Coatbridge St James CSC
Founded in 1972 when St James Parish, Coatbridge, used the Parochial Hall for its functions. One of these functions was a ‘men only’ smokers night, where male parishioners gathered after evening mass on a Sunday night for an evening of song and drink.
It was at one of these events that it was suggested a bus trip to a Celtic match should be done. The late Dan Fallon (parish council president) was happy to help, and therefore their club was born.
They had a core membership of approximately 45 members throughout the early years. Membership for the 2022/23 season sat at around 51 and a few kids. Dan Fallon was appointed the first club president, and committee members followed. They had overnight stays in Aberdeen at this time, as away tickets were not the norm. They also had their own version of foodbanks at Christmas time, so that the needy and pensioners in Kirkshaw and surrounding areas were selected for a food hamper. This kind of charity has continued to the present day.
One rule that has stuck since the day of its founding is the ‘no alcohol on the bus’ policy. Eddie Woods (honorary president) is the only one to have been a member from day one until the present day. Andy Gillick (honorary treasurer) is among a few long-term members, along with long-time bus convenor Jim Battersby, who is keeping the new president Martin Lochran (Elvis) and treasurer Brian Ellis on the right path. David Connarty is a long-serving secretary.
New vice president Frankie Corrigan joined the club in 1990. Today they still leave from Dunure Street. A lot of members have come and gone throughout the years; some have passed away, but the club wouldn’t have survived for 50 years without them, so thanks to every one of them, no matter how brief or how long the membership was.
They have been to many European games throughout the years and met some fantastic people. On a European jaunt, they found themselves in Munich. After the game, they all met in a pub that they had frequented a few days before. Another really good time was had by all, and the drinks flowed before heading back to the hotel.
Davie Connarty and Eddie Woods were the last to leave and decided to get a taxi. Directions to the taxi rank office were given to them, and so off they wandered, singing the Celtic song. Nearing the crossroads, Eddie tripped and stumbled forward, striking his forehead on the tram lines. He was lying semi-conscious and stretched out on the pavement. Davie helped him up and was really concerned about him. He got cleaned up and felt better, so they continued to the taxi office.
There was a mirror on the wall, and when he saw his reflection, he decided to wind Davie up, saying he felt him push him over and that he was out of order doing that knowing how drunk he was. The poor man was all apologies, and it was days later that he told him he was not to blame.
Eddie Donnelly got a two-headed euro coin in his change from somewhere, but the good-hearted Eddie gave it to an unfortunate homeless guy sitting in a doorway with his cup at the ready. Near their hotel was a shop where collector’s items were in the window. They offered a 2-headed euro coin to purchase for 150 euros.
Recently, the younger guys travelled to Madrid. They were lucky with their apartment. Martin Elvis Lochan is renowned for booking what can only be described as not the best digs, which he entirely disagrees with. But on this occasion, he got them perfect. For those there, they would have seen the club flag hanging from the balcony on the day of the game on the square where all the fans had congregated for a fiesta.
As they were getting a drink on the balcony, they spotted a film crew down in the square below them. They got their attention and pleaded with them to come up to get some shots from the balcony overlooking all the fans in the square. With only a few guys with tickets for the game, they thought this would be an ideal situation to try to score some extra tickets.
One of the guys went down to bring them up. They took shots of all the fans, and then asked for an interview. A not-so-sober Brian Ellis stepped forward. Off he went onto the balcony, on the phone to God knows who. ‘I think I have you some tickets; now will you talk?’ Their idea was to give the Spanish a better representation of Celtic fans.
There are a few clips of Brian putting on his ‘phone voice’ and being asked how much the trip cost, and with no one willing to give him an answer, he hits out with ‘one thousand pounds,’ which is the answer to anything on the bus whenever anyone asks how much something was.
On 4 September, 1982, Celtic played Dundee. They believe this was the first time Celtic had a mascot, and it was their very own David Battersby. They have a picture of him running out with Danny McGrain. David is a long-serving member to this day and is the son of their bus convenor for many years, Jim Battersby.
An extract from Football Without Fans – The History of Celtic Supporters Clubs by David McIntyre (Celtic Bars). Football Without Fans – The History of Celtic Supporters Clubs is out now and available in print and kindle versions HERE.
More to follow from Football Without Fans on The Celtic Star, the Celtic supporters website. Will it be your CSC that’s featured?
You can order a copy in print or kindle from Amazon where ever you are in the world. Order your copy HERE
