1916 Rebellion Walking Tour - Dublin

The impact of The Easter Rising in April 1916 would eventually transform Ireland, the UK and British Empire forever.  The General Post Office in Dublin still holds the scars of the brutal bombardment from British forces who lay siege to the focal point of the uprising in Irelands capital.  As a visitor to Dublin a number of times over the last 25 years, the GPO is always on my list of places to stop off and visit.

With a little more time on my hands for a recent visit to the fair city, I was able to immerse myself in more of the stories from the Easter Rising as well as the turbulent history that brought Ireland to that pivotal moment over 100 years ago.  I booked on to the 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour after I caught the details of the tour through social media.

So, on a beautifully warm Saturday morning my oldest brother and I zigzagged through the streets of Dublin heading from Dublin Castle, through Trinity college across the Liffey and on to the Post Office on O'Connell Street.   The stroll across the city was a perfect pace for the busy streets of the capital, especially on a Saturday when the NCAA College Football match was in town from the USA.

The tour starts at the International Bar on Wicklow Street, not far from the shopping precinct of Grafton Street.   The guide Liam welcomed the 25+ people on the tour sharing a hand out detailing the main players in the rebellion and the important organisations and factors that led to the event.  If you’ve built up a thirst getting to the meeting point there is plenty of time to grab a pint of Guinness (or another refreshment), as the guide sets the scene for the events of Easter week 1916.

Our guide Liam was passionate as he recited the details of the people and places who would shape Irelands future.   The downstairs bar is gallery dedicated to the  men and women of the rebellion as well as the aftermath of the bombing assault in and around O’Connell Street.  After the introduction was finished, we made our way around some of the important sites of the uprising, getting to know more about the social and political factors as well as the impact of the organised trade unions on the city at this time.

Advertised as the 1916 Rebellion tour, it explain so much more about Irish history than the events of that fateful week.  From the seeds of the French revolution and the Society of the United Irishmen to the Home Rule quest, 1916, Bloody Sunday and civil war.

The tour was an engaging and enlightening way to see and hear some of the hidden stories of a critical moment in history that has shaped Ireland and beyond.

Website - 1916 Walking tour website

Twitter -  Twitter 1916WalkingTour

Porno - Edinburgh Fringe

 Saturday, 13th August.  Pleasance Beyond

It certainly doesn’t feel like 26 years ago that Trainspotting was released in cinemas, the cult classic penned by Edinburgh native Irvine Welsh in 1993 introduced the world to the murky hidden squalor  of the Scottish capital and specifically a group of friends, addicts, schemers and psychos.  The friends and their antics were immortalised on the big screen thanks to the collaboration of author Welsh, screenwriter John Hodge and Director Danny Boyle.  The novel and subsequent movie release were a worldwide global hit leaving the characters firmly etched in the memory forever.

When my wife and I took our seats at the Pleasance Beyond theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe for the stage adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Porno the follow up to Trainspotting, it felt like we were on our way to a school reunion where you just weren't sure how anyone had got on since you last saw them.  We needn't have worried.  From the moment the lights went down and the characters made their introduction, it was like they had never been away – yeah they might be a wee bit older (aren’t we all), but maybe not much wiser.

The story picks up 15 years after Renton had robbed the group of friends, fled the scene and left  Sick Boy, Spud and Begbie to pick up the crumbs of their own lives.  A lot can happen in 15 years – a guilty conscious can catch up with you, a vengeful rage can fester or old habits can re-emerge.

The casting has been superb, Chris Gavin is the embodiment of Begbie, emerging from the shadows after a long stint behind bars.  The psycho of the group is alive and well, not changed a bit after his jail time and is ready to set about anyone who even looks at him now that he's back on the street.    Simon Weir is the epitome of SickBoy only a wee bit older now, much more sleazier and still happy to score a line up his nose and find ways of lining his pockets.

Scott Kyle is captivating as he reeled us in to the scheming ways of Renton; returned to Leith after his escape to Amsterdam.   Kevin Murphy gave a perfect performance in the role of Spud, always trying to help everyone else, it was easy to fall in love with the character all over again.

The playwright behind the production David Carswell has captured the storytelling flawlessly for this absolutely fantastic bit of theatre.  The prospect of an extended version of this play is something we can all hope for soon.  In the meantime make sure you do your best to get along and see this perfectly crude, vulgar, funny and profane work of art.

In The Name of The Son - The Gerry Conlon Story

Saturday, 13th August.  Edinburgh Fringe

I finally took the plunge and decided to head east on the train to get a flavour of The World Biggest Arts festival. The Edinburgh Festival is now celebrating its 75th year, so it really needs no introduction from me – the platform it provides for up and coming, random, well established and controversial entertainers, actors and comedians is a multi-million pound industry that depending on who you speak to doesn't always seem to find it’s way back into the pockets of the performers.

With Scotland in the midst of yet another heatwave ( we really shouldn't complain) the capital was at its sparkling best as hundreds of thousands festival goers zigzagged across the world famous streets to take in the atmosphere as well as a trying to find a few hidden gems performing in the many quirky venues dotted throughout the city.  Thankfully my wife & I had made plans earlier in the week and had a couple of shows booked.   First up was In the Name of the Son – the Gerry Conlon Story

The one man stage show was a real masterclass in performing arts from Downpatrick born actor Shaun Blaney.  Fresh from a recent run at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, Shaun delivered a breath-taking non-stop masterpiece for the senses.  With only a short table and stool for company on stage Blaney had the audience transfixed from beginning to end. His portrayal of the troubled and turbulent life of Gerry Conlon was a gripping rollercoaster of a ride.

Starting in the Lower-Falls road in Belfast, Shaun painted the very vivid scene of a young Conlon caught up the midst of the troubles on the streets of Belfast before being forced to move to London where he would be framed and centre stage in one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK history.  Arrested, brutally tortured – physically and mentally, forced to confess to the Guilford pub bombings, Conlon was convicted along with Paul Hill, Paddy Armstrong and Carole Richardson and sentenced to life imprisonment. The plot by the British establishment also pushed for the trial of the Maguire Seven, which saw Conlon wrongly sent to prison with his father Patrick Guiseppe Conlon.

The story continues with Shaun Blaney visiting the moment the “Guilford four" had their sentences quashed in 1989 by the UK court of appeals, the moment of triumph Conlon family had been working hard for over the previous 14 years.  The true cost of spending 14 years in prison is then played out as Blaney depicts the incredible highs and desperate lows of a man known the world over, but who had never truly dealt with his brutal incarceration.

From The Oscars to scraping together food from the bins on the streets of London, Blaney painstakingly conveys the spirit of a man broken by drug addiction, loss and grief, while enlightening us with the redemption of Conlon in his later life as he returned to his family and reunited with Paul Hill to work tirelessly with the miscarriages of justice organisation.

This is a must see production, Shaun Blaney delivers an energetic, powerful all consuming performance that will have you completely mesmerised.

Liam Gallagher Live - Hampden Park

 Liam Gallagher - Hampden Park, Glasgow.  26th June 2022.

The summer music roadshows are now in full swing, football stadiums have been revamped and altered to suit strobe lights instead of floodlights.  Empty fields have security fences surrounding them as they get ready to welcome thousands of fans to sing, dance and drink the day away in front of the main stage.  The last Sunday in June saw the return of Liam Gallagher to Glasgow, the former Oasis frontman has already headlined massive open air shows in Manchester and Knebworth on the back of his recent album release C'mon you know, and Hampden Park was the next stop on his summer tour.

Now, football fans across the country have a love/hate relationship with Hampden Park.  The historical context in which the stadium is held is rightly celebrated, but the lack of modernisation leave the stadium somewhat behind many other large scale premium venues in the UK. The sheer volume of stairs to get down to pitch side and then back up again is a workout in itself, add in chaotic stewarding around the bars, food stalls and toilets and you might normally have a recipe for a poor day out.   Thankfully the music outshone anything happening off stage.

Before Liam Gallagher took the stage, the expectant crowd nestled in the National stadium were treated to a glorious set from Leicester rockers Kasabian. From the moment the band strolled on stage they had the Hampden crowd in the palm of their hands. New frontman Serge led everyone in the stadium in a lung bursting and electrifying tour of the bands 6 studio albums to date.  Sadly the bands time on stage passed too quickly.  Every syllable spelled out by the camouflage clad Serge, only increased the intensity of the fans watching on, helping  create a near perfect synergy amongst a soaked but euphoric crowd.  By the time of their final song everyone in the stadium was already at fever pitch.  Fire delivered, it absolutely delivered.  It was met with a crescendo that you would expect from a last minute winner in a cup final.  Exhilarated by Kasabian, It was time for a breather, a beer and a walk up those stairs.

The level of anticipation before any main act at a gig is always special, but I enjoyed it a wee bit more waiting for Liam Gallagher to take the stage.  Maybe because I had my son with me & it was his first open air gig, the realisation that my son is on only 2 years younger than I was when I first saw Oasis, or maybe just the fact Liam Gallagher has the ability to wow fans with his trademark swagger and a gentle shake of his maracas or tambourine.   No matter what it was, when the Stone Rose’s started to play over the PA you could feel the charge of expectation in front of the stage.

With a chorus of Championees still echoing around the stadium, Liam strolled on to stage to the epic Fucking in the Bushes, following up with Hello and Rock and Roll Star.  The Manchester music Legend then weaved his magic over a near two hour set where he played the very best of the Oasis classics and dipped into his more recent solo albums.  Stand by Me, Morning Glory and Slide Away still sound as good now as they did when I first heard them, these are instant classics that helped shape the music scene as the young in your face boys from Manchester took the world by storm.

The mature Liam Gallagher is still in your face, he still has the swagger and he still has that unmistakable voice.  His solo albums are laced with influences ranging from the Beatles and Stones, to Ian Brown, The Stone Rose’s and the Chemical Brothers.   I'm a big fan of the most recent release, as it packs a punch and gives a good experimental vibe while clinging on to the tried and tested arrangements of his first two solo albums.  These songs definitely don't pull on the heart strings the same way as the Oasis tracks do, but they were a perfect fit in an almost flawless setlist (I always want more).

With the sun starting to retreat and darkness beginning to fall Liam lit up the national stadium with massive Oasis hits from Definitely Maybe and What’s the Story Morning Glory, conducting a bumper sing along for Cigarettes and Alcohol, Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova all being squeezed in before the curfew fell and everyone made their way home.

Yeah I might have my gripes about the venue, but the show put on by Kasabian and Liam Gallagher in front of a ravenous Glasgow crowd will live long in the memory.

A Time to Unite

The actions of the Rail, Maritime and Transport worker’s union members this week are a clear sign that the system we have grown to live with over the last few decades clearly does not work.   At a time when the working class public are making the very difficult decision between heating and eating, it is very hard to comprehend the vast profits being made and bonuses being paid to big businesses and CEO’s the length and breadth of the country.

 

The collective voice of many has been silenced into accepting a broken system.  Voter apathy has won against a backdrop of increasingly right wing policies and manifestos.  A system where empty gestures and promises from politicians at Westminster merely serve to keep the status quo, where the rich get richer and the most vulnerable in our societies are marginalised and left to ponder how they will exist from day to day.

 

The clear message handed to the RMT through its members provides a unified voice of collective bargaining behind their trade union.  An incredible 79% of the balloted members took part in the vote and an equally incredible 89% of those voting supported the strike action.  In a time of political spin, there is no clearer mandate to work with – this is not militant action.

 

The public face of the strike action; Mick Lynch has been thrust into view amid a concerted effort by the British media to demonise the work of the Trade Union.   However, the media have completely misjudged the Secretary-General of the Union.  An unflappable portrait of a man steadfast working towards a common goal has been sketched out interview after interview for everyone to see and to stand behind.  The usual outlets and commentators have tried to distract the public from the real issue at hand, labelling Lynch as a Marxist or comparing him to a Thunderbirds Villain. 

 

In reality Mick Lynch follows in the great line of Union Leaders and social reformers produced here in Britain.  From the days of Tom Mann, John McLean, James Larkin and James Connolly to Jimmy Reid, Arthur Scargill and Bob Crow the socialist trade union movement in this country has been at the forefront of pushing for workers’ rights and changing the face of our working environments for the better.  

 

We are at a crossroads in UK politics, there is a serious danger that we will sleepwalk into a far right state.   The threads of this have already been sown with the Westminster Government stripping away our rights to protest and strike, all but closing our borders, deporting those seeking refuge, alienating our closest neighbours and trade markets as well as altering the terms of the human rights bill.  This is not only a Government issue; it lies at the heart of the representatives voted into parliament.   Where we should expect opposition from a Labour party hungry for change we only see malaise and at times the Labour leader turning his back on the founding principles of the party.

 

To use the quote from Bob Crow, “If you fight you won’t always win, but if you don’t fight you will always lose”, each of the union leaders named previously did not always get what the strived to achieve, but they built a movement and a belief that we can achieve better things for ourselves and our colleagues.  On the picket lines up and down the country the Network Rail workers are standing shoulder to shoulder with you and me as well as the spirit of the union activists who fought for better rights throughout the decades.

The Celtic Foundation - They Never Stop

When the football season comes to a close and the players head off on holiday, while journalists create stories about potential transfers, we the fans take stock of what we’ve just enjoyed (or endured) over the previous 10 months.  The progress report for Celtic reads well, very well actually.  The league cup was secured before Christmas and then we were crowned champions of Scotland in May, not too bad for a new manager building a new squad.  The prize for that bumper performance is a return to the champions league group stages and all the incentives that brings.  A triumphant return on the pitch post Covid restrictions shows the significant work that goes on to deliver such success.

The final day of the season was an emotional one, I was self-isolating after testing positive for Covid, so missed out on watching the rampant performance from our new champions.  It was hard to keep the tears from falling as long term club servants Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton took their final steps on the hallowed Celtic Park turf.  I also missed out on the Celtic Foundation badge day, another staple of the Celtic Park calendar.  I had volunteered along with my wife to join the bucket collection around the entrance to the stadium, but sadly I had to miss out on this too.

The funds raised by supporters on days like the Badge Day go a long way in supporting the incredible work carried out at the foundation.  As someone who has taken part in individual fundraising events for the Foundation, I never fully grasped the diverse network of programmes offered by the Celtic Foundation to support those most in need in our local communities.

One of the phrases that became synonymous with our title winning team this season was “We Never Stop”.   The same could be said about the clubs charitable arm, the foundation never stops and never stands still. When the Covid restrictions hit our communities, the team at the Foundation were still pushing to ensure those people in most need of assistance were not forgotten.

I was fortunate enough to attend a Celtic Foundation showcase event earlier this week.  The event was hosted by Gerry McCulloch and supported by Foundation Chief Executive Tony Hamilton and Head of Outcomes Donna Marie Henry, but the real stories of success came from the programme participants.

Over the course of the evening we were given an insight into the incredible work done by the Foundation, supported by donations.  Six speakers shared their personal stories of how the Foundation work has changed their life.   From the Lions Lunch on a Monday providing  support and respite for dementia sufferers and their carers, to Ability Counts, supporting families and introducing their loved ones into an environment where they can flourish.  The portfolio of work is truly heartwarming.

We also heard about the impact the sensory room within the stadium has with supporters and their families.  The collaboration with Down syndrome and autism support groups,  but there were two participants who held the room in their hands while they spoke.  Sharing both of their experiences of mental health issues as well as dealing with drug addiction, these personal stories exposed the void left in funding from local authorities to help people in these situations.  The stories shone a light on the impact the Foundation has in helping empower those within the programmes to take the necessary steps on their recovery.

A truly inspirational evening finished with a unique and moving rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone from the UK Theatre School.  On leaving the showcase event I thought about how those collection boxes dotted around the turnstiles and justgiving pages set up by fundraisers all over the world had helped deliver each of those inspirational stories as well as aid the 20+ individual projects that support people of all ages and ability across many communities.

Skylights - What You Are

Very few things unite fans of different football teams, even more so when those teams are city rivals or the adversaries are both challenging for honours.   That's just part of football and why it  will always make it very special.  On the occasions when some common ground can be found, it will normally be part of the culture and trends that have illuminated the terraces for generations.   From the football fans of the 1960s singing songs from the steps of the vast sweeping terraces, to the modern day Ultras, updating lyrics from chart songs for fan favourites while lighting up the stands with pyro’, noise and colour.   The link between football and music has always been, and that will never change.

As the football season comes to an end, there is a seamless migration from the stadiums to festival fields and concert venues across the country.  The rivalry is paused while the musicians weave their magic on stage and unite a fanatical culture under the strobe lights.  This is where bands like Skylights come in, the diehard Leeds United fans have all the swagger that goes with the casual football culture, and they have the songs to back it up with a heady mix of indie rock anthems bound together with guitar riffs and air punching choruses.

Skylights inaugural album What You Are,  landed on all the usual platforms in May this year through Manchester based 42’s Records and has been climbing up the charts, riding high in the UK top 40 as well as sitting at number 11 in the Vinyl charts.  One listen and it’s easy to see why there is so much love out there for this ten track work of art. The four lads hailing from York have launched an absolutely storming debut release filled with a raw and crisp sound that simply consumes you from the opening chords.

The boisterous intensity delivered through Outlaw, Nothing Left to Say and What You Are combines  seamlessly with stripped back acoustic tracks on the album.  Julia Violinista  adds a touch of magic on violin through her unique Indie/Classical sound for Darkness Falls and Driving Me Away, showing the bands range and maturity.

YRA is the longest song on the album and is an instant classic, you just know this track will take the roof off any venue, it has all the strut and swagger of the very best of Indie music.  Take Me Somewhere produces that unmistakable bass led punk melody, again displaying the versatility of the sound the band produce.

The record is laced with influential sounds throughout, with a nod to bands like Shed Seven, The Cult, Jesus Jones and Primal Scream, but the band stamp their own mark all over the album and keep the sound fresh all the way through.  With Rob Scarisbrick on vocals, Turnbull Smith on guitar, Jonny Scarisbrick on bass and Myles Soley on Drums, the group are ready to expand on their passionate support in the Yorkshire heartlands and introduce themselves to a wider audience.

With the hard work done in the studio it promises to be a busy couple of month for the quartet as they hit the road over the summer with live shows in Dublin, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and their biggest gig to date at Leeds O2 Academy.

Upcoming gigs

18th June – Whelans, Dublin

9th July – O2 Academy, Leeds

29th July – Sneaky Pete's, Edinburgh 

30th July – The Tunnels, Aberdeen

Twitter - @SkylightsYRA

Building for a Future

When the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the Scotland and Armenia match on Wednesday night, the curtain came down on the footballing season in Scotland .   Yeah, there are still 2 important matches away to Republic of Ireland and the return match against Armenia, before the players start a well deserved summer break.   However, for us here in Scotland the cathedrals that welcome 40 and 50 thousand fans week in and week out will be echoing to the sound of seagulls, lawnmowers or the beat of a DJ set from Calvin Harris or rocking with Manchester's finest Liam Gallagher.  The goalposts have been put away again for players and coaches to catch their breath.

It's been a strange couple of years, from no football at all, no fans to full capacity amphitheatres for big matches and concerts – it’s hard to comprehend the change or even think about what happened before early spring 2020.  What I do know is that I am sure we all appreciate each other just a wee bit more every day.

My son was in the final few months of primary school when the pandemic hit, the imposed lockdown brought a unexpected final day forward by about 12 weeks.   Our children were affected by the restrictions, with no face to face learning, after school clubs or football training, athletics, music lessons or even just playing with friends.   The next steps to high school is hard enough for our kids, but under restrictions the challenge would be tougher.   It was at this point, just as outdoor activities were being reintroduced that I received an unexpected phone call.

The coach from Baillieston Thistle, a recently formed local football team contacted me and the parents of a number of boys and girls making the move to high school.   His plan was to bring together a group of players to get involved in grassroots football playing 11-a-side football in the Glasgow and District youth football league.

At the first training session a very shy, disjointed group of individuals turned up to Barrachnie Park to be run through their paces.   The first thing I noticed was a photographer taking a picture of a couple of players handing over a donation to Brighter Baillieston Foodbank.  This really struck a chord with me, it made me think about the commemorative plaque in Baillieston Library dedicated to William Keegan, who travelled to Spain in 1936 as part of the Scottish Battalion of the International Brigade.   An act of solidarity with similar people from a similar background looking to make a positive change for those around them.

In the end I left it up to my son to make a decision whether he wanted to join Baillieston Thistle and today, I'm glad he made the decision to get involved with the team.  The two years that have followed since that first training session have not been easy.   More lockdowns and I am sure many many more personal tragedies have affected families across our community, but the camaraderie built not only between the players, but also the coaches, parents and carers has been a real lift for all of us watching from the side-lines whatever the weather.

Two weeks ago their first full season in the league drew to a close.  A playoff match against Castlemilk Boys Club, another closely knit community team in their development league would decide the 3rd division champions.  A quite incredible match filled with goals, great play and drama was played out at the community fields in Greenfield.  Nothing could separate the teams & the match was settled with penalty kicks, a cruel but equally enthralling way to decide any match.  Thankfully, the boys from Baillieston held there nerve winning the penalty shootout 4 goals to 3.

The celebrations amongst the players looked like the frustration of a difficult 2 years had been swept away, the joy, excitement and no doubt relief was written all over the players faces.  Next season will definitely bring new challenges, but the disjointed group who messed around in that first session two years ago have grown in number and in confidence thanks to the dedication of the coaches.

There are a number of age groups set up across the club, including 2007s, 2008s, 2009, 2012, 2013, Amateurs and over 35s.   The power of football in peoples lives cant be underestimated and the addition that makes in the local community can only be an improvement too.

It’s been over 40 years since the Marathon men of Baillieston Juniors won the Scottish Junior Cup at Hampden and paraded it around the community on an open top bus.  With news from the council that a new sports facility will be built at James Lindsay park, there is hope that a community team can find a place in Baillieston again, and we all have a part to play in getting it there.

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Baillieston-Thistle-FC-469078796906822/

Twitter - @BailliestonTAFC

A Songbook for Big George

Walking up the cobbled stone street the noise of Byres road slowly fades, a busker belts out an Oasis song while a smoker stands at the entrance of a bar, he's looking on in deep appreciation of the street fayre in front of him. The smoker throws a few coins on to the buskers ruffled up leather guitar case before opening the door to head back to his pint, momentarily the sound of a hundred conversations drift out from the packed bar before falling silent again as the door closes keeping in the heat and revelry. For me I’ve only got a few more steps along the lane before heading through the double doors of Jinty McGuinty's and all at once I am content.

The drinkers queueing at the bar behind me 4 or 5 people deep all looking for space to try to shout in another round – bar manager Caroline controlling it expertly as always.

Waiting my turn I take a quick look round to the fireplace where George is serenading the packed pub with his stories and songs, he greets me with a wide eyed beaming smile and a gentle nod, I know I've been welcomed into the pub. He gestures down to his half finished pint, just to let me know he needs another freshly poured beer brought over when I’m ready.

The walls are decorated with the literary gems of Ireland. Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde and WB Yeats are remembered through their social commentary from yesteryear. Mixed with the modern score from artists like Christy Moore, Shane MacGowan, Jim Croce and many many more........... It’s all too perfect.

This is where I went for years, this is where I grew up, this is where I go now to remember my brother George. 

Sometimes I close my eyes and for a fleeting moment I hear his voice, I see his smile and feel his warmth again.

There isn’t a day goes by where I don't miss him.

Those years following George from pub to pub across Glasgow, and if I could get the time off work, across Scotland too are cherished memories. They were an education for me, and an opportunity to embrace the beauty within folk music, from it's picture perfect lyrics to the touching melodic arrangements that accompanied every heartfelt tale.  These songs don't just linger in your head, they settle in your soul.

George's wife Carolyn dropped off his gigging guitar to me last year. I had hoped I could maybe pick up the guitar and actually learn to play it properly this time, but so far I haven't got very far. In amongst the guitar case was an old song list that George handed round at the bars and clubs he played so that people could request songs – the list wasn't extensive, probably only covering a small clipping of his regular material.  A very early version of a playbook.

The list got me thinking about the songs George would sing and the variety of genres it crossed over. Digesting the content of the playbook I created a playlist on Spotify of the tunes I would hear George perform in my younger days, like all good playlists it has become a fluid score of not only the songs George sang, but those I would hear in the bars where he played and in the car travelling between venues.

Simply called Big Geo Songlist it has become my go to soundtrack when I am ironing, cooking, driving or spending time with family and friends. The biggest compliment I can give it is that both my children are tuned in to it regularly.

So, I thought I would share it with you to hopefully bring back some memories of your own and help toast my brother and our friend George.

Big Geo Songlist

A year in the life of this Celtic fan 1997 - 98

As the 1996/97 season drew to a close Celtic started to fall out the race for the Scottish title.   The reality of our city rivals equalling our 9 in a row record had just about been confirmed.  A small glimmer of hope remained that some silverware could be salvaged through the Scottish Cup.  A semi-final replay against Falkirk at Ibrox stadium on Wednesday 23rd April 1997 would represent our last chance to maybe secure a token of success for the season.

On a night when the weather conditions were awful Celtic lost 1-0 to Falkirk which pretty much ended our season.   I sat near the front of the Govan Road stand at Ibrox with my future wife Linda that night and  we were both soaked through in the incessant rain.  When I got home I went to sleep hoping to waken up from a bad dream. 

I became un-well overnight with flu like symptoms and I deteriorated over the next few days.   I was admitted to Glasgow Royal infirmary on Saturday 26th April with a suspected stroke, but after multiple tests, scans and examinations the doctors discovered that I had contracted Bacterial Endocarditis which was stopping my heart from functioning properly.  Broken hearted if you like.

For the next 2 weeks, I would drift in and out of consciousness and was given intravenous antibiotics, but it became clear that the drugs were not going to be enough to help me fight the infection. My consultants visited me around the 6th May to confirm that I would need emergency life saving surgery.

On the 9th May 1997 I made my way to theatre for open-heart surgery, undergoing a pulmonary valve replacement.  I spent the vast majority of the day in surgery as the surgeons tried to repair the damage done to my heart.  The following day my condition worsened and I went into cardiac arrest, I would need to go through further emergency surgery that day to save my life.   My family and my girlfriend Linda were given the news that the next few hours would be crucial.

I would spend another 10 days in intensive care as my condition slowly improved.   I was moved back to a ward in the hospital 2 weeks after surgery and began my post operation rehab, it was then that I found out Rangers had equalled our 9-in-a-row record and that our coach Tommy Burns had been sacked as Celtic manager.

I was discharged from hospital in early June to continue with my recovery; thankfully I had a big family and supportive girlfriend to see me through those early months. 

On the 3rd July the Scottish sports writers started to make some noise on the radio suggesting a new manager was on his way to Celtic Park, I took a trip to the stadium with my brother Benny to see Wim Jansen unveiled as the new boss.  To be honest, I hadn’t heard of him as a player or a manager.

Plenty of players came & went over the course of the next few months, Paolo Di Canio left for Sheffield Wednesday, we made some new signings like Craig Burley and Darren Jackson.   However, it was the arrival of a forward from Wim Jansens former club Feyenoord that helped spark the team. 

A slow start to our league campaign meant we would have play catch up on our rivals..  A battle of Britain UEFA cup-tie against Liverpool seemed to lift the players and the club but it wasn’t enough as we lost the tie on away goals.  

A last minute header from Alan Stubs secured a draw at home against Rangers, a result that would prove incredibly valuable at the end of season.  November ended with a League Cup Final visit to Ibrox, the scene of our defeat to Falkirk earlier in the year & where my serious illness seamed to start.

My brother George managed to secure me a ticket for the match and I watched on as Celtic beat Dundee Utd 3-0 to win the League Cup for the 1st time in 15 years.   The euphoria of winning that day reverberated around the Ibrox stands; a trophy that had been out of our grasp for so long was coming back to Celtic Park, but our main aim must be to stop Rangers reaching 10-in-a-row.

Every match had the feeling of a must win game, none more so than the traditional new year derby with our city rivals.  My brother-in-law gave me his ticket for the match that day.   Celtic controlled the match from start to finish and we were rewarded with a fine two nil victory, both goals superb and both coming from new players signed by Jansen.   Celtic had won their first new-years day derby since 1988 & were back in the race for the title.

As the league season came to an end, the pressure on both teams was beginning to tell.  On the 2nd last weekend of the season Rangers lost to Kilmarnock at Ibrox, a result that gave Celtic the chance to win the title with a win the following day against Dunfermline.  The tension got to the players and we could only earn a draw loosing a goal in the last few minutes to finish the match 1-1.  The League title would be decided one week later on Saturday 9th May – the 1st anniversary of my life saving heart operation.

I didn’t have a ticket for the match against St Johnstone and in the age before wall-to-wall TV coverage, my dad and I were left listening to the radio for updates.   All Celtic had to do was to win the match at home and we would be Scottish champions for the first time in 10 years.

Within the first 3 minutes of the radio commentary we were celebrating the news of a goal for Celtic through Henrik Larsson.  However nerves on the pitch meant that Celtic struggled to add that 2nd goal that would give us some breathing space.

News came through from Tannadice that Rangers were winning against Dundee Utd.   If Celtic slipped up the league would be lost to our biggest rivals.

I’d had enough and couldn’t listen anymore, so went to my room and hoped for the best, I was switching the radio on and off checking for the score and turned on the radio just in time to hear the commentator describe Harald Brattbakk scoring the 2nd goal for Celtic securing our first championship in 10 years.

I went downstairs to see my dad crying with delight and we cheered and sang our way through the final 20 minutes of the match.   When the final whistle blew a huge cheer was heard across the east end of Glasgow as Celtic fans celebrated winning the Scottish title.

The 9th May will be etched in my memory forever.  In the space of a year my damaged heart had been repaired thanks to the commitment of NHS staff and my broken heart had been mended with the delivery of an unexpected title victory thanks to the management of Wim Jansen.

I may not have known much about Wim Jamsen prior to his arrival at Celtic, but by the time he left the club in 1998 I knew he had joined a long list of Celtic legends, to go along with his already legendary status the earned as a player and manager with Feyenoord.