September 2004

Hartson latest
Posted By scooterboy on Saturday, September 25, 2004
Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has revealed that he is simply too busy to engage in contract talks with John Hartson.

The powerful striker has been strongly linked with Blackburn in the past week and with his contract to expire in the summer, it was expected that O'Neill would be keen to wrap up a deal.

However, despite the warning of Premiership interest from Hartson's agent Jonathan Barnett, O'Neill will only talk when the time is right.

''Jonathan is obviously looking after his client and we're doing exactly the same but we have a game at the weekend, in midweek and then at the weekend and a day becomes a week and a week becomes a month,'' said O'Neill.

''We have Champions League games coming up and all sorts of things but I've no doubt those players with one year on their contracts to run would like to get their futures sorted out.

''What we want to do is obviously sit down with these players' agents and discuss their futures and that's exactly what we'll do as soon as possible.''

- scooterboy(scooterboy)

CIS Cup Champions 8 Falkirk 1
Posted By scooterboy on Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Celtic: Douglas, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, McManus (Thompson 79), McGeady, Lambert, Pearson, Wallace, Sylla, Juninho Paulista. Subs Not Used: Hedman, Lennon, Petrov, Varga.

Goals: Sylla 2, Wallace 6, Balde 38, Lambert 45, McManus 48, Wallace 57, 85, McGeady 90.

Falkirk: Hill, Lawrie, James, Campbell (Hughes 70), McPherson, O'Neil, Nicholls (McAnespie 72), Latapy (Moutinho 74), MacKenzie, Duffy, Thomson. Subs Not Used: Scally, Ferguson.

Goals: Thomson 66.

Attendance: 24,345

Referee: W Young

- scooterboy(scooterboy)

Hibs 2 Champions 2

Posted By scooterboy on Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Sunday 19th September 2004. Not the most inspiring of games....Bobo opened the scoring with an own goal and it was downhill from there. John Hartson strengthened his position as top scorer in Scotland.
- scooterboy(scooterboy)

Nike deal
Posted By scooterboy on Tuesday, September 21, 2004
CELTIC PLC 21 September 2004 NEW KIT SUPPLY DEAL Celtic plc ('Celtic') announces that on the expiry of its current kit supply contract at the end of June 2005, a new agreement with NIKE will come into effect. The agreement, between Celtic's wholly owned subsidiary, Celtic F.C. Limited and NIKE European Operations Netherlands B.V. ('NIKE'), will commence on 1 July 2005 and is for a term of 5 years. In return for the grant by Celtic to NIKE of exclusive worldwide rights as official supplier of kit and certain ancillary products to Celtic Football Club, NIKE will pay royalties to Celtic on NIKE'S sales of Celtic branded products. A minimum royalty of £5 million is payable in each year of the agreement together with further bonus and royalty payments, depending on football success and sales, which Celtic believes are capable of being achieved given the worldwide status of NIKE, who are best suited to meet the global aspirations of Celtic. In financial terms the new contract is the largest commercial licensing transaction entered into by Celtic.
- scooterboy(scooterboy)

Mari TIM o 1 Huns 0
Posted By scooterboy on Friday, September 17, 2004
Its the right one, it's the bright one....its MARITIMO
- scooterboy(scooterboy)

SOUTH WALES NO1 CSC DANCE
Posted By jo on Friday, September 17, 2004
On Saturday 18th September, South Wales No1 CSC are having a dance at the Cardiff Students Union, from 8 - 1am. Entry is open to all, access via the back entrance in Woodville Road. Tickets are priced at £6 and the band will be "Bottle Of Smoke" from Cork. Please note a big crowd is expected this year (over 100 gone already) so it would be a good idea to buy your tickets in advance, by sending cheques or postal orders, payable to South Wales No1 CSC to 2 Station Road, Llandaff North, Cardiff, CF14 2FF, as soon as you can. Dont forget the club hotline number is 07811 828439.
- jo(jo@resq.co.uk)

Champions 1 Barca 3
Posted By scooterboy on Thursday, September 16, 2004
Hail Hail to the Bhoys of Swindon and Torquay we met on the way to Scotland and in the Boulevard des Bhoys (the Gallowgate). What can I say, we were beaten by the better team on the night. Can't help wonder what might have happened had we not given away sloppy goals though.

Barca brought less than 1000 fans to Paradise..we will bring over 20,000 to Spain....they may have more money than Celtic, but their average home attendance is not that much highers than ours. But their travelling support is NOTHING! Celtic fans LOVE their club and support them anywhere...as the Celtic song over and over goes.."France or Spain its all the same we'll go anywhere" ...

Proved to us that we are a miles BIGGER club...its not about how much dosh you can spend, its about the support...take any club without support and it will become nothing. The Cardiff Celts are planning to dress up in buck teeth and pony tails for the away leg...anyone else want to have fun?
- scooterboy(scooterboy)

There's only one John Hay!!!!!!!!!
Posted By jo on Thursday, September 16, 2004
Huge thank you to John Hay of the CSA for sorting us out with another fantastic ticket for the Barca game.

Saved one of our members from sitting out in the cold listening to the roars from afar....

On another note, good to see the Barcelona fans shouting celtic in the last five minutes, good sports. Shame about their diving b@£$ard team though............grrrrr.
- jo(jo@resq.co.uk)

Celtic's Next Visit to Ibrox - White Coat Day!

Posted By scooterboy on Thursday, September 16, 2004
Celtic's fans next visit to Ibrox will have as its theme white coat day, because, what every Celtic fan has always known is now official - supporting Glasgow Rangers can seriously damage your mental health and bring on bouts of paranoia, according to a study.
The claim emerged after psychologists identified a series of mental disorders currently afflicting supporters of Rangers FC, ranging from depression to an aversion to human contact, following seven straight defeats by their bitter city rivals Celtic.

Researchers at Staffordshire University conducted the study from a sample of 180 Old Firm supporters, who were asked to record any physical or mental health problems they experienced in the days immediately following Old Firm games.

The research team, led by Dr David Sheffield, also concluded that Rangers fans were more prone to heart attacks, headaches and insomnia as a result of Celtic's recent dominance in Old Firm fixtures - which recently culminated in a new Scottish record for the club following seven victories on the bounce over their Ibrox rivals.

Last season, Celtic won all five encounters with Rangers and took the SPL title 17 points clear of the Ibrox side. Just one month into the current league campaign, and Celtic are already 7 points clear at the top of the table.

Dr Sheffield, a senior lecturer in biological psychology, said he had also been trying to gauge the reaction of Celtic supporters to an Old Firm defeat as part of the study - but so far hadn't been able to, he's hoping that his 5 year old son following in his footsteps may eventually find this out.

He said: "The seriousness of the physical symptoms suffered by some Rangers fans after losing to Celtic was really quite startling.

"They reported being irritable and anxious, they struggled to sleep properly and were far more likely to suffer headaches than Celtic fans. Many Rangers fans were also found to be extremely withdrawn after they lost to Celtic, and tended to avoid human contact. But there is a much wider issue here, which is that many of these Rangers fans are suffering from fairly serious anti-social conditions as a direct result of their team's poor performances. They would therefore presumably not be very nice people to have to live or work with." In fact living next door to anyone connected to Rangers could be dangerous, you could find them naked shouting through your letterbox at 3am for instance .

The research, however, also revealed that stress levels among Celtic fans were virtually non-existent due to a "feel good factor" brought on by total dominance of the league and some excellent performances in European competition, including a UEFA Cup final appearance two seasons ago. It is now alleged over 1,335,000 Celtic supporters visited Spain for the UEFA cup final, no arrests were reported and Celtic received the accolade of "Greatest fans in the world" this was made official by awards from both FIFA and UEFA.

John McMillan, the secretary of the Rangers Supporters' Association, said he could identify with some of the research results, particularly waking up naked in the middle of the night clutching a large knife.

He said: "I'm sure many Rangers fans will associate with wanting to avoid human contact, just as well we have our goats".
- scooterboy(scooterboy)

HELP.....Ticket Needed
Posted By jo on Monday, September 13, 2004
Lo Everyone.

Unfortunately our ticket source has let us down and we are up in Glasgow one short for the Barcelona game!!!

If anyone knows of a ticket going please call me on 07967 022543 to arrange meeting at the game and the transferal of freshly printed sweaty cash.
- jo(jo@resq.co.uk)

Sutton Winning Fitness Race
Posted By jo on Monday, September 13, 2004
Chris Sutton was in training today ahead of the clash with Barca tomorrow evening. Agathe was also back ahead of the biggest game of the season so far.
With Camara not really showing real promise (apart from against Dundee) I hope big Chris is on form.

Four of us from The Celtic Dragons are ging up for the game, look out for the welsh flags :)
- jo(jo@resq.co.uk)

Send Your Stories & Funnies
Posted By jo on Sunday, September 12, 2004
We are ready to add a few new sections to the site but we need your help.

We need your pics, jokes and stories of all things celtic related. As soon as we have enough we will throw it all on line for all to see.

Send all bumf to info@celticdragons.co.uk

- jo(jo@resq.co.uk)

SOUTH WALES NO1 CSC DANCE
Posted By scooterboy on Friday, September 10, 2004
On Saturday 18th September, South Wales No1 CSC are having a dance at the Cardiff Students Union, from 8 - 1am. Entry is open to all, access via the back entrance in Woodville Road. Tickets are priced at £6 and the band will be "Bottle Of Smoke" from Cork. Please note a big crowd is expected this year (over 100 gone already) so it would be a good idea to buy your tickets in advance, by sending cheques or postal orders, payable to South Wales No1 CSC to 2 Station Road, Llandaff North, Cardiff, CF14 2FF, as soon as you can. Dont forget the club hotline number is 07811 828439.
- scooterboy(scooterboy)

Cardiff last night
Posted By scooterboy on Thursday, September 9, 2004
Well what a laugh last night. The narn Irish were fighting amongst themselves constantly, especially in the Prince of Wales bar where Police were called in more than once.

A doorman I know well told me that the doorstaff had never seen fans so violent to their fellow supporters, with rangers top fighting rangers top fighting narn Irish top!!!

I was sitting in Dempseys when a battalion of the infamous Soul Crew of Cardiff City marched in. They were laughing at the situation as they were dying to have a pop but could not get near the hooligan element of the narn Irish support as they were boxing amongst themselves and had a heavy police presence trying to separate them.

A colleague was leaving the Angel Hotel to attend the game and had to be rushed back into the foyer as a gang of them had started amongst themselves in Westgate Street outside. They totally humiliated themselves. Shame about the result as well.

Wales booed their national anthem (GSTQ) and they booed the Welsh anthem...what will happen when they play England? Will they play it twice? Do they boo each other in turn or join in and have a wee march??
- scooterboy(scooterboy)

whats new?
Posted By scooterboy on Saturday, September 4, 2004
well, the signing deadline for our European Champions League team has gone. I am full of admiration for Juninho after watching his Old Firm debut, but still wait to be convinced by Camara.

I wanted the squad strengthened after all, as we knew for over a year Henke was off, but didn't expect in my wildest we would go for someone like Dwight Yorke. I mean, his off the field antics are just not really what we want at our club. Then to follow it up with Marcel Desailly....what is going on? These players would have been after silly wages and are too old. I am all for strengthening the squad by adding more experienced professionals but I really had to ask, was this the height of our ambition? Thankfully we will be a better off club by not signing these 2 charlatans I feel. But I still feel sad that the greatest support in the world was not given a world class name to replace Henke and feel sad that the board cannot match the fans ambitions.

Well done board, what would you have needed to replace Henke? What will you need to do to keep Our Beloved Martin? Sadly to me it looks like the ambition and commitment shown by the pre-McCann era board. Maybe Dermot Desmond would be better of sticking to horses and prawn sandwiches.
- scooterboy(scooterboy)

Champions 1 Huns 0

Posted By scooterboy on Wednesday, September 1, 2004
What can I say, Big John was too quiet, Camara was wreckless and Juninho was superb. Alan Thompson scored the winner with 5 minutes to go, just as the Forces of Darkness started to get rowdy thinking they had salvaged 1 lonely point against the champions.

Best silencer ever, man how we partied as we went 5 points clear of them, Aberdeen sneaked into second place and we set a record 7 straight wins against them....if we beat them 10 times, will we get to keep them, or shall we just put some silly wee stars on our shirt that mean absolutely nothing to the rest of the world football fraternity?
- scooterboy(scooterboy)