The Celtic Exchange.

[Gary67]

This time in our history brings back so many memories for me.
If i was on mastermind it would be my specialised subject. I was only in my early teens, but Celtic was my life then, it was a torrid time to be a tim, but just going every week was a buzz.

You are correct, there were many pivotal figures in the whole saga, from the guys who set up Celts for Change. Matt McGlone was the public speaking figure, he had a fan magazine i think it was called Not the View and it was sold monthly before games. It was superbly well written and thought out, very funny. I used to love it when there was a new issue, cos i had something to read on the bus home instead of listening to that fucking phone in, which if you think is anti-Celtic now, was a hun love in then with Jim White et al.

Celts for change was a movement the fans got behind. I mind they advertised their first meeting and thousands turned up, thousands more than they thought. These guys started the boycotts etc, starved the old board of income and brought things to a head. Despite being part of the old board, there were a few guys (Jimmy Farrell/Tom Grant/Jack McGinn) i think who walked out the door with their heads held high. In fact I think wee Fergus retained them, Grant was Stadium director, McGinn was maybe chairman for a while.
They were the guys who really wanted what was best for Celtic, but it was the Kellys/Whites who held the most shares. Apparently wee Fergus had done a deal with the Kelly/White block to buy their shares and when the bank gave the club 24 hours to deposit money, he told them to go and take a good feck, i'll pay the money to the bank only if you sign them over.

Dempsey put up a million and walked through the door with Fergus. He had money but was the mouth for them while Fergus preferred to do his work in the background.
They had disagreements on the way forward. Dempsey was a supporter first and i think he wanted to take on the huns right away. Wee Fergus had a plan and never deviated from that plan for any reason.

My pal bought tickets for a game and was charged for one too many.
His refund was a £13 cheque and it was signed by Wee Fergus.
Only one person cpuld sign cheques at Celtic, so every penny that went out the door had to go through him first. He never cashed it, he got it framed.

Matt McGlone's fanzine was (still is?) Once A Tim, Always A Tim.
Not The View was Gerry Dunbar I think.
It was John Keane who put up the £1m to buy time for Fergus's money to clear the debt a few days later. Fergus's money took a few days to transfer from the USA. I don't think Brian Dempsey invested at all in the end.

 

[Smelltheg-love]

Matt McGlone's fanzine was (still is?) Once A Tim, Always A Tim.
Not The View was Gerry Dunbar I think

i stand corrected Gary, thanks for that

 

[Gary67]

Listened to the first 4 episode of The Celtic Exchange podcasts, they were excellent. Might give number 5 a miss, cant be bothered listening to Keevins droning on.
He was compere on the Celtic for Change victory night at the City Halls just after 'the rebels have won'. Place was absolutely rammed full.

 

[Smelltheg-love]

Listened to the first 4 episode of The Celtic Exchange podcasts, they were excellent. Might give number 5 a miss, cant be bothered listening to Keevins droning on.
He was compere on the Celtic for Change victory night at the City Halls just after 'the rebels have won'. Place was absolutely rammed full.

I can’t go the old fucker
If I meet 3 Tim’s a week at least 2 say every time
‘You hear that Keevins in the radio ?’
Not for years and you shouldn’t bother either

 

[Gary67]

I can’t go the old fucker
If I meet 3 Tim’s a week at least 2 say every time
‘You hear that Keevins in the radio ?’
Not for years and you shouldn’t bother either

Only hear/see clips from Clyde/his paper column on Twitter. Cant remember when I actually purposely listened to super scoreboard on Clyde, must be 10 years or more

 

[Smelltheg-love]

Only hear/see clips from Clyde/his paper column on Twitter. Cant remember when I actually purposely listened to super scoreboard on Clyde, must be 10 years or more

I used to enjoy the hun pain through ‘the journey’
I haven’t listened since that Xmas game gerrard shook the camera
They all went OTT at s win and I fucked it off then
Think we won the league by double figures in points
Clowns
My dads consumed by Celtic, nuts, it’s his thing. Favourite saying
You listen to that cunt Keevins last night
No dad and anybody who does ain’t worth the time

 

[Bridie Bhoy]

I've convinced myself that I have to listen to Keevins now.
Every person they've spoken to so far has had a great story to tell and played an important role in the battle for Celtic. I can only assume that Keevins played his part.
Maybe, at one point, he loved the club and wanted to see it saved. Maybe the bitterness towards our club came at a later time. I'll listen to the Keevins of those days and ignore what he is now.

I think the final straw was when Keevins boldly declared that the Portugese boss, Artur Gorge was to be announced as our next boss. Then the wonderful Dutch master, Wim Jansen, was revealed and bitter Shug was humiliated & ridiculed.

I think to get a fuller picture of history you need to hear it from a different angle - even if it is the opposition viewpoint.

Not The View was a great read. It was one of the more professional looking fanzines I seem to remember. There were a lot of good ones at that time for every club. The Dundee Utd "The Final Hurdle" was a good laugh, usually at dour Jim MacLean's expense. Aberdeen had a good one too "The Northern Light".

 

[Magnificent 7]

All the Podcasts are also on Spotify

Again, the insight and first hand accounts of some of the biggest players in the events of that time are truly eye opening!!

Remember it all very well Lubos and knew when we witnessed those famous words " The war is over the Rebels have won " that good times would be not too far away again.
Matt McGlone was the voice of the common supporter for sure at many a rally and in the media.
I remember Not the view a great new phenomenon at the time but Matt did the alternative view if I'm not mistaken.
The wife actually got Matt to publish a picture of me on my European travels with Celtic in the very same magazine for my 50th birthday shout when it cane round.
I'll definitely give these Podcasts a listen as it brings it all back and just reminds me how like the rest of us how much a part Celtic plays in our lives.
Tino and the lads are a great listen and watch always enjoy their stuff.

 

[boab1916]

Almost did a deadco

 

[Lubos left peg]

I've just finished listening to Keevins.
2 great stories from the podcast stuck out. His story of when Tommy Burns came to stay with him, a man he obviously loved, to finish his book. Hugh had a line of Celtic fans at his door and in Hughs words, "Tommy loved every Celtic fan as an individual". Tommy met and spoke to every fan at hughs door.
And the story of the day the rebels won. Keevins stood in the reception of Celtic park as fans came in and handed over their cash in order to save the club. He was there the day the rebels won and remembers the cheers from the darkness.
What I got from the podcast is that Keevins was obviously a celtic fan. He worked hard to keep the fans discourse in the media and public eye. He knew all the players in the game, Lowe, Dempsey and McCann. He went to the meetings in the halls up and down Glasgow. He talks of not having to go far to find out the mood of the Celtic fans as his 23 year old son, at the time, and his daughter were both fans.
When you forgot about who was talking, it was actually a decent podcast. No where near as insightful as the previous 4 though.
I'm not sure if there are anymore parts or if that's the feature finished. But if Tino, at the Celtic Exchange, still visits the Noise. I'd like to say a massive thank you and congratulate you on creating a masterpiece in documenting a piece of Celtic history. I've loved listening to it.
My respect for the fans and people who battled through those events of the 90s has gone through the roof. I was only 6 when the rebels won. They've given my daughters and I the Celtic that we know and love today. For that, I'm grateful.

 

[Bridie Bhoy]

I downloaded the 5 podcasts last night. I started listening to the first one this morning and it is excellent. Thanks for highlighting this Lubo and thanks to Tino and the bhoys who contribute to this. It would be brilliant if they could finish with interviews with Fergus McCann, Brian Dempsey and even Michael Kelly (fucking boooooooooo!!!!).

 

[Espiritosanto]

Downloaded them last night!!brilliant insight into the stuff going on behind the scenes,
The David low interview was a real wake up call to what’s going on in the present day with this board,he doesn’t sound too impressed!!!a don’t think the Celtic we support and love would be here today if it wasn’t for this guys total commitment!!well over due credit required!!! Also thanks for putting us onto the podcasts Lubo…great stuff.

 

[Winning Captains]

David Low would be the ideal candidate to lead a Fan Advisory Board, something Celtic should be doing but inevitably will resist. Read this for more information on what a fan advisory board would look like and why we should have one.

What is a Fan Advisory Board? The Celtic Trust Explains

The Celtic Star recently attended a meeting held by The Celtic Trust in Glasgow to discuss the remit and the objectives of The Celtic Trust...

thecelticstar.com

I know Tom Grant personally and speaking to him in private is exactly the same as he came across in Tino's interview. A real Celtic man who put the club before himself when it mattered most.

Think I'll run a series of features on The Celtic Star promoting these brilliant podcasts. Tino is excellent at doing these interviews...

 

[Lubos left peg]

I can smell the commission cash as we speak

 

[Richybhoy]

Fergus McCann was the first to broadcast a game in colour live across the Atlantic via Satellite. Celtic v Inter Milan in March 1972. It didna work oot for him.
This Qn A session was broadcast by Setanta and the interviewer is Jim Traynor. (What happened to that media hoor?)

 

[Lubos left peg]

I'm gutted that The Celtic Exchanges amazing feature isn't in the mainstream.
They are documenting an event that could easily be made into a sports movie. It literally has everything. Sabotage, lies, deceit, sadness, joy, triumph and jubilation.
How an event like this isn't commemorated in the MSM is beyond me.
You can bet that in 30 years time, the BBC and sportscene will be climbing over themselves to commemorate "The Journey" culminating in the celebrations of the Covid title. Obviously they will leave out the whole liquidation and new club bit.

Part 6 is coming soon and I can't wait!!!!

 

[Bridie Bhoy]

I'm gutted that The Celtic Exchanges amazing feature isn't in the mainstream.
They are documenting an event that could easily be made into a sports movie. It literally has everything. Sabotage, lies, deceit, sadness, joy, triumph and jubilation.
How an event like this isn't commemorated in the MSM is beyond me.
You can bet that in 30 years time, the BBC and sportscene will be climbing over themselves to commemorate "The Journey" culminating in the celebrations of the Covid title. Obviously they will leave out the whole liquidation and new club bit.

Part 6 is coming soon and I can't wait!!!!

I'm halfway through Part 4. It is amazing. I am loving these discussions. These interviews could be edited and cut in along with historic interviews as necessary to make an incredible first-hand account m of one of the biggest stories in our unbroken (just) history.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'd recommend listening this series to every single Celtic fan.

 

[McGarrell]

Uu

I downloaded the 5 podcasts last night. I started listening to the first one this morning and it is excellent. Thanks for highlighting this Lubo and thanks to Tino and the bhoys who contribute to this. It would be brilliant if they could finish with interviews with Fergus McCann, Brian Dempsey and even Michael Kelly (fucking boooooooooo!!!!).

 

[Lubos left peg]

I'm halfway through Part 4. It is amazing. I am loving these discussions. These interviews could be edited and cut in along with historic interviews as necessary to make an incredible first-hand account m of one of the biggest stories in our unbroken (just) history.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'd recommend listening this series to every single Celtic fan.

Couldn't agree more. I HAVE been recommending to everyone ...sent the links to my dad this evening. Told him he has to listen.
It's a part of our history I'm obviously aware of but never really took an interest in. These Podcasts have got me completely captivated. Thanks to Richy and Boab for putting those 2 youtube videos up also. The more info I can get from around these times the better!!

A question to the older fans on here. Was Keevins seen as a Celtic ally during this time? Was there any reporter seen as a friend of Celtic in the late 80s to mid 90s?
Or were Celtic fans always wary of the media?

 

[Frank Owen]

Couldn't agree more. I HAVE been recommending to everyone ...sent the links to my dad this evening. Told him he has to listen.
It's a part of our history I'm obviously aware of but never really took an interest in. These Podcasts have got me completely captivated. Thanks to Richy and Boab for putting those 2 youtube videos up also. The more info I can get from around these times the better!!

A question to the older fans on here. Was Keevins seen as a Celtic ally during this time? Was there any reporter seen as a friend of Celtic in the late 80s to mid 90s?
Or were Celtic fans always wary of the media?

I'm sure Gerry McNee was considered Celtic's ' official ' journalist at one time, Lubo. He wrote a couple of books about Celtic. I'm sure I still have one of them buried amongst other bits and bobs in my loft. He was very vocal about George Graham's anti-Celtic rhetoric; especially during the period the club was told to remove The Tricolour.