NEXT UP for The Celtic Star’s very popular Fan Of The Week is Georgina. Georgina is from West Dunbartonshire and works as a Communications Manager in Glasgow. She has a season ticket at Paradise in the Jock Stein Stand and is mad about football and decent cars.
When Georgina’s not at the football, you’ll find her having a long lie, drinking endless cups of tea and coffee, taking the dogs for walks around Loch Lomond and binge watching Netflix. She loves a holiday to any Spanish speaking country and anywhere with a hot tub. Georgina prides herself on being a classy lady but as you’ll see, sometimes the Hoops make her slightly lose her dignity! (Georgina’s words not mine haha).
You can follow Georgina on Twitter @Georgina87x
As ever, our Celtic Star Reporter Scotty Alcroft asks the questions.
What’s your first memory of Celtic?
I was a latecomer to being truly, madly and deeply in love with Celtic as I was brought up in a Man United household. I know for a fact your toes will be curling reading that so I apologise, and promise I’ll make it up to you by littering this post with Celtic related photos! My Dad didn’t want me to get involved in the Celtic vs ‘them’ debate as a child so told me to make my mind up when I grow up.
My first memory has to be most (if not all) of my pals being Rangers daft. Remember MSN Messenger? I can’t count how many of my friends had “tell all the tims you know, it’s gonna be ten in a row!” as their status. IS IT AYE? I remember Celtic stopping the ten and being buzzing about it, and seeing all the raging faces at school having gloated for years. HAHA!
What was the first game you went to?
It was around ten years ago against Hibs. Funnily enough it was a date – who in their right mind takes a girl on a date to Paradise?! I remember getting picked up and presented with my first ever Celtic scarf (I’ve still got it and love it) and take it to the stadium. When I got there, I walked in through turnstile 93, got my first ever Paradise Windfall and there started the weekly routine of being utterly convinced I was walking away with the money. I got a scotch pie and Bovril and walked out through Section 139 to a sea of green and white.
I distinctly remember Four Leaf Clover blasting through the tannoy and my heart was honestly pounding. It might sound ridiculous but I instantly fell in love. Broony scored that day. That, a bog-standard game against Hibs in the league, was where my love affair with Celtic Football Club started.
Who are your top 3 favourite Celtic players and why?
Henrik Larsson – Do I even need to explain why? It’s not often people get legendary status but that man truly lives up to his title of ‘King of Kings’. A generational legend and someone you felt proud of (if not absolutely heartbroken) to see progress their career to the dizzy heights of Barcelona.
Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Johnstone – Mesmerising, a wizard on the wing and someone I’m devastated I didn’t get a chance to witness in real life. They don’t make players like Jinky these days.
Scott Brown – This guy is an absolute warrior. He riles every opposition team up to a point of hilarity. You’d be raging if he played for a rival so that’s why I hold him in such high regard. When ‘the Broony’ was born against El Hadji Diouf seven years ago after a peach of a curling effort into the back of the net, I fell in love with the guy. Then recently when he was completely battered on the ground by Aberdeen and got up pumped and laughing away – you realise even more he’s an absolute belter of a guy.
A leader, great captain and performing to another level under Brendan Rodgers. If you watch the games closely, 90% of the time someone messes up and loses possession, there he is clearing up and winning the ball back or intercepting a pass. If he doesn’t win Player of the Year this year on his testimonial season I’ll be gutted!
Best game you’ve ever seen involving Celtic in your time?
This is a tough one as I have so many great memories. I was going to say the 2-1 Cup Final win against Aberdeen last year but I’m going to revert back to the 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League on 7 November 2012. I remember before the game being so optimistic about our chances before we set off for Paradise. Everyone was in such high spirits and I spent the journey thinking we were definitely going to beat them – my Dad was howling at my optimism. When Wanyama scored the place erupted! I think we all expected Barca to up the gear a wee bit but then that ball went through to Tony Watt. I was sitting in my seat in 139 behind the Jock Stein goal and literally everyone stood up in anticipation as we could see the pass heading his way. When he buried it in the net I think I ended up like 3 or 4 rows down, celebrating with randoms, screaming my head off and ending up bashing my shins off what felt like every seat in the section.
I think I may have cried tears of joy a little bit. Holding out for 90 mins and seeing Messi (inevitably) score was wild. When that full-time whistle went it was a celebration I’ve never experienced before. They played ‘just can’t get enough’ so loud on the way out that night so every time I hear it now it reminds me of that game. I bumped into a few Barca fans on the way out and they were all so complimentary of the club. WHAT. A. NIGHT!
Worst game you’ve ever seen involving Celtic in your time?
A league cup game against Morton in 2013 when they beat us in extra-time. What a horrible game. I took my Dad to that game and we sat in a different stand to the usual Jock Stein stand where I have my season ticket – I really need to stick to my superstitious regimes, normal seat, lucky socks, scarf and lucky pants. I remember Efe ‘ballon d’or’ Ambrose giving away that penalty with a handball and Dougie Imrie scoring. Brutal.
Pick your best ever Celtic XI from what you’ve had the pleasure of witnessing.
This is the most difficult question anyone has ever asked me, right…
Boruc, Tierney, Van Dijk, Balde, Agathe, Nakamura, Wanyama, Broony, Moravcik, Sutton, Larsson.
Give us a funny or surreal moment from your time supporting the Hoops.
I think it has to be my first ever Charlie and the Bhoys experience. The Barrowlands absolutely bursting at the seams with Celtic fans – what a night. People warned me I needed to have a few drinks to be able to cope with it so I did. I’m not a big drinker but that night I gave it a good go. I’m convinced I ended up covered in pints of beer, what felt like warm p*ss (sorry, but I’m not sugar coating the facts!) and a few jagerbombs going from the smell of Red Bull on my arms.
When the gig ended we all spilled out onto the Gallowgate, my pal picked me up and ran out into the road, stupidly nearly causing me to be knocked down by a bus and eventually lost his footing and dropped me on my head. I know this isn’t really that funny but I ended up with concussion and a scar for life to remind me of how wild these Celtic-related nights can get. I look back at it and laugh because I pride myself in trying to be a classy girl. But there I was, with shamrock tattoos on my face, the famous CATB headband on my head, covered in beer and piss and bleeding. I lost my dignity that night but I was surrounded by Hoops fans so I didn’t feel too bad!
Give us your assessment on how this season has gone so far.
Last year was an achievement most people will never get to see in a lifetime so it was inevitable this season wouldn’t live up to the heights. People expect a lot from this team and I reckon some would argue we’ve regressed. Some games (particularly at home) have been frustrating to watch but what else do you expect when you’re facing 11 men camped behind the ball, parking the bus to try and carve out a result against the Champions.
I still think we’re playing some really impressive football at times though. We’re on the brink of 7-in-a-row and a potential double treble. That would be an outstanding achievement so I’m going to keep getting behind the bhoys and taking some ugly wins if it means we write more history in the books again.
I do think Brendan is building a team now – the defence needs a bit of work and I’d love to see more of our creative players like Roberts and Musonda get a bit more game time. I reckon when teams are parking the bus it’s players like those two who can eventually break down the wall and play that killer pass in the final third.
Money isn’t an option, what 3 players would you sign for Celtic just now and why?
Cristiano Ronaldo – we need a decent set piece artist and someone to take corners and as far as I can see he’s half decent at that. He’s also got an outrageous record of scoring in the Champions League so we might even be able to take it that one step further with the main man scoring week in, week out.
Lionel Messi – a controversial one having both of those players in your team but listen, the man is a wee genius. He’s mesmerising with the ball at his feet and carves out passes and goals you don’t think are even possible to consider. I don’t get too caught up in the Ronaldo vs Messi debate as I honestly just feel so lucky and privileged to watch these two guys play in my lifetime.
Andres Iniesta – he’s nearing the latter stages of his career now but he’s always been one of my favourite players. What a talent. I honestly think he’s one of the greatest midfielders of all time.
Finally, explain to us what Celtic means to you.
As cliché as it sounds, it’s like a family to me. Celtic means adoring the green and white wherever you go; hugging and kissing random strangers when we score; sitting in the freezing, soaking Scottish weather and not even caring you’re potentially getting hypothermia (or at least a cold!); convincing yourself every week you’re going to be ten grand richer with the Paradise Windfall; seeing folk on holiday in the hoops and thinking ‘good guy’; gathering an intense, tribal hatred of your rivals in the lead up to a derby; literally crying tears of joy when Tom Rogic scored the winner against Aberdeen to seal the Invincible Treble and basically being part of a great Club with great fans, a brilliant ethos and outstanding, unrivalled history.
SCOTT SAYS
Georgina, that was outstanding, it really was. We’re glad to have you on board instead of sitting in Old Trafford every second Saturday that’s for sure. I don’t think many will argue with your top 3 Celtic players. I’m with you, Broony has been miles ahead of any player this season so to do a Double Treble and win POTY in his Testimonial season would be incredible and fully deserved.
Your best X1 is a cracker as well. I haven’t seen Agathe in one yet but what a bargain he was for us and played in a European final as well. Very under-rated and a confidence player. When he was on it, he was unplayable and probably the fastest player I’ve seen at Celtic.
I’m also delighted that I’ve asked you the most difficult question anyone has ever asked you haha. That means I must be doing something right.
Thanks very much for taking part and hopefully I’ll bump into you soon at Paradise. HH
Interview by Scotty Alcroft for The Cetic Star
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