Celticunderground:the Celtic Football Fan Podcast

This podcast is recorded within hours of the excellent away result in France where Celtic were unlucky not to end up deserved winners but instead took a very creditable 1-1 away result against Rennes.   Games at the elite level are won and lost on fine margins and when they got their penalty not log after we’d nearly taken the lead, whilst I was concerned that we’d gone behind I was hopeful that we would get, and convert, at least one more chance.  We should have had a penalty for a foul on Christie but instead got it for a foul on Forrest, a penalty Christie took well.   Following this scoring draw I thought we should have a quick podcast recording so I dialled up Antony Murray and Sean Huddleston to get their take on the game.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

On the first Sunday in September Celtic once again visited Ibrox and as per the bulk of the last few years since the new club arrived in the league, we won.   There had been quite a bit of hype around this game with Rangers having won the pre-season cup of hype and many in the media and among their fans were confidently saying (the same thing as the last 3 years) that this time they really were back and 55 is coming blah blah blah.  Celtic did their talking on the pitch and blew away the hype with a comfortable 2-0 win.   With the need for a podcast I dusted down the mic that hadn’t been used since at least Saturday and got two regulars on - @Hullbhoy and @Antonymurray25 to review the game.   In addition to the game we also discuss whether the summer window was good, bad or middling and we have a brief review of the Europa League Group.     Enjoy…. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Friday evening (30th Aug) Celtic confirmed the signing of Mohamed Elyounoussi on a 1 year loan from Southampton.  Signed in June 2018 by Southampton for £16m from Basel, he plays mainly as a winger or number 10.   He has 22 caps for Norway and has played 216 games as a professional scoring 67 goals (2 against Celtic!).    Whether he features in the Glasgow Derby we shall see however my guess is that he’ll make the bench.   Anyway, here’s another articulate foreign player joining the hoops - here’s hoping he’s part of the famous names who took us to 9, 10 and beyond.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Celtic wiped away the tears of disappointment from Cluj by crushing Swedish champions AIK 4-1 in their own backyard therefore ensuring progression to the group stages of the Europa League. The hoops progressed 6-1 on aggregate and have now scored 22 goals in European football this season and 48 goals in all competitions so far this season.  Whilst the Europa League isn't UCL, there are still some challenging potential sides with the Europa League Group stages looking like the UCL from 20 years ago both in terms of teams and in terms of the possibility of getting a group we could conceivably win or a group where 3rd or 4th looks possible. With all this European chat we decided to get in a man well versed in Europe chat - Editor of Politics Home, Mr Kevin Schofield.  In that chat we review the AIK game and preview the Glasgow Derby. Enjoy... Update Description     This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.s

The last podcast was recorded two domestic league games ago.  Since then we have;   SOLD KT Scored 12 league goals got knocked out of UCL Required extra time to get past Dunfermline   It’s been quite a couple of weeks so we get Antony Murray onto the podcast to review these events and preview AIK Stockholm     Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Yo ho ho it’s magic you know, it’s gonna be 9 in a row…   1 game down, 37 to go on our way to securing the record equalling 9 in a row and what a way to start.  Direct, free flowing attacking football.  Midfielders given instruction to shoot on site, forwards with dancing feet and an opposition who were woeful.  This on a day when cloudy Glasgow was hot and humid as America’s deep south and you had the perfect afternoon of football.   Thunder and lightning rages all around as I pull this post game podcast together and the whole of Scottish football trembles at the sound of Celtic Park and the thunderous raptures of the gathered faithful as the 8th title flag in a row is unfurled and the players put in a first class display of attacking football.   Season 2019/20 couldn’t have got off to a better start and we hear from Ryan Christie and Neil Lennon as they reflect on a perfect afternoon’s work.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episod

Whilst the international campaign commenced the domestic season commences this weekend against St Johnstone and so it’s time for the Celtic Underground 2019/20 season.   This is our 14th season podcasting to the Celtic faithful and thanks to everyone who listens to and downloads our drivel, whether you’ve been doing it for 14 years (heaven help you) or a new listener.   This week’s podcast features @Harrybradycu @lachiemor1 and @S_J_H1978 as they discuss the successful European campaign to date, the current state of the squad and the chances of attaining a quadruple treble.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

This week the 219/2020 season officially commenced with our first competitive game. As usual it was a UCL qualifier against a team we should, and did, beat comfortably.  It’s frustrating that we need to return to competitive action so quickly however this is principally down to the abysmal performances of the other Scottish teams in Europe over the last 25 years or so.   Anyway, with the 14th season of the CU podcast now officially underway, I dialled up a man who has attended some of the pre-season games to get his impression of the teams start to the season where we hope to equal the 9 - Mr Antony Murray.   Not only can you listen to his views on the podcast, you can tweet him to tell him how much you agree/disagree with his chat @antonymurray25     Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

That was the season that was and what a season, European football past Christmas, a manager going from hero to zero and a unique treble treble and off the park we saw the passing of two legends of European Football.   With such a momentous season we had to have a multi-guest podcast and Harry was joined by Stephen Wray, Sean Huddleston and Duncan Smillie with apologies from Lawrence Donegan, Kevin Schoefield, St Anthony and Lachie Mor.   On the podcast the bhoys discuss all the key footballing events of the history making season from the end of the previous season’s open top bus tour all the way through to the start of the most recent one.  The transfer windows, the briefings against the board, the briefings against the manager, the players in, the players out, the dropped points and the trophies won…and of course the end of the Brendan Era and the start of the Lenny II era.   It’s two hours of Celtic chat, and it could have been more!   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with othe

Excellent podcast guest this week in @PolhomeEditor  Kevin Schofield   The season has ended and the dust has settled from the appointment of Neil Lennon.  During the 10 days since the completion of the treble treble we have had the Ticileaks scandal and so who better to talk about leaks, how they happen and the motivation behind them than a hardened political hack like Kevin.   After our discussions on the Ticileaks we review the appointment of Lennon and the club’s media management of it.  We also review Lennon as a manager before moving on to politics and the burning question - are there many Tims at Westminster?   Enjoy…. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

  This week saw Celtic deliver one the most remarkable achievements in our history and certainly perhaps the most amazing domestic achievement of our modern history in attaining a holy trinity of trebles and this was immediately followed by the appointment of Neil Lennon as the new permanent manager at our great club, following on from Brendan Rodgers and returning to the club 5 years after he and the hierarchy parted ways, mutually deciding that enough was enough.   The Trinity of trebles is an amazing feet but the final itself could have been better.  The appointment of Lenny as manager was also not met with much enthusiasm by large sections of the support and that therefore made recording this podcast a challenge.   The podcast commenced with an idea that some like minded Celtic fans would record the type of chat we were having socially, like it and listen.  Don’t like it?  Switch off.  It was never designed to be a formal media although as modern technology has changed so has some people’s attitude to pod

Hail Hail The Celts are here! This is a football fans podcast of the 8, yes EIGHT in a row Scottish champions who are now just 90 minutes from a treble. Yes we’re on our way to Gr8ness and one win away from a Holy Trinity of domestic dominance. Before we get there we need to do some podcasts so I am joined this week by a man who recalls the last 8 in a row slightly better than me, young St Anthony. We discuss the Aberdeen game and how after the first goal we knew the title was ours before moving on to team selection for Saturday, managerial chat and a review of the concept of Colts/B Teams being admitted to the lower leagues. Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

This week was an emotional one at Celtic Park with the passing of Big Billy and today’s game was never going to be easy.  We also have a team who have been playing since July and a new temporary manager who doesn’t know whether he’ll be in post next season.   Despite the managerial changes amazingly we started today with 6 players who were at the club when Lennon was last here.  A point which perhps highlights the one failing of Brendan - his signing policies.   Anyway we eventually won and it was amazing that the winning goal was scored by our Number 5 when the clock was showing 67 minutes - As someone once said “There’s a fairy tale about this club”   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Today saw the passing of Celtic’s greatest ever Captain, Billy McNeill.  The grandchild of Irish and Lithuanian immigrants Billy forged a unique career and a unique position in the folklore of Celtic and world football.   A one man club as a player from 1957 - 1975 he captained the club in each and every one of the 9 in a row seasons.  He captained Celtic in 2 European Cup finals and in two semi finals.  He managed the team to a European Cup quarter final and to an incredible double in the Centenary Season.  In 132 seasons, the club have one 106 trophies.  Billy McNeil has picked up 31 of them.   In world sport, few athletes are part of iconic moments with fewer still fortunate enough to have one simple image that encapsulates all that they have achieved.   In the moment when Big Billy lifted that trophy; the first Scot, the first Briton representing the first non-Latin side to achieve that accolade a moment was captured that will live with us forever.   Billy McNeill - Goodnight and God Bless This is a publi

This week saw Celtic snatch victory from the jaws of a bore draw with the late late  LATE show at Dens Park as Edouard scored in the 96th minute to stretch our lead at the top to 10 points and edge us closer still to Gr8ness.   With the title all but in the bag we decided to get Stephen Wray back on the podcast to discuss that Dens victory and then have a review of whether we think Lennon will be the man next season.  In short, mibees aye, mibees naw.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

“Once you’ve played for the Celtic, you’ll always be Celtic.”   This week we move away from the Brendan gossip and back to the usual business.  The team is marching towards Gr8ness with Lennon in charge and we have a podcast featuring 2 Celtic legends - Neil Lennon (with his pre-Dons game press conference) and John ‘Yogi’ Hughes.   Yogi was at Celtic from 1959 to 1971 before moving on to Crystal Palace and the Sunderland.  He was at the club to experience the transformation that took place under Jock Stein and Sean Fallon and his comments on these two are very interesting… not to be missed!   In the last week we’ve had the podcast with ALL the Brendan gossip we first told you about back in August (but few wanted to believe) and then we re-tweeted the links to the 20th Anniversary Fergus podcast (because 4th March this week was the 25th anniversary of Fergus and co sweeping way the old board and commencing the building works for this period or unequalled dominance of the domestic game.   We hope you enjoy our

What a week!   The last podcast was recorded on Monday night as the Brendan rumours were starting the surface and came out when he’d gone.  During that recording I decided to chat with Lachie about the possibility of Brdoge leaving and was concerned that I sounded too negative…in hindsight I was too positive!   He’s gone and his timing is awful however I seem to be not quite as angry as many fellow Tims.  I think this is down to my resignation last August that he would not be here next season and the expectation that he may not even see out the season (although once he was here past Christmas that fear had evaporated…what do I know?)   Anyway, on the “what do I know” theme I decided to take the audio of Lenny yesterday and then have a wee monologue about what I did know (or at least what I was told by people that I have every faith know), the stuff I discussed on a rival podcast!   I hope it’s not noo boring and that we can start putting this anger to bed.  He may have left like a self centred arsehole but he

This podcast was recorded the night before the day of departure, so we discuss the Motherwell game, preview the Hearts game and in the middle discuss the increasing rumours coming through by text, DM and Whatsapp that something was afoot.  Despite getting the rumours we still couldn’t believe he’d actually go.   We knew he would be leaving in the summer, but couldn’t believe he would leave this close to the end of the season but unfortunately the only thing that matters to Brendan Rodgers is Brendan Rodgers.   No point wasting energy over him, he’s gone.   Here’s to the title and here’s to the treble   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast is back following a momentous week of statements and games.  We’ve had the last-minute Kilmarnock victory which led to the Ayrshire club’s statement on Boyd and seats.  When then had the return tie with the black bat of Valencia and we have the upcoming Sunday fixture against Motherwell.   Interspersed into all of the Celtic stuff, we’ve had the Rangers Killie game where, once again, one club got fortunate decisions which were subsequently overturned once the game was completed and that club had won.  Hmmmm.   Following the Kilmarnock cup replay at Ibrox, Steve Clarke had an “astonishing” rant where he stated the obvious - people who obsess with religious related abuse at football are Neanderthals and Scotland still has a major problem… “astonishing!”  This was then followed up an interview with Barry Ferguson about the questions his kids asked when he was verbally abused.  This was accompanied with a tear jerking picture of his poor kids wearing scarves with anti-Catholic and Ulster Terrorist slo

The podcast is back with Hull’s proudest proponent, Hullbhoy himself.  On this week’s podcast we review the Valencia game and preview the Kilmarnock league match.  We discuss how much human error impacted on the Celtic and Valencia performances - that basically Celtic played well for 20 mins and then a series of human errors seemed to spread fear and trepidation through the Celtic ranks.  That when the Valencia goal hit the back of the net, you got the impression the ref could have blow the final whistle there and then and both sets of players would have been quite happy.   The bhoys then move on to the Killie game and the impact of a plastic pitch and a Kilmarnock Cup replay may have on the attitudes of both sets of players.  Consequently both bhoys go for a 2-0 victory to the hoops.  Here’s hoping.     Enjoy This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe