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Hail Hail History 🍀

@hailhailhistory.bsky.social

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Celtic history. FREE walking tours: https://celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com. Book: https://celticstarbooks.com/product/the-bould-bhoys-glory-to-their-name-by-matthew-marr/ ✍️: Celtic: Star, Blog, Underground, Wiki. The Shamrock

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · May 10

To read the full and comprehensive tale of Celtic's first league title, get my book:

The Bould Bhoys!
Glory to their name

It's available online from @celticstarmag.bsky.social:

celticstarbooks.com/product/the-...

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#Celtic #CelticFC

Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 17h

60 years ago this week, a Celtic legend - and dentist! - made his debut.

Jim Craig is best remembered as a Lisbon Lions but had many other experiences too.

My latest FREE @celticrumours.bsky.social podcast tells his story:

open.substack.com/pub/thecelti...

#Celtic #CelticFC

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Reposted by Hail Hail History 🍀

The Celtic Star @celticstarmag.bsky.social · 1d

Celebrating Jim Craig who made his Celtic debut 60 years ago today. Link in comments below...👇🍀 @joebloggscity.bsky.social @hailhailhistory.bsky.social #CelticFC

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 1d

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 1d

This week's #cartooncelts answer is Tony Watt.

Forward Watt played for Celtic from 2011 to 2014.

He scored on his debut but is best remembered for his winning goal versus Barcelona in 2012.

#Celtic #CelticFC

Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 1d

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 1d

The weekly quiz continues today.

#cartooncelts

Who is the Celt in this photo, that has been turned into a cartoon-style picture?

#Celtic #CelticFC

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 2d

Celtic Park has generally been a lucky venue for Scotland.

There's been 26 Scotland games in Glasgow's east end.

Scotland have won 18 of these, drawn 2 and lost 6.

They have scored 73 whilst conceding only 22.

#Celtic #CelticFC

Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 2d

The answer is that all these countries have played an international game at Celtic Park.

The first was Scotland v Ireland in March 1891 (2-1 to the Scots).

The most recent was a 3-1 win for England against Scotland in November 2014.

#Celtic #CelticFC

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 2d

#celtictriviamonday

In Celtic history, what connects these countries?

Austria
Czech Republic
England
Faroe Islands
Ireland
Latvia
Republic of Ireland
Scotland
Wales

#Celtic #CelticFC

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

Everyone involved with Celtic wants the Bhoys to win.

Other than that, there are numerous issues which caused fights between fans and club officials.

If there is a ‘Celtic family’, then like most ones, it’s not always a happy one!

22/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

And, of course, 2025 has witnessed a huge falling out between Celtic supporters and those in charge of the club.

Chants of ‘Sack the Board’ and other protests have created an atmosphere which is more akin to the early-1990s.

21/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

Something less serious but no less contentious is pyro at games (which is true at most clubs).

There have been fines and threats of other punishments for this, which has again led Celtic to criticise or warn supporters.

20/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

Other political disputes have also caused division.

Celtic fans have supported the people of Gaza and Palestine, including songs, banners and fundraising.

Celtic once said that “political messages and banners are not welcome at Celtic Park.”

19/22

#Celtic #CelticFC

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

The issue of the Poppy has also led to arguments between fans and the club.

When a Poppy was worn on the club’s shirt in 2010, a fan banner read: “No bloodstained Poppy on our Hoops.”

In turn Celtic officially apologised for the supporters’ actions.

18/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

In the 21st century, there have been many disputes between Celtic supporters and the Board.

In the main, this continues to be about the football team, with fans believing not enough is being spent on the team, and complaints about ticket prices.

17/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

Tommy Burns was a good example of different views on ‘Bhoys against bigotry’.

He was part of the campaign and once said he had “noticed a huge reduction in sectarian singing at Parkhead.”

But in later years said he was not comfortable with the scheme.

16/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

One of McCann’s most controversial actions was ‘Bhoys against bigotry’, which started in 1996.

These efforts tried to shift Celtic away from association with nationalist Irish politics and certain songs.

Some fans backed this but others were outraged.

15/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

Fergus McCann eventually removed the old Board from power. His story is a combination of different supporters’ views.

Popular at first, he became hated by many fans, even being booed when unfurling the 1998 league flag.

And now he is revered by fans!

14/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

And sometimes Celtic’s old Board also criticised the supporters due to these protests.

One senior Board member famously described people opposed to the current regime as being “Malcontents.”

13/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

Sometimes it is the fans that have attacked the Celtic Board.

In the early-1990s, there were different campaigns to remove the old Board from power.

‘Save our Celts’ were the first group, followed by the better known ‘Celts for Change’.

12/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

In the 1960s/70s, the issue of alcohol saw different football fans face criticism.

Newspaper editorials complained and politicians threatened action.

Famously, a riot after the 1980 Scottish Cup Final saw alcohol (mainly) banned in Scottish grounds.

11/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

Warnings were often issued to Celtic fans by the Board, based on chants and other issues.

In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, the matchday programme was used for this.

One comment threatened to “weed out the persistent culprits with the help of the police.”

10/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

Sometimes, fan chants have led to criticism. After the Ibrox Disaster, Jock Stein said:

“This terrible tragedy must help to curb the bigotry and bitterness of Old Firm matches. When human life is at stake this kind of hatred seems sordid and little.”

9/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

In terms of Celtic officials, it is not just Willie Maley that has criticised fans.

After World War Two, supporters were attacked for violence and drunkenness.

Contemporary newspapers provide numerous examples of fan arrests for such actions.

8/22

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Hail Hail History 🍀 @hailhailhistory.bsky.social · 4d

Maley was an imposing figure, and this was shown in how he dealt with fan abuse.

On one occasion, a Celtic fan screamed threats at a referee.

So the Celtic manager challenged the supporter to a fight, which thankfully did not actually happen!

7/22

#Celtic #CelticFC