where Brogan, who had just been subbed, would normally have been, steal in and nip the ball into the net. Celtic tried to get back the goal but it was Rangers cup. Three Cups played. Losing finalists thrice! The League was tighter than it had been for a while with Celtic topping out by just the one point but a huge goal difference margin.Throughout the season there were periods when the team played less well as a unit and that aweful sin of profligacy in front of goal raised it's ugly head again. All this contributed to the punditry and journos doubting Celtic's ability to take the title this season and continue with the Green Machine the following season. In Europe, Celtic ran up against one of last season's teams - Ujpesti Dosza of Hungary. Last season they had met when the Hungarians were only starting their season. This time they were well warmed up and Celtic found them too good in Budapest. A 2-1 win at Celtic Park was countered by a 3-0 loss in Hungary and Celtic were out at the Second Round. Dalglish, Hay, Connelly, McGrain and Macari have already been mentioned. The veterans also had their part to play. Big Billy was Captain Dependable as ever. Jim Brogan was missing more games through injury but when he was in he made the perfect left back to Danny McGrain's right. Bobby Lennox might see a good few sub spots this season but he still had lethal speed and his knowledge of the game was special in a forward. And Bobby Murdoch was noted when missing and his cool head made for reflection on the game when he played. The goalkeeper crisis was 'real' till the arrival of Ally Hunter from Kilmarnock who would have an outstanding first season between the sticks. His sureness inspired confidence in those in front of him. Jinky had off and on periods throughout the season and for his off periods he paid for by being dropped. The luxury of the team with so many good players was that it could and was tailored for conditions and teams. At the end of the season there were those who asked if Celtic could go on and do it again the next season or if the newly resurgent Hibernian or Dundee or, god forbid, Rangers would make a serious challenge next season. Enjoy…
SPFL TO RFC - WTF?
It’s here, the dossier that everyone (well everyone in scottish football) was waiting for. The evidence, the whistle blower, the reports of bullying, the substantiation, the smoking guns, deep throat, the bombshells that would lead to the resignation of the CEO were all…well NOT there.
Unfortunately RFC seem to confuse questions with evidence and fact with opinion.
Following it’s publication, their CEO (who sits on the SPFL board that is so useless) appeared on Radio Clyde. after his appearance I’m even more confused as to what it is they want an inquiry into.
Anyway, we set about trying to disect it the whole mess. I am joined by Anthony Murray and David Low to look at this as objectively as Celtic fans can.
Enjoy…
The 9iar Chronicles - Season Seven, 1971/72 A Blend of Old and New
- League Position – 1st - Seventh League title in a row - a record
- League Cup – Losing Finalists
- Scottish Cup – Winners
- Glasgow Cup - Not played this season
- Drybrough Cup - Losing Finalists
- European Cup - Semi Finalists
Season 1971-72 was a significant season as it really marked the start of a new chapter for the club, of players that had begun to appear the previous season but made their true marks this season. It also marked in truth the end of the Lisbon Lions era (but not the memory of that great team) with the departure of so many that had made up that team. The Main Stand had been substantially rebuilt and upgraded during the closed season and was formally opened by Jimmy McGrory on the 1st September 1971 with a game against South American Champions Nacional of Uruguay, Celtic running out 3-0 winners. By this point Celtic had already lost the inaugural Drybrough Cup to Aberdeen. This was an interesting competition historically as it marked the first time that outside private sponsorship was seen in the professional game in Scotland. In the League Cup, Celtic qualified from the Group stage of Rangers, Morton and Ayr Utd. with resounding wins over Rangers home and away. The 'home' leg which was actually played at Ibrox because of the final work on the new Main Stand at Celtic Park, was significant in marking Kenny Dalglish's first first team goal. There would be many more. In the away game Celtic thoroughly demoralised a Rangers team that thought they had the beating of Celtic after an even first half. Quarter final and Semi final wins over Clydebank (marked by Brian McLaughlin's debut) and St Mirren followed to give a final at Hampden against a newly promoted and envigorated Partick Thistle. The result was not expected. With Billy McNeill absent, the Jags went 4-0 up by half time. Thistle were on fire and the 4-1 result and loss would mark a turn at Celtic and bring about arrivals and departures. The days of the Lions were gone. The emerging talent was the Quality Street Gang and the prime examples were Kenny Dalglish, Lou Macari, Davie Hay, George Connelly and Danny McGrain. Out had gone John Clark - a crisp and reliant reader and thinker of the game who had become the sweeper - and Steve Chalmers at 35 years old. After the League Cup Final loss they would be followed by John Hughes and Willie Wallace to Crystal Palace and Tommy Gemmell in December with John Fallon going to Motherwell in 1972 and Jim Craig heading for South Africa at the end of the season. In came new buys Dixie Deans, regarded as a steal of a buy from Motherwell at £17,500, and for the perpetual blind-spot of goalkeeper came Denis Connaghan from St Mirren. But it was the young gang, recruited and developed through the lean years who Sir Robert Kelly had asked the fans to be patient for who took on the new mantle of Celtic and won the Double of League and Scottish Cup this season. Jock Stein had the team playing a fluid system this season with as ever, everyone ready to both attack and defend so that players could switch and everyone to a greater or lesser extent could be a 'utility' player. No one exemplified this so much as Davie Hay and Dalglish. Both could play anywhere on the park, were elegant and confident on the ball, could pass accurately over distance to supply the killer ball and could shoot and score goals. Davie Hay had emerged earlier and would play anywhere in the team. Dalglish really became THE player this season, at home up front or supporting in a withdrawn midfield role. To be able to release an international full back of the stature of Tommy Gemmell meant that Jock Stein was confident in the resources that he had at Celtic Park. Jim Brogan continued to play well and was a veteran giving advice and support. Jim Craig's final season saw him make 28 first team starts and he would probably have continued to be picked for the first team had he chosen to stay. Furthering his career in dentistry, the warmer climate of South Africa and new challenges called, however. Jimmy Quinn had been at the club since he was 16 and had first been used as an out-and-out striker but the previous season had seen him turned into a fast overlapping defender and this was further developed this season. He did well. Danny McGrain looked like he was ready to step up and but for an unfortunate clash of heads and the resulting fractured skull would have become a stand out this season. He had to wait but he was clearly going to be the business. The two supreme veterans that held it together were Billy McNeill and Bobby Murdoch. Cesar impressed so much this season that he won his Scotland place back under the new international manager Tommy Docherty. His cool head in the centre of defense and his power were rarely beaten and if he did have an off-day then the team suffered. Bobby Murdoch was as important as a playmaker as McNeill was as a defender. These two knitted the younger players into a unit and continued the Celtic tradition built up over seven League titles of what was required from a Celtic team and a Celtic player. Worth mentioning too is Tommy Callaghan. He had probably his best ever season for the club in 1971-72 and ran his heart out as a water carrier and attacker as well as being a tireless midfield player. Never a fans favourite, he sometimes found himself the brunt of the terraces' ire but his performances this season were collosal and his hard work allowed the finesse of Dalglish, Macari, Hood, Lennox and Johnstone to shine. In the goalkeeping stakes things were still as obscure as ever in the blind-spotted Stein's mind. Not since the glory days of Ronnie Simpson had he felt so uncertain about the feller in front of the onion bag. Evan Williams had started as first choice, but Gordon Marshall and Denis Connaghan were brought in to challenge, and rejected. A young keeper Tom Lally had been brought over from Sligo Rovers but had played more games for Morton on loan than at Celtic. Lally would leave the following season. Both Marshall and John Fallon left to fill spots at Aberdeen and Motherwell when those teams experienced injury crises. Added to these can be the youths that were picked up during the season. - Neil Carr from Maryhill Juniors; Stefan Gryzska from Whitehill Welfare; Leif Neilsen - an experienced Danish keeper who was in dispute with Morton and released by them on a free; and Tom Livingstone who had been a youth international keeper and was released when he lost his first team spot with Cumbernauld Utd. To these would be added more and it would remain a troublesome position for some time - till the Big Man made his final club signing. This was a very interesting season - the blend of youth and vigour and experience; A Double Season; so nearly into another European Cup Final; players competing for positions and keen to show what they could do; a wealth of talent that had been developed by hard training who were fit, confident, competent and keen. It would be interesting to see how the club would develop.
The 9iar Chronciles - Season Six 1970/71 Merely Champions? Merely a Double? The End of an Era?
- League Position – 1st - Sixth League title in a row
- League Cup – Losing Finalists
- Scottish Cup – Winners
- Glasgow Cup - Semi-Final
- European Cup - Quarter Final
Celtic won their sixth successive League Championship and the League and Scottish Cup Double - the 7th time they had achieved this. But many folk were now shaking their heads and saying that the team was not what it was. The problem appeared to be less in what was on display but how the team achieved it's wins and the manner of those wins. Celtic had invested heavily in youth in the past and in the development of players through from youths and Juniors through to first team players. Sir Robert Kelly had warned Celtic supporters in the fallow years to be patient and to wait for the youngsters coming through. That wait had resulted in the Lisbon Lions and the years of fat which preceded this season. Further investment in youth saw the emergence of the Kelly Kids and the Quality Street Gang and these were the players that were breaking through throughout this season and who would take the club forward. The problem was that these young players were seen in performance against the ageing Lisbon Lions squad and the games were judged by Lisbon Lions standards. Time had not stood still for the Lions. Though Ronnie Simpson, the oldest of the Lisbon Lions, had retired at the end of the previous season, it was at the end of this season that the major departures of the Lions began. Bertie Auld, Stevie Chalmers and John Clark all moved on - a situation that would have been thought impossible back two seasons past - and they would soon be joined by others. But their time had come they needed to and had to move on for the team's sake. Jock Stein realised this and throughout the season he carefully assessed all the playing staff at the club - who was in, who was available, who was coming through. And change was inevitable to preserve the talent of the club and to continue to move forward and to challenge for glory. Enjoy…
Covid or Novid
As you will hear, this is not our usual Celtic Underground guest - for a start she doesn’t go to games… More importantly that attending Celtic games however, she is working to save lives. Haley (my niece) is a nirse currently working in A&E, sometimes in general accodent & emergency, other times (liek this past week) on the Covid19 ward. To use the hospital jargon, she is either Covd or Novid.
Don’t worry, the content won’t unnerve (it might even put your mind at rest) for example A&E’s are quieter than normal.
She talks through what you might find if you go to hospital for whatever reason, what some of the symptoms are to look out for, how here and her colleagues are coping and, of course, the situation with PPE.
Enjoy…
The 9iar Chronicles - Season Five 1969/70
A brilliant season that was nearly incredible!
- League Position – 1st - Fifth League title in a row
- League Cup – Winners
- Scottish Cup – Losing finalists
- Glasgow Cup -
- European Cup - Losing finalists
When you look at that list of season accomplishments above you would have to conclude that it was so close to being a very successful season. The Double was very nearly a treble and close to a European quadruple. The truth is in the detail.
The one word that many people use when describing this season is 'complacency' The League was won by a clear 12 points from second placed (again) Rangers. Four league games were lost, three of them at home to Hibernian, Hearts and Aberdeen with the one away loss to Dunfermiline. The team played for the most part 'within' themselves and this led a number of observers to state that at times the team were over-confident and complacent in their handling of the game.
However, as the podcast confirms, this was somewhat unfair
Enjoy…
The 9iar Chronicles - Season Four 1968/69 TREBLES ALL ROUND! * League Position – 1st - Fourth League title in a row * League Cup – Winners * Scottish Cup – Winners * Glasgow Cup - Semi-Final * European Cup - Quarter Final
An extremely successful season, the second treble season and the 6th League and Cup double. Only two blips dotted the horizon. Those were the quarter final loss to AC Milan, who went on to win the European Cup this season, and losses home and away to Rangers in the League. They still finished five points behind in second place in the league, a result that again prompted whole scale changes across the river. The other loss in the league was at home to Morton at the end of the season. A total of 29 games were won with 89 goals for and 32 against and the points total was 55. The previous season had seen 30 wins with a massive 106 goals for and 24 against and 63 points. Celtic had been one of the first clubs to protest against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. This led to the eastern Bloc teams pulling out of the competition and led to a redraw of the First Round. Celtic faced St Etienne who were beginning to come to prominence in Europe. Missing Bobby Murdoch and Tommy Gemmell they lost 2-0 away which was a major fright. A furious Stein vowed to go for all-out attack in the return game and the Celts gave no quarter running out 4-0 winners at Celtic Park to go through to face Red Star Belgrade who had failed to withdraw with the rest of the Eastern Bloc teams. They won 5-1 at home with Jimmy Johnstone running riot in the second half when told he might not have to travel if Celtic got a four goal advantage and then Johnstone-less held out with a 1-1 draw in Belgrade. and so on to the Quarter finals against AC Milan. The away leg in the San Siro was played in a snow storm in atrocious conditions and ended 0-0. Celtic were now being feted to go on to a final against Manchester Utd. But it was not to be, when Billy McNeill blundered early to allow Prati to score. Manchester Utd, by the way, lost to AC Milan 2-1 in the semi final. In the League Cup Celtic qualified easily from the group stage winning all their games in a group with Morton, Partick Thistle and Rangers and were the best performing qualifier from all the groups. The Quarter final saw Hamilton Accies put to the sword with an aggregate score of 14-2. With a 10-0 win in the first leg Jock Stein felt confident enough to give many of the younger staff a run out with the average team age being 22. Onto the semi against Clyde which proved to be a hard fought match which was only settled by a goal from George Connelly, on as a substitute for Joe McBride. The final at Hampden was delayed due to a fire and when finally played in April Celtic destroyed Hibernian 6-2. Six goals up in 75 minutes they took their foot off the pedal for the last quarter of an hour allowing Hibs to score two goals. The Scottish Cup started with the first round proper against Partick Thistle away and Celtic let a comfortable 3-1 lead slip away to a 3-3 draw. The Big Man wasn't happy in the least and conducted an in-depth investigation demanding more from the players. The replay was never in doubt with every forward scoring in a 8-1 win. The second round saw Celtic drawn away again against Clyde. In a match that probably should not have been played Celtic drew 0-0 with Ronnie Simpson carried off with a dislocated shoulder which would see him out for the rest of the season. The replay was won 3-0 on a heavy and muddy pitch. The quarter final saw them drawn at home against Willie Ormond's St Johnstone. This proved to be an excellent game where the Bhoys showed all their fighting spirit to come back when St Johnstone equalised. The semi was against Morton who scored first but then had no answer to the brilliance of Jimmy Johnstone. And so onto the final against Rangers. This was Jock Stein at his best outwitting Rangers and out-thinking Davie White. Throughout the season Jimmy Johnstone and John Hughes were outstanding on either wing both proving themselves to be world class players. Jimmy managed to get himself suspended by the club for shouting at the bench and throwing his shirt when he was substituted in the League game against Dundee Utd. The story still leads to much hilarity when told but was serious at the time. Jock Stein would regularly throw the curve ball at the opposition by having John Hughes run out in the number 11 shirt and then play him at centre forward. Bobby Murdoch won the Scottish Player of the Year award, Willie Wallace finished top scorer. And finally Robert Kelly was given and accepted a knighthood on behalf of the club. All seemed good at the club with the lack of knighthood for Jock Stein transferred to one for the Chairman and on the field a vivacious, attack-minded Celtic team and more quality youngsters coming through. Enjoy…
Aitch is retired!
I love having guests on the podcast. Most of the time we have myself and the usual team of guys discussing the events of the day affecting our cub however every so ogten we get guests on to provide us with a little something extra. What makes the guest so great is that they give up, what usually ends up being 2 hours+ of their day to be “interviewed” by a complete amatuer and they do so willingly and for free. What is also great is when the guest has so many stories that I run out of time to ask all the questions that pop into my head and that was the case with Andrew.
A great guest who was at Celtic during an incredible time, Andrew has some brilliant stories to tell. so many in fact that we will need him back on again because, after 90 minutes I ran out of time.
I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed recording this.
Enjoy…
The 9iar chronicles - Season Three 1967/68 The Second Greatest Season EVER in the History of the Club - and a Double season.
- League Position – 1st - Third League title in a row
- League Cup – Winners
- Scottish Cup – First Round
- Glasgow Cup - Winners
- European Cup - First Round
After the highs of 1967-68 it would be difficult to know how to go forward with the club. That Jock Stein had a vision of where the club should be was without doubt. He had clearly shown that the club could move forward with suitable backing and one voice. That direction was most clearly in Europe and to be recognised as a great and formidable club. And for this reason Europe and the participation in European competitions was THE most important thing. That is not to say that the other games were non-important. If Jock Stein was anything, he was competitive and aspirational. Having done it once, he wanted to do it again. It seems almost inevitable as nemesis follows hubris that having won the competition at the first time of asking that the following season the team should fall at the first hurdle. But that's what happened. In Dynamo Kiev, they met a team as well prepared and ready to fight as Celtic were. At home in the first leg, they lost an early goal and then a second, both from errors made by Celtic players and though the effort was all-out in the second half they could only find the one goal. Stein had been looking for a win and by a clear three goals to give him the margin for the return leg. As a master of 'attack being the best form of defense' the away leg would have to be all-out attack. What happened was that though Celtic charged, the game was sorely affected by the pernickety refereeing of an Italian and the Bhoys never got a good clear run to build up the constant pressure of 9 men capable of scoring. And then on 59 minutes Bobby Murdoch was sent off for a second yellow card. A seemingly decent goal was then disallowed and Celtic found themselves knocked out. With an abrupt termination of European competition this season, the necessity to qualify for next season was paramount. The League HAD to be one. There was just no two ways about this. The team embarked on a winning streak which lasted till the 2nd January and the game against Rangers at Celtic Park. Rangers were two points ahead in the League. The stage was set and no one was more keen than Jock Stein to put Celtic back where they belonged. What happened was to haunt John Fallon for the rest of his career. Two goalkeeping errors allowed Rangers to draw 2-2 and the nip-and-tuck would go on right to the end of the season. In the end it was Rangers that blinked. It was for them to lose the title which they duly did, missing out in crucial games allowing Celtic to continue to maintain their League win record and take the title with a rousing performance at Dunfermiline. The drive for the League Championship this season established records. The team produced a post-war record of 63 points to win, 5 more than the previous season, and in doing so they lost only one League game. They did not score as many goals with 106 as opposed to 111 the previous but they conceded less - 24 against 33 in 66/67. In the face of this success it might therefore be thought churlish to complain but there was something different about the performance this season. Despite the number of games won the team appeared to be less imperious than it had the year previously. Jock Stein recognised that no team could stand still and measures had been taken to bring new players through. There was a good crop of youngsters developing but this would take a little time. In the mean time Celtic still had a team capable of attacking with 9 men and defending in depth when required. Of the other three competitions, Celtic were knocked out of the Scottish Cup at the First Round - something that had not happened since 1952 - by the team that would go on to win the trophy - Dunfermiline. Celtic retained the League Cup after qualifying from a group containing Rangers, Dundee Utd and Aberdeen - another nose rubbed in the dirt. And when Rangers withdrew from the Glasgow Cup citing fixture congestion the word everywhere was that Rangers were afeared to face an in-form Celtic. Celtic duly retained the Glasgow Cup. Perhaps this last excuse needs bearing in mind when considering the Intercontinental Club Championship games against Racing. There is no doubt that Jock Stein wanted to win this. Even in the face of the debacle after the second leg in Buenos Aires It was Jock that insisted on playing the replay in Montevideo. Robert Kelly was all for returning home. But how would the public have seen a statement like that? In the end it was probably the players view that they could beat Racing which turned opinion to playing the replay and what happened made Jock Stein regret his decision to go ahead with the replay. In the face of the film of the incidents being shown around the world the club had no choice but to censure the players. But what people throughout had failed o see was the utter intimidation and dirty behaviour that Celtic had faced from the Argentine side throughout the three games. And the patience and fair play of the team finally broke and led to the incidents. So what we have then is a great season in many ways, but flawed and not perfect as say 1967-68 had been. It still represented a phenomenal achievement. Celtic were playing total football with local players all from within 20 miles of Celtic Park long before the phrase became popular and in relation to the Dutch. The next season as always would present new challenges. Enjoy…
There is little introduction required for Celtic fans of this game - 25th May 1967. Celtic 2-1 Inter Milan.
This 9iar extra features a return of The Human Torpedo and a Tale from The Celtic Wiki and the radio commentary of the goals from the game.
Enjoy...
The 9iar chronicles - Season Two 1966/67 This is the second in our nine in a row diaries and it is the story of the most remarkable season - The greatest season ever in the history of the club and one of the greatest seasons of any football club anywhere.
- League Position – 1st - Second League title in a row
- League Cup – Winners
- Scottish Cup – Winners
- Glasgow Cup - Winners
- European Cup - Winners
Every competition that the club entered it won. There can be no better season than 1967. The first North European club to win the European Cup since the competition started in 1955. The FIRST BRITISH TEAM TO DO SO. The previous season had been good but this season was outstanding. Jock Stein deservedly won the title of Best British Manager for the second successive season. If other teams had sat up and looked at Celtic and their manager during the previous season, then with the win in Lisbon the whole of the world became aware of Jock Stein and Celtic. The foundations for this outstanding success had already been laid the previous season. At the start of 1966-67 the final touches were put in place with the purchase of Joe McBride from Motherwell. Joe went on to have an outstanding goal scoring run before knee trouble put pay to his further appearance at the turn of the year. This pushed Celtic into the transfer market again and Jock Stein identified Willie Wallace as the man who could take over where McBride had left off and continue the goal scoring progress that Celtic had made. The key to ALL the success of the season stood firmly with the belief and clear vision that Stein laid out. This was a team. It played together as a talented team, not just eleven talented individuals but a cohesion that came from trust and acceptance of fellow players and belief in the greatest manager. Jock Stein thought deeply about the game. He analysed every team that Celtic played and had a plan for every game and every opponent. The players were told to listen and to follow that plan and woe betide those that did not do what the Big Man said. But the Big Man's analysis was generally spot on and with his back room staff they prepared a fit lean playing machine that could hang together, knew how to fight back and knew what was needed. Never before had this been seen in football. And the world recognised it when Celtic beat Inter in Lisbon. It was a win for the future of football. The names of Jock Stein, Simpson, Craig, Gemmell, Murdock, McNeill, Clark, Johnstone, Auld, Chalmers, Wallace and Lennox will never be forgotten. Enjoy…
The UK (and most of Europe) lockdown continues but that never stops the Celtic chat. This week I am joined by someone who I have met many times at post game Celtic press conferences and someone I have been meaning to get on for some time - John Gallagher.
John is a former professional footballer who played and coached at a level below the top flight but far above the standard most of us could only dream of however the main reason I have John on the pod is because John generates the Opta stats at Celtic home games.
In this pod John explains exactly how those stats are created and gives an insight into how that makes you see things a little differently.
I am joined from Bratislava by @antonymurray25 and we quiz John on his time in the lower leagues and his time at Opta.
Enjoy…
The 9iar Chronicles - Season 1965-66 This current period we are hoping to achieve the magical 10+ in a row and eclipse the 9 in a row done by another Glasgow team through the 1990s. Biu of course they were not the first club to achieve that level of success. The first Scottish team to win 9iar were the magical Glasgow Celtic, managed by the incredible Jock Stein and the first season in that run was 1965-66. Celtic has been in the wilderness of the Scottish game prior to the return of Jock as manager in the spring of 1965 and this season marked his first full season back at the club as manager and the first season which saw major successes finally come Celtic's way. The clear difference in the performance of Celtic prior to this season and hereafterwards was the role of Jock Stein as manager. He drove the club and the players to new heights. It was not so much that the players were different before and after his arrival (discussed in the previous season review). It was more that the training and direction given by a peerless manager and tactician of great skill inspired better performance and a team sense that meant the difference between losing games and toughing them out; between drawing and getting the odd goal in a win; between fighting back when under the hammer. Stein was a supreme preparer for games and a master tactician with a plan for every game and the ability to read a game and where things needed to be changed. Furthermore he believed that the team should prepare properly. Every player knew what was required of him. Every player knew how to play and every player was aware of the importance of his teammates and where they would be. Practise and fitness were all part and parcel of delivering that performance and as Jock Stein was very much a tracksuit manager, he believed that he AND the trainer trained the team - not just the trainer. Having emphatically enforced that he and he alone picked the team to the Board, he made sure that the team were prepared and that the team that he picked was the right one. Furthermore players were now meant to be practised professionals. Full backs were encouraged to overlap; forward lines were to be seen as fluid and interchangeable; outside forwards were meant to get forward and cross and wing halfs controlled the game's flow. There is no doubt that Jock Stein's presence turned the club around. Many might argue that it was the players that did this - but of this season's players, only Joe McBride was directly acquired by him. All of the others were already at the club when he arrived. That alone marks the importance of Jock Stein to Celtic. The players were there - all they needed was pulling together and direction to become what would go on next season to become the Lisbon Lions. The League title was a nip and tuck affair right from the off and was not decided fully till the last game of the League. It saw Celtic taake the flag from Rangers by 2 points only dropping one point at home and losing four games away. But it was not so much the numbers that added up but the performances throughout the season in the League. This was a team that did not take losing lying down - and that was a BIG change. There were still occasions when they could miss the target and have shot after shot sail past the goal, but these were rare and noteable when they occurred. All the commentators from the time said not only how strong the team were but also how fit and keen they were to win. This season was the first that this team had really and truly played together inspired by a great manager. Next season would be something else! Thanks to The Celtic Wiki for the preview text - enjoy the podcast.
We are in unprecedented times and that requires an unprecedented quality of guest and so this week we have an actual brain surgeon on the podcast!
Originally @pablo567 was going to be on to discuss heading of the football and dementia however with the current crisis we thought it would be better to have him on to discuss how the SPFL wrap up the season. We discuss at length when and why Celtic will be crowned Champions.
In addition to the football we also manage to squeeze in why having a free at the point if use health service is such a wonderful thing to cherish and we mention briefly Covid-19, why you should switch off the news and how were are going to get through this (and wash your hands)
Enjoy…
On Thursday night Celtic played Copenhagen and during the game we decided to give them a little thank you for being such good hosts the previous week. So we took 3 goals, tied them up in a parcel, put on a lovely bow a gift wrapped the best present we could…
Yes we are so generous that we gifted them safe passage to the last 16 of the Europa League by making an absolute pigs ear of the home leg following the 1-1 draw in Denmark.
In this podcast we pick over the bones of Thursday night’s game and discuss team selection and the system we played. I provide my descriptions of the goals after being at the game and refusing to watch any highlights and Antony (who braved that job) gives me his review of my description.
Enjoy…(if you can)
Podcast Xtra - Celtic 5 Hearts 0
TonightCeltic thumped Hearts by 5 goals at Celtic Park with the atmosphere greatly enhanced with some late goals just down the M77 at Kilmarnock meanning that the lead at the top of the table is now 10 points.
After the game Neil Lennon, Jozo, the Hearts manager and a Hearts plauer spoke with the press. The Hearts manager rambled and I’m not sure he’ll be their answer. It was a great night.
Enjoy…
It wasn’t until nearly the 80th minute today against Hamilton that Celtic fans could start to relax today and had we not achieved that win and capitalised upon RFC dropping points at home to Aberdeen then the recriminations over the (lack of) activity in the January window would have been unbearable on scoial media however the manager made key substitutions in the second half and we went on to score 4 goals and continue our 3+ goals a game since the return to league activity following the winter break, but the main chat in this podcast is about the January window.
We are top of the league. We have won 10 out of the last 10 trophies available and we have the best squad in the country. Despite all of this fans were anxious in the last few weeks following the Dec 29th defeat and there were strong calls for some experienced players joining the team and that didn’t happen and so Antony Murray joined Harry for a chat about the window.
Enjoy…
Celtic have returned to SPFL action in positive fashion, scoring 9 goals by knocking three past each of Kilmarnock, Ross County and St Johnstone. We have scored more goals and gained more points than all but 4 of the seasons this centory after the equivalent number of games and with our progress in Europe and already a domestic trophy in the cabinet we remain on course for another remarkable season.
With all of this the angst and frustration among many in our support is difficult to understand and so I called up @antonymurray25 to review the last 2 doemstic games and preview this Sunday’s game against Hamilton.
We don’t discuss the transfer window because that’s for another podcast which will be out very soon.
Enjoy…
2010 – 2019 was the Celtic decade. It started in an inauspicious manner with us limping along through the season with a failing manager and, 3 months in, a 4-0 thumping by St Mirren meant enough was enough and a change was made. Neil Lennon took over the reigns on a temporary basis, won 8 league games in a row and was given the job full time. The decade ended with a manager leaving, Neil Lennon being given the job on a temporary basis, seeing us through to the 8th title in a row and getting the job full time.
In between all of this we has some amazing times, our rivals died, we won 8 titles in a row, we had an invincible season and we have won the last 10 domestic trophies – quite a decade.
With the last ten years being such an amazing time in our history, we decided that we would have a podcast looking back and we’d try to pick out 10 key games/moments/events that really defined the times or were a unique event that set in motion the events to follow but we need your help…
I am joined on the podcast by to experienced Tims who, to paraphrase the song, know their history (Robert and Alan). Between the 3 of us we come up with roughly 20 defining Celtic moments but we need to compile a list of THE top ten.
You may love all our proposals but you may have your own ideas. Whatever, we need your votes so please email podcasts@celticunderground.net or tweet me @harrybradycu ; Eddie @Celticrumours ; or post on Facebook
Enjoy…
We’re still in the limbo-land of the winter break and whilst the players are training in the hotbed of the birth of World Ward III we here at CU Towers thought there needed to be a half year report card for the hoops. We therefore decided we needed a panel of esteemed football experts to review the season so far and in the best Juke Box Jury fashion ascribe whether it had been a hot or a miss.
After getting various knock backs we dialled up Duncan and Lachie to review the season so far. It’s broken down into the chunks of transfer window, Europe, League Cup and League.
After we review these the conversation gets into quite a ramble about the transfer window, the players who may move on and the positions the guys think we need to strengthen.
Enjoy…
Happy New Year!
The Celtic Underground podcast will now be entering our THIRD decade of podcasting, we may be getting old and we may be Celtic Da’s but who cares?!?
We have set the pace for football fans podcasts in Scotland and will continue to do so into the 2020s and although our final recorded podcast of 2019 covers one of those exceptionally rare things of the last 10 years (a defeat) it is only one loss in a decade of complete domestic dominance and in a period of winning domestic trophy after domestic trophy. The noisy neighbours from the South Side may have one a game for the first time ever at Celtic Park but since they arrived in the top flight we have won EVERY single trophy and here’s to 3 more in 2020.
With our place as the oldest football fans podcast I thought I’d get an old guest who’d not been on for a while - so long he set up a rival podcast…yes it’s Lawrence Donegan.
Lawrence and I review the derby defeat and some of the post game social media nonsense.
Happy New Year and Enjoy…
To quote Noddy Holder It’s Chriiiisssstmaaaas!
As we record this podcast it’s Christmas Day (and for those in earlier time zones you’re probably picking this up on Christmas day or later) and so what do we have to do bar make sure the final presents are wrapped, the food is ready to be made and fun is ready to be had. In preparation for having more important things to do I decided to have one last podcast before the festivities so I called up Hullbhoy and had a little chat.
On the podcast we talk about the Hibs, Hearts and Aberdeen games and how we scored two a game but could easily have had 3, 4 or more.
After discussing those games of of the past we preview the games of the present against St Mirren and Rangers and then briefly discuss the future (the season beyond January).
We also update you on the incredible work of the Foundation funded by the Celtic support.
We hope you enjoy this podcast and also hope you enjoy your festive period and have a great Christmas and New Year.
Merry Christmas and Enjoy…
What a game and what a week. We have had the over dramatic descriptions of how well they played and how on another day blah, Blah BLAH…the scores on the doors is Celtic 1 - 0 Rangers. Celtic have won 10 trophies in a row. The Celtic X Men!
We now know - they had umpteen booked and could have been worse. The “offside” Celtic goal was either marginally on or marginally off - ie too close to call and Morelos cannot score against us. What we also know for certain is that Celtic are the dominant force of Scottish football and hype alone will not remove us.
After the game I contacted @LachieMor1 and chatted about the game. Oh my days.
Enjoy…
The world’s longest running football fans podcast is back with a same day match review following our 4-1 victory away at Ross County.
Following the midweek triumph over Rennes, these are the types of games that have seen us trip up over the years - after a thrilling and successful midweek European tie in front of a full house at Celtic Park it must be quite a come down to go to Dingwall and play ‘County’. Despite this the current squad showed all their professionalism and romped to a comfortable 4-1 with with a Christie double supprted by goals from Rogic and Johnston.
Within an hour of the final whistle I was on Skype with @antonymurray25 to review.
Enjoy…
Today Celtic defeated Livingston by 4 goals to nil. That’s twice I’ve seen them play - they are not a football team, but a bunch of cloggers. A hard physical side who do their best to stop Celtic playing aided and abetted by sympathy reffing. Fair play to Gary Holt, his job is to have Livingstone playing at the highest standard they can and use the rules and refs as they are to achieve this and there will be a number of clubs in Scotland with much higher budgets who aren’t even in the same league as them.
From time wasting inside the first minute to kicking and fouling all game they are awful. From their style of play to their pitch and lack of fans - they sum up all that is wrong with Scottish football.
Anyway - we won and the managers and the enthusiastic Frimpong were available after the game.
Enjoy…
The day after the night before…
Following the historic victory in Rome over Lazio, Neil Lennon had his pre-Motherwell match press conference at Celtic Park today. It wasn’t much of a pre-Motherwell press conference and more of a post Lazio one.
Neil reflected on the magnitude of the victory and the positive impact he believes it will make on the club, the team and the relationship between the players and the fans. There is mention of the January window, his thoughts on the draw being far away and a wee bit about playing Motherwell on Sunday.
Enjoy…
Tonight saw Celtic secure a hard won victory over an excellent Lazio team to move top of the Europea League Group at the half way point.
After the game we got the views of Neil Lennon, the Lazio manager and Kris Ajer.
Enjoy…
This week we are joined by Glasgow sportndentrepreneur Duncan Smillie. Owner of the Glasgow Rocks Basketball team, Duncan is also a big Tim and se he again joins us to discuss Celtic and a wee bit about his team.
The bhoys review the Livingston game before quickly moving on to the victory over Ross County. They discuss plastic pitches, Tom Rogic and injury time before moving on to a preview of the Lazio game on Thursday. After all of that the guys still find time to discuss The Rocks and Duncan makes the prediction that they will win a trophy this season!
Enjoy…
This week saw the return of European action and a packed Celtic Park witnessed an excellent performance as Celtic beat Cluj an exacted some revenge for the defeat that took us out of Champions League Football this term.
The game saw another goal for Scotland’s premier striker Odsonne Edouard and Mohamed Elyounoussi join Larsson, Brattback and Cadete as people who have scored for and against Celtic in European football.
After such a great performance I called up @hullbhoy and we reviewed the fixture and also has a (very) brief chat about the Linvingston game.
Enjoy…
Celtic had to come from behind today in their victory over Kilmarnock. A well organised Killie team took the lead with their first chance of the game but an Edouard double either side of half time and a Christie goal made sure of the points.
There was still time for what looked like an odd penalty decision for Killie that Fraser Forster saved.
After the game we got the comments from the Celtic and Kilmarnock managers (with Massimo Donatti doing some translating).
Enjoy…
This podcast is recorded within hours of the excellent away result in France where Celtic were unlucky not to end up deserved winners but instead took a very creditable 1-1 away result against Rennes.
Games at the elite level are won and lost on fine margins and when they got their penalty not log after we’d nearly taken the lead, whilst I was concerned that we’d gone behind I was hopeful that we would get, and convert, at least one more chance. We should have had a penalty for a foul on Christie but instead got it for a foul on Forrest, a penalty Christie took well.
Following this scoring draw I thought we should have a quick podcast recording so I dialled up Antony Murray and Sean Huddleston to get their take on the game.
Enjoy…
On the first Sunday in September Celtic once again visited Ibrox and as per the bulk of the last few years since the new club arrived in the league, we won.
There had been quite a bit of hype around this game with Rangers having won the pre-season cup of hype and many in the media and among their fans were confidently saying (the same thing as the last 3 years) that this time they really were back and 55 is coming blah blah blah. Celtic did their talking on the pitch and blew away the hype with a comfortable 2-0 win.
With the need for a podcast I dusted down the mic that hadn’t been used since at least Saturday and got two regulars on - @Hullbhoy and @Antonymurray25 to review the game.
In addition to the game we also discuss whether the summer window was good, bad or middling and we have a brief review of the Europa League Group.
Enjoy….
Friday evening (30th Aug) Celtic confirmed the signing of Mohamed Elyounoussi on a 1 year loan from Southampton. Signed in June 2018 by Southampton for £16m from Basel, he plays mainly as a winger or number 10.
He has 22 caps for Norway and has played 216 games as a professional scoring 67 goals (2 against Celtic!).
Whether he features in the Glasgow Derby we shall see however my guess is that he’ll make the bench.
Anyway, here’s another articulate foreign player joining the hoops - here’s hoping he’s part of the famous names who took us to 9, 10 and beyond.
Enjoy…
Celtic wiped away the tears of disappointment from Cluj by crushing Swedish champions AIK 4-1 in their own backyard therefore ensuring progression to the group stages of the Europa League.
The hoops progressed 6-1 on aggregate and have now scored 22 goals in European football this season and 48 goals in all competitions so far this season. Whilst the Europa League isn't UCL, there are still some challenging potential sides with the Europa League Group stages looking like the UCL from 20 years ago both in terms of teams and in terms of the possibility of getting a group we could conceivably win or a group where 3rd or 4th looks possible.
With all this European chat we decided to get in a man well versed in Europe chat - Editor of Politics Home, Mr Kevin Schofield. In that chat we review the AIK game and preview the Glasgow Derby.
Enjoy...
The last podcast was recorded two domestic league games ago. Since then we have;
SOLD KT Scored 12 league goals got knocked out of UCL Required extra time to get past Dunfermline
It’s been quite a couple of weeks so we get Antony Murray onto the podcast to review these events and preview AIK Stockholm
Enjoy…
Yo ho ho it’s magic you know, it’s gonna be 9 in a row…
1 game down, 37 to go on our way to securing the record equalling 9 in a row and what a way to start. Direct, free flowing attacking football. Midfielders given instruction to shoot on site, forwards with dancing feet and an opposition who were woeful. This on a day when cloudy Glasgow was hot and humid as America’s deep south and you had the perfect afternoon of football.
Thunder and lightning rages all around as I pull this post game podcast together and the whole of Scottish football trembles at the sound of Celtic Park and the thunderous raptures of the gathered faithful as the 8th title flag in a row is unfurled and the players put in a first class display of attacking football.
Season 2019/20 couldn’t have got off to a better start and we hear from Ryan Christie and Neil Lennon as they reflect on a perfect afternoon’s work.
Enjoy…
Whilst the international campaign commenced the domestic season commences this weekend against St Johnstone and so it’s time for the Celtic Underground 2019/20 season.
This is our 14th season podcasting to the Celtic faithful and thanks to everyone who listens to and downloads our drivel, whether you’ve been doing it for 14 years (heaven help you) or a new listener.
This week’s podcast features @Harrybradycu @lachiemor1 and @S_J_H1978 as they discuss the succesful European campaign to date, the current state of the squad and the chances of attaining a quadruple treble.
Enjoy…
This week the 219/2020 season officially commenced with our first competitive game. As usual it was a UCL qualifier against a team we should, and did, beat comfortably. It’s frustrating that we need to return to competitive action so quickly however this is principally down to the abysmal performances of the other Scottish teams in Europe over the last 25 years or so.
Anyway, with the 14th season of the CU podcast now officially underway, I dialled up a man who has attended some of the pre-season games to get his impression of the teams start to the season where we hope to equal the 9 - Mr Antony Murray.
Not only can you listen to his views on the podcast, you can tweet him to tell him how much you agree/disagree with his chat @antonymurray25
Enjoy…
That was the season that was and what a season, European football past Christmas, a manager going from hero to zero and a unique treble treble and off the park we saw the passing of two legends of European Football.
With such a momentous season we had ato have a multi-guest podcast and Harry was joined by Stephen Wray, Sean Huddleston and Duncan Smillie with apologies from Lawrence Donegan, Kevin Schoefield, St Anthony and Lachie Mor.
On the podcast the bhoys discuss all the key footballing events of the history making season from the end of the previous season’s open top bus tour all the way through to the start of the most recent one. The transfer windows, the briefings against the board, the briefings against the manager, the players in, the players out, the dropped points and the trophies won…and of course the end of the Brendan Era and the start of the Lenny II era.
It’s two hours of Celtic chat, and it could have been more!
Enjoy…
Excellent podcast guest this week in @PolhomeEditor Kevin Schofield
The season has ended and the dust has settled from the appointment of Neil Lennon. During the 10 days since the completion of the treble treble we have had the Ticileaks scandal and so who better to talk about leaks, how they happen and the motivation behind them than a hardened political hack like Kevin.
After our discussions on the Ticileaks we review the appointment of Lennon and the club’s media management of it. We also review Lennon as a manager before moving on to politics and the burning question - are there many Tims at Westminster?
Enjoy….
This week saw Celtic deliver one the most remarkable achievements in our history and certainly perhaps the most amazing domestic achievement of our modern history in attaining a holy trinity of trebles and this was immediately followed by the appointment of Neil Lennon as the new permanent manager at our great club, following on from Brendan Rodgers and returning to the club 5 years after he and the hierarchy parted ways, mutually deciding that enough was enough.
The Trinity of trebles is an amazing feet but the final itself could have been better. The appointment of Lenny as manager was also not met with much enthusiasm by large sections of the support and that therefore made recording this podcast a challenge.
The podcast commenced with an idea that some like minded Celtic fans would record the type of chat we were having socially, like it and listen. Don’t like it? Switch off. It was never designed to be a formal media although as modern technology has changed so has some people’s attitude to pods like this. Not us however and therefore the chat is waht it is. Antony and I would prefer we’d picked a different candidate so we discuss our thoughts, express our concerns and state our hopes that we’re wrong and Lenny succeeds. We shall see.
Enjoy…
So we lost a game of football, and not just any game of football but a game against THEM. With this defeat there was no option for it but to get Mark Cooper on and put the world to rights.
First up Mark and I discuss the game. We launch straight into the way the team plays under Lennon and the differences between his and a Brendan team. That leads into a discussion about the challenges Lennon has running someone else's team with their players.
After all the sympathy to Neil we then go head first into the changes that are needed to bring Celtic into the 21st Century in terms of football set-up
Enjoy…
Hail Hail The Celts are here! This is a football fans podcast of the 8, yes EIGHT in a row Scottish champions who are now just 90 minutes from a treble. Yes we’re on our way to Gr8ness and one win away from a Holy Trinity of domestic dominance.
Before we get there we need to do some podcasts so I am joined this week by a man who recalls the last 8 in a row slightly better than me, young St Anthony.
We discuss the Aberdeen game and how after the first goal we knew the title was ours before moving on to team selection for Saturday, managerial chat and a review of the concept of Colts/B Teams being admitted to the lower leagues.
Enjoy…
This week was an emotional one at Celtic Park with the passing of Big Billy and today’s game was never going to be easy. We also have a team who have been playing since July and a new temporary manager who doesn’t know whether he’ll be in post next season.
Despite the managerial changes amazingly we started today with 6 players who were at the club when Lennon was last here. A point which perhps highlights the one failing of Brendan - his signing policies.
Anyway we eventually won and it was amazing that the winning goal was scored by our Number 5 when the clock was showing 67 minutes - As someone once said “There’s a fairy tale about this club”
Enjoy…
Today saw the passing of Celtic’s greatest ever Captain, Billy McNeill. The grandchild of Irish and Lithuanian immigrants Billy forged a unique career and a nique position in the folklore of Celtic and world football.
A one man club as a player from 1957 - 1975 he captained the club in each and every one of the 9 in a row seasons. He captained Celtic in 2 European Cup finals and in two semi finals. He managed the team to a European Cup quarter final and to an incredible double in the Centenary Season. In 132 seasons, the club have one 106 trophies. Billy McNeill has picked up 31 of them.
In world sport, few athletes are part of iconic moments with fewer still fortunate enough to have one simple image that encapsulates all that they have achieved. In the moment when Big Billy lifted that trophy; the first Scot, the first Briton representing the first non-Latin side to achieve that accolade a moment was captured that will live with us forever.
Billy McNeill - Goodnight and God Bless
This week saw Celtic snatch victory from the jaws of a bore draw with the late late LATE show at Dens Park as Edouard scored in the 96th minute to stretch our lead at the top to 10 points and edge us closer still to Gr8ness.
With the title all but in the bag we decided to get Stephen Wray back on the podcast to discuss that Dens victory and then have a review of whether we think Lennon will be the man next season. In short, mibees aye, mibees naw.
Enjoy…
“Once you’ve played for the Celtic, you’ll always be Celtic.”
This week we move away from the Brendan gossip and back to the usual business. The team is marching towards Gr8ness with Lennon in charge and we have a podcast featuring 2 Celtic legends - Neil Lennon (with his pre-Dons game press conference) and John ‘Yogi’ Hughes.
Yogi was at Celtic from 1959 to 1971 before moving on to Crystal Palace and the Sunderland. He was at the club to experience the transformation that took place under Jock Stein and Sean Fallon and his comments on these two are very interesting… not to be missed!
In the last week we’ve had the podcast with ALL the Brendan gossip we first told you about back in August (but few wanted to believe) and then we re-tweeted the links to the 20th Anniversary Fergus podcast (because 4th March this week was the 25th anniversary of Fergus and co sweeping way the old board and commencing the building works for this period or unequalled dominance of the domestic game.
We hope you enjoy our podcasts and find this one as good as all the others.
Enjoy…
What a week!
The last podcast was recorded on Monday night as the Brendan rumours were starting the surface and came out when he’d gone. During that recording I decided to chat with Lachie about the possibility of Brdoge leaving and was concerned that I sounded too negative…in hindsight I was too positive!
He’s gone and his timing is awful however I seem to be not quite as angry as many fellow Tims. I think this is down to my resignation last August that he would not be here next season and the expectation that he may not even see out the season (although once he was here past Christmas that fear had evaoprated…what do I know?)
Anyway, on the “what do I know” theme I decided to take the audio of Lenny yesterday and then have a wee monologue about what I did know (or atleast what I was told by people that I have every faith know), the stuff I discussed on a rival podcast!
I hope it’s not noo boring and that we can start putting this anger to bed. He may have left like a self centred arsehole but he still won us 7 trophies in a row, filled us with hopes and dreams and had some great football and results.
Enjoy…
This podcast was recorded the night before the day of departure, so we discuss the Motherwell game, preview the Hearts game and in the middle discuss the increasing rumours coming through by text, DM and Whatsapp that something was afoot. Despite getting the rumours we still couldn’t believe he’d actually go.
We knew he would be leaving in the summer, but couldn’t believe he would leave this close to the end of the season but unfortunately the only thing that matters to Brendan Rodgers is Brendan Rodgers.
No point wasting energy over him, he’s gone.
Here’s to the title and here’s to the treble
Enjoy…
The podcast is back following a momentous week of statements and games. We’ve had the last-minute Kilmarnock victory which led to the Ayrshire club’s statement on Boyd and seats. When then had the return tie with the black bat of Valencia and we have the upcoming Sunday fixture against Motherwell.
Interspersed into all of the Celtic stuff, we’ve had the Rangers Killie game where, once again, one club got fortunate decisions which were subsequently overturned once the game was completed and that club had won. Hmmmm.
Following the Kilmarnock cup replay at Ibrox, Steve Clarke had an “astonishing” rant where he stated the obvious - people who obsess with religious related abuse at football are Neanderthals and Scotland still has a major problem… “astonishing!” This was then followed up an interview with Barry Ferguson about the questions his kids asked when he was verbally abused. This was accompanied with a tear jerking picture of his poor kids wearing scarves with anti-Catholic and Ulster Terrorist slogans. It really hit the right note(!)
Anyway, to mark this auspicious week in Scottish football, we have a new section on the podcast - Statement of the week…
Enjoy
The podcast is back with Hull’s proudest proponent, Hullbhoy himself. On this week’s podcast we review the Valencia game and preview the Kilmarnock league match. We discuss how much human error impacted on the Celtic and Valencia performances - that basically Celtic played well for 20 mins and then a series of human errors seemed to spread fear and trepidation through the Celtic ranks. That when the Valencia goal hit the back of the net, you got the impression the ref could have blow the final whistle there and then and both sets of players would have been quite happy.
The bhoys then move on to the Killie game and the impact of a plastic pitch and a Kilmarnock Cup replay may have on the attitudes of both sets of players. Consequently both bhoys go for a 2-0 victory to the hoops. Here’s hoping.
Enjoy
After the last podcast I promised that our audio output would start to return to normal levels and, if I hadn’t had a broken pipe resulting in sh1t ending up all over my hall this podcast would have been out a lot sooner and I’d have had time to go and pick up the St Mirren post game chat. But there’s no point crying over spilt sh1t3 and the podcast is here for your enjoyment.
This week we have St ANthony chatting all things Celtic with St Jnr.
Anyone who follows Saint on twitter will know that when it comes to reviewing the future for the modern team, every silver lining has a cloud but as you can hear, despite his best efforts, such pessemism isn’t quite rubbing off on Saint jnr!
Enjoy…
We’re back!
After some intermittent coverage this season, the podcast is back with a bang for 2019 and like a middle aged man put on a prune diet by his doctor we’ll be more regular than ever through the rest of the season.
Mark and I pick up where we left off, discussing the AEK game and criticising the club for have a poor signing strategy….but this time it’s different.
This time Mark has some facts and stats to back up his position that we should be performing MUCH better in the transfer market.
Mark has done his homework and reviewed our peers across European football and the results are quite stark. Celtic have the second highest revenue of our peers, Celtic have the second highest wage bill of our European peers. Unfortunately Celtic have the second worse coefficient of our peers.
Enjoy…
There can be few areas outside the Calton and East End of Glasgow more synonymous with the club than The Gorbals. Situated just on the south of the Clyde it has been home yo legions of Celtic fans for the 130 years of our club and if you follow @Evergreencsc on twitter you will know that he is THE man to go to when looking to discuss Celtic and the Gorbals.
Following on from the last podcast with St Anthony discussing Celtic and Govan, he follows it up with a chat about Celtic and The Gorbals with Gordon Cowan. A fascinating listen I am sure all Celtic fans, whether from The Gorbals or not will have an interest in this podcast.
Enjoy…
It’s podcast time again and this week it is St Anthony who brings along a special guest when he is joined by Sean McDonagh. Sean has been writing online about the history of Celtic fans in Govan after a brake club banner was found from the early 1900s. Obviouslythis is a topic close to the heart of Govanite Saint however it will no doubt of interest to all Celtic fans who take an interest in the history of our club.
This podcast has been recorded during the best run of domestic form since the Invincible season. Tonight, as I pull this together, we have thumped Dundee, fresh on the heels of thumping of Hearts at Murrayfield on Sunday. I don’t know who came up with this forward passing lark but it’s ceryainly transformed the fortunes of the team.
Enjoy…
This week the podcast returns with a guest from long long ago on a podcast far far away….Sean Huddleston,, author of Celtic In The 1980’s - The Lost Decade and sometime academic and sometime football conference organiser.
The bhoys start with reference to Sean’s book about Celtic in the ’80’s and this leads on to a ramble about how our away European form has (in general) never been that good. From there it somehow moves on to a discussion about social media and it’s uselessness before somehow the bhoys drag the chat back around to Celtic in Europe via anti-Irish bigotry.
It is a truly remarkable ramble that also covers the forthcoming Football Collective Conference which has about 5 tickets left!
Enjoy…
Celtic have now scored 10 goals in just two games after struggling in the early part of the campaign and also at the end of last season. Noticable by its absence in those two games has been the passing for passing’s sake aalong the back line and the obvious desire of the players to try and find the forward pass. This more front foot thinking was typified in the first goal when Lustig harried by a Hibs player on the touchline, turned and then turned back to play the ball forward to Forrest. Last month and for the preceeding 10 months that would have gone backwards to a centre half.
Hibs looked like scoring twice and scored twice. Celtic looked like scoring 8 times and did so 4. Like most Hibs games from my memories, this was an excellent doemstic game of football because Hibs came to win the game which then creates the space for us. It was a really enjoable game. Here’s to many more like that this season as we march towards title no8.
After the game we had Brendan, Lenny, Eddy and a Hobs player (whose name escapes me).
Enjoy…
This week it is once again St aNthony at the helm and in discussion with a guest. Following on from the succesful debut of St Anthony jnr on the podcast, Saint decides to go through the generations of Celtic fans to a slightly older contributor.
St Anthony this week is joined by Matt McGlone. The pair discuss all current Celtic gossip as well as reviewing the two games since the last podcast. Saint & Matt discuss the 6-0 thumping of St Johnstone and the 3-1 humbling away at Salzburg. The bhoys also discuss the Brendan to Villa rumour that was going around as well as Brendan’s comments about squad size.
Enjoy…
This week we have a very special new guest. I’m not going to ruin the surprise in the pre-amble but a clue is that it’s two for the price of one.
Anyway, we have been a bit sparce with the podcasts this season, due in part to having a very busy real life and also because it’s much more fun doing podcasts when the football is fun and it’s fair to say fun has been in short supply since mid summer. We won against St Johnstone and we won against Aberdeen so hopefully, domestically at least, we’re on an upwards trend.
Anyway I keep promising and it will come - the CU Top Ten podcast will hit iTunes before the end of the season…I promise.
Enjoy…
This week we once again won a Glasgow Derby playing the opposition off the park…it never gets boring, so on the podcast we have the postgame chat from Brendan, Broony, Gerrard and a Rangers player, we also have music from Daniel Boone and Public Enemy - Don’t Believe The Hype AND we have the opinion on Saturday’s game from Celtic legend Stiliyan Petrov.
In addition to the game on Sunday past, Stan also talks about the game this Saturday between his side and a James Milner 11.
A Match for Cancer' will take place at Celtic Park on Saturday, September 8 with a 2pm kick-off, and it promises to be a special day in Paradise. Every penny raised will be devoted to tackling cancer through three equal beneficiary charities - Celtic FC Foundation, the Stiliyan Petrov Foundation and the James Milner Foundation.
Tickets are priced at £14 for adults and £6 for children and can be purchased online and from the ticket office.
http://www.celticfc.net/news/14810
Celtic thumped Rangers today with a performance that was every bit as convincing as the 5-0 victory last season. The game was everything that could be expected for those who’ve watched brief bits of Rangers games this season; they concede pocession and look to score on the counter or from hoof’s up the park by McGregor. They conceded pocession in spades today and the first time they constructed an attack in the game resulted in our goal as they became streteched and their lack of pace at the back was cruelly exposed.
After the game, Brendan spoke with the press and also gave his final word on the Dembele debacle.
Enjoy…
The new season is upon us and the 13th season of the Celtic Underground podcast is also here.
We’ve had a summer break and the CU Top Ten podcast will be up soon along with a review of the omnishables transfer window, meantime we need to get going and thump The Huns so we have St Anthony and Average Joe Miller review the life and times of Not The View and also discuss the first game against them of the new season.
Enjoy…
This week saw the return of domestic competitive football and Celtic hosted Livingston on Flag Day. We saw the return of the usual stuff - sympathetic refereeinginside the first 5 mins when Celtic were denied a stonewall penalty, an opposition side sitting in stretching 6 - 7 men across the edge of the 18 yard box and Leigh Griffiths trying just too hard when he came on as a sub…oh and there was the switch off by Jozo to allow the opposition to score.
After the game we heard from Brendan, Kenny Miller and then Tom Rogic.
Enjoy…
The season is over but the talking never stops and of course how can we not stop talking about a double treble season? In order to fill the void of the summer we have the special guests, season reviews and player ratings to go through and so first up is the Celtic Underground End of Season Review and with such a season we need all hands on deck to discuss it and so joining Harry are Mark Cooper, Stephen Wray, St Anthony and Antony Murray.
The bhoys chat starts with the transfer window and we have review of who we signed and whether it was good bad or indifferent. From there we move to the European campaign, reliving both the highs and the lows and the bhoys agree that the positives outstrip the negatives and that sometimes we have to be realistic about our position in modern football and from there we review the domestic season.
We round off with your questions and then a chat about what unique thing we’ll achieve next season.
After this podcast we will have the Celtic Underground Top Ten and voting has now opened and you can submit your vote by emailing podcasts@Celticunderground.net
Enjoy…
This week we are joined by the Celtic CEO. Yes big Pedro himself sat down on the joint CU & ByTheMin Couch to discuss all things Celtic. The chat is wide ranging and we could have covered one hundred and one subjects, but you know that you’ve got 30 minutes with Peter so you have to be selective so Paul & I from ByTheMinCeltic decided we should focus on the future and specifically those matters that impact most on our quality of football enjoyment.
The chat was originally organised for February but circumstances got in the way so it was opportune that the reorganised date was after we had created history with our Back to Back treble.
We enjoyed the chat, we hope you do.
Enjoy…
This week we have a podcast guest returning after 6 years! You will recall the days of Eddie Pearosn presenting when I was just a regular guest along with many others including one Antony Murray. The problem was when Eddie wandered off to his cave after taking his vows of abstenance and austerity, he took his roladex with him and the contact details of many guests were lost forever…or so I thought.
Stumbling around Europe I recently unearthed Antony begging on the streets of Bratislava and (for a not so small sum) agreed to reappear on the podcast.
Antony last appeared just around the time that the old Rangers died and so we start with a bit of memory lane stuff and that leads us on to a brief review of the bonkers world of Them before getting back onto the meat and bones of the hoops.
In addition to our chat, we also have Brendan, Jack Hendry and Stephen O’Donnel from post the Killie game. I would also have had Stevie Clarke but for some reason the audio was rubbish.
Enjoy…
This week we celebrate the 7 in a row champions - we didn’t just win it, we won it in style!
Celtic today were absolutely bloody brilliant. From the very first minute we were up for the challenge, forcing 3 corners inside the first 5 minutes or so and anyone at the game (whatever team they support) would have known at that point that we were going home as Champions however few could have expected the utter destruction we wrought on our opponents. We destroyed them and were it not for their keeper (and us naturally taking our foot off the gas later in the game) it would have been 7 or 8.
There are so many things that can be discussed about this match in the context of the season and there are loads of things that could be said out the self denial of our opponents but the former is for another day and the latter is of no concern to us.
We were brilliant today and the team gave the fans a title party to remember. Harry chats this over with Stephen Wray (@CelticRockRoars) and we also hear from Brown, Edouard (and his translator) Callum McGregor and the Blessed Brendan.
Enjoy…
This week I am joined by Stephen Wray to discuss the Hibs game and preview the game against New Rangers. The diea behind the podcast was to keep it to just those two gmes but with the end approaching and the type of season we’ve had it’s difficult to not meander into a discussion about some of the performances this term and what players will have a “could do better” on their report card.
Despite this discussion on the frustrations of the season we do ove on to preview the game at the weekend and to give out the very latest gossip on McGinn, Gerrard, Clarke, McInnes and anything else we can think of.
We end on our upbeat predictions of scoring 3 or more in a trumphant perfomance that brings home the titel again for Scotland’s most decorated living club.
Enjoy…
This week is a little self-indulgent. It is 15 minutes short of two hours long because we just wanted to revel in the glory of Sunday. Sunday wasn’t just about the score; it was about the manner of our victory. An imperious performance of a team at the top of their game who knew that we were vastly superior to our rivals. Following last week’s rather somber and critical podcast we had to get Mark Cooper back on to expound on his love of Tom Rogic and we got Hullbhoy also on to assist Mark and I with our Callum McGregor and Olivier Ntcham love-in. In addition we also take a sneaky peak into the other to marvel out how utter crap they are. To quote Hullbhoy, they are just rotten!
This podcast talks through Sunday, wonders at their ineptitude and looks forward to the Hibs game and hopefully becoming champions.
Enjoy…
This week regulars Harry & Mark Cooper are joined by a man who is no stranger to the Celtic podcast world but is a debutant on The Celtic Underground podcast, Mr Stephen Wray.
We went into the podcast to discuss the lesser quality performances of the team this season and admitted that, considering we are just 3 wins from completing a double treble that it may seem a little negative however hopefully it’s just honest analysis.
Following on from this we have a brief chat about the SPFL fixture farce and a quick preview of the game against Them.
Enjoy…
Today Celtic came up against Ross County and in front of a sold out Celtic Park (bar some empty seats of non attending season book holders) they ran out comfortable 3-0 victors.
It was not Ross County’s day. They gave away a silly penalty, their captain jumped on Scott Browns balls and gpt sent off and their keepr had a back spasm which resulted in him having to leave the park.
From a Celtic perspective the main players are coming back. Armstrong had a great game and was deserved man of the match, Bain was solid on the few occassions he was called upon and Dedryck Boyatta was subbed at Half Time when not injured.
It was all good fun and here is the post match chat.
Enjoy…
This week Saint Anthony is joined by a very special guest - Rosemary Burns. Rosemary discusses her work with the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust and of course life and football with Tommy. The Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust was founded in 2009 by the Burns family after the Celtic legend lost his battle with skin cancer on 15th May 2008.
This year will be the 10th anniversary of Tommy’s passing and the Celtic Graves Society will also be marking his passing with a ceremony to celebrate his life and all supporters are invited along to Linn Cemetery on Saturday 12th May. That will be trophy weekend so the details will be released in due course.
Enjoy…
This week I am joined by two of the best football coaches working in Scottish football today - Mr Stevie Woods and Mr John Kennedy.
The two gents were generous enough to set aside an hour of their time at Lennoxtown to discuss all things football. They start with a review of their careers, their earliest memories of Celtic and what it felt like to make their pro debuts. We then move on to their current roles as coaches. John dispells the myth that he is just a defensive coach (the team defends and attacks as one unit so apparently there’s no such thing) and Stevie provides an insight into what value a goalkeeping coach adds.
The podcast could have lasted another hour so if I didn’t ask your burning question apologies but time ran out. I thoroughly enjoyed it, so did they and i hope you will too.
Enjoy…
Sunday sees another Glasgow Derby game and this one is againts the newets Glasgow team in top flight football, the one who have never beaten us over 90 minutes. Their recent status might explain why, despite having a large support, they cheer getting the cup draw against the giants of Scottish football.
Brendan also has quite a good record against this team with 8 games played, 6 victories and two draws. I ronically the two draws have come at home however he was twice managed to have a team score 5 goals in a game aganist Them.
We were hoping for a longer podcast this week however work, life and cancellations curtailed the planned podcast. That was followed by the hope of a 20 minute chat with St Anthony but as you will hear, we were at the Glasgow Harp 30th Anniversary dinner and stepped outside for a chat, then two drunk people decided to stand 10 feet apart and have a shouted coversation. Then we went outside and it was f’n freezing. It basically turned into - what would you’re team be and what will the score be.
In the end we have a 20 minute pod, with Brendan and me asking my first ever question at a press conference (because I was fed up with Rangers chat).
Enjoy…
Celtic defeated Morton 3-0 on Saturday to progress to the Semi-finals of the Scottish Cup. Apart from a sprightly first 15 minutes the game was all Celtic however the first half may have had dominance, but it was pretty dull and passive football. I’m not sure it comes across in the audio but it was clear in the press conference that Brendan was very unhappy with the first half performance and I understand he made that pretty clear in the dressing room at half-time.
He made changes to the side and once again, with Edouard playing just off Dembele, the team suddenly looked a lot more threatening.
Following the tie Compper, Brendan and Jim Duffy were the people at the post game press conference (Marvin being honest enough to admit he was rusty for the first part of the game). As this is uploaded we know that we will once again take on Scottish football’s newest top flight club. Hopefully Brendan will continue his semi-final record against that club.
Enjoy…
Following the postponement of the Dundee game midweek and the freezing temperatures across the central belt, there had been an expectation among many that the Morton cup game this Saturday would be off. But it isn’t so we needed a podcast.
There has been quite a bit of debate online about whether the game should proceed and I was in that camp however the roads and pavements around Celtic Park have been much worse this season for other games and the police, SFA and Celtic have agreed the game should be played so here we are. We have my wee ramble followed by chat from Brendan and Kristopher Ajer
Enjoy…
This week we have another Podcast Xtra with the thoughts of Brendan and the St Johnstone guys following the borefest at Celtic Park this Sunday.
We have the Brendan post match thoughts along with the comments of the St Johnstone manager and a player who I’ve no Idea who he is. The fact that ST Johnstone have players and I don’t know who they are, that not one of them would get a starting game for us and that every player in our team would start for them says A LOT more about pur performance that anything I could say on this podcast.
What I do do on the pod is have a little rant about sympathy reffing of wee teams in Scotland. We were crap today and the ref was not the reason however I am getting fed up with fouls being given but cards not and the consequences of this bad refereeing habit.
Anyway, here’s hoping Thursday night makes today’s bore worthwhile.
Enjoy…
This past Tuesday saw one of the most sparkling performances of the team over the past few months. A young team with 5 Brendan signings starting and 7 Brendan signings playing at some point, we had a host of players 23 and under and I’m sure at one point the most spoken language on the park was French! Having won the game by half-time the second half wasn’t quite as exciting but if it was a foretaste of the remainder of the campaign…bring it on.
Following that Hearts game, the following night was the end of the January window and for a change we were involved right up until the final moments with the completion of the Hendry move and the Bain 6 month loan for goalkeeping cover. With all that exciteent we just had to produce a podcast and of course it had to be with our go-to guy in South America Mark Cooper.
Mark Cooper and I discuss the weather in South America, the performance against Hearts, the January window and just where in the world we could shop to obtain best value.
Enjoy…
Regular followers of me on social media will know that I have been trying to get a memebr of the SNP to come on the podcast to provide a counter position on the OBFA. We have had James Kelly MSP who is proposing the repeal of the Act and we’ve had people from FAC on a couple of times but depsite a couple of fallen through promises no-one from the SNP…until now.
Anyone with a passing interest in the legislation and online will be aware of John. He’s an abrassive character online but was not at all like that when I met with him.
As you will hear on the podcast I decided to keep with my regular conversational style on the pod to get to the motivation behind the act and I found John far more conciliatory in accepting the faults than expected. Indeed I was never going to have a chat where he would have a St Paul moment and suddenly see that those against the act have been right all along but his acceptance that the Act was rushed, is ambiguous, has may faults and doesn’t embrace all aspects of prejudice in Scotland - espcially walks, suprised me. What frustrated me was that despite accepting ALL of that he will still be voting to keep it.
Enjoy…
The Offensive Behaviour At Football act - a more usless piece of legislation I’ve yet to come across, but that’s not my opinion, that’s the view of lawyers, judges, civil liberty campaigners, minority rights groups and of course the evidence of our own eyes and ears and the evidence of government statistics. If it was nmeant to stop a problem it has completely failed.
Regular listeners will know my issues with OBFA - one is that the legislation was not needed - we had laws for dealing with racisim and sectarianism and behaviour likely to cause trouble.
It’s not very good - we’ve had to train the police what is and isn’t offensive so that they can arrest people and they are the only people being offended.
It tries to wrap up socities ills - if we have offensive behaviour at football it will exist in society as a whole so why try to wrap it up in a nice bundle and say the issues are all a football one.
I could go on but surely better to have someon at the heart of matters discuss so we have Paul Qyugley from Fans Against Criminalisation.
Enjoy and then please take action…
It’s January and the winter break so sureley we’ve got nothing to talk about….DON’T YOU BELEIVE IT! We’ve got loads and loads so who better to get on than the man who could start a fight in a telephone box Mr Lawrence Donegan.
Lawrence is a man of many talents and many of you will know him from his role as the argumentative host of the ByTheMinCeltic podcast whilst others will know him simply as the guru of the ByTheMin empire. For some he’s a great golfing journalist and for others he’s the basist who made Lloyd Cole and the Commotions and the Bluebells were never the same after he left. For others he’s just that Celtic guy on twitter.
Whatever you know him as, I know him as a guy passionate about the hoops and so I thought it was about time he came back on the podcast for a state of the nation discussion so between us we take 90 minutes to discuss the Rangers game, the season so far, the transfer rumours we’ve heard (which are mainly about sales) and then our expectations for the rest of the campaign, oh and there is a bit of “In my day” but it’s in an ironic fashion…honest.
Enjoy…
Today, Friday 5th January, Celtic completed their second signing of the January transfer window with the capture of Lewis Morgan. The 21 year old former Rangers youth player has signed on a 4.5 year contract and will stay at St Mirren for the remainder of this season under the guidance of Jack Ross.
A two footed winger, Celtic have high hopes for the youngster who becomes the first Scottish player to sign for Brendan Rodgers.
Enjoy…
On Saturday 23rd December Celtic defeated the second best team in Scotland 3-0. The first half was tight but once Celtic scored there was only ever going to be one winner.
After the game Kristopher Ajer, Brendan Rodgers, Mark Reynolds and Derek McInnes spoke to the press.
Enjoy…
Following the 2 goal victory over Partick Thistle the Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers spoke with the press. He gave his opinion on the game, the way the players improved through the match and also gave some post match comments about the Thistle player who thumped the ball into the crowd.
Following Brendan Alan Archibald gave his post game thoughts and then finally there was the well groomed and lovely haired Stuart Armstrong.
That will be our final podcast out before Christmas so may all of us at Celtic Underground wish you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas.
Enjoy…
It happened! We lost! 3 Players slipped on their arse, the goal keeper had a headrush and pulled down a Hearts player and we thumped it long all second half. Apart from that we also played poorly…! Yet despite ALL of this we remain top of the league and remain on course for another title and part of the way there to a remarkable back to back treble. We broke a 100 year record and went 69 games unbeaten. And of this has happened when you and I are alive. You’ll tell your grandkids about these days! Anyway, enough of the rambling…
After the game against Hearts and the end of the record breaking run I thought I should quickly pull together a podcast and discuss the game, the fall-out, the magnificant run and our hopes for the furture. It’s all here along with the music.
We have Adam Glen with his debut single These Towns and Elvis with Martina McBride singing Blue Christmas from the ‘68comeback concert.
Enjoy….
The past week has seen Celtic lose a two goal defecit to Hibs (a game we should have won by 5 or 6) followed by the Europa League Draw, followed by a FREEZING victory over Hamilton and then all rounded off with a lovely Christmas letter to all season book holders from the club.
With such an action packed week we’ve already squeezed a podcast extra in but have also decided to get @LachieMor1 back on to review the week.
Just before uploading the podcast I asked for cover versions or great intro’s on Twitter and was bombarded. I have noted all and will get to them all. Meantime I picked the request from @Hullbhoy for a Sinead O’Connor song and went for her cover of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina (should have saved for @markocooper) and Los Colorados cover of Katie Perry. It’s quite unique!
Enjoy…
The slump continues as Celtic reach 69 games unbeaten in domestic football. At this rate we’ll be slumping ourselves to back to back trebles! Following on from completely dominating the game against Hibs but losing a 2 goal lead we had the visit of Hamilton. An excellent strike and a Jozo gift almost lead to Hamilton getting two goals in this game too but in truth this was a game that would only ever have one winner. Ntcham was excellent again and Edouard had some good chances that he just couldn’t quite convert.
After the game we had Brendan Rodgers, James Forrest and Martin Canning chat in the media conference.
For music we have Morcombe and Wise and a cover of Kings of Leon.
Enjoy…
Tuesday night was a pivotal game in our season. Provided we didn’t lose by 3 or more goals we could enjoy European football after Christmas and this was achieved but perhaps not in the way we would have liked…but we’re there.
Following the complaint by Mark Cooper that he always gets the graveyard shift of a post Euro defeat I decided to get another guest on this weeks podcast and so we have Lachie Mor. As the podcast was recorded we received breaking news about the basket case of another Glasgow Club and so we have a wee laugh for a minute or two at that too!
Music this week is from The Life of Brian and Madness.
Enjoy….
Well that was the PSG double header then…12-1.
We all knew we would get beaten by the most expensive team ever and whilst none of us like heavy defeats, to channel my inner half glass full guy, there were some positives to take from that game…not many, but more than the home leg.
Immediately following the game i decided to ring up my pal Mark in Argentina in an attempt to pick the bones out of the performance. We both decided that there was no point in analysing the game on a goal by goal basis and trying to pick out who was at fault. we lost, let’s move on, learn what lessons we can and win on Sunday.
The music this week in, at the front end, expected - it’s Atmic Kitten with their cover of the Lustig song. At the end of the podcast it’s the Nirvana cover of the Bowie classic The Man Who Sold The World.
Enjoy…
This week I am joined by St Anthony in a chat that was supposed to be about our marvellous 100 yr record breaking achievement but in typical Celtic Underground Podcast fashion it went on a meander.
We started with the Anfield Wrap (neither of us could remember the name) briefly touched on the winning run and then got onto the meat and bones of the team and the challenges of team building. It finished with Saints Ross County preview and has a few mentions of Lawrence Donegan in between.
In recognition of this weeks Country Music Awards the covers have a country fell and also are two generations apart. We have Harry Styles covering Girl Crush and Ray Stevens from 1975 covering Misty in a Country Music style.
Enjoy…
This week Harry is joined by Guardian Football and Golf correspondent Ewan Murray. If you pick up your copy of the Guardian at the local paper you will be aware of Ewan for his coverage of the major games in Scottish football and perhaps have worked out that he is a Jambo. If you’re aware of Ewan from his online presence you will either like him or loathe him or see him simply as a “hurting Hun”.
I normally can’t be bothered with people who occassionally take to trolling on twitter but in Ewan’s case I make an exception and must admit I find his interaction with many quite amusing. Ewan and I have a very long ramble through his career and then onto Scottish football. We recorded this just after the loss at home to Bayern so that performance is covered as is Hearts, their new stadium, Pedro, SEVCO coverage and…Airdrie. It’s all explained when you listen.
The music this week is cover versions of a Bee Gees 1971 song and a Stevie Wonder classic. We have the Rev Al Green version of How Can You Mend A Broken Heart and As by George Michael and Mary J Blige.
Enjoy…
Celtic have fanzines older than some top flight clubs - Not The View is 30!
For fans under the age of 40 it’s always been there but for those of us of a certain age it was an essential part of Celtic culture growing up. Perhaps it was the arrival of Souness at Rangers that spawned it or perhaps it was just luck but with everything that happened at Celtic in the first 7 years of its existance NTV was essential reading.
Without NTV perhaps Celts For Change may not have happened. Certainly without NTV you wouldn’t be listening to this. It is an essential part of our modern history and St ANthony met up with some of the guys to discuss the 30 years of history.
Prior to the NTV chat we have Brendan pre-Bayern game and Dedryck post Bayern. Enjoy…
This weeks podcast extra is Brendantastic. We start off with a brief chat before Brendan went on stage for his book launch at the Armadillo in Glasgow and then we have both Brendan and Leigh in fine fettle after the 1-1 home draw against Kilmarnock.
There is irritation in from Leigh about the failure to get a win and frustration in Brendan’s body language but none of us will complain if we get another treble but more importantly if resting players for ushc games facilitates Europe past Christmas.
Enjoy…
Sorry for the break for the past few weeks but we’ve been busy but we’re back. A football fans podcast from the guys behind The Celtic Underground and now in our 12th season possibly the greatest time in those 12 years to be a fans of the hoops and maybe longer. Officially the best football fans in the world, we support a great team that is also in a different league to the rest of Scottish football.
Since the last podcast we’ve defeated Hibs to reach the first final of the season, bossed the 2nd best team in Scotland on their own patch and moved close to European football after Christmas. With all of this (and the sacking of Pedro and construction of a 1960’s office block by Hearts) there was so much to chat about we needed two guests - Mark Cooper and Hullbhoy.
The music this week is Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern Jukebox with a cover of Shake it Off and Morcombe and Wise. Ohh and it’s the Basque Atletic Bilboa and not the Castillian Athletico Madrid.
Enjoy…
Following the comfortable 2-0 victory in our second Glasgow Derby of the season (after a more tightly contested game against Glasgow’s second club at Firhill) we now have perhaps our most important Champions League game of the season coming up. With such an important fixture I thought I’d continue our new podcast guests with a foreign based journalist, from Airdie, working for a French news agency.
New music comes from Tuvband and Mark Sharp.
Enjoy…
UCL #Soccer #Football #CelticFC
We Battered Them
Make no mistake, whilst this wasn’t another 5-1 victory we once again showed, on their patch, that the newest version of Rangers Football Club are a million miles away from competing with Celtic. Not only are they a million miles away from competing with Celtic but as today’s league table shows, they’re quite a way from being the second or even 3rd best team in Scotland.
Audio was recorded at the game to try and capture the emotion of the day and then I dialled up Henrik Vegetable on the way home to try and capture the joy of the supporters in the immeidate aftermath of the game (so excuse the audio as the podcast is recorded in the car on the way back).
Rangers couldn’t cope with our movement in the first 15 minutes and were nothing after the 2nd goal - their heads went down and our superior fitness told. Yes, we are 35 - 40 minutes fitter than them. That is a huge gulf.
Enjoy…
This week Michael McCourt of The Celtic FC Foundation joined us to discuss the new fund raising initiative the Hail Hail Trail. Time to coincide with our 130th Birthday on 6th November, Michael explains how everyone, everywhere can get involved in this 130 mile walk over a 6 week window - listen in and see what you can do (already 2 sistsers in San Francisco have signed up). Prior to Michael we have Brendan’s press conference following the Ross County game.
The Covers this week are Mayssa Karaa covering the Jefferson Airplae classic White Rabbit and then we have Adele’s cover of Steeldrivers If It Hadn’t been For Love.
Enjoy…
Tonight (as we record this) Celtic were on the reciving end of a 5-0 defeat to PSG. I expected to lose so I’m not too down because I believed that this group would always come down to the head to heads between ourselves and Anderlecht for European football after Christmas.
Mark & I therefore discuss the game and highlight our flaws, but hopefully in not a too negative way. Personally my biggest fear is the consequences of the idiot who came onto the park and the hope that this doesn’t result in a stand closure or worse. Here’s hoping.
We have two new music tracks for you. My Green Machine and Ecletic Electric by Bluevale St.
Enjoy…
The Champions League is returning to Celtic Park and we will have a team with over £800m worth of talent gracing the green green grass of home… and PSG are not too bad either (boom boom).
Prior to the UCL first group stage game, there was the usual round of press conferences and we managed to get the audio from Brendan and Olivier Ntcham pre-game. There is a wee bit of the translators in there and also if it sounds like Olivier is answering some questions with a French accent & some with a Scots one, it’s because when asked a question in French he replied in French and therefore we have the translator answer only.
With regards to the music covers this week, the first one is from @Joebloggscity with the Flying Lizards and Money (which I thought was apt) and the second is from Derek McLean suggesting Elvis Costello & The Attractions ‘(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love & Understanding - a Nick Lowe cover. Apparently it’s Derek’s wife’s favourite all time song.
Enjoy…
With the wonderful nature of modern social media and without any overhyping from the club, fans have managed the make the return of Patrick Roberts the signing coup of the last few seasons. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing, just a wonderful way the fans have whipped up the fervour on this. As we pull this audio together it’s looking like another French translator may be required at the club, but we’ll see.
This is the audio from the #PR7 press conference and some exclusive chat we were able to grab with him at the end.
Enjoy…
The end of summer is signaled by the Champions League Draw. It is the moment when Europe’s elite are drawn together for nights of excitement under the lights and today we got glamour and and possible hope for Europe past Christmas.
Harry spoke with Hullbhoy and the two discuss the draw and how we got there with the victory over Astana. we also hear from assistant boss Chris Davies and Kieran Tierney and Olivier Ntcham.
Cover versions were suggested by Sean Hamilton and Derek McLean with Waterloo sunset by The Jam and I Saw Her Standing There by Elton John.
Enjoy…
So close you can almost touch it.
Wasn’t Wednesday fantastic? Reaching this round of Champions League qualification is very special. We know we have European football until Christmas but these two games will determine whether that in the Champions League or the Europa League. The anthem starts, the nerves jangle and the game gets going for a crucial double header. There was much debate on whether the sigings had been enough but Brendan had faith that the Invincibles squad is good enough and in Brendan we trust - a 5-0 hammering!
For music we had to have something that recognised the UCL atmosphere so Cum on Feel The Noize (Oasis cover of the Slade song) and I am The Walrus (again Oasis covering, this time the Beatles).
It’s Harry chatting with Hullbhoy - Enjoy…
CU Xtra - Brendan & Astana Manager
If you thought only Colonel Gaddafi held press conferences in a tent then you’ve not been to Celtic Park on a Champions League night.
Following the stunning 5-goal victory we had the press conferences. I expected the defeated coach to say a few words and go. Unfortunately he was first in and he talked. And the transaltions were long!
To avoid the pain I swapped around the order and we have Brendan followed by the Astana Manager. as best possible I edited out the translations.
Enjoy…
This weeks podcast features Danny wilson, Franz Ferdinand St Anthony and Harry Brady - quite a collective!
St joins Harry to discuss the great start the the campaing with the thumping of Hearts in the league and then Kilmarnock in the league cup. we discuss who played well and our thoughts on various players but are stunned mid podcast as we discover the startling news that Rangers have been drawn AWAY in the League Cup…
The cover versions this week are from Franz Ferdinand with Bowie’s Sound & Vision and the some more Danny Wilson with the Abba classic Knowing Me Knowing You.
Enjoy…
Saturday saw the opening game of the new season with the league flag unfurled for the 6th consecutive year and the umpteenth year if we discount the cheating years. After the game Jon Daly, Leigh Griffiths, Christophe Berra and Brendan Rodgers spoke with the press. We couldn't be arsed getting in to hear Daly and therefore missed the newsworthy chat!
Anyway, here's the others who took part. PS - The hearts media guy has a weird haircut. It looks like he cut the fringe himself after a night on the lash!
This weeks podcast is all about the finances of Celtic - is there scope for growth or are we all maxed out?
We know that the only thing that matters in football is winning on the pitch but that is determined by the quality of player and quality of manager at the club and THAT is largely determined by the money you have to spend, specifically when it comes to the Champions League and European Football in general. With the draw for Europe pending I therefore wanted to speak with two Tims who could give an insight to the finacial climate within which we operate and to ascertain if we could squeeze an extra £10m or so that might push us over the edge and into regular UCL last 16 territory.
Alan and Robin know their finances and are worldly wise so who better to have this chat with?
Enjoy…
Celtic #UCL #Soccer #Football #SPFL
There is nothing better after a nail biting game to be able to listen to some Celtic chat, whoever is producing it. There is nothing worse after a defeat than recording said Celtic chat so my night was on a knife edge. Not only with the Celtic game but whether I would be having an enjoyable or frustrating podcast chat with Mark Cooper. Fortunately it was the former.
Mark Cooper and I discuss the victory over Rosenborg that guarantees European football to Christmas and we discuss the possibility that that football will take place in the Champions League - we hope and expect it will.
The music is - for intro A Forest by The Cure and for play out the cover version of The Patriot Game by The Bluebells.
Enjoy…
This past week has seen the feel good factor kicked the the baws at Celtic Park with the stramash over the Green Brigade followed by the Rangers Fraud whitewash and then the lack lustre home performance against Rosenborg. The Rosenborg game was played after this podcast was recorded and this is actually part 2 of the long chat Hullbhoy and I had about all things Celtic earlier in the week.
Part 1 has already been uploaded and covers the football and the supreme court decision. This podcast is all about the Green Brigade, their banner and their subsequent ban. We tried to not make this adversarial and discuss the issues at hand.
Enjoy…
So, what do we have to talk about….Hary and Hullbhoy pondered that question and the chat quicker meandered into 2 hours of Celtic chat so we’ve decided that this should be cut down into two podcast - one mainly football and one mainly banners. This is mainly football, with a bit of what to do with cheats.
The bhoys discuss the recent Linfield victory and the forthcoming tie against Rosenborg but as this podcast was being recorded the SPFL made some more noises about letting cheats go free so Hullbhoy and Harry also discuss that. If you want banners, bans and brigades discussions - along the corridor, third door on the left.
The cover songs this week are Oasis Cum on Feel The Noize and Scott Bradley’s Post Modern Jukebox covering Creep.
Enjoy…
The world famous Celtic Underground Top Ten is finally here. Celtic are about to kick off in the first competitive game in season 2017-18 and so we thought it about time that we finally unveil who you, the Celtic Underground podcast public voted for in the top 10 players of season 2016-17.
We pulled together some of the team and we all sat around a Skype mic and ran through that ten. Lachie Mor, Mark Cooper, Saint Anthony and Harry reviewed and discussed the ten along with the Samaras Award for top moment. So who won? No spoilers here, you’ll need to listen all the way through.
Enjoy…
David Friel is a former journalist at The Celtic View and has previously written a Celtic Book - The Century Bhoys. If that wasn’t enough to put him off David has taken the bravery pills and dived into the world of football authors again to write about the Invincibles. We have a copy of the next book to give away and the question is at the end of the podcast.
David tells us about the book and that leads into a discussion about the marvellous past 12 months and specifically what makes Brendan so special.
The music is a tribute to Tony Hadley leaving 80’s band Spandau Ballet and also following my comments on the intro to Superstition last week, Andy Gronneberg suggested Waterfront - so there you go Andy.
Enjoy…
The big talking point in Scottish football is the Supreme Court decision which confirms the scale of the Rangers cheating during the latter half of the calamitous David Murray era. We will no doubt have a detailed podcast on that soon but one key point to know - The top clubs DO have a large say in the actions of the football authorities. Pressure from Celtic, Aberdeen and perhaps Hibs & Hearts would result in a judicial review of the LNS decision. Celtic have made an important statement on this. The silence of those other clubs is deafening.
The role of fans will now be vital. We await fans of clubs like Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts making sure their clubs follow Celtic lead. Meantime we have our chat on BBC GMS with Graeme Spiers.
Enjoy...
This week Harry is joined by Martin McCardie…you may not know his name but you will be aware of his work. A writer and producer on River City, Martin has also starred in, written and produced many well know works on Scottish TV and also written and starred in Scottish plays. Martin is here because he has also re-written the ply Lions of Lisbon, 25 years on from its debut to fit for its 50th anniversary.
This is a fascinating podcast for anyone who loves Celtic and anyone who’s thinking of getting into play writting or acting. Oh and also tells a wee story that left me speachless about Mo Johnstone still being a Celtic fan…!
Enjoy…
When Brendan arrived we knew that season 2016/17 was going to be something special, but no-one could have foreseen just how wonderful it was. Few if any of us will ever see a team go the entire domestic season in Scotland unbeaten and in the process pick up every domestic trophy with the youths chipping in too.
The Celtic Underground team always peruse the key moments from seasons past and this year is no different so Harry is joined by Hullbhoy and Mark Cooper to discuss the key games from last season that saw us start and finish the domestic campaign with thrilling 2-1 victories away from Celtic Park.
Of course we do not discuss whether, having only drawn 4 games domestically and beating the 2 best team in Scotland on 6 occasions we should be further ahead than we are over a team we thumped 5-1 in two games because that would be silly!
Enjoy...
In 2012 our greatest rivals, Rangers Football Club entered administration, they never exited it. They limped along, finished the season and died. The story of that death is a decades long story of cheating in the vain attempt to compete with Celtic. This is a podcast about that cheating.
As most of you will know, the blame for the death of Rangers was laid at the door of Craig Whyte by the fans of the that club and the media. Such was the reach of the established order that when poor business practices led to the clubs death, fans git the courts to chase after Whyte. His case was damning on that decision with no need for a defence case. He won just from the evidence of the prosecution, but we don’t really care about that. Pertinent to Celtic was the confirmation during the trial that people within Rangers pursued an active policy to defraud all of our game.
So desperate were those in charge to keep their club going with largess rather than living within their means that they cheated and defrauded to obtain a European license. They nearly got away with it too.
This podcast sets out where we are now that the fraud has been confirmed and is about what could happen next.
Enjoy…
Celtic #Football #Soccer #ScottishFootball #CelticFC
his week Saint Anthony returns with another reflection on a Celtic life in former left back Mark Reid. When I was growing up the Celtic full back pairing was Andy Lynch at left back and Danny McGrain at Right Back. This then changed to see Alan Sneddon come in with Danny moving over to the left. Again that changed and our guest arrived allowing the world’s best right back into his natural position.
Over the years left back has been a challenging position for the hoops with younger fans spoiled by the likes of Tierney and Emilio. Fans of my generation will no doubt have a soft spot for Mark Reid who was rather an unsung hero of the ‘80s.
For it was then that he made nearly 200 appearances for the club, winning several trophies including two league championships in an exciting and talented Hoops side.
However, with his first-team chances becoming more limited, the full-back elected to leave and join Charlton Athletic. As someone who had spent his entire career in Paradise, emerging from the club’s youth set-up, this was a difficult decision but one which he would ultimately reap the rewards from.
Reid helped the London side reach the old First Division and he got the opportunity to face some of the top teams and players in England of that era, staying there for six years before returning to Scotland in 1991.
After an injury-plagued two seasons with St Mirren, he decided to call time on his playing days and he has since carved out a successful career as a driving instructor.
Enjoy…
It’s summer time so we have something a wee bit different on this week’s podcast…basketball. Now don’t worry we haven’t chucked our principles, our sport and and our game in the bin. This is the Celtic Underground Podcast so obviously there has to be a Celtic angle to this and there is (thank goodness I hear you say).
This week Harry is joined by part owner of the Glasgow Rocks basketball team Duncan Smillie. Duncan is in business with David Low running the Glasgow basketball franchise. The team play on our doorstep and both men are massive hoops fans (that’s hoops of the green and white variety) so why not have a chat about our near neighbours?
There’ll be more podcasts along soon - old players, Res 12, The Lions of Lisbon play, the CU Season Review and the CU Top 10. The close season isn’t long enough!
Enjoy…
The WORLD FAMOUS Celtic Underground Top Ten is here. It’s time to vote!
Yes the Top Ten is back again and it’s your opportunity to cast your vote for the Celtic elite. The podcast gives you a reminder of the runners and riders and also a reminder of past glory days and those more forgetable seasons.
This year we also have a new award - the Samaras Award for that unforgaetable moment in the season that just made it perfect to be a Celtic fan - the final whistle in Israel, the Lustig Goal at Ibrox, the Simunovic tackle on Miller, the Senderos slide or that Rogic winner.
All votes count, this is not a first past the post election. Our STV methodology means that the best rise to the victory podium.
Enjoy and get voting podcasts@CelticUnderground.net
The InVIncibles have their final game - the final chapter in a remarkable season. Celtic Football Club are just 90 minutes away from finishing an emotional year with an incredible achievement - completing an entire season unbeaten domestically and in the process picking up all possible domestic trophies - a treble of senior honours and matching the Lions on the domestic front by also bagging the Glasgow Cup.
Harry is joined by Hullbhoy to preview the final and discuss the fantastic year. We also have chat with Boyatta, Gordon and Roberts before closing out with some audio from the Hydro.
Enjoy…
Soccer #SPFL #ScottishFootball #CelticFC
It’s the night before and what else could we possibly do but release a podcast in tribute to one of the most remarkable achievement in all of Scottish sport. 25th May 1967 is a date written into the folklore of our club but for those of us under 50 it is only something we have read about or watched on video. Our older fans were lucky enough to experience it so we thought it essential that we ask our own Lachie Mor for his memories.
Fresh faced and rosey cheeked, the 19 year old Lachie was at college down in Manchester but he made the treck back to Glasgow to watch the game at home. And this is that story.
With one or two other bits of audio you might recognise (including a posh Archie) Enjoy…
CelticFC #Lisbon #1967 #EuropeanCup
InVIncible
You will tell your grandchildren that you were there, that you saw Celtic win the league without losing a game. Wonderful.
This week we hear from Brendan Rodgers and Leigh Griffiths immediately after the Hearts victory. Leigh still had the mud on his boots at the press conference whereas Brendan had spent quite some time on the park before the press conference commenced but it was all good. Brendan talked a lot about being invincible, infrangible and Leigh talked about which boss is the best kisser! As for Mark and I? We just meander and ramble this way and that.
Enjoy...
Sport #Football #Soccer #SPFL #Celtic #CelticFC
This week Harry is joined by St Anthony, fresh from his trip to the hospital. Many have wondered what part of his body Saint had enhanced...we couldn't possibly comment! After discussing how difficult it was to have a hospital visit sandwiched between two humpings of a team from Ibrox, Harry & Saint then go on to discuss the victory over Aberdeen before a more mundane discussion around the parking proposals at Celtic Park, the lack of thought that surrounds the proposal and the possible impact.
After this chat the bhoys revert back to football and the forthcoming Thistle game.
Enjoy...
This week the guests (nearly) are all Celtic.
Following from the victory over St Johnstone when Celtic’s starting outfield 10 had a combined age of just 22, we hear from one of those young stars Patrick Roberts. We also have 10 minutes from the manager where he discusses the performances of Ralston and Johnstone, the chances of keeping Paddy and his general thoughts on the victory.
Also this past week we had the launch of the new strip and at that event myself and a few other Celtic websites were able to have a chat with Stuart Armstrong, Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney, so we have the 10 minutes per player exclusive chat also. At the end we hear from St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright who confesses that we were just too good for his team.
Enjoy…
WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!
In the darkest days of the 1990’s, pre Fergus McCann, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would stand at Ibrox and witness such an imperious performance. They may be a new club but it’s the same ground with the same fans and we absolutely thumped them. Destroyed them. Ground them into the ground.
From almost the first goal there was an air of menace, a thought that at any time their end could flip and go bonkers. Brown’s attack, monkey taunts and Directors fighting. This was THEIR Dallas Game, their Mars Bar game…except they have no Fergus coming!
So en-route home I was joined by gentle Jim to discuss the game. We wanted a raw and fresh podcast that captured how we felt immediately post game. It’s recorded on the journey home so please accept our apologies on the sound quality.
Enjoy…!
This week Harry is back and joined by Hullbhoy to discuss the fabulous walk in the park victory of the Rangers. Fresh from taking off his lycra blue/green body suit, Hullbhoy discusses with Harry how good Celtic were, how bad Rangers are and how a ref getting red card decisions wrong will be seen as having a good day!
The bhoys wax lyrical about the team and then at the end Harry reminds everyone that being Celtic is not just on the park performances but off the park charity. Oh and good luck to Saint with his impending gallbladder op.
Enjoy…
This Sunday, the Celtic Graves Society will host a special event to commemorate the final resting place of James Kelly, Celtic's first ever captain. And it's appropriate that the event falls on the 125th anniversary of Celtic's first ever Scottish Cup triumph - a 5-1 victory over Queen's Park on April 9, 1892 - when James Kelly led the Celts to the first of the 101 major trophies that the club has won in its long and illustrious history.
The commemoration ceremony will take place at St Patrick's Cemetery, 29 King's Drive, New Stevenston on Sunday, April 9, starting at 2pm. Following this latest Tale From The Wiki we have audio from Brendan, James Forrest & Elbows.
Enjoy...
This weeks podcast revisits the Celtic Graves Society event that took place last week in Prague. The work of the Celtic Graves Society in keeping the memory of former Hoops Heroes alive is amazing and never more evident than this past week with the guys travelling to the Czech Republic to commemorate a former Celt.
Jim takes us through the events of that weekend with audio in three parts from the Johnny Madden celebration and commemoration.
An early Celt Johnny was also the father of Czech football. If you can listen to last weeks podcast extra and then this.
Enjoy…
This is is a trip that the Celtic Graves Society have been looking forward to for a very long time, commemorating the "Father of Czech Football", Johnny Madden. The Celtic Graves Society and Odbor přátel have been working hard on various different aspects of this commemoration and we would like to extend the hand of friendship to all Slavia fans as we prepare to arrive in the beautiful city of Prague. Any Celtic Supporters in the Prague area are invited to attend to the commemoration on Saturday. Alongside the committee they have 3 Supporters of the Society travelling with us to Prague. The Graves Society would a special thanks for the commitment shown to be able to join us. Your support will never be taken for granted. They also have members of Johnny Maddens family arriving from Belfast for the commemoration. A friendship formed through a common bond. Johnny Madden.
Enjoy…
This week we have the return of the Saint. Fresh from his trip to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital St Anthony delivers and excellent podcast about Nutmeg magazine.
We can all be guilty of trotting out the lazy Scottish Mainstream Media label as a catch-all for bad journalism but to be fair we shouldn’t tar them all with the same brush. There are some very good journalists out there covering the Scottish game and Nutmeg is one of the publications providing a platform those good journalists.
It’s a periodical which promotes itself by saying “It’s not a book, it’s not a magazine. It’s somewhere in between, and something completely new in Scotland; a quarterly subscription-only long-form publication filled with top quality writers, great articles and fascinating stories. And it’s all about Scottish Football.”
Enjoy…
This week we have a bumper guest filled podcast. In no particular order you will hear; Harry Brady, a Pearson child, a member of the brady Bunch, Lachie Mor, Craig Gordon, Lewis, Robin & Robert!
Value for money if I do say so.
It’s a podcast of two halves. The meat and bones of the podcast is a chat between Lachie and Harry. The two bhoys discuss the recent St Mirren game and the “furore” around Brendan’s comment that St Mirren were quite good. We then hear from Craig Gordon after he signed his new contract and then it’s on to the Glasgow Derby. Lachie and Harry discuss this game before we get a very brief preview from 3 Celts, two of whom have come all the way from Singapore and Hong Kong to see the hoops triumph (Hopefully).
Enjoy…
Celtic #SPFL #ScottishFootball #SPFL #GlasgowDerby
This week the podcast was put together on the anniversary of Fergus McCann saving Celtic.
Celtic fans can rightly be proud of that period when the club was in difficulty. A board built around family history and hereditary rights rather than business acumen had been caught out by the arrival of brash big spenders at Ibrox. This compounded with the need for massive infrastructure spend on the stadium had Celtic on its knees. But when Celtic were in trouble & the fans didn’t wait around for a white knight. They rallied around and created a solution. Celts for Change galvanised the support behind a common cause and when the moment came the likes of Brian Dempsey, John Keane and Fergus McCann stepped forward, prevented the ignominy of administration and paid the bills. From there Fergus oversaw the building of a new stadium, the stopping of the 10 and a fan investment programme which now sees 28,000 of us owning a bit of our club. Fergus also re-established the clubs heritable foundations. He created the Celtic Charity which has now become the Celtic FC Foundation and we have Megan Fallan providing an overview of her role and an insight into how the Foundation changes lives. So a wiki tale and Megan Fallan.
Enjoy…
Celtic #CelticFC #Fergus #FergusMcCann #CelticFoundation #CelticFCFoundation
This week we are bringing you some very special guests - the Celtic management team. Mainly we have a sit down interview with Chris Davies, an insightful chat into his time at Celtic so far, his level of expectation for players and the high standards he and Brendan set.
Myself, Celtic Quicknews and ByTheMinCeltic were fortunate enough to get a 45 minute one:one with Chris at Lennoxtown this week. After our chat we were able to sneak into the Brendan press conference for the Inverness game on Wednesday and get some really intersting stuff from the manager.
Hopefully you find this as interesting as we did.
Enjoy…
This week Harry is joined by Mark Cooper from warm and humid Buenos Aires to discuss the state of play at Celtic and Scottish football. Trying hard to not sound as sycophantic as Graham Hunter the bhoys meander through a discussion of the last two games, Brendan’s comments on the state of the pitch before somehow getting to discuss how good Maloney was/could have been! Oh and they also find time to giggle at New Huns.
Prior to the bhoys chatting we have all the audio from the Brendan post Motherwell press conference and then we have the return of the Celtic Wiki with the tale of Joseph Cullen who will be remembered at St Kentigerns Cemetery Glasgow at noon on 25th February prior to the Hamilton Fixture.
It’s a bumper filled podcast so Enjoy…
Celtic #CelticUnderground #Celtic FC #Champions #ScottishFootball
This week it is St Anthony who is back on interview duties and his guest is a man well known to those listeners based in Scotland but may also be known to those further afield - STV Political Editor and big Celtic Man Bernard Ponsonby.
Bernard joined STV in 1990 and has gone on to be one of the heavyweights of political reporting in Scotland. Journalist of the Year in 2015 he has covered some of the most momentous events in the last 100 years from the formation of a Scottish Parliament, the resignation of a sitting Speaker of the House of Commons and of course the Scottish and EU Referendum. But is Bernard happiest of all when he’s watching the hoops…?
Enjoy.
This week sees the return of a man of culture…oh sorry a man from the City of Culture, Hullbhoy. Hullbhoy joins Harry to discuss the marvellous football under Brendan and specifically to review the Hearts and Aberdeen games along with the sales that we didn’t make in the transfer window.
In the process of the meandering chat Harry & Hullbhoy also touch on the runners and riders for 2nd spot. How the Dons would be a better team with a better manager, has Cathro started getting the Jambos playing his way and do Rangers fans sit listening to their manager playing Football Bullshit Bingo?
Enjoy…
Celtic #CelticUnderground #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Champions #CelticRumours #HarryBrady
This week Harry is joined by a guest from Ireland, living in Canada who loves Celtic. The guest this week is journalist and one of the two stars of the new film Celtic Soul - Mr Eoin O'Callaghan.
Celtic Soul follows Canadian actor and funny man Jay Baruchel on an epic road trip through Canada, Ireland and Scotland with his new friend, well-known Irish soccer journalist Eoin O’Callaghan. It’s a story that spans 200 years of colorful history and that will take the duo eastward from Montreal to Westport, Ireland – where Jay’s ancestors set sail for Canada, like so many others – and finally Glasgow, where Jay will fulfill a lifelong dream: to watch a match at Celtic Park, one of the wildest and most hallowed grounds in world football.
Enjoy...
Celticfc #jaybaruchel #spfl #ScottishFootball #Soccer #CelticSoul
This week St Anthony returns to the podcast to interview Celtic Non-executive Director Brian Wilson.
Brian is well known to all in Scottish society and Celtic fandom for his numerous high profile roles. A famous Labour politician, Brian was an MP for over 20 years, serving as a Minister under Tony Blair and was a we ll kent voice during the independence referendum. Brian is also known for his roles as a journalist and commentator in addition to his numerous business roles. In Celtic land Brian has been a Non Executive Director for some time and is a well known Celtic historian. It is his latter role as a historian that interested St Anthony the most.
Enjoy…
CelticUnderground #CelticFC #spfl #ScottishFootball
This week I am re-joined by old favourite Lachie Mor. Regular listeners may recall that Lachie was something of a doubting Thomas when it came to the appointment of Brendan…”what’s he won?” and “He’s not done anything in Europe” were two criticisms I recall. With the halfway point of the first season under our belts I thought the season review and forward projections after the break would be the opportune time to revisit Lachie. I don’t think I’m giving away too many spoilers when I say he’s changed his position on this.
Once this is established we review the Brendan first 11, discuss the window and the forthcoming 4 games.
Enjoy…
Happy New Year. We cannot believe it’s 2017 and Mark Cooper and Harry Brady cannot believe that our terrestrial highlights on TV are not as good as they were 30 years ago.
Mark Cooper is now safely tucked up in Argentina with all the warmth that the southern hemisphere brings at this time of year however he is only just home having popped back up North for the festive season. During that time he attended the Rangers game and gives us a perspective of a man who’s been away from this dear green place for most of the last 10 years. He reviews the game, the atmosphere and the TV coverage.
After all this we touch on the continued development of the team by Brendan and what players may come next.
Enjoy…
Seasons Greetings to you one and old and speaking of auld, if you’re a supporter with memories of the early to mid 70’s you will recall that it was a changing time for goalkeepers at Celtic. Faither time Ronnie Simpson had retired and Jock was chopping and changing keepers more often than new Rangers change owners. For me I can recall seeing Ally Hunter, Patrick Barclay, Roy Baines and Denis Connaghan all vying for the Number 1 jersey before Big Peter Latchford secured the first choice position and it’s Denis that we turn to for this Christmas Podcast edition.
Enjoy…
To quote Noddy Holder “It’s Christmaaaaaaasss!” It’s the season of goodwill to all men and times when we all deserve a little treat so hopefully my treat to you is worthwhile and one you actually want. I’ve had a chat with Lawrence Donegan and with his regular invites over to the @bytheminCeltic podcasts I thought it only right to return the favour so we have Lawrence and his regular guest Mr Remy McSwain nipping across to The Celtic Underground for a chat.
The bhoys review the Motherwell game, chat about how wonderful it is that even our worst domestic performance garners 3 points and then we turn our sights onto BBC Sportsound and the radio punditry in Scotland.
Enjoy…
Celtic #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Soccer #BrendanRodgers #Sportsound
We pride ourselves on the quality of guests here on Celtic Underground and of late we’ve been to Australia and back with the world of Sport and Japan and back with music, but sometimes great guests can be found on your doorstep and this week we speak to someone of this Parish to discuss Celtic…our very own St Anthony and if you’re a fan of Celtic books you’ll know him as author of Kenny of The Celtic Mr Stephen Murray.
Stephen and I start by having a brief review of our final Champions League game of this season, the 1-1 draw with Man City, before moving on to the meat and bones of the podcast which is his latest book on Kenny Dalglish.
Stephen gives us some idea of what we may come across in the book before discussing the perfect Celtic team of the Kenny years and the “what could have been team” of the 10 years after he left. After that trip down memory lane we then fast forwardto the Rodgers Revolution and discuss just how enjoyable times are.
Enjoy
You can buy the book; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenny-Celtic-Stephen-Murray/dp/0993436080/ref=sr_1_1/254-0445536-2030263?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481235440&sr=1-1&keywords=kenny+of+the+celtic
There are fewer games bigger in football than Champions League matches and in Glasgow these don't come much bigger than Celtic v Barca. We are only in the embryonic stages of the Rodgers revolution but already we can all see that the club is taking it's first steps on what looks like it will be a wonderful journey and the podcast starts off with chat from Brendan giving an insight into his vision for this club. He does this whilst interweaving chat about Barca and the forthcoming Cup Final.
After the Brendan chat Jack Lyons and I have a brief conversation about how the two teams may set up before the podcast returns to the main pre-Barca press conference with chat from Broony and more from the manager. If you wonder why the main conference occasionally jumps from one topic to the next it's where I've chopped out the Spanish translation and just missed the start of the next question.
Enjoy...
UCL #Celtic #CelticFC #Barca #ChampionsLeague
Continuing our series of interviews with celebrity Hoops fans, this week we are joined by a man plying his trade in another form of "football", that is Rugby Football. This week we are joined by Leeds Rhino forward and MASSIVE Celtic fan Keith Galloway.
Keith, son of a Dundonian, was born in Sydney and played for the Leeds Rhinos. A New South Wales State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he previously played for the Wests Tigers and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. Keith is also an ambassador for 3 charities.
Enjoy...
CelticFC #SPFL #LeedsRhinos #CelticUnderground #ScottishFootball #Superleague
The joys of this podcast are the many occasions when we get to chat with Celtic fans who are experts in another field and this week I had the pleasure to sit down and chat Celtic and music with the gentleman James Grant.
Brought up in Bridgeton then Castlemilk, James was part of that group of Scottish musicians that was so prominent in the 1980's. His career commenced with the band Friends Again but James really came into his own as the front man of Love & Money. Hopefully you find this chat as fascinating as I did.
Naturally the podcast makes reference to The Celtic FC Foundation Christmas appeal and there'll be links on the site. Also St Anthony (Stephen Murray) has a new book coming out just in time for Christmas. It follows on from his book about the 4-2 season Ten Men won The League and is about his (and many other's) first Celtic hero. The book is Kenny of The Celtic and is launched this coming week; http://cqnbookstore.co.uk/shop.php?p=75
Enjoy...
This week on the podcast we have a respected journalist and a blast from the past.
Harry is joined by Hugh MacDonald to discuss all things Celtic and journalistic. Hugh's discussion of his earliest games and heroes moves quickly to the the modern club and the job being done by Brendan.
Following from this long ranging discussion we then have the return of an old favourite with the dusting down of the Tales From The Celtic Wiki. In conjunction with the Celtic Graves Society we bring you Patrick Gallacher.
So don't forget; Sat 5th 12 Noon - St Kentigerns Balmore Rd Sat 5th pre game - GB Foodbank Collection Sun 6th 3pm - St Marys Mass Sun 6th all day - Founding Fathers Fast
Enjoy...
CelticFC #CelticUnderground #CelticRumours #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Soccer
This week Harry is joined by Matt Clark, manager of Australia's first world heavyweight champion...for 3 weeks. Matt is also a Celtic man and the podcast is a fascinating meander explaining a second generation Australian, who's Grandad questioned Rudolph Hess ('with Whiskey on his breath") came to be such an avid Celtic fan. It jumps from the Hess story to being his fighter being punched by the Chechen President, being secretly drugged and then cleared through to predictions for Celtic Playing in Aberdeen and Germany.
A joyride of a podcast it also includes new music from Glasgow band The Snuts.
Enjoy...
Oh Hampden in the Sun, Rodgers skelped Mark Warburton..
This week Harry is joined by Jack Lyons to discuss and dissect the League Cup Semi Final victory over the Zombies. The bhoys review the tactical changes both managers made before and during the game and decide the Brendan is of course best. The briefly touch on the performance of the clown Thompson before switching attention back to a brief review of the loss midweek to The German Team.
Following ALL of this we get a quick prediction from Jack for the scoreline in the forthcoming Ross County and Aberdeen games which are the last bit of proper football before Scotland get beaten at Wembley and the media get all agnsty for a couple of days about the state of our game.
Enjoy!
This week Mark Cooper joins Harry to discuss the fantastic coverage that the club received following the dramatic 3-3 draw with Manchester City in the Champions League. Following on from that the bhoys then have a preview of the forthcoming tia against the Germans and then the Cup Semi Final against the former Huns and in previewing realise that victory on Wednesday all but provides for European football beyond Christmas and victory on Sunday all but guarantees the resignation of a manager!
It wouldn't be a South American podcast without discussion on why Celtic don't fish in that pond - an interesting debate considering the departure of John Park the day after this was recorded.
There is new music as usual (links on the site) podcast recommendations and the Foundation.
Enjoy.
We are in the desert of international football and out of that desert comes the oasis of a Celtic Underground Podcast. Following on from the close season podcast with James Kelly MSP on his process of trying to repeal OBFA Harry has a catch up with Jeanette Findlay of Fans Against Criminalisation on the act, its consequences and how YOU can help with its repeal.
Jeanette is joined by Jim to provide us with how this act is being implimented by the police and fiscal.
If, like us, you find this act rediculous, illiberal and not fit for purpose then you can write to your MSP, attend a surgery or complete the Parliament survey;
http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/S/FootballActRepealBill/ http://fansagainstcriminalisation.com/
Also, sadly, a name familiar to many of us online, @Napoleon_Celtic died suddenly at the end of September. For those who'd been on The Big Lhist or just kicking around Celtic supporters groups will also have come across and know him by his real name of Iain Tarbet. Iain's funeral is this Friday (14th Oct) in Ardrossan and his family have organised a collection for the Celtic FC Foundation;
https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/iaintarbet
Enjoy.
This week we have a very VERY special guest on the podcast - Brendan Rodgers!
We chat with Brendan one to one to discuss his first few months at Celtic, how he's settling in and a bit about his thoughts and ideas on football. This is a fans podcast by the fans so we follow up the Brendan chat with a preview of the game and St Anthony is joined by his mate Chris Kenny who hails from the Blue Moon side of Manchester. The two lads discuss both clubs and Chris ends with a 2-0 Man City win - booo!
New Music this week comes from The Island Dwellers; Jayce - https://soundcloud.com/theislanddwellers/jayce Ania - https://soundcloud.com/theislanddwellers/ania
We also have podcast recommendations of; http://www.apoliticalpodcast.com http://www.bytheminute.co/podcasts/bytheminuspolitics/375 http://fivethirtyeight.com/ http://www.politico.com/news/off-message http://www.mattersofstate.org/
Enjoy.
This week's podcast is an eclectic mix of analysing the past, discussing the future and hearing about the present. Harry Brady is joined by Jack Lyons for a tactical review of the last three Celtic games prior to the podcast which were; The 5 - 1 thrashing of Scotland's newest club The 7 - 0 Humping in Catalonia The 2 - 2 Draw in The Highlands
The boys also touch on the predictions for the Killie game on Saturday and what Celtic might do to combat the might of Barca in the return game.
Mixed in with all of that we have the post match interviews from the Alloa game including the press guys laughing at a colleagues inability to pronounce a Latin American name. Oh, and whilst this was being recorded we drew a diddy team in the League Cup.
New music is from The Label https://listentothelabel.bandcamp.com/album/vodka-and-lemonade
There are also podcast recommendations for Tim Podcasts; 20MinuteTims 90MinuteCynic bhoysabroad CelticRockRoars HomeBhoys ByTheMinCeltic
Enjoy.
This week Harry is joined by Hullbhoy to discuss the first New Glasgow Derby in the league. The bhoys discuss what we all know - it's the same fans, supporting a team wearing the same colours in the same stadium but that it's NOT the same club...it can't be because THE OLD ONE WENT BUST! Harry regails a tale from his starring role on Sportsound but is then taken down a peg or two by being reminded that St ANthony was in the New York Times.
After this bit of banter the bhoys get get down to brass tacks and review what the team for the New Derby will be before Harry grabs a bit of audio from the archives and plays and Omnishables Special
There is new music as usual (links on the site) no new podcast recommendations (as Harry needs to get himself organised) and of course the Foundation.
Enjoy.
This week Mark Cooper joins Harry to discuss the summer transfer window which, in the usual fashion, closed without much Celtic business being done on the last day. The boys discuss whether it was good bad or indifferent and decide it was pretty good. It could have been better with perhaps one more signing but all in all we have a better squad than we started it with.
In addition to the transfer window the bhoys briefly touch on the Aberdeen game and the changes to the Champions League.
There is new music as usual (links on the site) podcast recommendations and the Foundation.
Enjoy.
Celtic
CelticFC
CelticUnderground #SPFL #ScottishFootball
This week Jack Lyons returns to analyse the behind the sofa game in Isreal and look forward to the Champions League.
Harry and Jack discuss the fearful game that was the final qualifier away leg and try to understand why we were so bad, but also take the positive that no matter how bad we were we went through. The guys then go on to dicsuss our Champions League Group. Current standings; Celtic v Barca - Played 12, won w and drawn 3 Celtic v Man City - Played zero Celtic v Munchengladbach - Played zero
Upon final analysis, the bhoys work out that we'll go to Manchester on 9 points....!
Podcast recommendations are in; Cambridge Election Podcast Guardian Politics Podcast Off Message Podcast
No new music this week as it's all about the Champions League.
Celtic #CelticFC #CelticUnderground #ChampionsLeague #SPFL #UEFA #ScottishFootball #CelticRumours
This week Harry is joined by our South american correspondent Mark Cooper to discuss the marvellous events at Celtic Park, when a fantastic atmosphere urged on a wonderful game that delivered 7 goals - Five for Celtic.
Mark and Harry review the goals, the team and the performances and come to the conclusion that Celtic will go through. At the end of the podcast they briefly review Scottish football medai people asking diddy questions and Mark predicts a 5-0 v St Johnstone. It's all very pleasant...oh and is it Sin -Clair or Sinclur?
Enjoy.
PS Harry has a wee sweary word in when discussing the diddy question and this weeks new music comes from Jargo Photograph The Feeling - Dropbox
Jargo - At Night When The Wind Calms Down
CelticFC #ChampionsLeague #SPFL #CelticUnderground #ScottishFootball #ThanksCelticFans #HarryBrady
he season is about to start but before that happens we need closure on the Ronnie Deila years and what better way to have that closure than for the world's longest running football fans podcast to analyse the players and how they performed in Ronnies last season.
Normally the voting is from the closed shop of the exclusive Celtic Undergroud Panel however this term we opened it up to you, the podcast family. The first 2 places were as you'd expect but thereafter there were some interesting players in interesting positions in our top ten. You will hear on the podcast but perhaps of note were the absence of players - Scott Brown the club captain and two of our higher profile summer signings (not in money but in being dtalked about) Scott Allan and Nadir Ciftci.
The full list was; 1 Griffiths 2 Tierney 3 Sviachenko 4 Rogic 5 Roberts 6 McGregor 7 Gordon 8 Lustig 9 Bitton 10 Johansen
New music is from Misha Non Penguin; https://soundcloud.com/misha-non-penguin
Get your new Music on NOW. Email - podcasts@celticunderground.net
Celtic #Celticrumours #CelticUnderground #HarryBrady #poty #TopTen
This week Jack Lyons once again joins Harry to discuss a Celtic away performance in Europe, but a more successful one than last time.
Celtic travelled over 3,000 miles and played a makeshift central defensive pairing and achieved a credible away draw and now have an excellent chance of progressing to the final knock out round of the pre-group stages.
New music this week comes in the form of Easy Signals; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAIJOicL1Ls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAVolLU2ZHc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMxBIUiVaaA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDITe5cinUU
https://www.facebook.com/Easysignals
CelticFC #CelticUnderground #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Soccer #ChampionsLeague #Football
Football's back and I wish it wasn't.
What a remarkable first game for Brendan. Some of the worst moments of the last 18 months were revisted...and then some! It's the first game under Brendan and so time is on his side and these are aspects that are discussed between Harry Brady and Jack Lyons on this weeks podcast.
Don't forget to get your new music on the podcast then just email us; podcasts@Celticunderground.net If you want to get your Celtic story in to us also email at the same address.
This week the new music is from Room 42 who consist of Grade A from Dallas, TX and Freeky L. from Las Vegas. "Say My Name" is produced by Krush Kaprice.
@WeAreRoom42 @JlyonsFootball
https://soundcloud.com/weareroom42/room-42-say-my-name-prod-by-krush-kaprice
Celtic #CelticFC #CelticUnderground #SPFL #ChampionsLeague #Soccer #JackLyons
This week St Anthony is joined by a legend of Celtic Park Mr Tom Boyd. Tom is well known to all as a former Celtic player who (unlike many) has refused to take the Kings shilling and has remained a Celtic fan and defender and advocate of our club after retirement.
Tom began his career at Motherwell and famously led the team to their 1991 Scottish Cup Final From there he moved to Chelsea for 12 months before arriving at Paradise in a swap for Tony Cascarino. At the hoops Boyd made 304 appearances, socring just twice but significantly was part of the team that stopped the ten and was also part of Martin's treble winning side. Tom also made 72 appearances for Scotland and is in the Hall of Fame.
New music comes from Ghost Dance Collective, an Edinburgh band who emailed podcasts@Celticunderground.net If you want your new music or Celtic story on the podcast just email a file or link to a file and it'll be used - we have no editorial line here.
The two songs are Byrd-Man https://soundcloud.com/ghost-dance-collective-256761231/byrd-man
and
Something's Happening https://soundcloud.com/ghost-dance-collective-256761231/somethings-happening?in=ghost-dance-collective-256761231/sets/ghost-dance-collective
Enjoy.
CelticFc #CelticUnderground #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Motherwell #Scotland #HarryBrady #StAnthony #Tom Boyd
The Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012 was introduced by the SNP and passed by MSPs by 64 votes to 57 without any opposition support. Labour, the Tories, Lib Dems and the Scottish Greens said the bill was "railroaded" and the Scottish Government has since faced calls for an early review into how the legislation is working. It has been challenged on the grounds that it compromises the principle of free speech. In June 2013, The Herald described it as "knee-jerk legislation" which needed to be revisited, arguing that "Scotland cannot arrest its way out of sectarianism". Fans groups have also raised concerns about the law.
Following the loss of an overall SNP majority in May Labour stated their intention to repeal the act and the man leading the charge is James Kelly MSP.
If you are interested in the repeal of this act, contact your MSP or James by email, letter or at a surgery. James can be found on twitter - @JameskellyLab
ALSO, last week we stated our intention to get your music and your Celtic stories on the podcast and the first band to contact us were The Urchins and this is their YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5j4SO6FnnZp_NtPOGEt3ig
Enjoy...
CelticFC #SPFL #Soccer #MSP #JamesKelly #OBFA #SNP
This week Saint Anthony is in conversation with Jim Delahunt. Fed up with all the criticism of interviewing people in a Greek Restaurant, this week decides to interview the guest via a transistor radio...! The guys speak football and then Harry moves on to boxing with a wee 5 minute tribute to The Greatest.
Also on this weeks podcast Harry gives an insight into changes coming for next season. If you have your own band or create your own music and would like it featured on the podcast, email us on Podcasts@CelticUnderground.net and get an audio file over to us.
Also we'd like to hear from you. We want to know about a Celtic event that had particular resonance with you. So whether it was your first game, a memorable game or a poignant game, record a 10 minute audio and send the file (or a link to the file) to podcasts@Celticunderground.net.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Enjoy...
CelticFC #CelticUnderground #Celtic #SPFL #Celticrumours #ScottishFootball #HarryBrady #StAnthony #Delahunt #ClydeSSB
What can I say? What a week?!
Friday 20th May, mid afternoon I was given a clue to stand by my bed as confirmation of the new manager was pending...Brodgers was coming!
Even as news started to spread that we had got our man, there were still those who doubted Celtic could attract someone of Brendan Rodgers caliber but attract him we did and if he had any doubt that he'd made the right decision I'm sure these were swept away by the avalanche of goodwill which greeted his arrival on Monday with 13,000 fans pouring into Celtic Park to meet him.
Brendan, welcome to Paradise.
The podcast contains exclusive chat with Brendan, The Anfield Wrap Liverpool Podcast, the Celtic Fans Liaison Officer John Paul Taylor and Uber fan Paul The Tim.
Enjoy.
CelticFC #lIVERPOOL #SPFL #ScottishFootball #EPL #Champions
What a weekend!
At around 3pm on Friday 20th May I was told to stand by my bad, THE announcement was imminent. Just after 5pm Celtic announced that Brendan Rodgers was coming to his spiritual home and taking over the reigns at Celtic Park.
After such a wonderful and joyous appointment how could we not have a quick podcast so I texted Hullbhoy who was most abliging...
Enjoy
@Hullbhoy @Harrybradycu
This week, with all the managerial rumours there was only one thing to do, get on Skype, get on to Lachie and discuss the rumoured cadidates. Surprisingly Lachie seems less than excited about the two leading candidates and discusses what he wants. Harry tries to suggest that Lachie wants Ronny version 2, a claim Lachie shoots down.
Lachie discusses his desire to get in a quality manager who wins the key games and the bhoys agree that whoever they get, this is what we all want.
Enjoy
@LachieMor1
@Harrybradycu
@celticrumours
This week Harry is joined by the editor of the influential website Politics Home to discuss Celtic, Holyrood, Westminster and more Celtic.
Kevin sets out his credentials detailing his early time as a Celtic fan before getting onto how this young hoops fan ended up being one of the most recognised journalistic faces around the Palace of Westminster. Through this ramble the bhoys manage to touch on the forthcoming Holyrood elections, the EU referendum, the Hillsborough Inquiry and all the fallout from each of these events before getting back to the future of the hoops.
Enjoy.
@PolHomeEditor
https://www.politicshome.com/
Celtic #CelticUnderground #Westminster #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Soccer #Football #HarryBrady #KevinSchofield
May 3 1986: Heart of Midlothian travel to Dundee in need of a single point on the final day of the season to secure their first Scottish League title in 26 years. In Paisley closest challengers Celtic face St Mirren in need of a miracle. With seven minutes of the season to play the miracle comes from the boots of a Dundee substitute by the name of Albert Kidd...
This week Harry is joined by author of Heartbreaakers: Celtic, Albert Kidd and 1986 - Mr Stephen McGowan the Cheif Football writer at The Scottish Daily Mail.
Enjoy the book - here;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Heartbreakers-Celtic-Albert-Kidd-1986-ebook/dp/B01E8ZYLRA
@Heartbreakers86 @mcgowan_stephen @harrybradycu
This week is a rather sad podcast. I am sure, like me, whenever someone walks through the door of Celtic Park you are desperate for them to succeed and therefore when it doesn't work out, that person's departure is always tinged with a little sadness.
St Anthony joins Harry to discuss the cup semi final defeat and the confirmed departure of Ronny Deila. Since around February everyone has been aware that Ronny would be leaving in the summer but the nature of the defeat to the Zombies and then the subsequent leaks to the Norwegian media made an announcement before season end inevitable. St Anthony and Harry review the cup final and that discussion meanders onto a review of Ronny's tenure.
Enjoy (if you can)
CelticFC #Celtic #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Soccer #NorwegianFootball #RonnyDeila #HarryBrady #CelticUnderground #SaintAnthony
This week Harry is joined by a man who played for 18 clubs and although he only managed 3 games at Celtic, one of those was truly memorable - Mr Tony Warner.
Tony has very fond memories of his brief spell at Celtic and we have fond memories of him! His second game was the 5-1 game where Dr Jo showed he could managed, Lubo showed he could play and Mjalby showed he could put Jorge Albertz up in the air. Tony tells tales of his time at various clubs, tells us how just one day of paper reading in Glasgow let him know that there was too much bias and puts two Celtic players in his all time top 4.
A great guy who had a great life in football...Mr Tony Warner.
@Bonus1_TW
CelticUnderground #CelticFC #SPFL #ScottishFootball #TonyWarner #Millwall #5-1
This week we are joined by our South american correspondent, Mark Cooper. Mark is based in Argentina and now works for a company to seeks out footballing talent across South America but principally in Argentina and Uruguay.
The bhoys discuss the Motherwell game before a more generic discussion on the clubs transfer stategy and how it appears to have lost its way a little, being neither one thing nor another. After the signing strategy they then discuss the management strategy and review what Celtic might do in the summer on the position of manager/first team coach before going on to both agree that they know little of our cup semi opponents apart from the fact that we'll win.
Find both bhoys on twitter; @markocooper @harrybradycu
CelticFC
SPFL
HarryBrady
ScottishFootball
This week to prove St Anthony's ecumenical drive at CU towers we have an interview with Chick Young. Chick has been reporting on football from Glasgow for circa 40 years and certainly has a tale or two to tell.
Ignore the caricature on only excuse, sit back, listen to The Silencers, Rod Stewart and St Anthony in conversation with Chick.
Enjoy.
Celtic #CelticUnderground #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Soccer #ChickYoung #StAnthony #HarryBrady
This week St Anthony is joined by John Fallon and his guest doesn't miss and hit the wall when discussing all things Celtic! This is a must listen - and apologies, we ran out of bleeps!
Fallon signed for Celtic from junior football team Fauldhouse United in 1959 to understudy for Frank Haffey and made his debut that same year against Clyde. He replaced Haffey as first choice goalkeeper in 1963 and played his part in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup run of 1964, where they lost out to the Hungarian team MTK Budapest 4–3 in the semi-finals, after holding a 3–0 lead from the first leg at Celtic Park. He remained first choice goalkeeper until the signing of veteran keeper Ronnie Simpson from Hibernian in 1965.
John was the unused sub in Lisbon, played in the Wrold Club Championship when Simpson was hit by a bribk (or iron bar) before the game in South America and would have played in the 1970 European Cup Final were it not for illness.
His views on Stein's "dreadful" man-management skills are not to be missed...
Enjoy
Celtic
SPFL #StAnthony #JohnFallon #ScottishFootball
This week St Anthony and Harry have a bit of a ding dong following the Hampden defeat at the hands of Ross County. The boys discuss numbers and positions and all that rubbish to debate the rights, wrongs and whatevers. I'm not sure a any agreement is reached.
Following a discussion of the past the bhoys discuss the present of the last day of the January transfer window.
Finally the bhoys move on to the future of the Aberdeen game. Saint thinks a 2-0 Celtic victory is on the cards. Here's hoping.
Enjoy.
Celtic #CelticFC #CelticUnderground #SPFL #ScottishFootball #StAnthony #HarryBrady
This week St Anthony is joined by a Celtic star whom Saint would put into a list of potential all time great Celtic strikers - Mr Frank McGarvey.
Most will know that Frank began his career very succesfully at St Mirren before, in May 1979, McGarvey signed for Liverpool for £270,000. However, his tenure with the club lasted only 10 months. Unable to breakthrough into the first team, McGarvey sought a transfer. Liverpool accepted a bid of £270,000 by Celtic in March 1980, and for a short time McGarvey became Scotland's most expensive footballer.
McGarvey played 245 times for Celtic over five years, scoring 113 goals. In that time he won two League Championships, two Scottish Cups and a Scottish League Cup. However, Celtic manager David Hay decided Mo Johnston and Brian McClair would be his forward line for the 1985–86 season and declined to offer McGarvey an extended contract. His final, and perhaps most notable act as a Celtic player, was to score the winning goal six minutes from the end of the 1985 Scottish Cup Final.
In June 1985 McGarvey rejoined St. Mirren for £80,000. Two years later, he won a third Scottish Cup with them. In total he played 387 times for St Mirren, scoring 125 goals. Later in his career, McGarvey had spells with Queen of the South (where he was player-manager), Clyde (with which he won a Second Division Championship title at the age of 37) and Shotts Bon Accord.
Having retired from the game before footballers began earning high salaries (he notes that he "took home £190 a week after tax" while playing for Celtic) McGarvey now works as a joiner. In 2008, McGarvey wrote an autobiography called Totally Frank in which he described the highs and lows of his career and revealed how he overcame a long-time gambling addiction.
Enjoy
Celtic #StMirren #SPFL #ScottishFootball #FrankMcGarvey #StAnthony #CelticUnderground #HarryBrady #CelticFC
This week Harry catches up with St Anthony to discuss the events of the past few weeks. There has been little football since the pre-Christmas podcast but the guys manage to stretch out the discussion on the Stranraer and Partick Thistle games to such an extent that you'd think they were exciting matches.
The chat about Stranraer however leads to a discussion on flares (pyro not trousers). Finally the bhoys discuss Anthony Stokes and the club's inability to sign a decent striker...enjoy the ramble.
Soccer #Football #ScottishFootball #SPFL #Celtic #CelticUnderground #Flares
This week Harry and St Anthony join up on a podcast to discuss the burning question - Ronnie Deila: Stick or Twist.
Harry starts by comparing the league position with this time last year. Celtic are 3 points and 11 goals scored better off than after 18 points last year - surely sign of progress, but the bhoys go on and outline their concerns. After a few heated debating points along the way the agreed position is stick...for now. We shall see if this was the right thing to do.
Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Enjoy
Celtic #CelticUnderground #RonnieDeila #spfl #ScottishFootball
This week St Anthony is joined by Pat McGinley. Pat grew up in Partick, Glasgow and was an outstanding schoolboy player captaining St Peter's Boys School in Partick and playing for St Thomas Aquinas Secondary in Jordanhill and Bearsden Boys Club. Though many Scottish clubs were watching his star performances as a schoolboy centre forward, he began his career as an apprentice with English club Blackpool but returned to Scotland to join Hibernian in 1987. He soon became an important part of Alex Miller's side who played Pat as a midfielder instead of forward/winger and he was part of the winning Scottish League Cup in 1991 Hibs side and went on to make over 150 appearances for the club in his first stint at Easter Road.
In 1993 he was signed by Celtic for a fee of £525,000 after he impressed then boss Liam Brady. He made his debut on 7 August 1993 as a substitute in a 2–2 draw away to Motherwell. However, after just over fifteen months at Celtic Park, he was on the move again as he was not part of Tommy Burns' plans. It was a strange move as McGinlay had been Celtic's top goalscorer in the previous season. At the time, Celtic were in the rebuilding process under Fergus McCann; McGinlay was part of the Celtic side that played at Hampden Park whilst Celtic Park was being rebuilt. With the cash raised from selling McGinlay, Tommy Burns bought Tosh McKinlay from Hearts. Ironically, Tosh was one of Pat's old St Peters Boys School teammates.
McGinlay rejoined Hibs for a fee of £420,000 on 1 November 1994. He remained at Easter Road for six seasons before moving to Ayr United. Whilst at Ayr, McGinlay enjoyed a cup run which ended with him being on the losing side in the 2002 Scottish League Cup Final. He made 74 appearances for the 'Honest Men' and scored 23 goals before retiring in 2005.
Celtic #Hibs #ScottishFootball #SPFL #sfa #CelticUnderground #PatMcGinlay
This week we have the second part of the aduio from the Celtic History night which took place in the Admiral Bar on Thursday 19th November. Hosted by Paul Cuddihy the evening was a chance for Celtic chat with authors who have all apeared on this podcast; Paul Dykes - The Quality Street Gang Stephen Sullivan - Celtic's Iron Man Stephen Murray - Ten Men Won The League
This is thesecond part of audio from the evening. If you've not caught the first go to www.celticunderground.net to pick it up from the usual places.
Enjoy
This week we have some audio from the Celtic History night which took place in the Admiral Bar on Thursday 19th November. Hosted by Paul Cuddihy the evening was a chance for Celtic chat with authors who have all apeared on this podcast; Paul Dykes - The Quality Street Gang Stephen Sullivan - Celtic's Iron Man Stephen Murray - Ten Men Won The League
This is the first part of audio from the evening with part two up over the weekend.
Enjoy
Celtic #CelticFC #CelticUnderground #SPFL #CelticHistory #StAnthony
This week St Anthony is joined by a legend of Scottish Football, Pat Stanton. In these modern times of high wages, as we have seen, players like Pat would never have stayed at Hibs for so long but...well he goes into all of that on the podcast.
Stanton is the great-great nephew of Michael Whelahan, one of the founders of Hibernian FC and its first captain.[3] He signed for the club in 1963 and made his professional debut later that year.[4] He established himself in the Hibs first team, playing either in defence or midfield.[4] Stanton captained Hibs when they won the 1972 Scottish League Cup Final.[4]
Stanton left Hibs in 1976 when he was transferred to Celtic in a swap deal for Jackie McNamara, Sr.[4] Jock Stein, who had briefly managed Stanton at Hibs in the 1960s, identified Stanton as the man to stop Celtic conceding soft goals.[4][5] This was an apparent success, as Celtic won the Scottish Cup and the Scottish league championship in 1976–77.[4][5] Stanton suffered a bad injury early in the 1977–78 season, which eventually forced his retirement from playing.[4] Hibs and Celtic played a testimonial match for Stanton on 30 April 1978.
Enjoy
Celtic #Hibs #CelticUnderground #StAnthony #PatStanton #HarryBrady #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Soccer #SFA
This week the Celtic Underground team discuss cheating - wholescale, industrial cheating with the clear intent to defraud Scottish football, masterminded by a man hailed as business hero, but who was nothing of the sort. Knighted for services to business David Murray stacked up debts of £1bn with a £20m shortfall in his group's pension fund. And when this guy could no longer use his friends and contacts at HBoS to paper over the cracks of his business failures he then used the money of you and I to fund his ego.
Yes this podcast is about the illegal actions of David Murray and Rangers Football Club (In Liquidation). The podcast is long...but then again so was the period of time over which Rangers cheated. They died, but we now need to decide what we do with the legacy of that corpse.
Enjoy
Celtic #CelticFC #CelticUnderground #EBT #SPFL #Rangers #SEVCO #ScottishFootball #Soccer #Cheating
This week St Anthony is joined by a man who does not look to court the limelight yet has been an essential part of the Celtic fan story for over 20 years - Mr Brendan Sweeney. Many will have known of Brendan since his time at Celts For Change when he was a key member of the group which helped galvanise the fans into a movement which led to the transformation of our club. More recently Brendan has been part of The Celtic Graves Society and has just written a book entitled Celtic THE EARLY YEARS 1887-1892.
If you are interested in Celtic books, the Admiral Bar will be hosting a book evening on Thursday 19th November.
More details can be found here - http://celticunderground.net/celtic-history-discussion-and-book-night-admiral-bar-19th-november/
Enjoy
Celtic #CelticUnderground #StAnthony #CelticGraves #Soccer #SPFL #ScottishFootball #SFA #CelticFC #brendanSweeney #CeltsForChange
This week Harry meets up with Tony Hamilton (CEO) to discuss the fantastic work of the Celtic FC Foundation.
Tony and Harry firt spoke about the work of the Foundation 2 years ago on the podcast and so Harry thought it was about time to catch up and get insight into the work being done by the foundation and specifically the forthcoming Christmas appeal.
To learn more about the work of the Foundation log on to http://charity.celticfc.net/
The bhoys can be found on Twitter; @polishtunstile @Harrybradycu
This week St Anthony brings us another guest from the world of the Scottish Mainstream Media - Mr Gerry McCulloch.
Viewers of STV and listeners to Clyde will be familiar with young Gerry as the the fresh voiced host of the long running radio football phone-in and occasional face of football on STV.
Before Saint discusses all things football and media with Gerry we get a chance to wish Willie Keane all the best for his wedding on Saturday 24th October and also at the end is a wee clip celebrating the time when a host like Gerry would have quality journalists as pundits and also celebrating a time when Only an Excuse was on the radio...AND FUNNY.
Enjoy!
Celtic #CelticUnderground #StAnthony #GerryMcCulloch #CLYDE #SSB SPFL #SFA #ScottishFootball
This week Harry is joined by Celtic Legend Packie Bonner.
Packie has a book coming out called The Last Line and Harry discusses is "lucky" career and the influences on him which led to making nearly 500 appearnaces for Celtic in 20 years.
He was Jock Stein's last signing for the club when he left his native Donegal for the city of Glasgow in 1978, where Packie evolved from being a shy, homesick teenager into a confident, world-class talent and first-choice goalkeeper. Billy McNeill handed him a debut on St Patrick's Day in 1979, and Packie went on to provide the last line of defence a record 641 times for the club. A seasoned Irish internationalist, Packie was a vital component in the most-celebrated Irish national squad ever, playing in a golden era under the tutelage of the inimitable Jack Charlton.
The podcast could have covered so much more but as you will hear, from a quiet start the noise from the kids playing nearby meant we eventually had to bring the interview to a close.
To get to know more you can;
Buy the book - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Last-Line-My-Autobiography/dp/1785031848
Attend An Evening with Packie and Friends - http://tickets-scotland.com/ane22
Or win a book by answering the question and emailing Harrybradycu@gmail.com
Celtic #CelticUnderground #PackieBonner #Ireland #RepublicofIreland #SPFL #ScottishFootball #IrishFootball
The Old Rangers cheated and then went bust. We all know this, but what the press have not gone into are the final desperate attempts made by that old club to stave off liquidation and use all means, fair or foul, to cobble together enough cash to trade through the season. When they ran out of tax avoidance and evasion schemes, they simply gambled everything on achieving Champions League football. With the acquiescence or ignorance of the SFA they nearly succeeded.
At the Celtic AGM of 2013 a group of supporters tabled "Resolution 12" which asked the club to take steps to ascertain how the old Rangers had obtained and kept the UEFA licence. Following dialogue with the club, that resolution was adjourned but that did not mean it had gone away. This podcast with Auldheid seeks to provide more information on the latest piece about Res 12 on the CU site and provide an overview of where they are.
If you have specific questions following the podcast please contact @Auldheid on twitter.
Celtic #CelticUnderground #Auldheid #HarryBrady #CelticFC #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Soccer #FootballsFixed
Last week we had Derek Rae on the podcast. We talked about his technique, love for the game and influences. His start had been via David Francey but there was one man who is perhaps, the most important sports broadcaster in Scottish sport history. I am of course talking about the legendary Archie MacPherson.
Those of us of a certain age grew up with the luxury of football highlights of games by tea time Sunday with Sportscene on BBC1 and Scotsport on ITV, which Archie on the Beeb and Arthur Montford on STV. We may not have got all the games and all the goals, but what we got was far superior than the current fare. Archie has been mocked for his come over, his sports jackets and his "swept away" turn of phrase, but all of that is done with the type of humour reserved only for those whom we truly admire. This is no-one better than Archie so...Enjoy.
Celtic #CelticUnderground #ScottishFootball #ArchieMacPherson
Football #Soccer #SPFL #CelticFC #Sportscene #BBCScotland
After the loss to Malmo in midweek, everything online with Celtic got a bit hectic and frenzied with lots of gnashing of teeth and searching for a villain to pin the blame onto.
With such a critical online atmosphere Harry decided that a more calming and measured perspective was required and therefore asked Hullbhoy, with his calming Hull tones to provide his overview. The bhoys started by discussing the Europa League draw and then moved on to review Tuesday. Harry asked who was to blame and what could be done. Hullbhoys responses were interesting...
Enjoy @Hullbhoy @Harrybradycu
This week Harry is joined by leading sports commentator Mr Derek Rae. This was recorded the morning after the night before and the first topic of conversation is the Malmo game, but the chat soon moves on to wider topics covering Derek's varied (by location) broadcast career.
Derek started broadcasting for hospital radio at just 15 and as he goes onto explain, got a lucky break at 19 which resulted in becoming a lead commentator at Radio Scotland. Since then Derek has established himself in Scotland, left, established himself in the United States and now, again, finds himself back in Scotland covering the game he clearly loves.
Enjoy
The boys can be found on twitter; @RaeComm @HarryBradyCu
Scott Allen – Welcome to Celtic!
Celtic have signed another Scottish talent and in the process managed to get three of their targets into one.
Scott started his career at Dundee Utd – Tick Scott has been signed from Hibs – Tick Rangers fans were singing his name as they thought THEY were signing him – Tick and Ha ha ha ha ha With Celtic playing in Europe (West Asia Region) this past week Harry thought he should speak with some of the globe-trotting Celts to get a feel for what is what like. Paul The Tim was otherwise engaged hunting down Scott Allen for his selfie pic so that left only a handful of others and Mark Cameron (@leftybhoy) fitted the bill. The bhoys chat about Qarabag, Killie and have a little chuckle at the expense of the fans formerly known as huns. New club, same old fannies!
Anyway – we want Celtic chat when we make a new signing so here you go…
Enjoy.
Celtic #CelticUnderground #CelticFC #SPFL #Soccer #Football #ChampionsLeague #ScottAllen
This week, fresh from getting 1 step closer to the Champions League we have St Anthony in conversation with another former Celtic hero - Joe Craig.
Craig, a striker, joined Partick Thistle in 1972 from Sauchie Juniors. After an impressive start, scoring seven goals in his first twenty games, he helped the club to the First Division title in season 1975-76. Joe signed for Celtic in September 1976 for £60,000 where he won the Scottish Cup and League Championship in his first season. He moved to Blackburn Rovers in September 1978 where he remained until 1981 when he joined Hamilton Academical. He retired in 1983. Whilst at Celtic, he earned his only international cap against Sweden in April 1977. He started the match as a substitute and came on after 75 minutes and famously scored before having even kicked the ball, scoring a header just two minutes after replacing Kenny Burns.
Enjoy
The domestic season starts on Saturday so there is one VERY important job to be undertaken before this begins and that is the unveiling of the Celtic Underground Committee's choice of top ten players for Celtic in Season 2014/15.
Starting with a new manager with new systems and new ideas on players it was a challenging time for our election committee with few players feature as first team stand outs all term. A common point made by the voters was that the first 3 or 4 was easy, but after that everyone was much of a muchness. So settle down and see if you agree with the voting panel which ended up with the following Top Ten;
1 Johansen 2= Brown 2= Gordon 4 Deneyar 5 VVD 6 Bitton 7 Griffiths 8= Commons 8= Izaguirre 10 GMS
Enjoy
Celtic #CelticFC #CelticUnderground #SPFL #CUTopTen #Top10 #ScottishFootball #Soccer #Football
As we approach the start of a new season, St Anthony has a guest who reminds us that sometimes just one or two signings can be the difference for a team - Mr Billy Stark.
Billy was your typical "good honest pro" in the Scottish game so hardly had the fans flocking to the front door when he signed for the hoops yet for many he became one of THE reasons Celtic won the double in our Centenary Season.
Player at St Mirren, Aberdeen and Celtic among others, he also was famously part of the Tommy Burns management team at Celtic. Stark therefore has some interesting tales to tell about Tommy, Fergie...and Andy Townsend.
Enjoy.
Celtic #CelticFC #CelticUnderground #BillyStark #CFC #Dons #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Fergie #Soccer #Football
Just in time for the schools breaking up, the world's longest running football fans podcast brings you another feast of football chat to get you through the dearth of quality chat in a tournamentless summer (yes I know there's the women's thing but that doesn't count).
This week Harry is joined by Grant Russell of STV, known to those on twitter as @STV Grant. The boys discuss Grant credentials as a real fan of a lesser team before getting on to the meat of the discussion...how they'd cover the game if they ruled the world.
Enjoy
@STVGrant @HarryBradyCU
Celtic #CelticUnderground #CelticFC #SPFL #Soccer #Football #ScottishFootball #STV #SkySports #BTSport
You may be all just about to embark on your summer holidays with the prevailing sports of golf, cricket and tennis on the tv but football never goes away and neither does the world's longest running fan podcast!
The last Scotland game was just a week ago but the Celtic players are back in training, the fixtures are out and the Champions League draw has been made so we know you want some football chat so your quest is fulfilled here with St Anthony in conversation with Graham Spiers, the man who proves Scotland's deference to authority by getting all the respect in the world just by dressing like a teacher.
Enjoy.
On twitter; @GrahamSpiers @Stephen62572390
Celtic #CelticFC #CelticUnderground #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Soccer #Football #GrahamSpiers
Glasgow and Scotland over these past 12 months. Steven got into politics during the turbulent times of the 1980's and became a Glasgow City councillor at 22 and leader of the City just 10 years later at 32. Close to Donald Dewar, steven was tipped to become the leader of Labour in Scotland before his high profile resignation and departure from public life. Before leaving the City council, Steven was the man who led the team which brought the Commonwealth Games here in 2014 and remains close to the movers and shakers of Scottish politics.
Steven talks of his love of Celtic and the Labour Party and the challenges facing the second of those two - he identifies the 5 challenges he sees facing the Labour Party UK wide and how the simple use of the single name "Nicola" could spell real problems for Labour in Scotland.
In a wide ranging conversation which covers Sectarianism, Gasgow's uncomfortable relationship with football and the OBFA, the boys round up by discussing the joy of watching Celtic under Ronny Deila.
Enjoy
Celtic #Labour #SPFL #SNP #ScottishFootball #Soccer #CelticUnderground #Soccer #ScottishLabour #StevenPurcell
Following the jolly discussions of the Aberdeen game and the remaining fixtures this term, guest Mark Cameron shows his ruthless side by discussing the big changes he envisages for the first team squad. Some of his proposals are enforced with expected sales, whilst others are end of contract or fringe players whose disappearance tomorrow wouldn't be noticed.
See if you agree with @leftybhoy on who will come and go...
Enjoy
On Twitter;
@Leftybhoy
@Harrybradycu
This week Celtic Globetrotter Mark Cameron drops in for a chat with Harry. Their wide ranging discussion covers the joy of being champions at Pittodrie, how the manager will deal with the squad for the last two games and what the squad may or may not be after the (brief) summer break.
It's such a long and wide ranging chat that Harry has decided to split the podcasts up into two bite sized chunks. Podcast 248a is about this season and part b will be along in a few days time where we look at next. Oh and don't forget it's Lisa Hague's birthday bash at Celtic Park this week - funds to Marie Curie.
Enjoy
@Leftybhoy
I pondered for a little while as to whether to call this a My Celtic Life podcast after all, Andy is a Morton Legend and only played a handful of games for the hoops but for those of us of a certain age you cannot think of players like Andy or ChiCk Charnley and not think of the hoops they could have been.
Andy had talent but he was also more in the Griffiths Tunnock Teacake world of fitness than the John Collins multi sit-up one. Whatever the reason he left Celtic early in his career and became a legend down Greenock way.
The man has more than a few stories and St Anthony and he enjoy a good 1 and a half chat over all things football. As a consequence I thought it best to create two manageable podcasts from the conversation which should give you something else to listen to until after May 7th.
Enjoy.
Celtic #CelticUnderground #Morton #AndyRitchie #SPFL #Soccer #ScottishFootball #CelticFC #StAnthony
This week Harry has just about calmed down enough to do a podcast dissecting the ICT fall-out. With more unsighted people in Scottish football than you'd find at a Ray Charles convention, Harry hops on Skype and chats with a man 8,000 miles away in Argentina - even he saw it - HANDBALL.
The guys naturally discuss what happened and Harry TRIES to come up with a valid defence for 5 unsighted officials. After this the guys have a wider discussion on the team performance on the day before moving into the challenges we'll face with the squad before Mark gives us a run-down of who we won't sign from South America but will eventually sign for Arsenal for £10m or some other silly amount.
Between the football chat the boys also discuss hotel rooms in London and coffins in Kinning Park!
Enjoy @markocooper @harrybradycu
Celtic #CelticUnderground #SPFL #SFA #ScottishCup #ICT #ScottishFootball #Soccer
A REAL St Mirren fan in the media - yes apparently there IS one and St Anthony has found him!
This week St Anthony is joined by The Scottish Sun's Chief Football Writer Mr Robert Grieve to talk football AND Saint provides the bombshell right at the start that Robert IS actually a ST Mirren fan - yes a real live one - although a thought did occur that maybe that's why St Mirren's average attendance is so low, all the St Mirren fans are busy reporting at other grounds across Scotland....
I hope you enjoy and please don't forget your food parcels to mark 100th year of Brother Walfrid's passing.
The hiatus of international football is over and so it's time to talk Celtic. Lachie Mor joins Harry to discuss the shooty-in exercise of the final Dundee Utd game and the squad in general. In addition to discovering that Lachie's best 11 contains a minumum of 12 players, the pair discuss the forthcoming triple and summer squad changes including Liam Henderson's loan move to Norway. There is a brief mention of the Ibrox lunacy before Lachie picks his starting 12 for the St Mirren game.
Enjoy
Celtic #SPFL #Celticunderground #Soccer #Football #Deila
With it being an international week our listeners will be thirsty for Celtic content and this week St Anthony returns with another My Celtic Life. This week Saint is joined by Charlie Gallagher.
Charlie is one of those Celts who's career spanned a dramatic chnage in the club. Starting in the dark pre-Stein days he was fortunate enough to play alongside his hero, the late great Willie Fernie and played with the club through the start of the Stein era before finishing his career during the days of colour TV at Dumbarton. Charlie's other claim was to be the first Irish Republic International born in Glasgow.
As I write I'm about to head off to the Celtic FC Foundation Zip Wire and it's VERY windy. If I'm not heard of for a while can someone check to see if I landed in Norway?
Enjoy
Why would anyone not be excited about going to watch Celtic at the moment? Bombing on full backs, pace speed, ability - even centre halves scoring goals by playing a 1-2 in the opposition 6 yard box. To quote Chris Tarrant on TISWAS - This Is What They Want! Yes, this is sexy football. Ronny Deila is bringing sexy back to Celtic Park!
This week Mark Cameron joins Harry to discuss attacking football being played the Glasgow Celtic way and Dundee Utd leaving the boot in. That's right, we review the latest instalment in the Celtic v Dundee Utd saga and discuss how enjoyable supporting Celtic is.
The enjoyment of supporting a great team on the park is only added to by knowing that Celtic are a club like no other and Mark talks about his work with the Celtic FC Foundation.
The two contributors are on twitter; @Leftiebhoy @Harrybradycu
Enjoy
Celtic #CelticFC #SPFL #ScottishFootball #Soccer #CelticUnderground
Jim Spence in conversation with St Anthony
Since the speculate to accumulate concept came crashing down in Scottish football, few journalists have provided a fairer and more bullish assement and commentary on our game than Jim Spence. With 3 Dundee Utd games coming up St aNthony has dusted down his mic once again to meet up with Jim Spence and have a good football natter with a proper football fan.
Both gents can be found on twitter; @Stephen62572390 @BBCJimSpence
Celtic #SPFL #ScottishFootball #DundeeUtd #JimSpence #Soccer
This week St Anthony is joined by author of The First Game With My Father, Michael Tierney. They discuss all things Celtic including Sean Connery, Gerard Butler, Ben Bradley et al.
Also the Celtic FC Foundation have just a few team places left for their first golf day which is taking place on World Autism Day - 2nd April, at Renfrew Golf Club.
CELTIC FC FOUNDATION GOLF DAY TO TAKE PLACE ON WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
CELTIC FC Foundation’s inaugural Golf Day will coincide with World Autism Awareness Day on Thursday, April 2.
World Autism Awareness Day is an initiative launched by the United Nations General Assembly to promote awareness and understanding of people with autism.
Celtic FC Foundation’s first Golf Day is scheduled to take place at Renfrew Golf Club with all proceeds raised going towards a project that will help children and young people with autism. In collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, Celtic FC Foundation intend to create a project which will offer an opportunity to enhance each child’s wellbeing through supported physical activity such as football and dance with a focus on fun.
Celtic FC Foundation’s inaugural Golf Day, please email cfcfoundation@celticfc.co.uk or call 0141 551 4291.
After Harry updates on the Celtic Graves Event of Saturday 28th Feb in Kilsyth and the forthcoming CFC Foundation events we have the meet of the podcast with St Anthony.
St Anthony meets up with Andy Lynch. In February 1973, Jock Stein paid £30,000 to sign Lynch for Celtic and, although Lynch was initially a winger, Stein successfully converted him into a left back. While with Celtic he won three Scottish league titles and the Scottish Cup twice. He scored the only goal in the 1977 Scottish Cup final.
There will be more podcasts to come so please enjoy.
Celtic #SPFL #Soccer #ScottishFootball #AndyLynch #football
Darrell King, journalist with the Herald, states that Rangers players had 2 contracts from the club on Radio Clyde on the 16th of January 2012.