TODAY we are delighted to be joined by United Glasgow’s Star striker Erin Lavelle who talks to us about all things Celtic and United Glasgow FC.
Over the last few days The Celtic Star has been highlighting the incredible work going on at United Glasgow FC. Last night we ran an article on the club’s fundraising raffle. Just a quick reminder on that first of all.
United Glasgow FC have two 5 ticket packages to raffle for the John Hartson Foundation’s Annual Sportsman’s Lunch on Friday 29th November at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel, Glasgow. These have been kindly donated so proceeds of the raffle will go towards United Glasgow FC.
John Hartson and his special guest line up are coming together in support of the John Hartson Foundation at annual Sportsman’s Lunch on Friday 29 November at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel, Glasgow.
Not only does this event include a superb lunch, great company and a Q&A session with John and his special guests including Gordon Strachan, but entertainment at the lunch will be provided by football impressionist Darren Farley.
This event has proved especially popular in the past and this year will be no different. Tickets are completely sold out. By lending a helping hand to United Glasgow you could be there for this must see event.
Events like the Sportsman’s Lunch help raise funds for wonderful organisations who do truly amazing work for people living with cancer.
https://www.johnhartsonfoundation.co.uk/news?id=1355#
You can get involved but you’ll need to act fast! As Big Bad John’s charity says ‘Grab life by the balls’. The raffle closes on the 22 November. And all other generated proceeds from the raffle go towards funding United Glasgow FC.
You can follow this link to have a chance of getting yourself and four friends along to this amazing event. You’ll also be raising funds for the amazing work United Glasgow FC do.
Erin kindly joined us for a Q&A last night. Here’s what she had to say.
When did you start playing for United Glasgow and how did it come about for you?
I first joined United Glasgow last summer after searching for a team that has some integrity about them. We have a much more inclusive society these days, and United Glasgow really embodies the spirit of non-discrimination. We have players from all walks of life at United and we show that it doesn’t matter what’s on the surface, it’s what’s inside that counts. Just like the ethos at Celtic – “it is not the creed nor colour that counts but the man himself.” I first saw that quote on the inside of the collar on the Lisbon Lion anniversary shirt back in 2017 and it’s really made a lasting impression on me.
The spirit of being a person of good character and caring not for identity features is what we’re all about at both Celtic and United. I don’t care if you are transgender, gay or non-white, it doesn’t mean anything to me. It’s who you are in your heart and mind that counts. So playing for us was easy as not every team is so accommodating and I’d rather play for a team that is kind than one that is bigoted.
What position do you play for United Glasgow?
I play as the centre forward in a 4-1-4-1 or in a 3-5-2 (I can’t help but think to the old Martin O’Neill days under that formation so I tend to enjoy that one the most). I’m the main target player and this season just finished (running February to October) I scored 40 goals in 19 competitive games (League and Cup) earning the top goalscorers award along the way. Few free-kicks, a penalty, only one headed goal, a few volleys, couple of lobs and dinks but mostly one on one’s with the keeper either slotting it past into the bottom corners or rounding the keeper and sliding it in.
Which sportsperson inspires you the most?
I look up to Henrik Larsson more than anyone. He was the perfect striker and not many fall into that category. He had it all. Goals, technique, composure, vision, athleticism and dreads. We were so blessed to have him play for us. Whilst Brazilian Ronaldo is to me, the greatest (non-Celtic) striker of all time. He was sensational. And the main modern day great I look up to is Lewandowski. He’s the best striker going just now.
Who is your favourite current Celtic player and who is your all time Celtic hero?
I’m 31 now and I don’t often have favourite players like I used to when growing up like Naka, Petrov and Maloney. But currently I would say Callum McGregor because he’s such a talent who’s on the cusp of becoming a complete player. I also have a feeling he’s going to be a one-club man and that kind of loyalty to Celtic is exceptional. I’m a big fan of Griffiths as well and I can’t wait for him to get back to playing regularly again. I think he’ll retire here as well. Same goes for Forrest. I really like Elhamed as well, he’s a solid defender and a proper modern right back. And of course Edouard gets a shout out for his class and composure on the ball. Best striker in Scotland? Not even up for debate.
As for my all time favourite, it’s no surprise that it is the one and only King Henrik. I grew up here but then moved to England when I was about six so I never got to see us play when I was little but I came up in 2003 to see us beat Aberdeen 4-0 and Larsson got a hat-trick that day whilst Sutton scored the other. I’ll never forget that first moment I came through the tunnel at pitchside to see Henrik right in front of me warming up by the advertising boards. I couldn’t believe it. Even better than that was he ran over in front of me and my dad for two of the goals he scored. And to top it all off, it was my birthday!
Do you go to games and if so what is your favourite ever match?
I get to as many games as I can but with work, studies and playing for United, it’s usually just a handful every season. But the last one was the home game against Lazio. What a night that was! That was the most memorable game I’ve been to in years. I was sat lower tier in the North stand a couple sections away from the GB. The atmosphere was typically outstanding, the performance of the team was brilliant and there were so many individual moments that will stay with me for a long time from that game. Christie on the half volley shooting just wide and we all thought it went in, getting the equaliser, Forster’s save! But the Jullien winner at the end was the best of all, what a moment that was. And I’ll be at the Rennes game next. Hopefully we get the win even if we’re resting a few players. We want to finish top of the group and get an easier draw for the knockouts for once!
Can you describe what it’s like playing for United Glasgow?
Playing for United is great fun. Our coach Sandeep is excellent, he has transformed the club into a great and upbeat environment to play in. He wants us to compete and win but he’s got a very calm and encouraging demeanour that really makes us all feel like we’ve got that winning mentality but without the unnecessary pressure that comes with it. And it’s paid off as we came second this season losing out by only a point and made it to the Quarter Finals of the League Cup losing to the eventual winners.
We’ve got some very good footballers in our ranks as well and quite a mixed bunch of characters. The other coaches are great as well who come over from the men’s teams and help out. All in all, we’re a great club to be part of and next season will be even better. We’re always implementing new tactics and ideas and working on new things. Here’s to many more trophies for Celtic and United Glasgow!
We’re hoping that you’ll be hearing a lot more from Erin once UGFC’s season gets back up in running in February. It would certainly be good to hear what is going on with United Glasgow FC and all the highs, lows, goals and blows of their football season.
We’ll endeavour to keep you all up to date on all things United Glasgow and keep The Celtic Star readers tuned in to what the team and the club as a whole is up to. Hopefully you can continue to spread the word around on social media and Whats App groups.
A massive thank you to Erin for taking the time out of what is a really busy schedule to talk to us. Good luck to United Glasgow FC for future games and the new season. Keep banging them in Erin!
Niall J
PLEASE ALSO READ OUR INTRODUCTION ARTICLE ON UNITED GLASGOW FC…
Hand in hand – Celtic, ‘Created by Immigrants’ and United Glasgow FC, ‘Refugees Welcome’
Hand in hand – Celtic, ‘Created by Immigrants’ and United Glasgow FC, ‘Refugees Welcome’
“A football club will be formed for the maintenance of dinner tables for the children.” When Celtic was formed we all know it started with charitable intent. It’s something the club continues with today through the Celtic Foundation. The annual Christmas appeal for this is now well under way.
Within Glasgow lies another football club very much akin to those origins of Celtic.
It’s a charitable organisation that I only became aware of recently. This charity is called United Glasgow FC. Some of you will no doubt be aware of the amazing work they do, many more won’t be. Today on The Celtic Star I want to look into what they do and what they are all about.
Celtic supporters – Thousands are Sailing, Refugees Welcome!
The landscape around immigration is now very different from Celtic’s beginnings but the core issues remain. Celtic supporters never forget that ours is a club founded by and supported by immigrants, something that the Green Brigade recognised in their recent Appeal which raised over their £15,000 target for a fundraiser designed to promote “tolerance and inclusion but provide much needed practical support to the below two charities with projects in Rome and Glasgow.”
These two charities were Baobab Experience in Rome and Scottish Action for Refugees in Glasgow. The Green Brigade so far have raised £15,466 for these two charities. Here is a little about each of them and what they do.
A Celtic banner says ‘Refugees Welcome’ and acknowledges that our club was ‘Created by Immigrants’
Since 2015, Baobab Experience have supported more than 85,000 asylum seekers in Rome. They offer food, clothing and accommodation services to ensure that people’s most basic needs are fulfilled. They also provide legal assistance and physical and mental healthcare.
Scottish Action for Refugees is a charity that supports refugees in Scotland as well as coordinates international efforts. Specifically in Glasgow, they have created a SAFR Space which is a community hub offering help and support for refugees and asylum seekers with the practical aspects of setting up a new life in a strange country.
So getting back to United Glasgow FC which was formed in 2011. Its aim was to help refugees and asylum seekers integrate into living in Glasgow. Starting with the motto of ‘Unity in the Community’ you can immediately tell it’s a charity looking to help those arriving in the City assimilate into their surroundings. It was set up for refugees and asylum seekers with the intention of providing free access to football equipment, pitches and all the support refugees would need to help settle in Glasgow.
Today the club boasts three competitive teams and four community drop-in sessions each week that help support more than 200 players of all genders, sexual orientations, religions, ethnicities, socio-economic positions and immigration statuses.
I’ll let them explain in their own words just what they are all about.
“Our two guiding principles when we started our project were anti-discrimination and financial inclusion. By keeping our costs to an absolute minimum and not charging players for games or training where we can we manage to bring together individuals from communities who would otherwise probably never have met through a shared love of football”.
The badge on their shirts and website states proudly ‘Refugees Welcome’. Welcoming is a thread that runs through United Glasgow. For this organisation it is clear football is not about winning games its people from 40 different nationalities having the opportunity to interact with each other when their languages won’t always allow the clearest communication. The language of football is what brings everyone together and it also makes them stand out.
Researchers from Oxford University’s Refugee Studies Centre said:
“…the team provides an international social space in which participants feel “at home” because of the team’s diversity.
“It is a space in which participants can forget their problems, allowing them to step outside identities based on their nationality and immigration status to interact equally as footballers. The result is that teammates find common ground on the pitch that serves them in their life off the pitch.
“This suggests a process which transforms both the Scottish “hosts” as well as the “newcomers”, rather than one in which immigrants learn to “fit in” to a host society.”
The Club are clearly trying to create an inclusive and accepting environment for all, that’s what is immediate. They are building a place where both the Scots and the refugees can learn from each other. The past of the person is not important to the club they don’t ask about it and it’s not just asylum seekers or refugees that sign up with United Glasgow. The club itself is proud of its support for ethnic minorities and the LGBT community also.
The club allows an escape and a purpose. It tries to create a warm and welcoming environment to help sustain and develop people’s lives arriving in Glasgow. From there they support the refugees and asylum seekers to carry on that journey as the huge task of settling into and impacting themselves on, a new culture begins.
The message being portrayed has clearly resonated as they are growing in popularity. They have a website and nearly 9000 people follow them on Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram they even have their own T-Shirts and other merchandise to help raise funds. Fundraising functions have already attracted hundreds of supporters.
As such United Glasgow very much rely on volunteers and players from Glasgow and across the rest of the country and of course money is always a problem.
A project such as United Glasgow Football Club has been heavily reliant on funding from direct funders, charities, football supporters and individuals to keep going.
United Glasgow remains an organisation run by ordinary Glasgow people for everyone in the City. It is run entirely by volunteers and as such any help is greatly appreciated. We have included the link below to their website. They have details on how you can get involved or donate on the site. Just follow the link.
https://unitedglasgowfc.org.uk/
Their website also has a lot of information on United Glasgow including this short video that gives you an idea what they are all about and about the amazing work they do.
I’m sure you’d agree there is an ethos within United Glasgow FC that very much marries with the origins of Celtic Football Club.
A message Brother Walfrid would have supported
The Celtic Star hopes to keep you up to date with what is going on at United Glasgow. We’ll keep you all posted as to how that progresses.
In the meantime please take a look at what they do, I’m sure you’ll be as impressed as I was. And if you are in the Glasgow area and have an old pair of football boots you no longer require why not hand them in to one of the two outlets listed below?
Niall J
