Glasgow Celtic

Glasgow Celtic

League Champions 2002

Come on the Hoops

Domestic Treble Winners 2001

The Timalloys The Bhoys

Paradise Celtic Park

European Cup Winners 1967

The Jungle 1980's

Cheerio, 10 in a row 1998

'And if you Know the History'

Celtic Football Club was established in the late nineteenth century 1888 by a Marist Brother known as Brother Walfrid Kerins principally as a means of using the game of football to raise money to provide food for the Irish Immigrant poor in the East End of Glasgow. Celtic's first game was played on 28th May 1888 against Rangers on Fleshers Haugh a stones throw from the Gorbals, with Celtic winning 5-2. In their first season, Celtic won it's first trophy - the North Eastern Football Association Cup. In 1892 Celtic Football Club moved to it's current ground, Celtic Park, situated in Parkhead, Glasgow, which became known as "Paradise" to it's supporters due to it's proximity to the local cemetery.

The Huddle 1990's

Over the next 50 years, Celtic rose to a level of supremacy winning numerous cup victories and league titles in Scotland. In 1937 they were victorious in the Scottish Cup in front of 147,000 spectators and, in the following year, marked their Golden Jubilee by winning the League Championship as well as the Empire Exhibition Trophy. Celtic had some success in the 1950s including victory in the Coronation Cup in 1953 beating Hibs 2-0 in the final although these years were frustrating and lean in comparison.

Walk On

It was in the period 1965 to 1974, however, under the management of a former player, Jock Stein, that Celtic achieved the reputation of being one of the premier European clubs. Billy McNeill stated that one of his biggest thrills was parading the cup in 1965 in the open top bus in the Gorbals when the streets were lined deep. In that period, fielding some of the UK's best known players of their time including McNeill, Dalglish, Johnstone and McGrain, Celtic won the League Championship for nine successive seasons and more notably, the European Cup in 1967. Celtic were finalists in the European Cup again in 1970 losing to Feyenoord, having beaten Leeds Utd in the semi-finals at Hampden Park in front of 133,000 spectators, a European Cup attendance record that's never to be beaten.

My Dream of Playing for Celtic 1980's

Me in 'The Double Year' 1988

Dad at the Glasgow Garden Festival 1988

Summer of 1997

Kevan's First Game 12.11.00.

League Cup Final 18th March 2001

7th April 2001League Champions

In my era of watching the Bhoys as a member of the Phoenix Hutchesontown Celtic Supporters Club, their success story continued in the 1980s with four League Championship wins, four Scottish Cup wins and a League Cup victory and in a way possibly had taken success for granted . Celtic won the League and Scottish Cup double in its centenary year of 1988 in a memorable year and the Scottish Cup again in 1989. In the early 1990s there was, however, a marked change in Celtic's fortunes. By 1993, it was clear that Celtic was losing support as a result of a board of Directors that seemed not to care about the club. After internal disputes, shareholder and supporter unrest and with Celtic facing financial ruin, the Directors agreed on March 4th 1994 to Fergus McCann joining the Board and providing an immediate cash guarantee to stabilize the Company. On 11th March, Chris White, Michael Kelly and David Smith, members of Celtic's existing board, resigned. By June, Fergus McCann and a group of investors took control of Celtic. By mid-September the remainder of Celtic's old board had also departed.

That's ma Bhoy

Tommy Reilly (Andy Capp) and me at Paradise 1997

The Celtic Park stadium was demolished on three sides to facilitate the building of a new all seated stadium to conform with new legislation. The new North Stand, which stands on the site of the old enclosure known as "The Jungle", holds seating for 26,740 spectators whilst the redevelopment of the East Stand and the smaller South East Stand brought the capacity up to 47,602. The redevelopment continued and Celtic Park re-opened in August 1998 with a capacity of 60,000 all seated, making the new Celtic Park the biggest club stadium in Britain. The recent building work has raised the overall capacity of the Stadium to 62,000 with the West Stand having been opened by the late Jock Stein's wife Jean along with the legendary Lisbon Lions. The stand has been officially named "The Jock Stein Stand" a permanent symbol of the great work that "Big Jock" had done for Celtic and the traditional Rangers end renamed The Lisbon Lions. Of this total capacity, approximately 52,000 fans including myself and my uncle have purchased season tickets and small shareholdings in our club ensuring that our tag as the Greatest fans in the world is forever known, and that the peoples Club will only go from strength to strength and be the rightful force again world football. The fairytale from rags to riches continues.

My Brother Pat and Cousins Peter and Johnny Little 1967

James Stokes VC

On of the most heroic actions of World War II took place on the attack at Kervenheim in Holland on 1st March 1945. Private James Stokes of the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry dashed ahead of his platoon without waiting for orders and routed two enemy strongpoint, captured 17 Germans single handedly before finally falling, riddled with bullets, only 20 yards from the objective. This 29 year old ex-labourer born in Commercial Road, Gorbals, received the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross. and a Celtic Supporters Association Bus from the area is named after him in remembrance.

Hamilton Celtic Supporters Club 1920's (Grandfather)

Gorbals Celtic Supporters Club 1950's

Celtic 1998-1999

Celtic 7v1 Rangers 1957 League Cup Final

Gorbals Men who wore the Hoops.

Paddy Crerand and Charlie Gallagher

Crerand's father, Michael died in the Clydebank Blitz of March 1941 but Pat was born at 129 Thistle Street, Gorbals. The family was later to live for many years in Crown Street and Pat was educated locally at St. Luke's Primary and later Holyrood Secondary. Having joined Celtic Boys Club, it was to that his impressive professional football career began. His passing ability became legendary. He left Celtic in 1965 and at Manchester United won a European Cup medal. His cousin, Charlie Gallagher, born in Cumberland Street, also played for Celtic and was part of the winning European Cup Squad of 1967.