celticunderground

Steven Purcell has is a Celtic fan with a unique insight into the dramtic events in Glasgow and Scotland over these past 12 months.  Steven got into politics during the turbulent times of the 1980's and became a Glasgow City councillor at 22 and leader of the City just 10 years later at 32.  Close to Donald Dewar, steven was tipped to become the leader of Labour in Scotland before his high profile resignation and departure from public life.  Before leaving the City council, Steven was the man who led the team which brought the Commonwealth Games here in 2014 and remains close to the movers and shakers of Scottish politics.

Steven talks of his love of Celtic and the Labour Party and the challenges facing the second of those two - he identifies the 5 challenges he sees facing the Labour Party UK wide and how the simple use of the single name "Nicola" could spell real problems for Labour in Scotland.

In a wide ranging conversation which covers Sectarianism, Gasgow's uncomfortable relationship with football and the OBFA, the boys round up by discussing the joy of watching Celtic under Ronny Deila.

Enjoy

Following the jolly discussions of the Aberdeen game and the remaining fixtures this term, guest Mark Cameron shows his ruthless side by discussing the big changes he envisages for the first team squad.  Some of his proposals are enforced with expected sales, whilst others are end of contract or fringe players whose disappearance tomorrow wouldn't be noticed.

See if you agree with @leftybhoy on who will come and go...

Enjoy

On Twitter;

@Leftybhoy

@Harrybradycu

This week Celtic Globetrotter Mark Cameron drops in for a chat with Harry.  Their wide ranging discussion covers the joy of being champions at Pittodrie, how the manager will deal with the squad for the last two games and what the squad may or may not be after the (brief) summer break.

It's such a long and wide ranging chat that Harry has decided to split the podcasts up into two bite sized chunks.  Podcast 248a is about this season and part b will be along in a few days time where we look at next.  Oh and don't forget it's Lisa Hague's birthday bash at Celtic Park this week - funds to Marie Curie.

Enjoy

@Leftybhoy

Last week we uploaded part I of the conversation between St Anthony and Andy Ritchie.  Since that upload, both sides with whom Andy is synonymous (Celtic & Morton) have secured their respective league titles...magic!

If you've not listened to 247(a) it's available from all the usual places.  If you have then please enjoy the 2nd part...

This week Harry is joined by a man familiar with listeners to BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound and formerly readers of the Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday - Mr Tom English.  Tom is a Limerick man and was a Limerick Utd and Liverpool fan growing up who pretty much stumbled across Scottish football when posted here in by the Sunday Times in the early 1990's.  

Over the course of a rambling hour and a half, the boys manage to fit in;

Limerick Utd, Liverpool, the glory of your first game, lush green grass, Fergus McCann, Ronny Deila, TV deals and the future of journamlism among many other things.

Both gents can be found on twitter;

@TomEnglishSport

@HarryBradyCU

Enjoy

A REAL St Mirren fan in the media - yes apparently there IS one and St Anthony has found him!

This week St Anthony is joined by The Scottish Sun's Chief Football Writer Mr Robert Grieve to talk football AND Saint provides the bombshell right at the start that Robert IS actually a ST Mirren fan - yes a real live one - although a thought did occur that maybe that's why St Mirren's average attendance is so low, all the St Mirren fans are busy reporting at other grounds across Scotland....

I hope you enjoy and please don't forget your food parcels to mark 100th year of Brother Walfrid's passing.

The hiatus of international football is over and so it's time to talk Celtic.  Lachie Mor joins Harry to discuss the shooty-in exercise of the final Dundee Utd game and the squad in general.  In addition to discovering that Lachie's best 11 contains a minumum of 12 players, the pair discuss the forthcoming triple and summer squad changes including Liam Henderson's loan move to Norway.  There is a brief mention of the Ibrox lunacy before Lachie picks his starting 12 for the St Mirren game.

Enjoy

With it being an international week our listeners will be thirsty for Celtic content and this week St Anthony returns with another My Celtic Life.  This week Saint is joined by Charlie Gallagher.  

Charlie is one of those Celts who's career spanned a dramatic chnage in the club.  Starting in the dark pre-Stein days he was fortunate enough to play alongside his hero, the late great Willie Fernie and played with the club through the start of the Stein era before finishing his career during the days of colour TV at Dumbarton.  Charlie's other claim was to be the first Irish Republic International born in Glasgow.

As I write I'm about to head off to the Celtic FC Foundation Zip Wire and it's VERY windy.  If I'm not heard of for a while can someone check to see if I landed in Norway?

Enjoy

Why would anyone not be excited about going to watch Celtic at the moment?  Bombing on full backs, pace speed, ability - even centre halves scoring goals by playing a 1-2 in the opposition 6 yard box.  To quote Chris Tarrant on TISWAS - This Is What They Want!  Yes, this is sexy football.  Ronny Deila is bringing sexy back to Celtic Park!

This week Mark Cameron joins Harry to discuss attacking football being played the Glasgow Celtic way and Dundee Utd leaving the boot in.  That's right, we review the latest instalment in the Celtic v Dundee Utd saga and discuss how enjoyable supporting Celtic is.

The enjoyment of supporting a great team on the park is only added to by knowing that Celtic are a club like no other and Mark talks about his work with the Celtic FC Foundation.

The two contributors are on twitter;

@Leftiebhoy

@Harrybradycu

Enjoy

Jim Spence in conversation with St Anthony

Since the speculate to accumulate concept came crashing down in Scottish football, few journalists have provided a fairer and more bullish assement and commentary on our game than Jim Spence.  With 3 Dundee Utd games coming up St aNthony has dusted down his mic once again to meet up with Jim Spence and have a good football natter with a proper football fan.

Both gents can be found on twitter;

@Stephen62572390 

@BBCJimSpence

This week St Anthony is joined by author of The First Game With My Father, Michael Tierney.  They discuss all things Celtic including Sean Connery, Gerard Butler, Ben Bradley et al.

Also the Celtic FC Foundation have just a few team places left for their first golf day which is taking place on World Autism Day - 2nd April, at Renfrew Golf Club.

CELTIC FC FOUNDATION GOLF DAY TO TAKE PLACE ON WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

CELTIC FC Foundation’s inaugural Golf Day will coincide with World Autism Awareness Day on Thursday, April 2.

World Autism Awareness Day is an initiative launched by the United Nations General Assembly to promote awareness and understanding of people with autism.

Celtic FC Foundation’s first Golf Day is scheduled to take place at Renfrew Golf Club with all proceeds raised going towards a project  that will help children and young people with autism. In collaboration with the University of Strathclyde, Celtic FC Foundation intend to create a project which will offer an opportunity to enhance each child’s wellbeing through supported physical activity such as football and dance with a focus on fun.

Celtic FC Foundation’s inaugural Golf Day, please email cfcfoundation@celticfc.co.uk or call 0141 551 4291.

This week St Anthony is joined by another star of the hoops from the late 70's and early 80's, Davie Provan.  For the 40 somethings and upwards Davie was an excellent winger who (along with Murdo McLeod)  was able to fire in the odd spectacular free kick the most famous of which gets a wee airing on this podcast.

Davie was perhaps unforunate to come up against John Robertson and Davie Cooper otherwise he may have won more caps for Scotland and his career was cut short by ME, an illness which some 30 years later is still not that well understood.  His impact on the team and the way the fans thought of him perhaps reflected in circa 42,000 turning up for his testimonial on a cold November night in 1987 (these were the days when a big crowd was 35,000 against Hibs or Aberdeen).  For younger fans Davie is a media pundit.

The first song is from the chart when he signed, the last when he scored THAT free kick. 

Enjoy.

This week St Anthony is joined by another star of the hoops from the late 70's and early 80's, Davie Provan.  For the 40 somethings and upwards Davie was an excellent winger who (along with Murdo McLeod)  was able to fire in the odd spectacular free kick the most famous of which gets a wee airing on this podcast.

Davie was perhaps unforunate to come up against John Robertson and Davie Cooper otherwise he may have won more caps for Scotland and his career was cut short by ME, an illness which some 30 years later is still not that well understood.  His impact on the team and the way the fans thought of him perhaps reflected in circa 42,000 turning up for his testimonial on a cold November night in 1987 (these were the days when a big crowd was 35,000 against Hibs or Aberdeen).  For younger fans Davie is a media pundit.

The first song is from the chart when he signed, the last when he scored THAT free kick. 

Enjoy.

This week St Anthony is joined by former Celtic midfielder Dom Sullivan.

Dom signed for Celtic in 1979 from Aberdeen for the not too triffling amount of £80,000, following the road taken by his former manager Billy McNeil.  This was a time when squads were small, typically championship winning teams could have as few as 15 or 16 players making first team appearances through the season therefore when a young Paul McStay broke into the side, eventually Dom moved on in 1983.  

In his time at the club Dom made 113 appearances scoring 15 goals.

More podcasts are to come but meantime if your making your plans for the last game of the season, don't forget the badge day for the Celtic Foundation;

http://www.celticfc.net/charity/

PODIUM!

Sorry but how could I possibly have someone on discussing a CQN Book and not make one podium reference?  Anyway, this week I am joined by Brogan Rogan Trevino & Hogan to discuss the latest output from the Celtic conglomerate CQN - Seville: The Celtic Movement.

BRTH sets explains that at times many of us (especially the online Celtic community over the last 2 -3 years) can get too hung up on all the politics surrounding the Scottish game and forget that going to the football with your mates or family is a fun social event, none more so than Seville.  The book therefore is a celebration of that communal fan spirit that was never more evident than around that game.  The book therefore is a fans book telling the fans tails of the game - or more importantly getting to and from the game rather than accounts of the match itself.

Like all good book sellers BRTH refuses to divulge any of the stories (you need to read the book) but the lads do a little reminicing whilst discussing everything around the game.

Both gentlemen are on twitter;

@broganrogantrev

@harrybradycu

The book can be purchased "in all good book stores" inc;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seville-Celtic-Movement-McGinley-Jim/dp/0957617127

After a brief brake caused by IT malfunctions and diary challenges, we're back to finalise our review of the ultimate Celtic Champions League XI.  This week Harry is joined by Hullbhoy to discuss the guys who win games - the strikers.  Very quickly Harry & Hullbhoy establish that the striking duo is Larsson and A.N.Other.  Also very quickly they whittle the candidates of that A.N. Other role to just 4 viable candidates, without overly criticising the others.

To vote on the ultimate Celtic Champions League 11, Email;

Harrybradycu@gmai.com

tweet - @Harrybradycu

post on the site - www.celticunderground.net

Walk around shouting your nominations very loudly and hope one of the team her you.

Next up - the Celtic AGM podcast.

This weeks podcast participants can be found on twitter;

@Harrybradycu

@Hullbhoy