Celticunderground:the Celtic Football Fan Podcast

When we started this podcast (did I mention it’s the world’s longest running football fans podcast) we never thought it would last 17 seasons.  It’s ebbed and flowed and the young kids have arrived with their xg, xa, xt, abc, easy as 1,2,3 but we’ll always be here - the middle aged podcast for the middle aged fan who loves the hoops and gets mildly irritated.   And so we are back for that record breaking 17th season (every season is record breaking because I’m not sure I’ve mentioned it but we’re the world’s longest running football fans podcast).  This week I am joined by Duncan, St Anthony and Lachie Mor to preview the season, discuss the Aberdeen game and even get around to questioning if Queens Park can become Glasgow’s second team.   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 today secured a draw against Rangers to put us just one win from the title.  It's the 4th time in a row we have secured either a draw or win against the team from the South Side of the city. It's a game that Celtic had the chances to put to bed before the Rangers equaliser.  We didn't and a few players looked exhausted towards the end but we held on, secured the draw and now only a dire change of form will prevent Ange picking up another trophy and his first Scottish title at the first time of asking. This week I am joined by Eddie Pearson and Lawrence Donegan to discuss their favourite podcasts, whether Zebedee is an outdated cultural reference and the meaning of various police hat colours. 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 (again) after a midseason break Now where were we....ah that's right, we're on track for a treble! Sorry it's been so long but you know how it is, life, work, IT issues - they all get in the way of creating the latest episode of the world's longest running football fans podcast.  Anyway, the IT issues have been resolved (like most I'm not sure about volume of hours in work) but we're ready to go. This should have been out a week earlier but the aforementioned IT issues prevented.  Anyway - it's Saint & me discussing the recent victory at Ibrox, just prior to the 7 goal victory over St Johnstone. 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.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome Home   The podcast is back for another episode and we have some old and older voices for you in the names of Lawrence and Eddie.  Yes, Lawrence is on and fresh from his recently return on a Sunday night on Twitter Spaces, we are joined by Eddie Pearson.   The boys go on to discuss Ange-ball, whether the board should get praise or not for the transfer window.  Also following the departure of French Eddie we discuss the top 3 post Larsson strikers.  We also take 5 mins to discuss the weird and wonderful world of “fan media”.   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

Ange-ball Rolls On   Celtic have tonight come through what was at times a very nervy evening (a very self-inflicted one) to progress to the group stages of the Europa League and they can now prepare for Sunday.   I was unsure about organising a post game podcast.  I always recall Mark Cooper bemoaning that everytime I organised one with hime we lost.  But I am not a believer in “what’s for you won’t go past you” or the concept of “tempting fate” so I organised one.  We lost but we’re through and that’s all that matters.   I am joined this evening by Anthony and Season to review the game, discuss our stresses and celebrate the overall result.  We also breifly touch on how crap the other clubs are to not achieve the Conference League and have a brief review of Sunday.   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 Game Episode 7 - Barca 125   November 7th 2012.  The night before a Mass was held in St Mary’s to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the forming of Celtic Football Club and that week illustrated that Big Billy’s words about there being a fairytale about this club were never more true.   We has invited the board of Barca to share in our commemoration mass and the following night they visited the Cathedral of noise that was Celtic Park as 60,000 fans and 13 players put on a show that had the whole world talking.   On this weeks podcast Antony Murray and I discuss The Game with Ewan McLean (@_ewanmclean).  We talk about what he was doing at the time and the marvel of that evening.  Paul Hayward of The Telegraph wrote “ Somehwere between madness and love, this fanaticism did for Barcelona on a night when the Celtic team and their disciples were indivisible.  Money can’t buy you that”   What a night! The world's greatest team beaten by the world's greatest club…. This is a public episode. If you’d like to disc

Celtic and our Irish heritage   This week St Anthony takes control of the podcast to discuss Celtic and it’s Irish heritage.  Saint is joined by Sean McDonagh who lecture politics and Scots/Irish history at OU.    There cannot be a Celtic fan out there who does not know some basics of the coubs formation and heritage however it is always good to get  the details from an expert in the field and Sean provides that in spades here.   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 Game Episode 6 - Udinese draw and F’ UEFA   The current situation at Celtic could be better and so our guest wanted to pick a game from happier times.  It’s the winter of 2011 and the team has had a dramatic turnaround since being 3 nil down at Rugby Park and Neil Lennon looked like being on the way out.  They pulled things back in the 2nd half of that game and started to really motor.  At the same time RFC where spiralling to their death and we were all having a right laugh on this podcast.   Our guest, Matthew Mochan was listening in and enjoying every moment and he wanted to recall a game that took him back to those fun times.   Celtic went into this game still with a chance of qualifying past the Europa League Group stages.   It wasn’t to be but we did have a very good performance in this 1-1 draw and we also had a UEFA fine because some fans unveiled a banner that said “F**k UEFA”.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,

Podcast Xtra   Ange & the starman   On Saturday31st July Celtic commence the new league season away at Tynecastle.  The current state of the first team squad has some fans concerned but we have the new Swede and an update on the new Japanese striker in these pre-game interviews from Ange Postecoglou and Carl Starfelt.   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

Season 16 - Let’s go round again   Baby we’re back!  Welcome to the 16th season of the world’s longets running football fans podcast.  To celebrate our new season we will have   NO new features NO new graphics NO new music NO new opinions   The podcast will be just as you like - same old usual rubbish but it’s this consistency that has kept our listener numbers the same all these years.   We really appreciate everyone who takes the time to listen or rate us on iTunes.  We don’t have any awards but then, you have to self nominate so where’s the fun in that?   CU - The podcast for the generally optimistic but occasionally midly irritated middle aged Celtic fan.   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

Welcome Ange & Dom   Today was the official unveiling of Ange Postecoglou as Celtic manager and of Dom McKay as Celtic CEO.  Both spoke very well.  Talk is cheap as the negative people say however I was very pleased with what I heard today.   No-one comes into a new job and criticises the people or the past but it’s clear, reading between the lines, that Dom wants to address the stagnation in our business model over the past 10 years and Ange will have his own people in coaching roles sooner rather than later.   We have the fan media questions first followed by the broadcast media press conference.   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 View from Down Under   Ange Postecoglou is the new manager of Celtic.  Fans are filled with trepidation about a manager with no European track record.  The pessemists are trotting out the usual “he’s sh!te3” stuff whilst the optimists are noting the exceptional level of positivity coming out of Australia for this guy.   Based upon this mixed view, I called up our friend Mike Mehall-Wood (now based down in Aus) and sought his view.   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

Ange Postecoglou First Interview   Celtic have today appointed Ange Postecoglou as the new manager of the club and we have the audio from his first interview.  Interstingly in the chat that follows with Dom McKay, he once again mentions modernisation.   It seems to be his theme and listeners to the last podcast will know we heartily agree.   Dominic McKay: Ange is an outstanding leader and an outstanding manager   Dominic McKay is delighted that Celtic have appointed an experienced manager who knows what it takes to win, and he believes that Ange Postecoglou’s vision for the future of the Club aligns with his own. In an exclusive interview with Celtic TV, the Club's incoming Chief Executive, who officially takes over on July 1, explained why the Australian manager is the right fit for the Club, and explained that he has already started working with the new Celtic manager to pave the way for future success. “I’m delighted that we’ve managed to secure Ange as the new manager of Celtic Football Club,” said Domin

An analogue club in a digital age   This week we’re back to talk about The Celtic! We will be having more of The Game series but we thought we’d take a break from that to discuss the managerial situation at the club.  First we’ve had the rejection by Eddie Howe and then the appointment of Ange (or at least the likely appointment of Ange as nothing has happened yet…).   This week we get Saint Anthony, Hullbhoy and Sean together to discuss the situation at the 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

The Game Ep5 - Tirollercoaster   This game had everything - a new team under a new manager with a new striker scoring an og in a 9 goal thriller where Celtic were out with just 6 minutes to go.  It had a full house and so everyone who was a Tim at the time could say “I was there” but for some reason it’s never one of those games everyone talks about with reverence…and it should be.   Celtic 6 Tirol Innsbruk 3.  What a night.   The Celtic Wiki describes it as follows:   An incredible European night. A nail-biter all the way down the line finally settled by goals in the 87th and 94th minute.   It looked like Anoni was for the off. Allegedly this was all down to a training ground bust up between him and Jansen on pre-season in Holland and he had been on the injury list for some time. And just to prove it Jansen included him in the squad – so much for newspaper rumours. Surprise surprise when Bebeto was not going to be signing for Celtic. The 33 year old returned to Spain and although it was said he would return

The Game Ep4 - Boavista Away 2003   For those of us lucky enough to remember Seville it was all made possible by this night - a victory away at Boavista.  A crap game, a sclaffed shot and a penalty claim….but we were through.   Remy of ByTheMinCeltic fame joins Antony and I to share his recollections of The Game.   This is how The Celtic Wiki describes it…   With so much at stake, the opening exchanges were tentative, but Celtic settled first and created the game's first decent goalscoring opportunity. A hopeful Alan Thompson free-kick was flicked on by the head of John Hartson, allowing Larsson a sight of goal, but the Swede uncharacteristically pulled his shot wide under pressure from Eder Silveira.   Celtic were forced to bring Chris Sutton into the fray rather earlier than planned when Paul Lambert was forced off with an ankle injury with just over half an hour gone.   In the second half Alan Thompson had a fierce drive deflected wide on 70 minutes as they sought that elusive away goal. It finally came ei

The Game Ep3 - Partizan Belgrade   To this day, this is one of the most incredible games I have ever attended.  Yes I’ve been at the Barca game, the Invincibles Cup Final Game, victories and defeats at Ibrox but for utterly incredible drama few can match this game - Celtic 5, Partizan Belgrade 4.   A future Dundee Utd Manager, the dad of a future Celtic striker and a guy wearing trackie bottoms - this game had it all (all except a Celtic victory).   Antony and I are joined by Lawrence Donegan as he name drops his way through his memories of The Game.   Here’s how the Celtic Wiki describes it:   This was one of the most remarkable games ever viewed at Parkhead with an absolutely disastrous ending for a brave Celtic team.   Scoring went as follows: 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4.   With Celtic leading 5-3 and going through on aggregate with just two minutes left, Joe Miller lost the ball at the Partizan goal corner flag. A quick break down the left wing saw a cross come in and Scepovic headed it fo

The Game Ep2 - Palm Sunday   This week marks the 30th anniversary of the Palm Sunday gubbing of Rangers, a game that holds special memories for our guest Kevin Schofield as it was his first Glasgow Derby.  It was dark times for the club and these victories were smal glimpses of light.   We had beaten Rangers the week before for what became known as the ST Patrick’s Day Massacre.  That was a game that saw Rangers receive 3 red cards and so for this match, Not The View gave out red cards and Nisbet duly obliged by getting himself sent off and leaving the pitch to a sea of aforementioned red cards from the crowd.  Anton Rogan was the star of the day, scoring the opener in the 3-0 victory over Rangers in March 1991, his first against them (just day before his birthday), but he also set up the second and cleared a goal off the line.   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 Game Episode 1 - Shame Game   10 years ago this month was The Shame Game.  A silly title for a game that saw no shame apart from the terrible behaviour of the soon to be defunct Rangers players and assistant manager.  But with its notoriety and coming to the fore we thought  we’d kick off the new series with a review of that game.   Here’s how the Celtic Wiki describes it:   As one-side a match against the Huns you'll ever see. Celtic were on top throughout this game, and despite the Huns being able to break well at points, they were simply playing for penalties from early on. With injuries/resting players like Lafferty & Jelavic, the Huns were relying on some rough tactics with heavy tackling on the menu. Luckily, Celtic's pressing on fairer referees has paid off with Murray officiating well and taking to half measures. He allowed around 20-25 mins before dishing out yellow cards, and Whittaker was first to be ordered off with two yellows. Harsh the first card may have been but it wasn't for that cha

Podcast Xtra - John Kennedy & David Turnbull   Celtic are looking to engage better with the fan media and this was the first step in 2021 of that new engagement with a specially organised fan media press conference.  To be fair to the club, bringing this together is slightly more complicated than it seems.  As I’ve joked recently, there are now a plethora of podcasts and how do the club make sure everyone gets access, how do they balance this with those fans who do excellent written work but not the spoken word - do they let on every podcast and website (not matter the numbers of listeners readers).  Do they have a cut off and how do they measure that cut-off? etc etc.   Regular listeners and readers will know that we have been fortunate enough to have engagement before but it is good to have some further engagement after a little bit of a hiatus.   We have David Turnbull and John Kennedy first up, John being especially generous with his time and providing very full answers.  I have met with John before a