Who or What is CELTIC ?

This was the subject of the Debate by the 'Association' delegates at our EDM last season, the result of which can best be explained in this letter from our Delegate from Greenock.

The Letter reads as follows:

Who or What is Celtic and whom does it represent?

Celtic Football Club is unique; it was formed from the need to provide a basic existence for the poorest members of our society, a society, which for the most part neglected us due to our country of origin and religious beliefs.

A society that for generations had displayed a contempt, if not open hatred for our little ethnic minority.

From the outset the temptation to retaliate, to build barriers between the club and the establishment was resisted.  Brother Walfrid insisted that the club must be open to all and would be a bridge to the communities we would live in.

The very name CELTIC was chosen as a common link between the old country and the new.  Celtic would be the strength of our Irish roots and the vision of our Scottish future and would represent the common cultural bonds between the two nations.  It was to be the catalyst that would unite the communities.

Other Irish clubs had been established in the east of the country, that part where sectarianism and bigotry is unknown!  Hibernian and Dundee (united), have similar roots to our own.  Both clubs have assimilated so well with the native population as to be indistinguishable from the original.  Celtic have, in the hearts and minds of the support remained identifiable with our Irish beginnings and there, perhaps lies the problem with the establishment.  We would today fail the government test of immigrants in that our failure to completely embrace a new culture, at the expense of our own, has branded us as an intransigent minority.

Our club has now grown from what was perceived as  Irish Catholic club to become a truly Catholic club (all embracing, universal).  How was this achieved?  In part due to the Irish Diaspora.  The same reasons ,  which made our forefathers economic emigrants and brought them to Glasgow and the west of Scotland ,dispersed their brothers throughout Britain, Canada, Australia and America in search of a new life but with an enduring love of our roots and nostalgic need to look forever homewards, to retain those links with the home country. This is evident in most immigrant populations.

Our charitable beginnings and our unique Celtic style of football have endeared the club to a much wider audience. Our world famous 'Hoops' are loved wherever they are seen and our fun loving fanatical followers leave a lasting impression. Today our little club has a thriving support/community, from Glasgow to Galway, London Rd to the Las Vegas strip, wherever you find a love of football you'll find a Celt and probably another Irish bar.

The modern game has changed in many ways from the early days, not least with the advent of Megastars and PLCs just imagine what the average superstars weekly wage would mean to Brother Walfrid's poor tables. Yes! We probably do need a PLC in todays game, to raise the money needed to fulfil our aspirations to again reach the top, however the PLC should not replace the principles on which we rose to greatness, it should be a means to an end only. It is there only as a tool, to be used by us in furthering the aims and aspirations handed down from our founding fathers.

What does Celtic represent? To me means:

C - Commitment to Charity & Community

E - Experience, which Enriches our lives

L - Link to our past

T - Total Commitment to the Team

I - Intense Pride in our Club

C - Catholic: Universal and all Encompassing

So! What is Celtic?  The answer appears obvious,

WE ARE!

Yours, Forever in Celtic

Tommy Dornan

Greenock Branch