On this day in 1887, a football club was started by Irish Catholics and their descendants to raise money to feed the needy children within the missions of St Mary’s, St Michael’s and Sacred Heart.
The club would be publicly political, supporting Irish independence and having two Irish Republican Brotherhood members on its committee (one who was on the run, the other who had served time for gun running). The latter of the two was Michael Davitt, who laid the first sod of turf at Celtic Park. Most founding fathers were members of Irish political organisations such as the Irish National League too.
Celtic had a team of mixed religious and national backgrounds since its second season and played attacking winning football since the first, lifting the Glasgow North Eastern Cup and reaching the final of the Scottish Cup in 1889.
The club has always been a beacon for the Irish in Ireland, around the world and for their descendants. It represents charity, Irish identity, support for Irish freedom, Catholicism, inclusivity and winning entertaining football. Indeed it is important to state that these traditions don’t apply to all supporters, but the inclusive nature of the club has meant that everyone is made to feel welcome.
The fans have continued to carry out thousands of charitable projects, breaking UK food bank collection records year on year. The Celtic FC Foundation also does tremendous work, that goes above and beyond. The fans keep the political causes of the day alive and the culture of Ireland alive with songs and symbols. The club has delivered on the winning football by becoming the first team in the UK to be crowned champions of Europe, winning nine league titles in a row (twice) and a treble treble.
Our fans have a passion that other clubs cannot dream of because they are just football clubs. We love football and enjoy all that the sport brings, but we also have so much more that is represented on the pitch. This is why Celtic Park is famous for having the best atmosphere in Europe on the big nights.
On a personal level, the club has led me to meet my girlfriend, countless friends all over the world and to have so many laughs and beers across Europe. It’s all led me to write three books, with more on the way.
BUT – last night was still terrible, for anyone who thinks this article is a deflection from that fact!
