The original Celtic Song – Celtic on the Ball

Tommy ‘Fat Sam’ Toal was the singer of the original “The Celtic Song”. His daughter Maria Toal O’Brien, a few years ago posted a brilliant video of this version of the song onto You Tube as a tribute to her late father.

Maria explains: “My forever loved and sorely missed father Tommy ‘Fat Sam’ Toal was the singer of the original “THE CELTIC SONG”, which was written and composed for him by Jimmy Copeland in 1967 when Celtic had won everything, including the European Cup, and he was accompanied by the Paragon 7 Showband from Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland.

“My father spent 14yrs in Glasgow helping Irish Exiles there via his Irish Clubs/Ballrooms, his Tommy Toal radio show on Radio Scotland, and also as a member of the Social Committee of the Celtic Supporters Association while he managed The Irish Club and the Macushla Ballroom/Club in Glasgow.

“I have seen on countless boards and on youtube where people are asking if anyone knows the original singer of The Celtic Song and if anyone has a copy well I have uploaded it onto YouTube at the following:

“I thought that perhaps the folk would like to hear/view the videos as there are photos that I took from my late father’s album as well as from old match programme.”

Here are the wonderful lyrics…

In the Hall of Fame of the football game
There’s a name that stands alone
It’s a Glasgow team and it reigns supreme
Where the game of football’s known
For they’re good men all and they’re on the ball,
And we know they don’t take long,
And the others fear when they hear us cheer,
As we sing the Celtic Song

C-E-L-T-I-C Celtic
I see Celtic on the ball
Each man ready true and steady
They will stand where all the others fall
Shout it proud like!
Shout it out aloud like!
Shout it in the crowd like
Anywhere at all
C-E-L-T-I-C Celtic
I see Celtic, Celtic on the ball

When the week’s works done and the game’s begun,
And as one we cheer the Bhoys,
To the victory that we hope to see,
Then you’ll hear a brave new noise,
It begins so low and it starts to grow,
‘Till it shakes the football ground,
Then the cheer rings out in the mighty shout,
Of a certain Celtic sound

Through the football world there’s a challenge hurled,
And it says ‘come one, come all’,
For we’ll watch with pride as the Celtic side,
Has the answer to the call,
If the game is rough then the Bhoys are tough,
But the always play it clean,
For the game’s the thing and the song we ring,
Is a song of White and Green

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Also on The Celtic Star this morning…and reading a few of these stories really does make a difference to the success of this site…

Video: ‘Big Tam Rogic could open a can of spaghetti hoops with that left foot’…See HERE.

Video: Rodgers, Rogic and Jamesy “yeah no, as I said” Forrest…See HERE.

Bitter Hearts: ‘Aye, Albert Kidd, they still remember you!’ David Potter…See HERE.

Incidentally the link above will give you the chance to try David Potter’s brilliant Celtic in the League Cup quiz – 17 multiple choice questions about our 17 triumphs in the competition. Have a go!