Dresden CSC
Around 2000 several ex-Pats got together to watch Celtic games together. They originally came from various places: Port Glasgow, Glasgow, Dundee, Antrim, Martinique, and they took turns watching Celtic in each other’s apartments.
Not the best way, but at that time, Sky and Channel 5 were the only options. Eventually they took the decision to approach a local bar and ask them if they would help them put together a supporters club and if they could meet in his pub.
He agreed, helped purchase the Sky dish and the Dresden CSC was formed in Jim Beam’s Bar in the Dresden-Neustadt. As they were only 4-5 guys, they decided to put up a poster on the pub door advertising the Dresden CSC, outlining their plans and saying their CSC is open to everyone.
They then met at Derek Doherty’s house that morning and walked down to the pub, unsure if anyone had seen the advertisement or indeed, in Dresden, former East Germany, if there would be any interest in the club.
When they arrived and entered, 22 Germans were standing there. Some were fully dressed in the full kit, but all were Celtic supporters. They were shocked and dumbfounded. After introducing themselves and explaining their charter and how they would like to run the club, they watched their very first game as the official Dresden CSC: Celtic vs. Dundee.
They moved from Jim Beam’s pub to the Shamrock Irish Pub in Dresden Altstadt several years later, and now they meet at the Irish Fiddler back in Dresden Neustadt. At their strongest, they had 20 members, but with time, people moved away to other parts of the world, and they lost one of their founder members recently, which was a sad time for all of them.
They have a close relationship with the Romanian CSC, and they frequently join them in Dresden. They have also watched a few games at their HQ in Leipzig. They have travelled to various away games in the Czech Republic, inter-Germany, Spain, Poland, and they sent some of the Dresden CSC to Paradise when they had an overseas season book.
Unfortunately, this option is no longer available to them, which is a shame, as it offered the option for members who had never seen Celtic to visit the park.
@celticbars the Dresden CSC nervously waiting on the final whistle 😬🥳😎🍺🍀 pic.twitter.com/2MVV9Q6ipV
— Derek Doherty (@DHDoherty) May 26, 2024
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
