The Shamrock - Walfrid Walking Tour

For a 3 month period over the Glasgow summertime Celtic fans were taken on a journey of discovery around the east end of city and in particular the parish community of St Mary’s in the Calton. The author and producer of The Shamrock magazine pieced together the momentous events, people and streets that contributed to the birth of Celtic Football Club and brought them to life. The Walfrid Walking tour transported you back to a time of hardship for the people living in and around Dalmarnock, Bridgeton and The Calton as these areas absorbed new settlers who fled famine and hunger in Ireland and the Scottish highlands.

I was fortunate enough to take part in the final tour of the summer along with another handful of faithful fans. The tour kicked off from the feet of our most famous Captain beautifully cast in bronze and forever holding aloft the European Cup representing the clubs greatest footballing achievement. What followed over the next 9000 steps and 4 hours of walking, talking and listening was a re-education of those pre Celtic formation years and the eventual development of the club. 

As a fan who has sang those famous words from the Celtic song year after year “and if, you know the history" I was delighted to uncover more details of the origins of a truly global footballing institution . Subscribers and readers of The Shamrock magazine will not be surprised at the level of detail the tour goes into, making it an enthralling and enlightening wander retracing the steps of those early Celtic founders.

By the mid 1880s the rapidly growing sport of football was already pulling in significant crowds and this detail was not lost on the local parish leaders. Charity football matches were being arranged no more than a mile from the current location of Celtic Park, with teams making the journey from around the central belt to play these games and the proceeds of the gate “devoted to the Poor Childrens Dinner Table”. 

The social change and regeneration of parts of the east end of the city mean much of the historic focal points have sadly been lost to time, but thanks to the passion of our guide a unique vision is shared through the tales passed from previous generations and the archives from the Mitchell and national libraries.

Following in the footsteps of the clubs founding Brothers and office bearers, taking in the business links and buildings and acknowledging the political influences of all those involved under which allowed the fledgling club to grow quickly from a very modest beginning. From St Mary's Calton to the site of the original Celtic Park the tour is a fascinating tribute for fans to enjoy.

Fittingly, the tour ends at the head of the newly developed Celtic Way at the foot of the statue of Brother Walfrid who had the foresight 132 years ago to be a driving force in the formation of Celtic football club, a club which continues to follow the charitable vision shared by our founders.

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.

Celtic & Left wing politics

By the time Celtic celebrated their centenary season securing the league & cup double in the traditional “Celtic Way" I was already obsessed by everything about the club, its players and its history. To commemorate the “story so far” the club released a video charting the rise from its humble beginnings to its glorious successes over the years.   The video started with an short film of the ex Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, simply saying “Celtic is the most successful football club in the world". As a 10 year old listening to those words I could only be further inspired about my team.

The video itself is a beautiful tribute to the many men and women who served Celtic over that first 100 years and propelled the club from the depths of despair in the east end of Glasgow and overcoming many adversities to achieve international fame and recognition. As the old video reels are pieced together talking about the glory days under Jock Stein and the 9 in a row champions, once again Bill Shankly addresses an interviewer with his very unique tone about the merits of Jock Stein. 

“Celtic's a big club with a big name....and if he's got useful players and he trains them the right way.....gets them all to do what they can do you know well.........it's a form of socialism”

That statement even hearing it back 30 years later still triggers an emotion in me. That emotion extended my love of Celtic the club into the social culture associated with the fans. The 80s represented a significant change in the make up of the UK. The viciousness of the miners strike, the tension and “Troubles” in the North of Ireland and later in the decade the Poll Tax all meant growing up in the 1980s meant you often asked yourself, which side are you on? 

The music I inhaled from the room I shared with my brothers started to shape my opinions, U2 – Bloody Sunday, The Pogues – Thousands are sailing, Christy Moore, Billy Bragg, The Jam and The Style Council. Question everything and understand the difference between right & wrong. The decades may have passed, but these basics asks remain and I believe that’s the case for many Celtic fans.

In early 2000 I made a trip along to the La Passionara on the banks of the river Clyde for an International Brigade Memorial Trust rededication of the sculpture. At the event I met with several International Brigaders veterans listening to the stories of the social and romantic ideals which many of the brigaders joined up, but were soon blown away in the brutal conflict. My older brother sang the Christy Moore song Viva la Quinta Brigada later that evening at the official reception in the Glasgow trade halls. The tears shed by Bob Doyle and other veterans as the names of fallen comrades was sung showed the emotional ties between those volunteers lived on. 

My interest in the International brigades led me to make a visit to Madrid in 2014 where I joined members of the IBMT on their annual commemoration of the battle of Jarama as we retraced the steps through the olive groves taken by volunteers in the battle for Madrid. The camaraderie of the visitors on the tour gave a reflection of the global appeal of the men and women who followed their ideals to fight Franco, Hitler and Mussolini, the rise of Fascism and support the fledgling democratically elected government in Spain.  

Glasgow and Scotland has a history of radical movements on the left side of the political scale, from the weavers to the Red Clydesiders, the militant labour MPs elected to parliament post 1st world war and the international brigaders. You can now add the events of Celtic Park last week when the 60000 sell out crowd at Celtic Park sent a very clear message to a section of the supporters of Lazio and their extremist views. A group of the visiting support had earlier made their way through Glasgow city centre making fascist salutes even though their club had already been charged by UEFA for racism in the previous match.

The Green Brigade has a wide & varied songbook which at times not everyone in the Celtic support will agree with, however in recent years the inclusion of Viva la Quinta Brigada shows that those anti-fascist views still remain strong amongst a large section of our fan base. However it's not all about the songs, it’s the solidarity with marginalised groups and the fight for equality & social justice. Social campaigners across the world use pictures and footage of the Celtic support to help highlight the plight of the “forgotten”. 

Less than a week after the sickening scenes in Bulgaria as England players were racially abused by some in the home support, Celtic fans raised their voice and clenched fist to show our disgust at the views and actions of the Lazio ultras and to show that there is no place for racism of fascism in football or any way of life.

Celtic Graves Society & St Peters Cemetery

Doors open day has become an annual event where business and buildings across Glasgow let the public in for a behind the scenes look at some of the cities most famous venues. You can tread the boards at the Tron, pop your head into the Panopticon or even see behind the neon lights of the Barrowlands, but for me the star attraction was a trip to St Peter's Cemetery in the east of Glasgow where The Celtic Graves Society had arranged a stroll around the resting place of many of the founding fathers & servants of Celtic football club.

If you are not familiar with work of Celtic Graves Society, they are a group of fans who aim to mark or repair the resting place of old Celtic heroes. Their dedication has seen them travel across Scotland, Ireland and further afield to help maintain these sites for future generations.

So, you maybe think a walk around a cemetery is not an ideal way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but for me and the 60+ others in attendance, the beautifully sunny day was a perfect backdrop for our guides to shine a light on the lives of former players and office bearers. Brendan Sweeney of The CGS led the procession around 20-30 graves pausing to share stories of the first Celtic committee, famous victories on the field, battles in the boardroom and in the press. The level of research carried out by the team to provide such wonderful insight to those fledgling years of the club is astonishing. 

One of the many stories recounted included that of James McGrory, Celtics greatest ever goal scorer who’s incredible scoring record keeps him in the list of top 10 strikers in the world to have ever played the game. Amongst the people on the tour, 90 year old Frank McGuire who was fortunate enough see McGrory play at Celtic Park added some colour to the tales of a Celtic great.

The groups painstaking attention to detail is clear to see as we reach the oldest part of St Peter’s cemetery. This section is victim to the passing of time and decay making the identification of plots almost impossible. Moving from one section of the cemetery to another and speaking to those in attendance you begin to hear accents from across Scotland, Ireland & even Germany as fans of the club look to get a better insight into the stories left behind by those early trailblazers. 

Those formative years in the rise of Celtic took its toll on many who played in the green & white or served on the committee, the stark reality of the high mortality rate amongst these men at such young age give an unclouded commentary on the social conditions which the club had originally hoped to help alleviate in the community; but make no mistake the tour is far from sombre. It is a fitting tribute to the people who made the commitment to help put food on the table of the poor children of the parish and allowed the displaced souls to find pride in a Club and cause.

The Celtic graves Society is served by a wonderfully gifted team of researchers who leave no stone unturned in sharing the stories of our founding fathers who played a significant role in the continuing success of a truly global football club. You can pick up a membership or booklets from previous events & look out for upcoming commemorations by the Society on their website. 

https://www.musicglue.com/celtic-graves-society/

St Rochs - Mon the Candy

Founded in 1920 when Canon Lawton, a local priest at St Rochs Roman Catholic church assembled a team to play in an Inter Parish football tournament. The hastily pulled together squad of players not only entered the competition, they win the tournament outright.

That victory provided an additional boost to the local community, which at the time was reliant on heavy industry from the nearby Iron, Cooperage and Copper works to name a few. These works which played a critical role not only locally, but globally were powered largely by the significant immigrant population who had settled in the “Garngad" since making the crossing from Ireland and travelling from the north of Scotland as part of the highland clearances during the 19th century. If this newly formed parish team was able to make an impact in the local competitions, could it be repeated in national tournaments under the Junior Football structure? 

Decade after decade of change and urban renewal means that very few of the original employers or place names still exist in the area. However, in that small but proud district of Glasgow, to the north east of the famous river Clyde, the whirlwind entrance of St Rochs to the junior set up in Scotland is remembered fondly and will be celebrated as part of the clubs centenary season over the next 12 months. 

Originally playing matches from their home of Milburn Park, the fledgling team set out to give the local hard working community a team to be proud of on a Saturday. Entering the 2nd tier of the Junior league set up St Rochs wasted no time in securing promotion to the top flight by winning the 2nd division at the first attempt. The following season the team continued to perform significantly above their newly formed status, winning the Junior 1st division championship sealing back to back titles. However, the new boys had their eyes in more silverware.

Only 2 years after their formation, St Rochs had not only secured the title in the top division of junior football, but they had also reached the final of the Scottish Junior Cup. In the way of a unique double celebration were Kilwinning Rangers. The junior cup final was played at Firhill, home of Scottish league side Partick Thistle. St Rochs won the final in front of a crowd of over 20,000 people, however before the locals of the Garngad could begin celebrating, Kilwinning lodged a protest at the result and the match had to be replayed. 

So, on the 3rd June over 20,000 fans once again flocked to Firhill for the replay to watch St Rochs achieve the league & cup double coming from behind to win 2-1 with goals coming from James McGrory and Johnny Rollo. This time the celebrations were not restricted as locals welcomed back their all conquering champions. Shortly after the famous the victory at Firhill the young striker who scored the equaliser in the final; James McGrory was signed by Glasgow Celtic where he would go on to become not only the greatest goalscorer in the clubs history, but the most prolific scorer in British football. 

For St Rochs the highs of those first 30 months in existence could not be matched again. Long overdue changes to cramped housing conditions and the scaling back of industry in Glasgow meant their fortunes changed as well as their home ground, moving to Provanmill Park, later renamed James McGrory Park. 

As the club approached its centenary season, the committee in charge of the clubs affairs started to look at celebrating the success of the club and their very existence in the community and the role it continues to play in a very different but all too familiar landscape in Glasgow. Even after 100 years, many of the same issues faced in 1920 Garngad are prevalent in modern day Royston and the local community St Rochs serve. 

The origins of the club helped to deliver pride in the local community and the many immigrants who found themselves in new surroundings in a far away land. There is no difference today as Glasgow welcomes families looking for a new beginning and fresh opportunity after leaving the land of their birth because of political or cultural upheaval. St Rochs continues to provide a focal point to welcome refugees while reminding everyone that no person is illegal.

Over the summer the club embarked on an impressive funding venture giving fans of the club the opportunity to write their name into the clubs history. For a fee fans the world over took up the chance to buy a commemorative centenary pin badge and to have their name added to the shirt worn during the centenary season. The scheme proved a success along with the kit sales, but It's not all about the football, the club supports local children in their education with study groups and tutors available during exam time. This is one of many community driven initiatives run by the club throughout the year.

A visit to the home of St Rochs on a matchday is a welcome return to standing on the terraces and watching a match unfold. The flags, murals and songs that add colour and social commentary at James McGrory park make no mistake in highlighting the leftist cultural beliefs shared by fans there for a match. Over the last 5 years attendance has been on the rise and on occasion you may even bump into a footballing legend from the Lisbon Lions. 

Canon Lawton saw St Rochs as a platform for the young talented players of The Garngad and surrounding areas to make their way into the professional game, it was also an exercise in building pride in an often overlooked and chastised community. Over the years a number of players have progressed from representing St Rochs to making an impact at professional level, many of them for Celtic including Frank Brogan and Dom Sullivan. Jim Brogan who played in the 1970 European Cup final in Milan was signed from St Rochs, but most famously of all James Edward McGrory.

The way football has changed in the last 25 years means there are less players making the move from junior football to the professional game. However, I am sure Canon Lawton will be delighted that the club he helped pull together for the aid of his local community continues to serve up those same values 100 years later.

So, if your “big" team in Glasgow don't have a match, check in on St Rochs and help them celebrate their centenary. 

Fixtures - http://www.scottishjuniorfa.com/sjfa/competition_clubs.cfm?page=1886 

Twitter - @StRochsJuniors

Facebook – St Rochs Juniors 

Website – www.monthecandy.com

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.

Legendary Partnerships - Billy McNeill & John Clark

A little under 2 years after that famous 7-1 rout over our old rivals at Hampden Park in October 1957 when Celtic won the League cup for only the 2nd time, the club found itself again in a period of transition. The nucleus of a world class team was beginning to take shape (they just didn’t know it yet) with some players making the move from reserve to first team. 

A young John Clark made his debut at 18 years of age in a 5-0 victory away to Arbroath on 19th October 1959. This match is special on 2 counts, firstly at the time this was the youngest ever Celtic team to take the field with an average age of just over 21 years old. Secondly it was the first time that both John Clark & Billy McNeill played a first team match together. That partnership blossomed under the tutelage of Jock Stein less than a decade later. When Billy was scoring hugely significant goals against Dunfermline, Vojvodina & Racing Club on the way domestic dominance & European glory John Clark was at the heart of the Celtic defence, the extra insurance that allowed the rest of our greatest team, in the words of Bertie Auld “to entertain”. 

When the time came for Celtic to change the management team in the late 70s, it was a natural choice for “Cesar" & “The Brush" to lead the club into the new decade. The new management team celebrated with fans as further victories came in the form of 3 League titles, 1 Scottish cup & 1 League Cup. Both men, seen as legendary figures in Celtics history & indeed the Scottish game continued their involvement with football, Billy as an analyst for TV & John as Kit-Man at the club he served most of his life. Ambassador roles for two truly magnificent club servants followed allowing both men to maintain their interactions with the club on match days & at Supporters Club gatherings around the world. 

John perhaps is the only man to have been involved with Celtic during each of our 6 Treble Winning celebrations , either as player, kitman or club ambassador & was filmed for an advert detailing his dedication to Celtic. 

In recognition of the service given by our greatest ever captain a magnificent statue was unveiled at the foot of the Celtic Way. The iconic moment where Billy McNeill held aloft the greatest prize in European club football, forever sculpted in praise of Cesar. Billy & his family were there to celebrate his achievements, but sadly the effects of his condition reminded us all of the frailty of life. 

Throughout the latter years of Billy's life John continued to be that very rock that Jock Stein asked him to be during the clubs rise in the 60s, but it was no longer on the football pitch or in the dugout. He remained at the side of Billy and his family diligently walking and caring for Billy during his rare public appearances. 

As far as partnerships go, the Lisbon Lions were blessed in every position & permutation, both on & off the field, “total football” before the term was coined years later. However, the level dedication to each other as the years passed only became greater & role in which John Clark played then & now can never be overlooked.