By: Mark Henderson on 18 Jun, 2013 12:52

TOM Rogic´s late introduction as a substitute helped Australia record a tense 1-0 victory over Iraq to book their place in next summer´s World Cup finals.
 
The Celtic midfielder entered the fray just after the hour mark with the game still goal-less and nerves jangling among the crowd in Sydney.
 
He provided some much-needed attacking invention to the Socceroos and they began to pile on the pressure in the closing stages, knowing a win would be enough to seal their spot in Brazil.
 
Eventually, they broke the deadlock with seven minutes remaining when substitute Josh Kennedy headed home Marc Bresciano´s inviting cross from the right.
 
Hoger Osieck´s side survived some late scares to hold out for the three points and spark wild celebrations Down Under as they qualified for the finals for the third successive time.

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By: Joe Sullivan on 17 Jun, 2013 16:01

OVER the past 12 months, the Celtic View tracked down some of the club´s unsung heroes to look back on their career highlights and discover what happened to them after exiting Paradise.
 
So interesting were these stories that, during the summer, we will be reproducing these interviews on the official website. Next up is former Celtic winger, Frank Brogan.
 
Frank Brogan was part of the team that pulled the Hoops from the mire of the early 1960s towards the heights of European glory but a move to Ipswich Town in 1964 saw him miss out on Celtic’s treasure trail.
 
However, he did pick up a few gems of his own thanks to his life down south and his career had moved on a long way since he and brother and fellow-Celt, Jim, first tested their football skill at St Joseph’s in Dumfries, where Celtic founder Brother Walfrid is buried.
 
After completing his primary education at the boarding school, Frank qualified for St Mungo’s, a noted supplier of Celtic players, and it was there that his speedy wing play started to turn heads.
 
He joined the Hoops straight from school and after making his debut in 1961, he scored 17 goals in 48 games before leaving for Ipswich in 1964.
 
He finished his career in the early ‘70s with stints at Morton and Halifax but he will forever be remembered as the Celt who scored the club’s 5,000th league goal 50 years ago – and he returned to Paradise in Hoops´ first league game of last season to donate the ball he scored the goal with to the club.
 
Here, Frank talks about his life and times with Celtic.
 
Why did you end up at St Joseph’s?
My Dad was a St Mungo’s Academy boy and he was taught by the Marists but when he was playing for St Mungo’s FP, he went down for a game at St Joseph’s and I think, secretly, he would have loved to have been a pupil there. So I think he wanted that for his boys – but it was a boarding school and I hated it. Jim loved it but I didn’t enjoy it at all – I wanted my Mammy!
 
You were training to be a Chartered Accountant and your parents obviously prided themselves in the education of you and your brother. What was their reaction to you wanting to take up football?
I think my parents gave me a long rein and let me do what I wanted to do, within reason, as even when I was 17 or 18-years-old, I had to be in by 10pm. But as far as the organisation of my own life was concerned, I was given pretty much a free hand. My parents were both strong-willed and intelligent people but they realised that Jim and I just wanted to play football.
 
What role did Jock Stein play at the time?
Jock did a fair bit of coaching with the younger lads that were coming through and I can remember him taking various training sessions, and although he had great success with the reserve team, I don’t think any of us thought that things would turn out the way they did. When he got the freedom to manage in his own way, then things changed. When he came back to Celtic, things were in such a bad way that Robert Kelly decided to give full control to Jock. That was an astute move that turned out to be fabulous for the club.
 
What do you recall of your ‘debut’ in the Charity Cup final of 1961?
I didn’t even know I was playing until I got there, which was maybe a good thing for a young lad as I would have been 18 at the time. The one thing I do remember was hitting the post with a shot in the second half that would have won the cup for us outright instead of sharing it with Clyde after a 1-1draw. We shared the cup for six months each but I never got a medal as you couldn’t give a player a medal for just six months. I never got a medal for the Scottish Cup final in 1963 either, as I only played in the first game and missed out on the replay.
 
Then there was your debut proper in the league against Hearts in February, 1962?
I remember that game as it was a good football match. We had just beaten them 4-3 in the Scottish Cup at Tynecastle a few days earlier. That was a great game as well as I was in the party and watched it – there were no subs in those days. It was 2-2 here and I enjoyed it, I was playing outside-right against Davie Holt at left-back. I remember turning in front of The Jungle early on in the game and he came rushing at me. He was a hard man and I thought, ‘watch out’ but I just basically stabbed the ball and it went right through his legs. Then I was around the other side of him right in front of The Jungle – that was me made.
 
In your sixth league game, your fourth goal for the Celts was the club’s 5,000th league goal. How did that feel?
It was a free kick maybe five or 10 yards outside the box and I ran over the top of the ball. Paddy Crerand pushed it around the wall to the side, I was in the penalty area by that time and I swivelled on my right foot and basically just hit it. It just flew into the top left-hand corner and it was ex-Rangers keeper George Niven who was in goal and that made it all the sweeter for me.
 
You were also pictured with other milestone scorers, Celtic legends Adam McLean (2,000th), Jimmy McGrory (3,000th) and Jimmy Delaney (4,000th). Mr McGrory was manager but how did you feel to be in such exalted company?
I was in their company for only 60 seconds really, but they were Celtic legends to me, especially McGrory. I mean, how do you score as many goals as he did? Jimmy Delaney was also a legend and he’s the only player to have won cup winner’s medals in Scotland, Ireland and England, so that speaks for itself. It wasn’t until later on that I realised what a great player Adam McLean was, but I found out he was a true legend.
 
How hard had it been to break into the side?
It’s always been heard to break into the first team of a huge club like Celtic and it will be the same just now for the young lads as was for myself and Wee Jinky, Bobby Lennox, Bobby Murdoch and so on. It was difficult and you had to improve and reach a certain standard very, very quickly. And even that, certainly in my case, wasn’t enough at times because, if your face didn’t fit then that was it, or at least that’s the way I see it.
 
Appearance-wise, season 1962/63 had been your most fruitful but by the following term, younger brother Jim was starting to pick up the odd first-team appearance. Was that a source of family pride?
It was, especially for my Mum and Dad. To have two boys playing for Celtic at the one time was a dream come true. I can’t remember my father ever missing a Celtic game that I played and that speaks for itself if you’re talking about family pride. It was the same with Jim as when I went down to Ipswich, my father came down for the odd game but I don’t think he missed very many games with Jim playing for Celtic.
 
After 17 goals in 48 games, you moved to Ipswich Town on June 11, 1964. How did that come about?
The reason I moved was basically over money as I wanted my wages to be made up to the average for the first team. Football contracts ran until June 30 and about 10 days before that I got a phone call from Jimmy McGrory to go up to Celtic Park. I thought to myself, ‘Great, they’re going to give me the money’. So up I went and the boss asked me if I was still of the same opinion and wouldn’t sign for the same terms as the previous year. I said no and that I wasn’t signing for anything less than what I asked for. He then told me that Ipswich Town manager Jackie Milburn was up, and Jackie was a legend with Newcastle so I said that I would speak to him, never believing for a second that I was going to go. Basically, I didn’t want to leave Celtic, all I wanted was four quid – taking me from £26-a-week to £30 which was the average wage in the first team at the time. I spoke to Jackie and apart from being an absolute legend in the game, he was such a nice man who inspired me with confidence as he really wanted to sign me. The money I was offered was three times what I was getting at Celtic Park – three times! But I still hadn’t made up my mind because I thought I could stay and fight to get my place back in the team. But I was adamant about the money, I wanted that £4 and I thought to myself that if they can’t give me £4 on trust for being in and around the first team then there wasn’t much hope for the rest of my career here. All these things were going around in my mind so I went into Glasgow to meet my father who was a florist at Agnes Brogan Florist’s in Castle Street. He spoke to Jackie and he got on as well with him as I did and Jackie said, ‘I can see you’re in a quandary. I know what it’s like to love a club, Newcastle United were my great love.’ So he asked me to come down just to see the place. My father arranged for me to get a flight down to Heathrow and from there I went over to Liverpool Street to get the train up to Ipswich.
 
What happened next?
Jackie was there waiting for me with a local reporter and photographer to take me to the stadium. It was a lovely stadium with an absolutely magnificent pitch. It was so wide, I thought to myself. ‘I’m going to run amok here – they’ll never get near me.’ It was a beautiful playing surface with it being in the farming country of Suffolk and it was well known in England that only Wembley had a better pitch and, of course, Wembley was only used for a handful of games a year. The Ipswich Town pitch was immaculate so I hummed and hawed and Jackie did his best. I met the chairman and I thought, ‘I’m going to go for it.’ I came back here once to collect my boots and old trainer Jimmy Gribben had them for me. He was sorry to see me go and I was sorry to leave him. It was the same with Sean Fallon who also said he was sorry to see me go and I told him I had my regrets as well but I had signed now and that was me – so off I disappeared into the sunset.
 
You then missed out on the Jock Stein years. Did you ever think ‘What if?’
I’ve asked myself that question so many times but I met my wife down there and I’ve got my two beautiful daughters and my five grandchildren which I wouldn’t have had if I hadn’t moved down there so it’s swings and roundabouts really. I had a great time at Ipswich with a good goal-scoring record. I was well thought of, I was well-respected and it was a nice quiet place to live so I can’t say I’ve any real regrets. On the football side of things, yes, but on the personal life side of things – no.
 
Did you watch Jim’s career from afar?
It was great to see Jim do so well as in a way it meant that I hadn’t really left as he was filling me in with what was happening when we talked on the phone. We did that about three or four times a week when I was telling him about Ipswich and he was telling about what was happening behind the scenes at Celtic Park.
 
Why did you decide to donate the ball back to Celtic?
I spoke to one of the guys from the higher echelons of the supporters’ clubs, Alan Horne from Grangemouth. I told him I would like to make a wee gesture to the club. I actually made up my mind the day that Celtic hammered Kilmarnock to lift the title and I thought to myself, ‘I’ve had this ball for 50 years so I’m going to give it back to the club.’ Well, not give it back, but give it to them because they never had it in the first place, it was Thistle’s ball as they were the home side. So I spoke to Alan and he fixed it up for me to come through and I was treated like absolute royalty. I couldn’t believe how well I was treated. I was with my grandsons and met Peter Lawwell who introduced me to the chairman, Ian Bankier, and the other directors. It was nice to see Big Billy in there and I met Bobby Lennox later on for a wee bit of patter. They asked me to make a speech at half-tine and I managed to get through that and then the chairman took me out on to the pitch for the presentation and I was really happy about the cheer from the crowd. It was a great day and it was the day after my 70th birthday and I was having my party on that Saturday night so, all in all, it turned out to be possibly the greatest weekend of my life
 
Next up is a former Celtic striker from the early 1990s - Andy Payton

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By: Newsroom Staff on 17 Jun, 2013 14:32

WOVEN into the very fabric of Celtic’s history is the club’s long and proud connection with Ireland.
 
From the founding fathers of the club to the many players who have pulled on the Hoops down through the years, Celtic has prospered thanks to a constant wave of support from the Emerald Isle.
 
As we count down to the new season, Celtic TV is looking back to an archive feature on the challenges faced by the Donegal CSC who travel to Paradise each weekend to cheer on the Bhoys.
 
Filmed during Gordon Strachan’s time as Celtic manager, the feature is now available to watch for all Celtic TV subscribers.
 
Log on HERE and relive some memories.

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By: Mark Henderson on 14 Jun, 2013 15:34

OVER the past 12 months, the Celtic View tracked down some of the club´s unsung heroes to look back on their career highlights and discover what happened to them after exiting Paradise.
 
So interesting were these stories that, during the summer, we will be reproducing these interviews on the official website. Next up is former Celtic midfielder, Tony Shepherd.
 
Tony Shepherd made a valuable contribution to the Celtic sides of the 1980s but now he´s part of more important team – a team that saves lives.
 
A product of the club´s youth system, the midfielder made the breakthrough into the top-team in 1985 following an impressive debut display against Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup.
 
Despite being highly regarded at Celtic Park, he never managed to hold down a regular spot in the side with talents such as Paul McStay, Murdo MacLeod and Tommy Burns ahead of him in the pecking order.
 
Eventually, after making 38 appearances, Shepherd decided to exit his beloved Hoops in 1989 in search of first-team football, and he went on to forge a career with a number of clubs in England, Scotland, Ireland and Cyrpus before hanging up his boots around 10 years later.
 
It was then that Shepherd undertook a complete career change, joining the Fire Service, where he continues to work at present as Watch Commander in Easterhouse.
 
He may not be playing football in front of thousands of supporters anymore but it´s a job which gives him enormous satisfaction, as he explained in an exclusive interview.
 
You broke into the first-team around the same time as several of your team-mates from the club´s youth set-up. How talented was that youth team?
Things are very different now, but the way the system worked back then was that basically you would be signed on a an S-form and the club were allowed to sign so many of them, and it was only in the last couple of seasons of your school you were invited in to play with the boys´ club. The side that I played in had the likes of Derek Whyte, Stevie Kean, Peter Grant, Owen Archdeacon and myself – a whole raft of guys that all got in about the first-team.
 
You made your debut in a 2-1 win over Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup, playing a part in both goals. Do you remember that game vividly?
I remember getting a phone call at the house on the Friday night from Davie Hay saying I was going to be playing. There were no mobile phones in those days! The strange thing about it is that we were losing 1-0 that day but I remember playing reasonably well and obviously helping make the two goals as we came back. But there were a few other things about that game. There was a guy called Mark Smith who played for Queen’s Park, and later on he signed for Celtic and we became best of mates. We are still best of mates to this day and we were best man at each other´s wedding.
 
Having broke into the full Celtic side, what did you feel was your most productive period at the club?
I broke in 1985 and in ´86 and ´87 I played quite regularly. I started about 15-odd games and also had the same number from the bench. But in terms of starting, I had that spell in ´86 and ´87 where I tried to make the position my own but there were some hard, hard guys to try and put out such as Paul McStay, who for me was one of the greatest players the club has ever had. I watched the team as a supporter, played for the club and then continued as a supporter afterwards, and I think Paul could have lived in any of those teams. It was just fantastic to have been part of that squad. That squad evolved over about six years and the nucleus of it had been there for the best part of that. There were only two subs at that time as well, so the competition at that time was even more fierce at that time in terms of getting a place in that 13. But I have nothing but good memories. Obviously being part of the double-winning side in 1988 was fantastic as well. You get immersed in things as a player as you are so focused on your own performance and that of the team, so sometimes don´t see things from the supporters´ angle and ´88 was very important because it was the club´s centenary year.
 
What was the highlight from your Celtic career? 
There were so many. Obviously there was my debut. I played in the Scottish Cup final and also played over in Russia in front of something like 112,000 people in the stadium which was fantastic. I also got to play against teams like Red Star Belgrade who had some great talents like Prosinecki and Stojkovic. It was a fantastic level of football to be associated with.
 
How much of a wrench was it to leave Celtic?
It was a hell of a wrench as it wasn’t as if I was forced out the door. I was offered a contract. I think Billy McNeill was frustrated as he had seen me before he had left and Davie Hay had came in and I recognised myself that I´d had a few injuries and, although they had cleared up, I wasn’t attaining the same performance levels as I would have liked. This was frustrating for me as much as Billy. But leaving was a wrench as it´s the club that you love. My daughter was recently over in Amsterdam to see the Ajax game and I have an association with quite lot of the supporters´ clubs in places like Wishaw.  I still take part in golf outings and things like that, so I am still hugely affiliated to the club as a supporter. When I left in 1989 I don’t think anyone could have foreseen the dark cloud that was coming in the ´90s so maybe in essence it was maybe not a bad thing to look on from afar as it would have probably been even more painful to have been on the playing staff and seeing the club´s demise. It was just lucky we had players like Paul McStay who managed to carry the club through that.
 
Where did you go after departing Paradise?
I went to Bristol City and then went to Carlisle and played two seasons there and made around 100 appearances. I came back up to Motherwell and played there for two seasons. They had just won the Scottish Cup and had a really good squad. The likes of Phil O´Donnell were there at the time. They were a really good team and competed well in the league, and I really enjoyed my time there. After that, I had spells in Ireland and Cyprus, before Murdo MacLeod signed me for Partick Thistle and then I was down at Ayr United with Simon Stainrod and Gordon Dalziel. It was disappointing to leave Celtic, your one and only love, but there comes a time where you want to be playing first-team football. Once you have had a taste of that, it´s the only place to be.
 
After you hung up your boots in the late 1990s, why did you decide to start a career with the fire service?
I always remember Alan Hansen saying that when you leave football, you never think the phone will stop ringing for all these things for you do. And I don´t think the phone rang once! You live such a privileged life and you suddenly think, ´My God, what am I going to do´. Doing something like a PE teacher or going into the Fire Service had always appealed to me because of the team aspect and I always fancied the humanitarian side of things as well, helping people and being involved in the community. So I applied and fortunately managed to get in. That´s 14 years from when I retired from the football. It´s been fantastic. At the moment, I am the Watch Commander in Easterhouse.
 
How much of a change was it going from being a footballer to working in the Fire Service?
Absolutely huge, but there are a lot of similarities in the team ethic thing.  Rather than going into a season you are going to an incident. In a club you are looking for a successful three points and we are looking to a successful end to an incident. People´s lives and properties are at stake and we are looking to save them. You don´t want these things to happen but when they do and you are able to help and make that interjection, it´s a great feeling. Although it´s different from football, it´s a similar sort of buzz.
 
How important is it for you have that feeling of doing something for the wider community?
It´s hard to describe. I think you would have to have done both. I know guys that have done both and you have similar feeling. When you go out on a football pitch, you are not only in it for yourselves but also for the team and supporters, and this time you are doing it for the community. It´s very satisfying when we are able to help save people´s lives and properties.
 
Do you still keep in touch with any of your former team-mates?
As I said, I´m still friendly with Mark Smith and I´m still taking money off him at the golf! I still see some guys from my Motherwell days.  From Celtic, I used to keep in contact with Anton Rogan for a while but time moves on. I played in a Legends’ game that Kenny´s wife, Marina, had organised a few years ago. Frank was there, along with guys like Derek Whyte and Joe Miller. So it was good to have a catch-up. But you really need some sort of celebration or something you were involved to come around but it´s always great to see everybody and catch-up.
 
You mentioned that you are involved in the events of the local Celtic Supporters´ Clubs – do you still manage to get along to any games?
I´m not a great exponent of watching. I was coaching for quite a number of years with the SFA, Gretna and at Motherwell, when Chris McCart, who is now head of Youth at Celtic, had the same role there. Shortly before I went to Easterhouse, I was working in fire safety which was quite trying in terms of your time commitments, so I let the coaching go. I struggle to go and watch football as deep down you still feel like you want to be involved in some capacity. To go as a supporter there is something missing for me. I don´t know why. But I still follow the club and attend a lot of functions, take part in golf days and take part in fundraising events for local associations in the Wishaw and Motherwell areas
 
Next time we speak to a Celtic wing-wizard of the early 1960s - Frank Brogan.

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By: Mark Henderson on 13 Jun, 2013 20:12

AMIDO Balde sat captivated in front of the TV as Celtic memorably beat Barcelona last year in the UEFA Champions League. He saw the joy of the players at the final whistle. He heard the incredible atmosphere in Paradise. One day, he wanted to experience that for himself.
 
And the Portuguese striker couldn’t disguise his delight now his dream had become reality after joining the Hoops on a four-year deal from Vitoria Guimaraes.
 
Balde was unveiled to media at Celtic Park tonight once the transfer was sealed and spoke of his excitement at joining one of the top European clubs.
 
“I have watched a lot of matches from Celtic and seen a lot of players. I want to feel the same way as my new team-mates felt against Barcelona. I want to experience that feeling playing in the Champions League for Celtic.
 
“I felt proud when watching that game. It was a fantastic feeling as Barcelona are a big team and that meant Celtic are a very good team and a very good club and that is why I am here. I saw the Celtic supporters and I loved it.
 
“I am very happy to sign for Celtic. I want to face this challenge and give my best day-by-day to achieve big things at the club.
 
“It´s easy to be motivated as Celtic are a very big club and some very good players have played here so because of this it´s fantastic for me to be here.
 
“They have won a lot of trophies, one of the best clubs in Europe and play in the Champions League – that is why I am here.”
 
Balde started his career at Sporting Lisbon and was loaned out to Santa Clara, Badajoz and Cercle Brugge for first-team experience.
 
He joined Vitoria Guimaraes on a permanent deal at the start of last season and soon established himself as a key player as the club achieved Portuguese Cup success.
 
Having worked so hard to earn a dream move to Glasgow, the 22-year-old is keen to grasp his opportunity and develop into a top player for Neil Lennon´s men.
 
“I am a fighter, a believer,” said the striker. “I believe in myself. I have worked hard to be in this position today of wearing a Celtic shirt. I have worked for it and deserve it.
 
“My style is quite similar to Emmanuel Adebayor,” he added. ”I like to set up goals as well but I am here to score goals.”

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By: Newsroom Staff on 13 Jun, 2013 09:47

LEE Hastings of Dumfries has been a Season Ticket holder at Celtic Park since the early ‘90s – as has his mother Carol – and although he confesses that era wasn’t a particularly fruitful time for the club in terms of silverware, he wouldn’t change his time following the club for anything.

In fact, Lee feels lucky that he has been able to witness the likes of Henrik Larsson and Lubo Moravcik gracing the Hoops at first hand, and has now decided to buy his young sons, Dylan and Cole, their first Season Tickets so they too can take their place at Celtic Park as Neil Lennon and the Bhoys chase down more trophies.

With the £100 reward on offer this season for all standard adult Season Ticket holders including those not previously season ticket holders, Lee decided now was the perfect time to sign Dylan and Cole up for a seat at Paradise.

He said: “The £100 reward has been great, it’s always nice to get something back, especially in these hard financial times, and so it was a no-brainer for me to get the boys their first Season Tickets

“The boys are both under-13, so at £50 each for the season we thought this was great value.”

Like so many of our supporters, a favourite Celtic memory for Lee was the run to the UEFA Cup final in Seville in 2003. In a leap of faith, two tickets (Click to find tickets) were purchased via UEFA ahead of the quarter-final clash with Liverpool, meaning Lee and wife Kirsty would be joining some 80,000 other Hoops fans on the pilgrimage to Spain – an experience which Lee described as “just unreal!”

We look forward to welcoming Lee and his family to Celtic Park next season. Join them today and take advantage of your opportunity to secure a £100 reduction to the price of a standard adult season ticket.

For more information on how you and your family can #BeCeltic, Belong at Celtic Park in Season 2013/2014 click HERE call 0871 226 1888* or visit the Ticket Office at Celtic Park.

*Calls cost up to 10p per minute, telecoms provider dependent. Mobile and other provider charges may vary.

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

By: Mark Henderson on 12 Jun, 2013 10:27

TOM Rogic played his part as Australia swept aside Jordan 4-0 in Melbourne to put them on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup in Brazil.
 
The talented Celtic midfielder entered the fray in the 79th minute and was soon making an impact in the final third which included one surging run through the visitors´ defence.
 
And he played a part in the Socceroos´ final goal, heading on a cross which was eventually converted by Lucas Neill, the defender´s first goal for his country in his 91st game.
 
The dominant hosts had already secured a vital three points following earlier strikes from Mark Bresciano, Tam Cahill and Robbie Kruse.
 
Now back in an automatic qualification spot, they only require a victory over Iraq in Sydney next week to seal their place in next summer´s finals.
 
Meanwhile, Mikael Lustig helped Sweden cruise to a 2-0 victory over the Faroe Islands last night to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
 
Talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored both goals for the hosts, with the Celtic full-back supplying his first with an inviting cross from the right. The win moves Erik Hamren´s side back up to third in the group alongside Ireland and Austria.

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By: Newsroom Staff on 11 Jun, 2013 17:02

CLARE Dawson, Celtic’s oldest supporter, has passed away at the age of 109. Clare grew up in the East End of Glasgow not far from Celtic Park and her father was a close friend of Willie Maley.
 
And even though in later years she wasn’t able to attend matches, she still cheered on the Bhoys as she watched the games on television. “Seeing Celtic is the highlight of my week,” she explained.
   
In May 2012, Clare was at Celtic Park as a special guest of the club on the day when Neil Lennon’s side lifted the SPL trophy, and Clare was presented with a special Hoops shirt from Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell.

Peter Lawwell said today: “On behalf of everyone at Celtic, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Clare’s family at this very difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are very much with them.   

“It was a privilege to meet Clare, someone who lived such a wonderful life. She was a tremendous woman with great humour and spirit and someone who I know dearly loved Celtic. She will be sadly missed by so many.”

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

By: Newsroom Staff on 10 Jun, 2013 15:21

SEASON 2012/13 has been one to remember for everyone connected with Celtic Football Club, and as of tomorrow, Tuesday, June 11 it can be yours to enjoy as the club release “125 Years in the Making” – the story of our Anniversary season on DVD.

It was a season in which the club celebrated on and off the pitch, as Neil Lennon and his young side chased down the SPL title, and an unprecedented 36th Scottish Cup success

There was also an unforgettable UEFA Champions League campaign, which saw the team scale new heights, and included a victory over one of club football’s greatest sides in the defeat of Barcelona which will live long in the memory.

It’s a story about a team that continues to win trophies, a story of an unbroken tradition dating back to 1887 and a story that’s been 125 years in the making.
“125 Years in the Making – The Story of Celtic FC’s Anniversary Season” is available from Tuesday, June 11 in all official club stores in Scotland (Thursday, June 13 in Belfast and Dublin), online at the Celtic Online Superstore, and in selected WH Smith outlets.

To order online, click HERE

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Clearance sale on Celtic merchandise.

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

By: Mark Henderson on 10 Jun, 2013 11:38

GEORGIOS Samaras´ dreams of starring in another World Cup finals remain alive after he helped Greece earn a vital 1-0 victory away to Lithuania on Friday night.
 
The Celtic striker played the full 90 minutes of the qualifier in Vilnius as Fernando Santos´ side strengthened their grip on second place in Group G thanks to Lazaros Christodoulopoulos´ first-half strike.
 
With six games played, they have opened up a four-point lead over third-placed Slovakia and remain hot on the heels of current pacesetters Bosnia.
 
There was contrasting fortune for his Celtic colleague, Mikael Lustig, as Sweden went down 2-1 in Austria to dent their hopes of reaching Brazil.
 
A penalty from Bayern Munich full-back David Alaba and a header from Marko Janko put the hosts in command at the break.
 
Although Johan Elmander reduced arrears with eight minutes to spare, the visitors couldn´t muster a late equaliser and now occupy fourth place in Group C. However, Erik Hamren´s team will have a swift chance to return to winning ways when they entertain the Faroe Islands on Tuesday evening.
 
Elsewhere, teenager Tony Watt wasn´t involved as a depleted Scotland side stunned Croatia in Zagreb to give Gordon Strachan his first victory in charge of the national team.
 
Robert Snodgrass´ first international goal in the 26th minute proved decisive as the Croats suffered only their second ever competitive home defeat.
 
Meanwhile, in the UEFA Under-21 European Championship, Thomas Rogne played from the start in Norway´s impressive 3-1 triumph over England on Saturday, a result that sent Stuart Pearce´s side crashing out of the competition.
 
By the time the Hoops defender was withdrawn from the action in the 83rd minute, the spoils had all but been secured through goals from Fredrik Semb Berge, Jo Inge Berget and Magnus Eikrem. 

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Clearance sale on Celtic DVDs and Blueray.

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