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.

An Gorta Mór - A Glasgow Memorial

As a nationality that has been raised on song and story there is a familiarity to verse penned by Barry Moore (Luka Bloom) when he wrote City of Chicago, “Deadly pains of hunger, drove a million from the land, they journeyed not for glory, their motive wasn't greed. A voyage of survival across the stormy sea". While Irish men, women and children were dying, the grain and sustenance to help reduce the impact of the famine was exported from under their feet, all under the close watch of the wealthiest empire on earth. 

The savage effects of the Irish famine led to over 1 million deaths and saw a further 2.5 million emigrate hoping to flee the cruel conditions brought on by starvation, government policy and landlord evictions. Even in their darkest hour the native people of Ireland were treated dreadfully and offered little hope to withstand the atrocious conditions. With Irish men and women seeking refuge from a catastrophe, many saw their only hope in making the journey across the waters. The distinct footprint of Irish ancestry began to weave its DNA threads across the globe particularly in north America, the port towns of England & Wales and of course Scotland.

The passage to new cities and ports did little to stem the feeling of despair of the weary souls, with the knowledge of loved ones either left behind in Ireland or on the coffin ships that traversed the oceans and seas. Further barriers prevented the integration of the immigrants with signs showing “No Irish” wherever they settled. In time these perceptions changed and burgeoning communities of Irish people was finally established in their new surroundings finding employment, worth, civic duty, a renewed sense of belonging and even Presidential status. 

With this integration came the recognition of the plight Irish diaspora in major cities across the world. In the cities of north America where in some cases the Irish people made up more the half the population, the effects of the famine are remembered in memorials. From Toronto to Arizona and from Massachusetts to Oregon. In Australia, the cities of Melbourne and Sydney pay respects to the generations of Irish people who left everything and everyone behind to travel in the hope of survival. 

As the time has passed the integration of Irish people is recognised all over the world and over 170 years after the start of the Irish famine, Glasgow will now be able to show and pay its respects. After a long and difficult campaign looking to work with the local authority in agreeing the detail of the monument, the committee behind the An Gorta Mór Glasgow memorial are inching closer to building that permanent memorial. Through much hard work and commitment from a number of contributors a design has been agreed and location confirmed, with the final stretch of fundraising now underway.

In late 2019 supporters made their way to Celtic Park, who some consider as Glasgows unofficial memorial to the Irish famine where they will join the An Gorta Mór committee in a fundraiser being held in the Kerrydale Suite. The event should represent a night of recognition and celebration of the significant impact of integrated Irish communities here in Glasgow and the world over.

My introduction to the Celtic Foundation

In the opening months of 2018 I had eureka moment sitting in a bar in central Glasgow. As a fundraiser for the British Heart Foundation along with family we had organised a number of events, from quiz nights to a 5-a-side tournament raising roughly £10k along the way. However, I was inspired by the actions of the Paradise Steps Group who raise funds for a number of charities by running up & down the steps in some of the most famous football stadiums in the world. I had heard about their exploits at Celtic park & wondered if I could challenge myself to do the same, albeit walking every step.

I approached the Celtic Foundation to discuss options of working with them to raise funds for the BHF & of course the Celtic Foundation by completing the challenge of walking up & down every step in Celtic Park. In early May 2018 after a few months of training walking up & down steps outside Hampden Park & at Kelvingrove Park, I along with 9 colleagues, friends & family started the challenge.

To attend a sell out match at Celtic Park under the lights with the fans singing in unison is truly an incredible sight, but to enter the stadium when every seat is empty & all you have with you is the support of your fellow fundraisers the stadium is as intimidating as it is inspiring. With the early morning sunshine lighting up Paradise our group made their way through each if the steps determined not to let the opportunity pass us by. Lisbon Lions , North Stand, Jock Stein, Main stand & safe standing sections were all conquered with the knowledge that £8670 had been raised which was split equally supporting the amazing work carried out by both charities.

I then attended a Lisbon anniversary celebration along with family & a good friend from the BHF, the function was held in the Kerrydale Suite at Celtic Park & there I met a number of the volunteers from the Celtic Foundation & was amazed at the passion & dedication each of them had for the charity each going a long way to making the charity successful in changing lives here in Scotland & across the world.

Fast forward to April 2019 when I received an e-mail from the Celtic Foundation inviting me to take part in the Magners “Goals for Good" match to be played on the hallowed surface at Celtic Park. This was obviously an opportunity I could not turn down. 

As a child I loved nothing more than playing football, but with a serious heart condition I was advised by my consultants when I was 9 years old that I would never be allowed to play at any level. I couldn't play for my school or join in with friends in local teams. My footballing was restricted to local matches at the park with friends & often interrupted by multiple breaks for me to get my breath back. 

My condition known as Fallots Tetrallogy meant I was born with 4 separate defects of my heart & by the age of 9 I’d had 4 life changing heart operations, 2 of these before I was 9 months old. I have had 3 pulmonary valve replacement surgeries, one of these when I was 19 when doctors fought to save my life during a long period in hospital, so to be given an opportunity to get changed in the home dressing room, walk down the tunnel & take part in a match at Celtic Park was a dream come true. The night itself is a memory that will live with me forever & again following in the charitable origins of the club the event itself raised a further £20k donated by Magners to the Celtic Foundation. 

Like most fans my interaction with the Celtic Foundation involved buying a ticket to the charity matches held at the ground or making a donation on “Badge Day" at the end of the season, but the last 2 years has given me greater insight to the work carried out by the charity & impact it has both locally & around the globe.