Celticunderground:the Celtic Football Fan Podcast

Whilst the international campaign commenced the domestic season commences this weekend against St Johnstone and so it’s time for the Celtic Underground 2019/20 season.   This is our 14th season podcasting to the Celtic faithful and thanks to everyone who listens to and downloads our drivel, whether you’ve been doing it for 14 years (heaven help you) or a new listener.   This week’s podcast features @Harrybradycu @lachiemor1 and @S_J_H1978 as they discuss the successful European campaign to date, the current state of the squad and the chances of attaining a quadruple treble.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

This week the 219/2020 season officially commenced with our first competitive game. As usual it was a UCL qualifier against a team we should, and did, beat comfortably.  It’s frustrating that we need to return to competitive action so quickly however this is principally down to the abysmal performances of the other Scottish teams in Europe over the last 25 years or so.   Anyway, with the 14th season of the CU podcast now officially underway, I dialled up a man who has attended some of the pre-season games to get his impression of the teams start to the season where we hope to equal the 9 - Mr Antony Murray.   Not only can you listen to his views on the podcast, you can tweet him to tell him how much you agree/disagree with his chat @antonymurray25     Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

That was the season that was and what a season, European football past Christmas, a manager going from hero to zero and a unique treble treble and off the park we saw the passing of two legends of European Football.   With such a momentous season we had to have a multi-guest podcast and Harry was joined by Stephen Wray, Sean Huddleston and Duncan Smillie with apologies from Lawrence Donegan, Kevin Schoefield, St Anthony and Lachie Mor.   On the podcast the bhoys discuss all the key footballing events of the history making season from the end of the previous season’s open top bus tour all the way through to the start of the most recent one.  The transfer windows, the briefings against the board, the briefings against the manager, the players in, the players out, the dropped points and the trophies won…and of course the end of the Brendan Era and the start of the Lenny II era.   It’s two hours of Celtic chat, and it could have been more!   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with othe

Excellent podcast guest this week in @PolhomeEditor  Kevin Schofield   The season has ended and the dust has settled from the appointment of Neil Lennon.  During the 10 days since the completion of the treble treble we have had the Ticileaks scandal and so who better to talk about leaks, how they happen and the motivation behind them than a hardened political hack like Kevin.   After our discussions on the Ticileaks we review the appointment of Lennon and the club’s media management of it.  We also review Lennon as a manager before moving on to politics and the burning question - are there many Tims at Westminster?   Enjoy…. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

  This week saw Celtic deliver one the most remarkable achievements in our history and certainly perhaps the most amazing domestic achievement of our modern history in attaining a holy trinity of trebles and this was immediately followed by the appointment of Neil Lennon as the new permanent manager at our great club, following on from Brendan Rodgers and returning to the club 5 years after he and the hierarchy parted ways, mutually deciding that enough was enough.   The Trinity of trebles is an amazing feet but the final itself could have been better.  The appointment of Lenny as manager was also not met with much enthusiasm by large sections of the support and that therefore made recording this podcast a challenge.   The podcast commenced with an idea that some like minded Celtic fans would record the type of chat we were having socially, like it and listen.  Don’t like it?  Switch off.  It was never designed to be a formal media although as modern technology has changed so has some people’s attitude to pod

Hail Hail The Celts are here! This is a football fans podcast of the 8, yes EIGHT in a row Scottish champions who are now just 90 minutes from a treble. Yes we’re on our way to Gr8ness and one win away from a Holy Trinity of domestic dominance. Before we get there we need to do some podcasts so I am joined this week by a man who recalls the last 8 in a row slightly better than me, young St Anthony. We discuss the Aberdeen game and how after the first goal we knew the title was ours before moving on to team selection for Saturday, managerial chat and a review of the concept of Colts/B Teams being admitted to the lower leagues. Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

This week was an emotional one at Celtic Park with the passing of Big Billy and today’s game was never going to be easy.  We also have a team who have been playing since July and a new temporary manager who doesn’t know whether he’ll be in post next season.   Despite the managerial changes amazingly we started today with 6 players who were at the club when Lennon was last here.  A point which perhps highlights the one failing of Brendan - his signing policies.   Anyway we eventually won and it was amazing that the winning goal was scored by our Number 5 when the clock was showing 67 minutes - As someone once said “There’s a fairy tale about this club”   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Today saw the passing of Celtic’s greatest ever Captain, Billy McNeill.  The grandchild of Irish and Lithuanian immigrants Billy forged a unique career and a unique position in the folklore of Celtic and world football.   A one man club as a player from 1957 - 1975 he captained the club in each and every one of the 9 in a row seasons.  He captained Celtic in 2 European Cup finals and in two semi finals.  He managed the team to a European Cup quarter final and to an incredible double in the Centenary Season.  In 132 seasons, the club have one 106 trophies.  Billy McNeil has picked up 31 of them.   In world sport, few athletes are part of iconic moments with fewer still fortunate enough to have one simple image that encapsulates all that they have achieved.   In the moment when Big Billy lifted that trophy; the first Scot, the first Briton representing the first non-Latin side to achieve that accolade a moment was captured that will live with us forever.   Billy McNeill - Goodnight and God Bless This is a publi

This week saw Celtic snatch victory from the jaws of a bore draw with the late late  LATE show at Dens Park as Edouard scored in the 96th minute to stretch our lead at the top to 10 points and edge us closer still to Gr8ness.   With the title all but in the bag we decided to get Stephen Wray back on the podcast to discuss that Dens victory and then have a review of whether we think Lennon will be the man next season.  In short, mibees aye, mibees naw.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

“Once you’ve played for the Celtic, you’ll always be Celtic.”   This week we move away from the Brendan gossip and back to the usual business.  The team is marching towards Gr8ness with Lennon in charge and we have a podcast featuring 2 Celtic legends - Neil Lennon (with his pre-Dons game press conference) and John ‘Yogi’ Hughes.   Yogi was at Celtic from 1959 to 1971 before moving on to Crystal Palace and the Sunderland.  He was at the club to experience the transformation that took place under Jock Stein and Sean Fallon and his comments on these two are very interesting… not to be missed!   In the last week we’ve had the podcast with ALL the Brendan gossip we first told you about back in August (but few wanted to believe) and then we re-tweeted the links to the 20th Anniversary Fergus podcast (because 4th March this week was the 25th anniversary of Fergus and co sweeping way the old board and commencing the building works for this period or unequalled dominance of the domestic game.   We hope you enjoy our

What a week!   The last podcast was recorded on Monday night as the Brendan rumours were starting the surface and came out when he’d gone.  During that recording I decided to chat with Lachie about the possibility of Brdoge leaving and was concerned that I sounded too negative…in hindsight I was too positive!   He’s gone and his timing is awful however I seem to be not quite as angry as many fellow Tims.  I think this is down to my resignation last August that he would not be here next season and the expectation that he may not even see out the season (although once he was here past Christmas that fear had evaporated…what do I know?)   Anyway, on the “what do I know” theme I decided to take the audio of Lenny yesterday and then have a wee monologue about what I did know (or at least what I was told by people that I have every faith know), the stuff I discussed on a rival podcast!   I hope it’s not noo boring and that we can start putting this anger to bed.  He may have left like a self centred arsehole but he

This podcast was recorded the night before the day of departure, so we discuss the Motherwell game, preview the Hearts game and in the middle discuss the increasing rumours coming through by text, DM and Whatsapp that something was afoot.  Despite getting the rumours we still couldn’t believe he’d actually go.   We knew he would be leaving in the summer, but couldn’t believe he would leave this close to the end of the season but unfortunately the only thing that matters to Brendan Rodgers is Brendan Rodgers.   No point wasting energy over him, he’s gone.   Here’s to the title and here’s to the treble   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast is back following a momentous week of statements and games.  We’ve had the last-minute Kilmarnock victory which led to the Ayrshire club’s statement on Boyd and seats.  When then had the return tie with the black bat of Valencia and we have the upcoming Sunday fixture against Motherwell.   Interspersed into all of the Celtic stuff, we’ve had the Rangers Killie game where, once again, one club got fortunate decisions which were subsequently overturned once the game was completed and that club had won.  Hmmmm.   Following the Kilmarnock cup replay at Ibrox, Steve Clarke had an “astonishing” rant where he stated the obvious - people who obsess with religious related abuse at football are Neanderthals and Scotland still has a major problem… “astonishing!”  This was then followed up an interview with Barry Ferguson about the questions his kids asked when he was verbally abused.  This was accompanied with a tear jerking picture of his poor kids wearing scarves with anti-Catholic and Ulster Terrorist slo

The podcast is back with Hull’s proudest proponent, Hullbhoy himself.  On this week’s podcast we review the Valencia game and preview the Kilmarnock league match.  We discuss how much human error impacted on the Celtic and Valencia performances - that basically Celtic played well for 20 mins and then a series of human errors seemed to spread fear and trepidation through the Celtic ranks.  That when the Valencia goal hit the back of the net, you got the impression the ref could have blow the final whistle there and then and both sets of players would have been quite happy.   The bhoys then move on to the Killie game and the impact of a plastic pitch and a Kilmarnock Cup replay may have on the attitudes of both sets of players.  Consequently both bhoys go for a 2-0 victory to the hoops.  Here’s hoping.     Enjoy This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

After the last podcast I promised that our audio output would start to return to normal levels and, if I hadn’t had a broken pipe resulting in sh1t ending up all over my hall this podcast would have been out a lot sooner and I’d have had time to go and pick up the St Mirren post game chat. But there’s no point crying over spilt sh1t3 and the podcast is here for your enjoyment. This week we have St ANthony chatting all things Celtic with St Jnr. Anyone who follows Saint on twitter will know that when it comes to reviewing the future for the modern team, every silver lining has a cloud but as you can hear, despite his best efforts, such pessimism isn’t quite rubbing off on Saint jnr! Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

We’re back!   After some intermittent coverage this season, the podcast is back with a bang for 2019 and like a middle aged man put on a prune diet by his doctor we’ll be more regular than ever through the rest of the season.   MArk and I pick up where we left off, discussing the AEK game and criticising the club for have a poor signing strategy….but this time it’s different.   This time Mark has some facts and stats to back up his position that we should be performing MUCH better in the transfer market.   Mark has done his homework and reviewed our peers across European football and the results are quite stark.   Celtic have the second highest revenue of our peers, Celtic have the second highest wage bill of our European peers.  Unfortunately Celtic have the second worse coefficient of our peers.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

There can be few areas outside the Calton and East End of Glasgow more synonymous with the club than The Gorbals.  Situated just on the south of the Clyde it has been home yo legions of Celtic fans for the 130 years of our club and if you follow @Evergreencsc on twitter you will know that he is THE man to go to when looking to discuss Celtic and the Gorbals.    Following on from the last podcast with St Anthony discussing Celtic and Govan, he follows it up with a chat about Celtic and The Gorbals with Gordon Cowan.  A fascinating listen I am sure all Celtic fans, whether from The Gorbals or not will have an interest in this podcast.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

It’s podcast time again and this week it is St Anthony who brings along a special guest when he is joined by Sean McDonagh. Sean has been writing online about the history of Celtic fans in Govan after a brake club banner was found from the early 1900s.  Obviouslythis is a topic close to the heart of Govanite Saint however it will no doubt of interest to all Celtic fans who take an interest in the history of our club.   This podcast has been recorded during the best run of domestic form since the Invincible season.  Tonight, as I pull this together, we have thumped Dundee, fresh on the heels of thumping of Hearts at Murrayfield on Sunday.  I don’t know who came up with this forward passing lark but it’s ceryainly transformed the fortunes of the team.   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

This week the podcast returns with a guest from long long ago on a podcast far far away….Sean Huddleston,, author of Celtic In The 1980’s - The Lost Decade and sometime academic and sometime football conference organiser.   The bhoys start with reference to Sean’s book about Celtic in the ’80’s and this leads on to a ramble about how our away European form has (in general) never been that good.  From there it somehow moves on to a discussion about social media and it’s uselessness before somehow the bhoys drag the chat back around to Celtic in Europe via anti-Irish bigotry.   It is a truly remarkable ramble that also covers the forthcoming Football Collective Conference which has about 5 tickets left!   Enjoy… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Celtic have now scored 10 goals in just two games after struggling in the early part of the campaign and also at the end of last season. Noticeable by its absence in those two games has been the passing for passing’s sake along the back line and the obvious desire of the players to try and find the forward pass. This more front foot thinking was typified in the first goal when Lustig harried by a Hibs player on the touchline, turned and then turned back to play the ball forward to Forrest. Last month and for the preceding 10 months that would have gone backwards to a centre half.   Hibs looked like scoring twice and scored twice. Celtic looked like scoring 8 times and did so 4. Like most Hibs games from my memories, this was an excellent domestic game of football because Hibs came to win the game which then creates the space for us. It was a really enjoyable game. Here’s to many more like that this season as we march towards title no8.   After the game we had Brendan, Lenny, Eddy and a Hobs player (whose name