Fergus McCann was present at the gala opening of The Celtic Story at the Clyde Auditorium on Thursday night, and how fitting it was as he has played a vital part in the history of our wonderful football club.
Yes, the club was formed by Brother Wilfrid and revolutionised by Willie Maley. Jock Stein and the Lisbon Lions gave us the most successful period in our history, but Fergus is just as significant a figure in the fairytale that is The Celtic Story.
Without wee Fergus we wouldn’t be enjoying the success we do today, nor would we have the 60,000 seated Paradise to sit and watch the Champions play. In fact if it wasn’t for Fergus there could have been no Celtic football club for us to cherish and support.
We all know the financial sacrifice the man with the bunnet made to gain control of the football club. He saved us from financial ruin and the indignity of the club going into administration in 1994. He paid the bills and we have an unbroken history thanks to him.
He came with a plan and he delivered. He built us the wonderful stadium we enjoy today. In the five years he ran the club we went from a ramshackle run down ground to a 60,000 all seater stadium with over 50,000 season ticket holders.
On the pitch we won our first title in ten long years. He revolutionised us on and off the pitch. What he achieved in those five short years was nothing short of a miracle.
It’s been often suggested that Fergus deserves to be honoured in some way at Celtic Park, and rightly so. He’s an important part of our club and history will look back on him favourably. Perhaps Fergus is reluctant for this to happen in his own lifetime and if that is the case his wishes must be respected.
Bu what better way to honour him than name one of the stands he built at Paradise after him. The North stand has never been given a Celtic related name change unlike the Lisbon Lions and Jock Stein stands. Or perhaps the main stand could be renamed in his honour, it’s where Fergus worked while running Celtic and where he watched the games.
It’s only right that this is consider at the appropriate time as there wouldn’t be a Paradise without him. His vision built it, the success we take for granted today is down to him. It’s only right that the club recognise him. Fergus fully deserves it.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Fergus and John Keane
Having personally been in the company of Fergus and Brian Dempsey prior to the takeover. I can say that both these two deserve a lot of praise for what has been achieved at Parkhead since those worrying times when our club could have gone bust.
Both these men deserve all the praise and adoration that comes their way. Without them we would not be where we are today.
As someone who was at every celts for change meeting during one of the darkests times in our history i think a lot of people from then should be remembered the ordinary supporters who put themselves in the firing line and at first mostly from other Celtic fans especially matt mcglone Brendan sweeney and the rest of the cfc committe john keane who put up the million to stop administration david low Brian Dempsey but Fergus stands slightly above them in my opinion and should be properly honoured at Celtic park and the few of us who were at the very first game back at the stadium sitting in the magnificent new stand i think to rename it after Fergus. Next year will be 30 years since the takeover so the timing would be perfect. HH
Fergus was there for us when we needed him. We needed commercial acumen and Fergus saw an opportunity. He seized the opportunity and was rewarded by taking 4 times his initial investment back.He got his reward, had he taken 9 million back and left us the remainder to build a super tean , fair enough but he didn’t. . Respect, yes, a statue, no chance. Remember Wim the Tim leaving the day after he win us the league.Id be happier with a Vim statue.
Well said HOOOS70 the fact is that Malley and McGrory are more deserving of permanant tributes thanks to thier lifelong service to the club , Fergus got richly rewarded as was his aim , it was 90% business to him hes said so himself .