There are certain special places and special occasions in sport that must be experienced to be appreciated.
Croke Park on the day of the All Ireland football final is definitely one of them.
The spectacle is wonderful.
“Croker” on that day is all that is good and uplifting about sport and what it can do for people.
Another such amphitheatre of affirmation is Celtic Park on a European night.
Before the match Helsingborgs coach, Åge Hareide, said:
“I’m looking forward to the game very much because this is one of the very best places to play football. I hope the players enjoy it. These are probably the best fans in Europe. This is why football will survive, because of teams like Celtic and the fans. In the rest of the world you see anger and bitterness. Football needs fans like this. If we aren’t in the Champions League it will be good for football that Celtic are there, because of the fans.”
After the match he was gracious and magnanimous.
“Celtic will get better and with this fantastic crowd behind them they could pick up points.”
I think the straight talking Norwegian meant every world of it.
People who love sport instinctively love the Parkhead crowd when they are on European duty.
The players on the pitch seem powered by the belief of the crowd to such an extent that they achieve what they themselves had dismissed as beyond them.
The supporter becomes the facilitator.
Now we know that our Catalan friends will visit and they will look forward to having a friendly invasion secure in the knowledge that their public spaces will be respected.
Lisbon will always have a special place in the hearts of Celtic fans and Benfica are old adversaries.
As a twelve year old I marvelled at the skill of Eusébio on a night were Celtic won 3-0 on their way to another European cup final in 1970.
Spartak Moscow will see the return of one of our own.
Aidan McGeady is now a seasoned professional and not the coltish kid who had to endure anti-Irish racism from Scottish crowds.
The last time the Russian team was at Celtic park both teams served up high drama in a penalty shootout.
In Section 113 I was as near as I have ever been to the Green Brigade in full flow.
Terms like “force of nature” come to mind.
They’re wonderful.
I fully understand why Neil Lennon presented the SPL trophy to THEM.
Celtic enter the group stage of this competition with a tiny football budget compared to most of the other clubs.
Third place in this group is possible and this would give the Parkhead fans more European nights after Christmas.
These are great days for the Celtic family. The Parkhead outfit are clearly the most dominant, the most powerful club in Scotland. They have achieved total victory in the Glasgow fitba feud and did so by fair means.
Now Scotland is represented in the Champions League by the good guys. A corporate good citizen, we paid our taxes and paid our debts.
Celtic achieved a moral as well as a sporting victory over the now deceased city rivals.
Moreover the narrative of this club and how it came into existence is unique.
The worldwide Irish diaspora has something very special in Celtic Football Club.
I sometimes feel that it is the fans that first saw the light of day far away from Glasgow that have the bigger picture on the true cultural significance of Celtic.
This is a case of distance lending enhancement to the view.
Just after Victor Wanyama’s thumping header hit the back of the net the crowd went into Huddle mode and I felt the concrete beneath my feet literally tremble.
In Irish bars around the world the céilí was just starting.
This club can rock your world.
Be happy.
We’re the good guys and we won.
Tony
Croke Park synomonous with Irish Republicanism?, someone should tell Enda Kenny. Can’t believe guys who come out with this type of nonsense, people should inform themselves of the facts prior to writing stuff like that. The GAA & Croke Park is open to all,there is indeed a fantastic atmosphere there on All Ireland Final day and politics doesn’t enter into the equation at all. Well done Phil both on this piece and on all the work you did re outing the cheats. Looking forward to reading the Book.
September 3, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Aodh Seosamh
Good article Phil but as a ‘Mayo’ man you probably wouldnt understand. The All-Ireland Hurling Final for atmosphere and spectacle beats the lot hands down. By the way hope your not flying any green and red around Gort a’ Choirce to annoy bunadh na háite. Tír Chonaill abú!
September 3, 2012 at 12:10 pm
The Wallace
The Green Brigade are brilliant and only wish there had been something similar when I was of the correct age to enjoy it. I grew up supporting Celtic during the Troubles and am quite sure the exuberance of their support for our team would have led to clashes with the Police, stewards, rival fans etc. You definitely had to keep your head down at times. It is good to see a set of younger fans support the team in such a fashion, noisy yes, nippy sometimes, but also funny, sardonic and sarcastic, supporters with a sense of humour and joi de vivre, maybe with an agenda, but they all have the love of Celtic in their hearts. A massive leap from my youth where supporters were wearing industrial hard hats, to stop injury from bottles of p!sh and darts being lobbed all over the place and my poor mother boil washing my trousers after every game, because even on the driest of days the terracings were awash with urine, although this went on in every football ground. The Green Brigade are noisy and in your face, exuberant and sometimes political, but they’re enjoying themselves and when on song they are spectacular to watch and listen to, also they very seldom if ever p!ss down other spectators’ legs. One of the things I hope they get to see is Celtic win nine in a row, a European trophy and all the brilliant football that I experienced when I was a lad. Sounds a bit kinky but maybe the darts, beer bottles, toy, tong and urine seemed worth it then, but I wish the Green Brigade all the best, Hail,Hail.
September 2, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Ben mcginlay
I could have wrote the exact same my friend. Oh the memories are flooding back. Standing in the jungle on a winters day with the back of my legs getting warm. And is wasn’t Bovril.. Hail Hail to all, especially the GB
September 3, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Marc
Phil, Your opening sentence says it all.There are indeed few sporting venues that stir up the emotions whilst providing a tremendous spectacle in a genuine atmosphere of goodwill that is appreciated by all true sports fans. Croker is special on All-Ireland finals day as is Celtic Park on European nights, your analogy should perhaps also have included “Cardiff Arms Park”.All three venues give/(gave)a truly heady inner warmth and good feeling,aided by being in the presence of like minded appreciative individuals whatever the result.
September 2, 2012 at 3:33 pm
pep
I enjoy your articulate blog, phil, but please dont overdo the irish thing when talking about celtic as a high percentage of our support (most?) are 2nd/3rd4th generation scots born (and/or not from an irish background at all). We are a true multi-racial, multi-demoninational club now in the 21st century albeit started from an immigrant irish base WITH local scots. Your blog would be all the better if it was more balanced in this regard. Also the Green Brigade would do well to remember this also and ALWAYS sing for celtic and our multi-background, worldwide support rather than get dragged down to the illiterate (thankfully rare) bigoted sectarianism that we all deplore. Thank you for giving me and others the opportunity to raise the moral high ground and hopefully bring all our support with us.
September 2, 2012 at 10:17 am
Jim
I just wish the Irish loved Celtic as much as we believed.
The majority that I know don’t really care and usually wrap themselves in clubs in England.
September 2, 2012 at 4:45 am
Blogiston
I’m pure Scottish to the core and proud of that fact – but I watched the match in Cosgrove’s Bar in Belfast with Celtic-minded Belfast citizens. As we followed the twists and turns of the match, I couldn’t help be proud of the Celtic diaspora – I’m pure proud of our togetherness.
September 1, 2012 at 9:28 pm
rod
Working out here in India the local Bombay boys are fully aware of oor club and the other big names in europe, their faces change as they are taken through the reason WHY oor club was founded.
With most of the local offshore workers being of a Catholic persuasion, yes it took me a while for that one to sink in, they see football and Celtic F.C in a whole new light.
May it shine down on all of us.
God Bless.
September 1, 2012 at 11:53 am
Donncha O Baoill
Bang on as always Phil, bet you can’t wait for Corker in this years football final Donegal v Mayo!
September 1, 2012 at 11:39 am
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
My father’s county still have a job to do tomorrow;0)
September 1, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Jim Wood
Inspirational or what?
Thanks for that brilliant mood sustaining piece.
Keep at them Phil.
September 1, 2012 at 9:44 am
Mike
Phil,
while I find your blog interesting and enlightening, I have become increasingly concerned by your attitude and intended audience.
Who are you writing for?
Are you writing for a specifically anti-Rangers, pro-Irish republicanism / Celtic FC audience or for a general audience?
If it’s the former then fine, but don’t expect this Scottish Irish descendant to find anything in common with your comments relating the atmosphere at Croke Park to Celtic Park as anything other than a pro-Irish Republican stance. It has no point in your article, why not state the The Camp Nou relates to the atmosphere at Celtic Park?
As for Croke Park being an affirmation of all that is good for sport and uplifting people, aren’t you being disingenuous as that facility was traditionally barred, for understandable reasons, to the British until recently? Croke Park is surely more of a Republican grave than it is more of an uplifting symbol you are stating? Unless that uplifting is purely for those of an Irish Republican bent – if so just say so, so I know where the article stands.
As for the finish of the article “this club can rock your world. Be happy. We’re the good guys and we won.”, trust me when I say that to other clubs in Scotland Celtic fans are seen in the same sectarian bigoted light as Rangers or Sevco or whatever’s todays description is of the Ibrox club. Celtic fans are not seen as fun loving and friendly, as a Dundonian I know that they were a team I supported as a child whose grandmother sang him Celtic songs, but as a Dundee United supporter they were one of the reasons I gave up going to see my team when they played because of their disgusting antics in the street and the vile chants of their support.
I personally am proud of my Irish / Scots ancestry, but I am very happy to live in the East away from the vile bigotry of both Celtic and Rangers fans, and I’m sorry Phil, but I am beginning to see why the Rangers forums have a downer on you personally.
August 31, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Big Mike
Mike,you come over anti Celtic to me and if you do not like the board then go elsewhere. And to try and insinuate that the Celtic fans are as bad as that other lot is simply stupid.
September 1, 2012 at 7:48 am
Southside Tarrier
In reply to Mike,
The British were never barred from Croke Park. The headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association was reserved for the playing of Irish games, no one was barred who wanted to watch.
Have you ever been to a GAA game anywhere never mind Croke Park? Where families from opposing sides sit together, wave thier respective flags and cheer on thier clubs or counties without rancour in a good natured sporting fashion.
Repuplican graveyard my arse. A GAA game at Croke Park is a wonderful celebration of Irish sport.
September 1, 2012 at 8:12 am
Joseph
A lot of truth it what you say Mick.
September 1, 2012 at 8:13 am
Neil
what are you doing on Rangers forums?
September 1, 2012 at 9:53 am
P J Fox
The East of scotland has more than it’s fair share of assimilated Tims.
Mike’s a warning to anyone of Irish Catholic descent living in Scotland. Mind how you go, stay on the right path.
September 2, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Míceál
For someone proud of their Irish/scot ancestry, you know f-all about Irish history or the GAA.You do seem to know a lot of whats written in the DR and scottish sun, though.
You go from supporting one Irish club, to another one founded by the Irish, Dundee Hibs.
Methinks you don’t know who you are or what you want.You might find what you’re looking for in the 3rd div.
September 3, 2012 at 4:04 pm
GAZTHECHEF
lovely piece Phil.have to say one of the proudest moments of my life was at the san siro a few years ago when I watched Kaka destroy us.the police kept us in the enclosure for a full hour after the match to allow the Milan fans quick access to the underground.expecting trouble,they formed a row of guards in front of the stand,armed with machine guns and scary alsations.when they finally let us out they looked on in amazement as we left quietly.by the time we got to the exit,they had formed a guard of honour and some of the guards were wearing celtic scarves and applauding the best behaved and most passionate fans in the world.Celtic V Barcelona at Parkhead could be one of the best European nights ever.
August 31, 2012 at 9:31 pm
Brendan
It’s great to be a Celt – Always has been, always will be but when you look over the times when we were caught in the slipstream of the Minty’s personal jet (that he had on tick) and we were ridiculed by the Laptop loyal and their sponsors, coffins in Kerrydale Street anyone? Thugs and Thieves anyone?
It’s truly wonderful now and with Neil Lennon at the helm is just brilliant….
A Jhoy infact
Now if only we could bag Jonny Russell
Brendan
August 31, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Al
@ Brendan, it’s such a shame you can’t enjoy the victory and qualification for the group stage without mentioning a club who aren’t even in your league. (BTW I don’t support that club incase you’re wondering)
All the very best of luck to Celtic in the Champions League.
August 31, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Jerry Desmond
Excellent article, I watched the game at home in Ireland on TV and bhoy was the place junping. I’ve given up my season book for a few years now as I couldn’t get to games with Uni commitments and a diminished budget but how I wish to get to at least one of the six games minimum. Celtic playing home or away is a truly wonderful experience, better experienced in the flesh. Hail hail from Cork
August 31, 2012 at 7:07 pm
KingHenrik
Hi Phil, im glad someone has taken the time to praise the Green Brigade about their tremendous efforts in making the atmosphere at CP truly an experience to witness, well done Green Brigade and thanks for all you do.Keep up the good work.HailHail.
August 31, 2012 at 3:46 pm
iant929
Alleluia to that Phil, was at the same Benfica
Game all those years ago, standing in
The Jungle, Magic!
August 31, 2012 at 3:23 pm
Ryan
What a double dandy to look forward to!
Dun Na Ngall in the All-Ireland final and Celtic in the Champions League. Scripted beyond my wildest dreams!
The real shiver down the spine moment for me at Paradise on Wednesday night was when ‘Zardok The Priest’ was played over the PA at full-time. Utterly mind-blowing.
August 31, 2012 at 3:16 pm
Gerry Carty
Another great article Phil…..its a pity we have never had a decent journalist in Scotland . Of coure thats the reason newspaper sales are so poor. I have never bought a newspaper for years and have no intention of doing so.
Now if they had a journalist like yourelf who was not afraid to say it as it is then who knows ,maybe sales would go back through the roof .
Keep up the good work phil.
August 31, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Conorbrien
Phil, firstly a good article trying to emphasise the atmosphere of Celtic Park on “European Nights”. As a long standing fan who has seen these nights for the past 40 odd years there is nothing to compare with these nights. Probably the best one was not at Celtic Park???? It was at Hampden against Leeds United with a crowd of well over 130,000, as I was one of the ones who got in for nothing when one of the large wooden gates fell in under the weight of the fans.
However, I have a gripe about your “Green Brigade in full flow”. These are the fans I feel who bring some disrepute to our club and sing about Ooh! Ah! up the Ra! Bobby Sands MP?? and who embarrassed the club re: Poppy Day. They don’t even sing, the try to get everyone humming a tune Doo! Di! Doo!Di! Doo!
The do the Huddle, but face away from the playing field?( I don’t do it because I want to watch my team)
I felt like writing to Celtic at the end of last season when N.L. performed the act of presenting the League Trophy to THEM. What about the rest of the supporters?? He should have kept it in the centre circle and applauded all the fans, not just a corner of them.
Anyway, just thought I’d get this off my chest. In case your interseted my Grandfather fought for the Free State Army aginst his brother( I have a copy of his autograph book in Tintown Jail in 1921) who was a commandant in the I.R.A.
Hail! Hail!Roll on the Benfica night!
August 31, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Ben mcginlay
I know everyone has an opinion on the Green Brigade. I can see your point as regards to political chanting( though not sectarian),although not against the law. The MSM have a field day every year when it comes to remembrance day, and personally I think it doesn’t do Celtic any favours when the banners were unfolded, that’s not to say I disagree with their sentiments. At a football match, I don’t know if it’s the right place to air views on political history. As regards to our Neil placing the trophy in front of the Green Brigade, I totally agreed with this action. Neil has always said the GB have helped the atmosphere at our ground tremendously, but he has also stated that the support throughout the ground has been great all last season, it was just a gesture to show appreciation for the extra effort the GB as a whole put in every single week. Banners and Chants, creating the mood. You must agree with that, surely. I think the huddle round the stadium is a great sight and brill to be involved in. Your lucky if you have your back turned for a couple of minutes, I wouldn’t think you would miss much. I have never heard anyone who dislikes the huddle. But, hey we are all Celtic supporters and all have the same interest in supporting and loving our team through life and for the duration of a football match playing the game the way it should be, with honesty and integrity.
August 31, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Conorbrien
Ben, yes I totally agree!We all have the interest in suporting and loving our team through life and for the duration of a football match. But, as you say ALL! I know the chants are not sectarian, but they give the MSM and the other mob ammunition to embarrass our club.Further more the Huddle is actually a Poznan and if you watch the players doing it they face each other. It is after all a huddle not a Poznan!
Anyway maybe I’m being pedantic, as I can remember the best of nights at Celtic Park and I can assure you we never needed a Green Brigade, just everyone from the Jungle to the Celtic End, et al. I’ll be in my seat where I used to stand at the Jock Stein Stand for the Benfica game. Hail! Hail!
August 31, 2012 at 10:38 pm
SamBrowneBelt
If the GB want to sing political songs it’s fine by me. If others don’t want to join in it’s fine by me too. We’re an inclusive Club, it’s no time for internal squabbles.
Let The People Sing!
August 31, 2012 at 11:49 pm
Dal
Conorbrian
The distinctive part of being a Celt, is not grovelling to the ‘establishment’. It may include opposition towards glorification of war, imperialist criminals and the poppy fraternity.
Celts are a unique group of people. They have the imagination and rebellion to question John Bull et al. Strange that anyone doesn’t want to embrace the unifying huddle. A thing of beauty and solidarity amongst Gaels.
September 1, 2012 at 12:38 am
Big Mike
Without the Green Brigade Celtic Park would have been like a morgue in many games over the last few years and the Huddle is fantastic to see. I do not like the anti-poppy but have to say you very rarely here political songs now. God Bless the Celts!
September 1, 2012 at 7:58 am
Dal
Big Mike
You suggest that the ‘anti poppy songs’ are unacceptable. Why no mention of attrocities in Afghanistan? A million people have died in Iraq and countless others displaced by brutal John Bull. Celts are unique in that they rebel against imperialist jingoism. There’s countless other clubs out there who blindly and obediently bow to so called ‘heroes’.
September 2, 2012 at 11:25 am
iain
yes i agree phil celtic park on european nights is a fantastic place to be ..music pumping.familys cheering .the beautiful game being played as it should .it makes us all proud to be part of the great british institution known as celtic
August 31, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Neil
Phew! wow! now I always dream of writing things like that; you have got that 100% spot on for me Phil.
I,m gonna have a great weekend after this, very up lifting! and oh so vert true.
HH Everyone and
KTF
August 31, 2012 at 1:55 pm
joe burt
Phil.
Another terific piece,watching from afar it was fantastic to see the huddle so early,and the atmosphere was electric.The AbuDhabi Celtic Supporters Travel Club will be going to Barcelona and a few of us will make it home to Paradise for atleast 1 game.
Anything we take from the group will in itself be an achievement.
This team is work in progress and Neil is doing a grand job.
August 31, 2012 at 1:49 pm
James MacMillan
I was there with my son. A fantastic night. You have very well encapsulated the feeling of total, outright victory over the forces of shame and dishonesty. Well done Phil. Looking forward to the book. I wonder if it will be reviewed in the Scottish press?
August 31, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Brian Warwick
Another rousing & proud article! Getting book later for me and my mates too! First time post too! HH GBNL
August 31, 2012 at 12:19 pm
Dhougal
Put brilliantly Phil ,i’m so proud to be a bhoy in this great family .Long may we entertain and help good causes and show the world how to have fun !! Long live the Celts !!!!!!!
August 31, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Pensionerbhoy
A “hairs up on the back of the neck piece”, Phil. Isn’t it so interesting, that these quotes from Age Hareide are not printed anywhere in the MSM. They are so complimentary and so positive in contrast to the words chosen by the Scottish ‘kid-on’ reporters. Their media gems were full of their usual cataclysmic visions of the demise of Celtic’s European ‘dreams’ and the poverty of our football. I even read somewhere (I apologise for being too lazy to search for the source – very poor journalism indeed) that games can not be won by supporters no matter how influential they might ‘appear’ to be. I wonder if such words could be applied to the occasions when the concrete at Parkhead trembled so powerfully it seemed to propel the ball towards goals. If Celtic fans are of no significance, why does everybody, yes everybody, even the stars of Barca, Real, Man U and oh so many other clubs pray they get the opportunity, just once in their careers, even in just a friendly, to experience that extraordinary sensation. I would give my back teeth, if I had any, to walk out of that tunnel on such an occasion. The man without is ever envious of he who is in possession. I was a twister myself, but if rocking is in this season, I’ll go for it
.
H H
August 31, 2012 at 12:14 pm
Micky burt
The hoops bar in tenerife was certainly rocking Phil HH
Onwards to victory
August 31, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Ben mcginlay
Wonderfully written and your sentiments are concurred to all around planet fitba, apart from the zombie nation and our friends of the MSM. We have so much to look forward to this season. No matter who we got in Europe, the fans will cherish the home games and spur the bhoys on to greater things. How can you not play well in front of our crowd. So proud of our club and fans. Honest and filled with dignity.
August 31, 2012 at 11:57 am
Thomas
Green Brigade! I’m standing on my bunnet saluting you all!
Sitting in 405 above ‘the Jungle’ you gave me the old fire again!
August 31, 2012 at 11:56 am
Paulsatim
Nice to see Mr Salmond passing on his congratulations to Celtic for their achievement. So much for armageddon!!!
August 31, 2012 at 11:54 am
Billy Crawford
Brilliant article Phil, uplifting and accurate as well. I spend most of my holidays in Crolly, you should pop into Teach Phaidi Oig for a pint when I’m next up. Celtic Park & Croke Park are grounds where the good guys come together to enjoy the games but also to honour the generations that laid those wonderful foundations.
I know you have both Mayo and Donegal connections, so whatever happens I hope you’re happy come final day. That’s the way good people enjoy their sport as you rightly say.
Árd Macha
August 31, 2012 at 11:47 am
BrianM
Very kind comments in defeat from Helsinborge coach Mr. Hareide.
What a pleasant surprise. A truly dignified club and manager.
August 31, 2012 at 11:39 am
Joseph
Good read Phil , but “third place is possible” is not what I expect. On their game and with the fans behind them I expect them to go through to the next stage.
August 31, 2012 at 11:30 am
Kevin Gallagher
One of the world’s greatest ever footballers, Paolo Maldini, has said that every professional footballer should try and play at Celtic Park at some point, as the fans and atmosphere are the best in the world.
August 31, 2012 at 11:24 am
tom dolan
Third place??? Naw!! knockout stages for us,Aye,you could not make my neck red even with a blowtorch,mon the bhoys.
August 31, 2012 at 11:20 am
James Cameron
Well said Phil. Being honest always pays off in the long term.
August 31, 2012 at 11:14 am