Celticunderground:the Celtic Football Fan Podcast

This week Saint Anthony is joined by a very special guest - Rosemary Burns.  Rosemary discusses her work with the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust and of course life and football with Tommy.  The Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust was founded in 2009 by the Burns family after the Celtic legend lost his battle with skin cancer on 15th May 2008.   This year will be the 10th anniversary of Tommy’s passing and the Celtic Graves Society will also be marking his passing with a ceremony to celebrate his life and all supporters are invited along to Linn Cemetery on Saturday 12th May.  That will be trophy weekend so the details will be released in due course.   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 I am joined by two of the best football coaches working in Scottish football today - Mr Stevie Woods and Mr John Kennedy.   The two gents were generous enough to set aside an hour of their time at Lennoxtown to discuss all things football.  They start with a review of their careers, their earliest memories of Celtic and what it felt like to make their pro debuts.  We then move on to their current roles as coaches.  John dispells the myth that he is just a defensive coach (the team defends and attacks as one unit so apparently there’s no such thing) and Stevie provides an insight into what value a goalkeeping coach adds.   The podcast could have lasted another hour so if I didn’t ask your burning question apologies but time ran out.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, so did they and i hope you will too.   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

Sunday sees another Glasgow Derby game and this one is againts the newets Glasgow team in top flight football, the one who have never beaten us over 90 minutes.   Their recent status might explain why, despite having a large support, they cheer getting the cup draw against the giants of Scottish football.   Brendan also has quite a good record against this team with 8 games played, 6 victories and two draws.  I ronically the two draws have come at home however he was twice managed to have a team score 5 goals in a game aganist Them.   We were hoping for a longer podcast this week however work, life and cancellations curtailed the planned podcast.  That was followed by the hope of a 20 minute chat with St Anthony but as you will hear, we were at the Glasgow Harp 30th Anniversary dinner and stepped outside for a chat, then two drunk people decided to stand 10 feet apart and have a shouted coversation.  Then we went outside and it was f’n freezing.  It basically turned into - what would you’re team be and what w

Celtic defeated Morton 3-0 on Saturday to progress to the Semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.  Apart from a sprightly first 15 minutes the game was all Celtic however the first half may have had dominance, but it was pretty dull and passive football.  I’m not sure it comes across in the audio but it was clear in the press conference that Brendan was very unhappy with the first half performance and I understand he made that pretty clear in the dressing room at half-time.   He made changes to the side and once again, with Edouard playing just off Dembele, the team suddenly looked a lot more threatening.    Following the tie Compper, Brendan and Jim Duffy were the people at the post game press conference (Marvin being honest enough to admit he was rusty for the first part of the game).  As this is uploaded we know that we will once again take on Scottish football’s newest top flight club.  Hopefully Brendan will continue his semi-final record against that club.     Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to

Following the postponement of the Dundee game midweek and the freezing temperatures across the central belt, there had been an expectation among many that the Morton cup game this Saturday would be off.  But it isn’t so we needed a podcast.   There has been quite a bit of debate online about whether the game should proceed and I was in that camp however the roads and pavements around Celtic Park have been much worse this season for other games and the police, SFA and Celtic have agreed the game should be played so here we are.  We have my wee ramble followed by chat from Brendan and Kristopher Ajer       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 we have another Podcast Xtra with the thoughts of Brendan and the St Johnstone guys following the borefest at Celtic Park this Sunday.   We have the Brendan post match thoughts along with the comments of the St Johnstone manager and a player who I’ve no Idea who he is.  The fact that ST Johnstone have players and I don’t know who they are, that not one of them would get a starting game for us and that every player in our team would start for them says A LOT more about pur performance that anything I could say on this podcast.   What I do do on the pod is have a little rant about sympathy reffing of wee teams in Scotland.  We were crap today and the ref was not the reason however I am getting fed up with fouls being given but cards not and the consequences of this bad refereeing habit.   Anyway, here’s hoping Thursday night makes today’s bore worthwhile.       Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticundergro

This past Tuesday saw one of the most sparkling performances of the team over the past few months.  A young team with 5 Brendan signings starting and 7 Brendan signings playing at some point, we had a host of players 23 and under and I’m sure at one point the most spoken language on the park was French!  Having won the game by half-time the second half wasn’t quite  as exciting but if it was a foretaste of the remainder of the campaign…bring it on.   Following that Hearts game, the following night was the end of the January window and for a change we were involved right up until the final moments with the completion of the Hendry move and the Bain 6 month loan for goalkeeping cover.  With all that exciteent we just had to produce a podcast and of course it had to be with our go-to guy in South America Mark Cooper.   Mark Cooper and I discuss the weather in South America, the performance against Hearts, the January window and just where in the world we could shop to obtain best value.   Enjoy… This is a public

Regular followers of me on social media will know that I have been trying to get a memebr of the SNP to come on the podcast to provide a counter position on the OBFA.  We have had James Kelly MSP who is proposing the repeal of the Act and we’ve had people from FAC on a couple of times but depsite a couple of fallen through promises no-one from the SNP…until now.   Anyone with a passing interest in the legislation and online will be aware of John.  He’s an abrassive character online but was not at all like that when I met with him.    As you will hear on the podcast I decided to keep with my regular conversational style on the pod to get to the motivation behind the act and I found John far more conciliatory in accepting the faults than expected.  Indeed I was never going to have a chat where he would have a St Paul moment and suddenly see that those against the act have been right all along but his acceptance that the Act was rushed, is ambiguous, has may faults and doesn’t embrace all aspects of prejudice in

The Offensive Behaviour At Football act - a more useless piece of legislation I’ve yet to come across, but that’s not my opinion, that’s the view of lawyers, judges, civil liberty campaigners, minority rights groups and of course the evidence of our own eyes and ears and the evidence of government statistics.  If it was meant to stop a problem it has completely failed.    Regular listeners will know my issues with OBFA - one is that the legislation was not needed - we had laws for dealing with racism and sectarianism and behaviour likely to cause trouble. It’s not very good - we’ve had to train the police what is and isn’t offensive so that they can arrest people and they are the only people being offended. It tries to wrap up societies ills - if we have offensive behaviour at football it will exist in society as a whole so why try to wrap it up in a nice bundle and say the issues are all a football one.   I could go on but surely better to have someone at the heart of matters discuss so we have Paul Quigley

It’s January and the winter break so sureley we’ve got nothing to talk about….DON’T YOU BELEIVE IT!  We’ve got loads and loads so who better to get on than the man who could start a fight in a telephone box Mr Lawrence Donegan.    Lawrence is a man of many talents  and many of you will know him from his role as the argumentative host of the ByTheMinCeltic podcast whilst others will know him simply as the guru of the ByTheMin empire.  For some he’s a great golfing journalist and for others he’s the basist who made Lloyd Cole and the Commotions and the Bluebells were never the same after he left.  For others he’s just that Celtic guy on twitter.   Whatever you know him as, I know him as a guy passionate about the hoops and so I thought it was about time he came back on the podcast for a state of the nation discussion so between us we take 90 minutes to discuss the Rangers game, the season so far, the transfer rumours we’ve heard (which are mainly about sales) and then our expectations for the rest of the campai

Today, Friday 5th January, Celtic completed their second signing of the January transfer window with the capture of Lewis Morgan.  The 21 year old former Rangers youth player has signed on a 4.5 year contract and will stay at St Mirren for the remainder of this season under the guidance of Jack Ross.   A two footed winger, Celtic have high hopes for the youngster who becomes the first Scottish player to sign for Brendan Rodgers.   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 Saturday 23rd December Celtic defeated the second best team in Scotland 3-0.  The first half was tight but once Celtic scored there was only ever going to be one winner.   After the game Kristopher Ajer, Brendan Rodgers, Mark Reynolds and Derek McInnes spoke to the press.   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

Following the 2 goal victory over Partick Thistle the Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers spoke with the press.  He gave his opinion on the game, the way the players improved through the match and also gave some post match comments about the Thistle player who thumped the ball into the crowd.     Following Brendan Alan Archibald gave his post game thoughts and then finally there was the well groomed and lovely haired Stuart Armstrong.   That will be our final podcast out before Christmas so may all of us at Celtic Underground wish you and your loved ones a very merry Christmas.   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

It happened!  We lost!  3 Players slipped on their arse, the goal keeper had a headrush and pulled down a Hearts player and we thumped it long all second half.  Apart from that we also played poorly…! Yet despite ALL of this we remain top of the league and remain on course for another title and part of the way there to a remarkable back to back treble.  We broke a 100 year record and went 69 games unbeaten.  And of this has happened when you and I are alive.  You’ll tell your grandkids about these days!  Anyway, enough of the rambling…   After the game against Hearts and the end of the record breaking run I thought I should quickly pull together a podcast and discuss the game, the fall-out, the magnificant run and our hopes for the furture.  It’s all here along with the music.   We have Adam Glen with his debut single These Towns and Elvis with Martina McBride singing Blue Christmas from the ‘68comeback concert.   Enjoy…. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get

The past week has seen Celtic lose a two goal defecit to Hibs (a game we should have won by 5 or 6) followed by the Europa League Draw, followed by a FREEZING victory over Hamilton and then all rounded off with a lovely Christmas letter to all season book holders from the club.   With such an action packed week we’ve already squeezed a podcast extra in but have also decided to get @LachieMor1 back on to review the week.   Just before uploading the podcast I asked for cover versions or great intro’s on Twitter and was bombarded.  I have noted all and will get to them all.  Meantime I picked the request from @Hullbhoy for a Sinead O’Connor song and went for her cover of Don’t Cry For Me Argentina (should have saved for @markocooper) and Los Colorados cover of Katie Perry.  It’s quite unique!   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 slump continues as Celtic reach 69 games unbeaten in domestic football.  At this rate we’ll be slumping ourselves to back to back trebles!  Following on from completely dominating the game against Hibs but losinga  2 goal lead we had the visit of Hamilton.  An excellent strike and a Jozo gift almost lead to Hamilton getting two goals in this game too but in truth this was a game that would only ever have one winner.  Ntcham was excellent again and Edouard had some good chances that he just couldn’t quite convert.   After the game we had Brendan Rodgers, James Forrest and Martin Canning chat in the media conference.   For music we have Morcombe and Wise and a cover of Kings of Leon.   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

Tuesday night was a pivotal game in our season.  Provided we didn’t lose by 3 or more goals we could enjoy European football after Christmas and this was achieved but perhaps not in the way we would have liked…but we’re there.   Following the complaint by Mark Cooper that he always gets the graveyard shift of a post Euro defeat I decided to get another guest on this weeks podcast and so we have Lachie Mor.  As the podcast was recorded we received breaking news about the basket case of another Glasgow Club and so we have a wee laugh for a minute or two at that too!   Music this week is from The Life of Brian and Madness.   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

Well that was the PSG double header then…12-1. We all knew we would get beaten by the most expensive team ever and whilst none of us like heavy defeats, to channel my inner half glass full guy, there were some positives to take from that game…not many, but more than the home leg.   Immediately following the game i decided to ring up my pal Mark in Argentina in an attempt to pick the bones out of the performance.  We both decided that there was no point in analysing the game on a goal by goal basis and trying to pick out who was at fault.  we lost, let’s move on, learn what lessons we can and win on Sunday.   The music this week in, at the front end, expected - it’s Atmic Kitten with their cover of the Lustig song.  At the end of the podcast it’s the Nirvana cover of the Bowie classic The Man Who Sold The World.   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 I am joined by St Anthony in a chat that was supposed to be about our marvellous 100 yr record breaking achievement but in typical Celtic Underground Podcast fashion it went on a meander.   We started with the Anfield Wrap (neither of us could remember the name) briefly touched on the winning run and then got onto the meat and bones of the team and the challenges of team building.  It finished with Saints Ross County preview and has a few mentions of Lawrence Donegan in between.   In recognition of this weeks Country Music Awards the covers have a country fell and also are two generations  apart.  We have Harry Styles covering Girl Crush and Ray Stevens from 1975 covering Misty in a Country Music style.     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 Harry is joined by Guardian Football and Golf correspondent Ewan Murray.  If you pick up your copy of the Guardian at the local paper you will be aware of Ewan for his coverage of the major games in Scottish football and perhaps have worked out that he is a Jambo.  If you’re aware of Ewan from his online presence you will either like him or loathe him or see him simply as a “hurting Hun”.   I normally can’t be bothered with people who occassionally take to trolling on twitter but in Ewan’s case I make an exception and must admit I find his interaction with many quite amusing.  Ewan and I have a very long ramble through his career and then onto Scottish football.  We recorded this just after the loss at home to Bayern so that performance is covered as is Hearts, their new stadium, Pedro, SEVCO coverage and…Airdrie.  It’s all explained when you listen.   The music this week is cover versions of a Bee Gees 1971 song and a Stevie Wonder classic.  We have the Rev Al Green version of How Can You Mend A Br