1948: Bellshill Celtic Supporters Club offer Bing Crosby £7000 to perform at Miners Welfare

It’s never dull being a member of a Celtic supporters club as many of you will of course know. Here’s a wee story from The Bellshill Speaker newspaper in 1948 where the local CSC had a function and wanted Bing Crosby, offering him the incredible sum of £7000 to perform – in Bellshill – but instead found someone even better and he only cost half-a-crown!

We’re grateful to Davy from @celticbars for this great little story, which he send over from his forthcoming new book on the History of Celtic Supporters Clubs from around the world.  He said: “One old story tickled me. I found an article from The Bellshill Speaker newspaper in 1948 where the CSC had a function and wanted Bing Crosby but found someone better and he only cost half a crown. ”

CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUB – THE BELLSHILL SPEAKER NEWSPAPER REPORT….

After hearing Joe Docherty answering eight encores in the Miners Welfare, Bellshill on Thursday last, the large audience of Celtic supporters and friends are not at all in favour of the offer Bing Crosby has received of £7,000 to come over here to make three concert appearances.
The Celtic team from 1948-49 match v Hibernian – James McGuire, Milne, Miller, McPhail, Boden, McAuley,
For half-a-crown, this modern Bing did all that Crosby does, and we are not surprised to hear from Pat Baillie, compere of Thursday night’s show, “Sunshine Follies,” that has recently been tested for the Arthur J. Rank stage circuit by the Irish Theatrical Agency and passed with flying colours.
A last minute inclusion in the cast was Jimmy Vincent and he was a welcome addition to a grand show…
…Celtic Supporters Club did a good job, and Bellshill folk will be glad to know that Pat Baillie will be bringing his own show to the Welfare in October.

 

About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor David Faulds has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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