Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog

Birthday Bhoy John Clark

admin — Sun, 13 Mar 2016 11:01:00 +0000

LISBON LION, John Clark celebrates his 75th birthday today, Sunday, March 13 and it goes without saying that everyone here at Celtic Park wishes him many happy returns.

One way of assessing a player’s career is to count his medals, and a brief glimpse at John Clark’s collection on display in the Paradise boardroom pays tribute to his service to Celtic Football Club.

Among the main honours from the 316 games he played for Celtic are three championship medals, three for the Scottish Cup, four for the League Cup and, of course, there is the pinnacle of the European Cup in 1967.

However, that is only part of the story as John Clark is still very much part of the fabric of the club nearly 58 years after he first joined as a fresh-faced teenager in 1958 and he has held a host of positions with the Hoops.

Now he is a well-known face of the camera close-ups of the Celtic dugout and on the odd occasion he can be caught breaking into a smile when the Hoops find the net, but goal celebrations when one of his team-mates scored used to be part and parcel of his life as a Celtic player.

He was Billy McNeill’s partner in defence during the most successful period in the club’s history and, as one of the revered Lisbon Lions, he will forever hold a place in the hearts of the faithful as one of the club’s greatest ever players.

And when Cesar returned as manager, it was John who he turned to as his right-hand man to help steer the Hoops to more silverware as a new generation of supporters looked for success.

Today he is still here as kit manager and still enjoying every Hoops success because he is still as much a Celtic supporter as he was when he cheered on the players from the terracing in the 1950s.

Here we look at some highlights from his amazing career.

Amazingly, five was the paltry sum of Scotland caps that John Clark received for his efforts as the most successful sweeper in the Scottish game. Like the rest of the Lions, John discovered that talent and achievement at club level mattered little to national team selectors. However, players and supporters recognised his ability and years after marking Pele out of the game in a 1-1 draw with Brazil in 1966, the ‘world’s greatest player’ made a beeline for ‘Luggy’, stopping for a chat after spotting him in the lobby of a New York hotel.

There were three nicknames that John picked up in his more than 50 years at Celtic Park. The first is ‘The Brush’, the moniker that was given to him in the newspapers, for his ability to calmly sweep up at the back. The next was ‘Luggy’, the name that John doesn’t really like and was picked up after he ended up with a cauliflower ear after an accidental collision with Billy McNeill in training. The third is the one that he prefers to be known by and is best known as today, ‘Clarky’. As Clarky himself pointed out in an interview, he has been called a few other things over the years, mainly by his assistant, Angie Thomson, but ‘none of them are printable!’

He won an impressive 11 medals during his years as a player at Celtic Park. Between 1958 and 1971 he won three league championships, three Scottish Cups, four League Cups and, of course, the European Cup in 1967. It should also be remembered that John has also played a significant role in the backdrop during other major triumphs, as a coach between 1973 and 1978, assistant manager between 1978 and 1983 before returning to the club as kit controller in 1997. All of his medals are on display in the Celtic boardroom. “I feel really honoured that they are on display there and that supporters are able to see them,” he said.

A total of four was the number of goals that the ‘prolific’ John Clark scored for Celtic – three in the green and white Hoops and one in the blue and white hoops of Morton. Raise this issue with Clarky today and he will rightly point out that he was a sweeper, more accustomed to stopping goals than foraging forward. And he’ll also tell you that he scored one of the strikes of the century! “I always say that I scored the best goal ever,” he said in a Celtic View interview. “It was in a Scottish Cup replay at Easter Road against Hibs and I beat a defender at the byline, cut in and poked the ball through Ronnie Simpson’s legs and said to him: ‘You couldn’t get any better than that could you!’” There was one other memorable strike, though, and when John returned in 1971 as a Morton player, he was among the Celtic goalscorers, netting an own goal in the 3-1 defeat.

Working as a player, coach and kit controller, John has now spent five decades at the club. It is a remarkable, almost lifelong, association and one that Clark treasures. “I was a Celtic supporter, a Celtic player, it’s been my life,” he said in a matchday programme interview. “I get a lot of satisfaction when I think that I started my working life with Celtic and I’ll finish it with them. I’ve really enjoyed my life, when I look back I couldn’t ask for any more. I’ve been a really lucky guy. “

He played a total of 140 consecutive matches between April 1965 and September 1967. He did not miss a single match during that two-year period – the most successful period in the club’s history – playing in every friendly match for the club, including the North American Tour that preceded the clean sweep season of 1966/67, the head-to-head with Manchester United and the great Alfredo Di Stefano’s testimonial. The run also included four internationals with Scotland and continued until September 27, 1967, when he was rested for the League Cup quarter-final against Ayr United. John was back in the team for a league win over Stirling Albion three days later.

John’s final game for Celtic came on May 1, 1971 when Jock Stein gathered the Lisbon Lions together to take a final bow in front of 35,000 at Celtic Park. The late, great Ronnie Simpson couldn’t play due to his shoulder injury but he took to the pitch for the pre-match warm-up. Bertie Auld and Stevie Chalmers also played their final Celtic game that day as the Bhoys beat Clyde 6-1.

At the Celtic Player of the Year Awards in May 2004, which had been voted for by over 50,000 Celtic fans, Martin O’Neill presented John Clark with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his services to Celtic.

Happy Birthday John and Hail, Hail.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

Clearance sale on Celtic bags.

Originally published by Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog

Manager pleased with points and performance

admin — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 16:23:00 +0000

RONNY Deila admitted Celtic should have enjoyed a more emphatic margin of victory over Partick Thistle today but ultimately he was satisfied to have claimed maximum reward and return to winning ways in the league.

Leigh Griffiths’ 35th goal of the season on the stroke of half-time and Callum McGregor’s second-half strike had deservedly put the Hoops in charge at Firhill.

The champions spurned several excellent chances to add to their tally as they continued to control the contest, with Tomas Cerny making several impressive saves.

And when Sean Welsh slotted home a penalty with five minutes remaining on the clock, after Erik Sviatchenko had been deemed to foul Steven Lawless in the box, it made for a nervy conclusion to the match for the Bhoys.

However, they saw out the closing stages to follow up last week’s Scottish Cup quarter-final triumph over Greenock Morton with a welcome three points, which keeps them top of the table.

It brought to an end a run of two successive draws in the Scottish Premiership for Celtic, and the manager was delighted with the final outcome along with the performance.

Speaking after the game, he said: “We should have killed the game earlier. We had two one-on-ones with the goalkeeper and a lot of chances, which was positive. We have good finishers in the team but today we weren’t as effective as normal.

“I’m just happy to get the three points and the performance was good as well. We are on a high and getting better and better every game and that’s something we are going to build on.

“We have to concentrate on ourselves. Aberdeen have done very well this year. Now there are nine games left and we just have to keep winning. We have been in these situations so many times now. We have everything in our own hands.”

It was appropriate that McGregor’s 57th minute goal proved pivotal given his impressive showing throughout the contest.

“He has been very good in the last two or three months,” said the Hoops boss. “He had a break because of other circumstances but he is showing a lot of confidence on the pitch and he played very well today and scored again which is important.

“Callum has worked really hard and he has been fantastic at training for a long time, always doing extra things, and he got his reward for that today.”

Despite being an injury doubt before the game, Griffiths also made another crucial contribution as his stellar season shows no signs of abating.

“He was just very stiff in his calf and couldn’t run 100 per cent, but he had two days on it and he was ready today,” said the manager. “He was stiffening up in end and that’s why we took him off.

“Big credit goes to the medical department and to him to ready for the game, so that was important and he scored again.

“Hopefully he scores as many as possible. He’s an important player for us and he keeps on scoring which is fantastic for us and him, and the team put him in good situations as well which is good.”

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

More football news here in a few hours, just as soon as Ive gone for some food. This site is here for all fans, so please interact by leaving a comment on any article, or by writing on the fan wall (thats the wall over there in the top right. For great special offers visit the shop, or click here to compare prices of Celtic flags.

Originally published by Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog

Scottish Cup semi-final date confirmed

admin — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:42:00 +0000

THE SFA has today confirmed that Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers will take place at Hampden on Sunday, April 17 with a 12noon (Free bet) Kick-off.

The Hoops reached the last four of the competitiion with a 3-0 victory over Morton in the previous round last weekend, courtesy of goals from Leigh Griffiths, Gary Mackay-Steven and Callum McGregor.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)

As well as the latest breaking news and transfer rumours we also have some great offers on club gifts available in the Club Shop. Click to compare the best Celtic flags.

Originally published by Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog

Captain delighted for KT’s Scotland call-up

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 19:47:00 +0000

SCOTT Brown has welcomed Kieran Tierney’s inclusion in the Scotland squad for the forthcoming friendly international match against Denmark at Hampden on March 29.

The 18-year-old Celtic defender’s call-up is a reward for his impressive form this season, and he will join Brown and fellow Celts Craig Gordon, Charlie Mulgrew, James Forrest and Leigh Griffiths in Gordon Strachan’s squad.

And the Celtic captain is delighted that the Scotland boss will get the chance to see the young Hoops defender’s qualities at close quarters.

Brown was speaking today in a pre-match press conference in the unusual setting of the Knockhill Racing Circuit at Dunfermline where he and Ryan Christie were taking part in a ‘Football Stars In A Rally Car’ challenge.

And before putting on the helmet and getting behind the wheel, the Hoops captain spoke to the media, describing Tierney’s Scotland call-up as ‘excellent.’

“Kieran works so hard in training day in, day out, and he’s got a great attitude,” Brown said. “For the last three or four months he’s been exceptional for us and he’s a rising star, the way he’s been playing.

“Hopefully he gets a little chance against Denmark and can show the manager what he can do, because we see what he does every day in training and it’s just great to have him in the squad.

“Nothing fazes him. He’ll thrive off the occasion and he’ll thrive off playing with international players. And just to put that Scotland jersey on – he’ll love it.

“His attitude is right up there. He’s still learning the game, he’s still a young kid but he’s thriving off every minute of it. He’s composed on the ball, he’s good on one-on-one defending, and he’s also a great attacking outlet for us, so he’s pretty much got everything that you could ever ask for.”

Dont miss out on the new Celtic DVDs and Blueray.

Originally published by Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog

Gordon: Final push starts now for champions

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 09:01:00 +0000

CRAIG Gordon has revealed that a call to arms was issued among the Celtic players before Sunday’s Scottish Cup victory over Morton to mobilise them into immediate action.

After successive draws with Hamilton Accies and Dundee in the league, the Hoops’ lead at the top of the table has been reduced, with Aberdeen now only one point adrift.

Determined to end this stuttering form, the manager, players and backroom staff had articulated the need for unity and togetherness ahead of the quarter-final clash with the Championship side.

And a dominant first-half display saw the champions triumph 3-0 and ease into the last-four of the competition and end a disappointing period on a positive note.

Having returned to winning ways, Gordon told this week’s Celtic View that the focus is now on producing a long winning run and finishing the season strongly.

“This is the business end of the season and we need to go and put a run together,” he said in an exclusive interview.

“We talked about that before the game, making sure we had a good start in the game, getting everybody together and pushing on towards the end of the season. This is the time to turn it on, to start a string of results, and it started on Sunday.

“We drew a line under a poor performance mid-week – which everyone was aware of – and said this is it, it’s time to go on, it’s time to put a run of games together.

“We have to forget about the Dundee game and put on decent shows. We know if we do that we will get the fans behind us and we will go and have a big push for the rest of the season.

“We talked about it during the week and we reminded ourselves about it before the match to make sure we were up for it and ready to push on. We are now in a semi-final and top of the league, so let’s go on and finish strongly and see what we can get at the end of the season.”

Read the full and exclusive interview with Craig Gordon ONLY in this week’s Celtic View. On sale now.

Have you seen the new club Shop tab on the site. We have built it to supply club gifts, in conjunction with Amazon and other partners, at prices that are only a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere. And best of all you can read other fan reviews before buying. This week we have a special offer on Celtic DVDs and Blueray.

Originally published by Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog

Mackay-Steven hoping for derby delight

admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 12:13:00 +0000

AFTER helping Celtic beat Morton 3-0 in the Scottish Cup quarter-final last Sunday, Gary Mackay-Steven has his sights set on a positive return to the scene of his debut when the Hoops take on Partick Thistle this weekend.

It took the winger just 38 seconds to get off the mark for Ronny Deila’s champions last year following his move to Celtic from Dundee United in the January transfer window, and after scoring three goals in his last two appearances, Mackay-Steven is keen to see history repeat itself.

“It doesn’t seem that long ago that I made my debut,” he told the Celtic View in an exclusive interview. “The year has flown in but I’ve certainly got good memories of playing there and hopefully I can go back and do the same again.

“It was amazing to score. Everything happened so quickly but there was no better feeling than scoring on my debut and I still get that same feeling now scoring for the club, so I’ll be looking to do that again.

“I feel the team is creating a lot of chances and I feel like I’m doing that too by getting into good positions, so I’m confident in front of goal and if a chance comes my way I’ll be looking to take it.

“Thistle are playing really well. They’re a good football team and they like to get the ball down and pass it. It’s always a tough game against them but I think it’s quite entertaining and hopefully, now that we have managed to put a few clean sheets together, we will limit their chances.”

Read the full and exclusive interview with Gary Mackay-Steven ONLY in this week’s Celtic View. On sale now.

For the latest breaking news delivered to your inbox you can sign up for the Breaking News newsletter. If you join you also get free entry into a draw to win two tickets to the premiership game of your choice. Sign up in the box in the top right column on the site.

Click here to read new fan reviews of signed Celtic shirts.

Originally published by Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog

McIntyre: Starring with senior players helping Bhoys blossom

admin — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 11:40:00 +0000

TOMMY McIntyre says Celtic’s youngsters will have garnered valuable experience from featuring alongside so many senior players in last night’s Development Squad match against St Mirren.

Saidy Janko, Tom Rogic, James Forrest, Ryan Christie and Scott Allan all started for the Bhoys in the 2-2 draw at Cappielow in their search for further game-time.

But there was also a strong youthful element to McIntyre’s side, with the likes of 16-year-old Jack Aitchison involved for the first 45 minutes in attack and 17-year-old Ross Doohan playing the full game between the sticks.

And it was teenager Calvin Miller who grabbed a late quick-fire double to cancel out Stuart Carswell’s opener for the visitors and put the young Hoops ahead with only six minutes remaining on the clock.

Although Alan Gow’s free-kick at the death denied the young Celts maximum reward, their unbeaten league record this season was preserved and they remain clear at the top of the table.

Speaking exclusively to Celtic TV, McIntyre said: “It was a good game for us to take. St Mirren had a strong side like us and it was good for our younger players to play with the first-team lads.

“We brought young Jack in who is only under-16 and it was great for him to play among the first-team lads, whose attitude was excellent. It was good to bring a young a player in and give him that experience.

“I felt we dominated the game and created chances without having the finishing,” continued the coach. “It was a good game to watch and it was well contested.

“We were patient. We felt we could always score and we looked like we would threaten. It was just a matter of time before we got the equaliser and then we got the second goal.

“We could have maybe managed the last five minutes a wee bit better but we will look at the video and see if there were things we could improve on at the free-kick. It’s all about learning and there are one or two things we will take from the game.”

Sign up to the newsletter and win tickets to the premiership game of your choice in our monthly draw. Compare discounts in the club shop or read latest reviews of Celtic retro stuff.

Originally published by Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog

Late drama as Young Celts draw with St Mirren

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 21:08:00 +0000

SPFL Development League
Cappielow Park, Greenock
Monday, March 7, 2016

CELTIC…2
(Miller 83, 84)

ST MIRREN…2
(Carswell 27, Gow 90)

LATE drama engulfed Celtic’s Development Squad clash with St Mirren at Cappielow tonight as three goals inside the final 10 minutes saw the Young Hoops held to a pulsating 2-2 draw in the Development League.

After trailing for most of the game following Stuart Carswell’s first-half opener for the visitors on 27 minutes, the Hoops finally took the lead when half-time substitute Calvin Miller found the back of the net twice in quick succession with just over five minutes remaining.

Tommy McIntyre’s side looked set for their 20th win in 21 games after battling well to get back in front but were pegged back at the death by Saints’ Allan Gow, who curled a pin-point free-kick past Ross Doohan in stoppage time to steal a point for the Buddies.

The result means the Celts preserved their magnificent unbeaten run in the league and stay 12 points clear of the Paisley side at the top but they will feel hard done by not to have left Greenock with all three points following an open end to a largely dominant display.

There were a total of seven changes made to the team for the game following last week’s 1-0 win over Rangers at Murray Park with a number of players on the fringes of the Celtic first-team awarded valuable playing time with a starting berth.

Saidy Janko started at right-back in place of Sam Wardrop as the Swiss defender continues his recovery from injury and there were also places in the side for Tom Rogic, James Forrest and Scott Allan, who came in for Mark Hill, Regan Hendry and Theo Archibald.

Ross Doohan returned in goal in place of Leo Fasan, Jamie McCart was also restored to the centre of defence over Tyler Blackett and young Jack Aitchison was called into replace Miller up front.

Tommy McIntyre’s side started the game brightly and on top, with Allan forcing the first save of the match from Saints keeper Dan Wilks before Rogic came to the fore as the Celts’ main protagonist in the opening half-hour.

The Australian was heavily involved in the centre of the park, pulling the strings from the middle to set up Allan again but Wilks was once again alert to the former Hibs man’s effort, with young Jack Aitchison unable to convert the rebound.

The chances continued to mount for the Celts but it was St Mirren who struck first with their only chance of the half as Stuart Carswell capitalised on a slip from Fiacre Kelleher to open the scoring on 27 minutes.

The Bhoys went in at the break still behind but made two switches for the restart, with Development Squad regulars Calvin Miller and Sam Wardrop introduced to the action in place of Aitchison and Janko.

Rogic tried his luck from the edge of the area as the game got back underway but his wayward effort frustratingly sailed over the bar. Allan was also lively as the second-half wore on but he too struggled to find the target with a curling shot from distance.

The Celts opted for a more direct approach as the clock passed the hour mark with Joe Thomson picking out Forrest in space with an inch-perfect pass before Aidan McIlduff found Ryan Christie in the box but neither player could get an accurate shot in on goal.

Forrest was involved again shortly after on the wing and he managed to find Miller in the box but he too failed to find the back of the net.

St Mirren were becoming stretched as the game neared its conclusion, with Cameron Howieson booked for a tug on Rogic as the Celts continued to push forward in search of an equaliser. The attacker was fouled again just moments later, this time just outside the box, but his direct shot from the resultant free-kick went over.

The pressure finally told on the visitors when Miller drew the Celts level on 83 minutes, before giving them the lead almost immediately after but the concession of a late free-kick by the Bhoys allowed Gow’s set-piece to find a way past Doohan, and ensure an even share of the spoils after a frantic end to a well-contested match.

The Hoops next face Ross County at Cappielow on Friday, March 11, as they look to continue their impressive run in the SPFL Development League this season.

CELTIC (4-2-3-1) Doohan; Janko (Wardrop 46), Kelleher, McCart, McIlduff; Thomson, Rogic, Forrest, Christie, Allan; Aitchison (Miller 46)

Not used: Hazard, Hendry, Hill, Higgins

Subscribe to our football RSS feed for hourly updates on breaking news. Click here to read reviews of Celtic bags.

Originally published by Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog

Celtic Academy Club Partnership reaches Illinois

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 11:31:00 +0000

SKOMOR Soccer Club of Illinois is the latest club to sign-up to the Celtic Academy International Club Partnership Programme.

Both parties are delighted to be embarking on this long-term partnership which involves the sharing of club methodologies, coach education, and coaching camps.

Established in 1989, SkoMor has grown to 23 teams with over 250 boys and girls playing across the club’s various age groups. The Illinois club looks to create a fun and competitive environment for players as young as three-year-old, focusing on individual player development, teamwork and sportsmanship.

The hard work and dedication shown in serving the American Midwest communities of Skokie, Morton Grove, Lincolnwood and Niles was a major factor in the Celtic Soccer Academy selecting SkoMor as a club partner.

In the coming months SkoMor representatives will visit Glasgow to experience life as an academy player at Celtic Football Club while their coaches will attend the renowned Celtic International Coaches Convention in Glasgow to receive a behind-the-scenes look at how Celtic develop young players.

Upon completing the partnership agreement SkoMor Soccer Club’s Director of Coaching, Ethan C Bontly said: “We are thrilled to join the prestigious International Club Partnership Programme and to work with world-renowned Celtic FC.

“The coaching methodology and best practices that are offered through Celtic is exactly what we are looking for as we build our club.

“We currently have over 46 nationalities both of players and coaches so the international feel suits our club very well.

“We have big plans for the future and we feel that partnering with Celtic FC and learning ‘The Celtic Way,’ is a pathway toward achieving those goals.”

Celtic’s International Soccer Academy Manager Tony Massie added: “We are delighted to welcome SkoMor Soccer Club to our International Club Partnership Programme, and it again emphasises our commitment to building relationships across the globe.

“They are a very ambitious and progressive club and we are looking forward to a long and prosperous partnership.”

If you are interested in joining our International Partnership Programme, please contact International Soccer Academy Managers Tony Massie on [email protected] or Willie McNab on [email protected]

Alternatively you can call us on +44 (0) 141 551 4335.

Help support your site by browsing the club shop. You might find something you like. This week only we have a huge discount available on Celtic home kit.

Originally published by Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog

Club thanks supporters for Paradise backing

admin — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 16:57:00 +0000

CELTIC Football Club would like to extend its upmost thanks to supporters for their brilliant backing at today’s Scottish Cup tie with Greenock Morton in Paradise.

Given the quarter-final match took place on Mother’s Day, kicked off at lunchtime on a Sunday and was screened live on TV, the Club hugely appreciates all the fans who were in attendance for the Hoops’ dominant 3-0 victory.

Following the triumph over the Championship outfit, Ronny Deila’s side are now looking forward to a semi-final at Hampden next month along with their remaining league fixtures as they attempt to make history and lift a fifth successive championship.

And being able to call upon such faithful supporters will be vital for the champions over the coming months as they pursue a domestic double and aim to deliver more silverware success.

Latest transfer rumours and football stories brought to you every minute of every day. For more stories like this subscribe to the team RSS feed. For the comments there is a Comments RSS feed too. Amazing views that you wont get anywhere else.

Today we have a one-off special offer on new Celtic shirts and hoodies.

Originally published by Celtic Latest Transfer Rumours, Results and Celtic Blog