Retire Number 5?

[lcafiero]

Over on this side of the Atlantic, retiring numbers for legendary players is a big deal. In fact, no team in Major Leauge Baseball can have a player wearing 42 because Jackie Robinson's number has been retired for all teams since he broke the colour barrier in baseball.

James Forrest (the writer, not the footballer) wrote this blog item to argue the point against. My own opinion is that Celtic should retire the number 5 in McNeill's honour, but Forrest makes good points, and it's well worth a discussion.

https://thecelticblog.com/2019/04/b...driving-force-behind-celtics-legends-to-come/

 

[The Shamrock]

I don't agree. We could end up retiring too many numbers and it gives others motivation to fill the role of Billy's number 5 shirt.

 

[JamSam67]

This is a hard decision for me, can see the point of both sides.
But any CH would want that shirt and what it means. And who’s footsteps they would be following.
But my Heart says retire the number.
Just sayin.

HH 5

 

[lcafiero]

I don't agree. We could end up retiring too many numbers and it gives others motivation to fill the role of Billy's number 5 shirt.

That's what Forrest said, and he makes a good point. It should be an honour reserved for the best of the best and not done lightly, obviously. But the motivation factor is a good reason to NOT retire numbers, I would agree.

It's a difficult call.

 

[Niall J]

It's a thought provoking article and I'm in agreement. Keep the 5 and use it to inspire. The best idea I've seen is a champions trophy in Cesar's name as Bertie Auld posted an earlier thread.
If as you say Icafiero it's been done many times, then as respectful as it is it maybe also lacks a wee bit in originality

 

[The Shamrock]

It's a bit of a cliche to say that we'll never see his like again, we won't but we can aspire to.

 

[michael duffy]

aye tough wan,but i'm comin doon on the side of don't retire it, whit an inspiration for any ambitious young centre half, to know who's shirt he's wearing (though we did'nt have numbers on our shirts then,pedantic... ah know!)

 

[lcafiero]

This is a hard decision for me, can see the point of both sides.
But any CH would want that shirt and what it means. And who’s footsteps they would be following.
But my Heart says retire the number.
Just sayin.

HH 5

In American baseball, one requirement for a team to retire a number is whether a player is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. As such, there are some players who embody the team they've played for during their careers who didn't make the Hall, and as such they do not get the honour from their team, even if the team wanted to do so.

Again, as I said before, this is a huge honour which should not be bestowed lightly.

So I'm with you, JamSam67 -- my heart says retire the number. But my head says, "Maybe Forrest is right . . . "

 

[Niall J]

We could retire all numbers off the shirts and get them back on the shorts. I'd love that. Old git that I am!

 

[lcafiero]

We could retire all numbers off the shirts and get them back on the shorts. I'd love that. Old git that I am!

To be honest, Niall J, while watching all the old Celtic games while on International break (talk about going stir-crazy . . . ), I really like the look of the jerseys with no numbers on the back -- just hoops -- and the numbers on the shorts.

 

[The Shamrock]

To be honest, Niall J, while watching all the old Celtic games while on International break (talk about going stir-crazy . . . ), I really like the look of the jerseys with no numbers on the back -- just hoops -- and the numbers on the shorts.

That's officialdom for you.

 

[Niall J]

Brilliant wasn't it? I genuinely miss it. Sadly we are no longer permitted Icafiero.

 

[lcafiero]

Brilliant wasn't it? I genuinely miss it. Sadly we are no longer permitted Icafiero.

 

[michael duffy]

We could retire all numbers off the shirts and get them back on the shorts. I'd love that. Old git that I am!

those were the days Niall, Hail Hail!!!

 

[michael duffy]

think it wiz a uefa ruling, phuqin gnomes!!!!!

 

[boab1916]

think it wiz a uefa ruling, phuqin gnomes!!!!!

Could retire the 5 and let 67 be the inspiration shirt for the future for that would be the triumph any youngster would like to aspire to with Celtic, imagine winning a EC in the future and having 67 on your back.

 

[kelly]

I'm in the keep the 5

and long live the memory of that number take it away would be like taking the crest off the jersey

it evokes so many memorys just as the number 7 did

 

[Weedocbhoy60]

Over on this side of the Atlantic, retiring numbers for legendary players is a big deal. In fact, no team in Major Leauge Baseball can have a player wearing 42 because Jackie Robinson's number has been retired for all teams since he broke the colour barrier in baseball.

James Forrest (the writer, not the footballer) wrote this blog item to argue the point against. My own opinion is that Celtic should retire the number 5 in McNeill's honour, but Forrest makes good points, and it's well worth a discussion.

https://thecelticblog.com/2019/04/b...driving-force-behind-celtics-legends-to-come/

How about anybody who wears the No 5 must have the name McNeil on his shirt. A Stoopid idea, I know .... BUT ...... Kinda appeals to me.

 

[Niall J]

those were the days Niall, Hail Hail!!!

The best of times, the worst of times The nineties anyway!

 

[Winning Captains]

I'm not really in favour of this tbh, it is one idea that a press guy asked Lenny about - he said he was in Paris on Tuesday morning (recruitment business?) when he heard the sad news. Retiring the shirt is a negative - James Forrest on The Celtic Blog is right - get more great number 5 to follow in his footsteps, to follow the example that Billy set. Henrik was inspired to be another Magnificent Seven after Jinky.

The suggestion to rename the North Stand in honour of Billy appeals to me greatly. The Hail Cesar Stand or the Billy McNeill Stand would be a fitting tribute IMO.

Going to be an emotional day tomorrow, might stick a fiver on 5-0...