NEXT up for our very popular Fan Of The Week feature on The Celtic Star is Christine.
Christine is originally from Glasgow but now stays in West Lothian. She has been a Celtic fan since she was very young and is currently a Season Ticket Holder in the Upper North Stand.
Christine enjoys going to watch Celtic with her brother and her brother-in-law and having the odd beer or 3 before a game! She loves being part of the Celtic Family and has made loads of new pals since she started going to the games!
Her brother Stevie (@P12KLS) got her into Celtic and Twitter – so he’s the one to blame! You can follow Christine on Twitter @ChrispyGhirl
Asking the questions as ever is The Celtic Star Reporter, Scotty Alcroft. Here is Christine’s #FanOfTheWeek on The Celtic Star…and checkout Christine’s photos in the Gallery below…
What’s your first memory of Celtic?
Trying to name all the Celtic players on the posters on my brother’s bedroom wall – guys like Brian McClair, Billy McNeill, Frank McGarvey, Davie Hay, Danny McGrain, Tommy Burns, Roy Aitken, Packie Bonner, Paul McStay and so on!
I can remember my brother Stevie going to games with my brother-in-law back in the early 80’s and being a wee bit jealous of him lol. We grew up in Glasgow literally a stone’s throw away from our biggest rivals – my Dad’s fault for taking a job in Govan! I can also remember the noise from the O*d F*rm fixtures at Ibrox back then too – though I have to admit it’s gone very quiet there since…
What was the first game you went to?
When I was young, none of the women in our family even watched football, let alone went to a match! My mother despised football whilst my Dad loved it – but he mostly just watched it on TV. So my first game wasn’t until March 2014. My brother asked what I wanted for my birthday that year and I replied – “To go to a Celtic game with you!” God only knows what took me so long. Despite drawing 1-1 with Ross County that day (and me getting nicknamed Judas the Jinx!), I was hooked!! We went to Failte in St.Vincent Street afterwards for a few drinks and I just loved the whole day.
I went to the remaining 3 home games after that and think I only missed a few games in the 14/15 and 15/16 seasons. We used to drink in the Garvale Inn (The Dug n Rabbit) at the corner of Reidvale Street before matches but now head up to the Crown Creighton on Duke Street.
I decided to buy a Season Ticket for 16/17 as I was going to virtually every home game anyway. I’m sure Brendan Rodgers heard about this cos he arrived not long after! lol.
I love the whole build-up before a match, few drinks, chatting about team news and catching up on Twitter gossip! The travelling gets a bit much sometimes – particularly in the winter when Scotrail (Scotfail) let me down but I’ve been there in wind, rain, sleet and snow! And of course the glorious Glasgow sunshine!
Who are your top 3 favourite Celtic players and why?
Tommy Burns – he just lived for the team, his family and his faith. He was a big part of Celtic when I was growing up.
Henrik Larsson – just an iconic player who always seemed to find the back of the net and was pivotal in stopping 10-in-a-row!
Scott Brown – has had such a fantastic career at Celtic and shown true leadership – particularly to the Academy youngsters coming into the first team.
Best game you’ve ever seen involving Celtic in your time?
Ooh – can I have more than one please?
Celtic v Hapoel Be’er Sheva – 17 August 2016 – Celtic won 5-2. A warm summer’s night in Glasgow – a cracking game of football and loved it when Leigh Griffiths jumped up into the gaffers arms – then grabbed the camera when Scott Brown scored in the 85th minute! A game that always sticks in my mind – loved it!
Celtic v Rangers – 10 September 2016 – my first ever home game against THEM! Brilliant game and brilliant atmosphere! I also went to see The Celtic Musical that night with family – and it was Jock Stein’s anniversary – a very special day indeed.
Celtic v Man City – 28 September 2016 – again a fantastic atmosphere both inside and outside the stadium and a not a bad game of football. My brother and I talked about going to the away match at Etihad in December – but his missus put her foot down haha!
Worst game you’ve ever seen involving Celtic in your time?
Celtic v PSG – 12 September 2017. They pumped us 0-5 …nuff said! It was my wedding anniversary too! It couldnt have rained any harder on the way home! And I had to go to work the next day with a hangover – meh!!
Pick your best ever Celtic X1 from what you’ve had the pleasure of witnessing.
Kinda difficult cos I’ve only been going for a few seasons so I’d have to say:- Gordon, Izaguirre, Griffiths, Brown, Tierney, Guidetti, Rogic, Simunovic, Johansen, McGregor, Forrest.
Give us a funny or surreal moment from your time supporting the Hoops.
My son was due on 25 May 2003 – the Lisbon Lions anniversary. However he arrived a week early and I missed watching the 2003 UEFA Cup Final on TV. I was the only mum in the hospital TV room that night! I got to give him a good Irish name though (Connor) so it wasn’t all bad.
Being mistaken for Stevie’s (my brother) wife at one of my very first games!! My brother was on holiday one week so I used his ST. The guy behind me asked where he was and I naturally replied ‘…oh he’s away on holiday with his wife and wee boy…’ The look on his face was priceless!
I met Ronny Deila in the team hotel once before a match. He had on one of those New Balance jackets that are long at the back. I didnt know where the jacket ended and Ronny began so when I posed for a pic with him and accidentally touched his arse!! I’m surprised I didnt get done for soliciting! haha
Give us your assessment on how this season has gone so far?
Not at good as 16/17 but still an excellent season. We could have been a lot more consistent at times but I think when it’s come to the important games, we’ve stepped up and got results when it matters. Good to see younger players like Tierney, McGregor and Forrest really coming into their own now. I really would love for us to get further in Europe – I live in hope! We’re 90 minutes away from a double-treble – can’t wait for the Cup Final!
If you could choose 3 players from our History that would benefit today’s side, who would they be and why?
Jinky – for his skill and playing ability.
Tommy Burns – for his leadership and commitment to the club.
Henrik Larsson – for his goal-scoring ability and showmanship.
Finally, explain to us what Celtic means to you?
Being a Celtic supporter is about being part of something that’s so big and so passionate the world over! Supporting Celtic through good and bad times and enjoying the banter along the way! It’s more than 90 minutes – to me it’s a love-affair that will never end. HH
Scotty Says…
That was excellent Chrissy!! The players you mentioned as your first memory of Celtic are the ones I grew up watching too. I was fortunate enough to know Roy Aitken personally so he’s always been a big hero of mine alongside the Maestro. I noticed that Johansen was in your best Celtic X1. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen him mentioned. He was certainly a cracking player for us and imagine what Brendan Rodgers could’ve got out of him?
I think one thing we can all agree on this season is that we shouldn’t be getting beaten by the scores we have been beaten by in Europe. Hopefully Brendan can address that in the summer with some top quality signings to supplement what we already have. Thanks for taking part Chrissy and hopefully I’ll bump into you for one of those refreshments before a game soon. HH
Interview for The Celtic Star by Scotty Alcroft
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