Next up for the very popular Fan Of The Week on The Celtic Star is Amy McCue. Amy is 25 and has lived in Glasgow all of her days! She’s currently a humanities student learning about social issues within Scotland and assessing human behaviour. Amy is trying to break into the community development world so long story short, she’s a young woman with big dreams.
Amy absolutely adores her dog and her one true love is Celtic of course…she also likes a drink and loves her tunes.
Amy’s absolutely thrilled to be given the opportunity to blether about her Celtic memories and hopes it’s as good a read as it was doing it!
You can follow Amy on Twitter @AMc3991
Asking the questions as ever is The Celtic Star Reporter, Scotty Alcroft. Here is Amy McCue’s #FanOfTheWeek…
What’s your first memory of Celtic?
My first memories of Celtic are something I often look back at. It starts with my dad and I always remember watching him digging out his scarf to go to games or screaming at the telly when we played! Aye a typical Celtic da if ye like but those memories have stayed with me as I’ve grown cos I can totally relate with the feelings that come on match days! So I will always thank my dad for the fact he exposed me to football and made it an important part of my life.
What was the first game you went to?
The first game I went to was an Inverness Caley Thistle on an empty Wednesday night. At the time I was just in primary school and Tosh McKinlay had come to coach us as part of a community initiative. Always remember him coming into the gym hall of my school and I burst with excitement “OMG YOU PLAYED FOR CELTIC!!” He was rather chuffed. But aye I’ve got Tosh to thank for getting the flu at ma first game. However, a loved it and the atmosphere the fans that turned up and I didn’t stop talking about that night I went to Celtic Park to everyone and how Tosh McKinlay taught me how to punt a ball.
Who are your top 3 favourite Celtic players and why?
This has to be the hardest question to answer out of them all! For me it all about the players that play for the jersey.
First up wee Tierney, the boy is Celtic daft and that shows as he grows. If he’s not on the pitch he’s in the stands. For me that speaks to me on a whole other level. He’s great with the media and he’s completely focused on what he wants from his career at Celtic. Cracking set of legs into the bargain!
Petrov. Really there isn’t any explanation. Sheer class. Pleasure to watch and yet again a man who gave his all for the club.
Third on the list is the man himself, Mr Celtic. A family man, a nutter, funny as hell and charm that couldn’t be matched. I often find myself on YouTube and find videos of Tommy and you can see Celtic was total way of life for Tommy and his family. Tommy for myself is a symbolic part of the club’s history and even when he went to Kilmarnock and worked wonders with them the passion he showed about football in general and the dedication he showed is something that touches me on a personal level and I find Kieran to be exact same!
To be honest I could go on all day with the likes of Broony etc … it was so hard to pick!
Best game you’ve ever seen involving Celtic in your time?
In my time I’d say for me it was the Barca game and Tony Watt scored an absolute belter. Still to this day, I watch it on YouTube. Me and my mates where in the Drover the night of that game and it absolutely blew the roof off the place. It’s a fantastic memory and a fantastic goal from Tony on that night!
Worst game you’ve ever seen involving Celtic in your time?
So for me I was gutted during the semi cup final when Rangers where 1 up at half time and there was just zero happening, it was if we hadn’t turned up. Eventually Sviatchenko scores on the 50 minute mark, Tom Rogic in extra time and we where equal. However the game went to penalties and ended 5-4 to THEM. Went up the road raging and am sure a said F*ck Deila a few times.
Pick your best ever Celtic X1 from what you’ve had the pleasure of witnessing.
My formation 5-3-2 Manager Lennon
Boruc as GK.
Center half’s
Van Dijk- Majstorovic- Balde
Right back Adam Matthews
Left back KT
Midfielders
Brown-Ledley Rogic
Two forwards are of course Larsson & Sutton.
My team’s keeping with the theme of men who played for the jersey and totally got what Celtic was about. In my opinion there are some really strong players there and all had a good run at Celtic and of course some of our current stars. Of course Scott Brown as Captain. Ive spent a long time watching him as captain and some of my best memories have come from him leading a the team. I imagine this would be no different!
Give us a funny or surreal moment from your time supporting the Hoops.
As I’m only a pup really all my stories are pretty recent. But for me the Aberdeen cup final was a huge day. I couldn’t make the game that day but was planning to go out after it. I was watching the game getting ready and can always remember taking the huff n saying I’m no going out a don’t want to celebrate etc pure petty huff cos at that point we where drawing. My mate who was at the game text me saying “f*ck up, it’s the fairytale season, wait for the fairytale ending” and 4 minutes later Rogic scored!!! I absolutely flew up, burst into tears the lot …. There’s still a nasty rumour that a had an involuntary bladder movement due to excitement hahah. But that day has stuck with me and I think it always will.
Give us your assessment on how this season panned out?
This season like last has had its absolutely fantastic moments. Tierney as captain and his absolute screamer of a goal against Killie was 2 highlights for me. Overall the home record has been a bit off with a few point a piece efforts. Despite this though some of our players are having the season of their life with James Forrest managing to grab a goal against Rangers, Tom Rogic’s fancy footwork, Calmac has played his heart out and his pace is unreal at the moment. Dembele with his Paneka penalty was also a huge moment. The silverware speaks for itself in all honestly and some of the performances have been huge. We have some work to do in regards to set pieces, corner kicks and maybe injecting some new faces into the team and of course, Tom Rogic siging his new contract has been huge news. Brendan has given us all something to celebrate and I can’t wait to see whats next for the Celts!
If you could choose 3 players from our History that would benefit today’s side, who would they be and why?
Jimmy McGrory is a player who scored 410 goals in League football alone. So for me that needs really no explanation.
Yet again another huge hero and figure in Celtic’s history is Jimmy Johnstone. The Lord of the Wing, you couldn’t tell where Jimmy ended and the football began he was that fast. He remained a Celtic man throughout the years and loved the club. I still love when I’m drunk coming home and sticking Dirty Old Town on YouTube and watching him sing his heart out along with the memories.
Last on my list of historic faces who I’d love back is Johan Mjallby, his first game 98’ Tom Boyd cross to Mjallby and straight in. I’ve watched that goal so many times on YouTube and honestly it never dies. He also came back as Lenny’s right hand man and he loved the club and loved playing for us. He had a great attitude and had no fear what so ever. For me he’s a legend having watching him for so long as a player and then again with Lenny was special for me as a fan.
Finally, explain to us what Celtic means to you?
Celtic for me wasn’t something I chose. It was simply handed down to me in the same way it had been passed down to my dad, etc. It’s something you grow up with, it’s something that non football fans won’t get. It’s more than just a game and Celtic is more than just a club!
I’ve been really open about my struggles with depression and anxiety and for me, whether I’m going through a turnstile or sitting in a pub somewhere, for that 90 minutes nothing matters. Everyone’s there to watch the game and chat away. Celtic Park is probably my ultimate happy place and for me it’s something I can look forward to at the end of the week or a wee midweek game. A total release.
Scotty Says…..
Amy that was brilliant. I’m sorry to hear that you have struggles with depression and anxiety but it’s great to read that Celtic are one of the things that give you the release that you need. It’s great also that a young woman such as yourself is very knowledgable too about the Bhoys and that certainly comes across here in your interview.
I really like your modern day looking best Celtic X1. Big Majstorovic was never blessed with pace but boy could he defend. I think with the way modern day fitba is, we’ll never see a better partnership than Sutton and Henrik with most teams playing only one up now.
We won’t go into the involuntary bladder movement but that did make me chuckle I must admit. Thanks for taking part Amy and sharing your Celtic story with us and hopefully we’ll bump into you at Paradise next season as we go for that treble, treble. HH
Listen to “John Paul Taylor with A Celtic State of Mind (Part 2/3)” on Spreaker.
