The vibe on the Celtic Way had a distinctively Latin feel to it last Saturday.
These two young hermanos Célticos were at Paradise for their first home game.
They have already been to Hampden and Ibrox to see the Hoops put Sevco firmly in their box on two occasions.
Easy…
Even an SFA Grade One match official could see that Seba Ongarelli and his brother Geronimo were having a blast.
They even got my buddy John Fallon to pose with their national flag.
However, they quickly reassured the original Holy Goalie that they supported Independiente and they had no grá for Racing Club.
Diplomatic incident averted…
It was written at the time that Stein’s men played with a Latin flair in 1967 in Lisboa.
Some of the hopefuls had made the trip in a Hillman Imp and I spoke with some lads who are recreating that part of the Lisbon saga.
Now, that really IS a journey!
I arrived back home with this bad Bhoy to add to my T-Shirt collection.
I promised the Argentinian lads that I would wear it in Lisbon at the end of the month!
The Celtic story is an uplifting one.
A club founded by immigrants to raise funds to feed hungry children.
Moreover, the founder was a man who had survived An Gorta Mór as a child.
He burned with the mission that no youngster should ever suffer from an empty stomach.
Of course, such a worthy cause would cost money.
Therefore, setting up a football club seemed like a good means to that end.
This isn’t an Irish in Scotland narrative, but a tale that can strike a chord across the world with big-hearted people everywhere.
When I was speaking with Seba and Geronimo the two brothers instantly got that Celtic was about family.
The match itself was worth the journey from Dún na nGall.
The Big Fella and I were in the south stand to see the first team debuts of two academy graduates.
Young Mikey Johnston stood out in the first half.
My sources over the mountain here assure me that he qualifies to play for Ireland through his Gaobh Dobhair family.
He was snubbed by Scotland this season and I’m told that the FAI are on the case.
Of course, if he is faced with a decision it will be down to the lad himself.
My Gaobh Dobhair fella said that young Johnston models himself on Aiden McGeady.
So he’s definitely one to watch.
Celtic have wasted no time in signing up the lad on a new three-year deal.
The kid has been attracting attention from the EPL.
Smart move Brendan.
The other debutant, young Anthony Ralston looked very solid at right back.
Moreover, the cross that created the goal for the visitors scored didn’t come from down his side of the field.
I got a decent view of him in the first half and he looked a very capable player at just 18.
Brendan can be well pleased with his debutants.
Celtic had five academy graduates involved in the match on Saturday.
It must take a huge amount of self-belief for a lad of 18 to step onto a football field and perform at that level.
I suspect that Donegal man Jimmy McGuinness is playing a useful part in the background there.
He certainly got the county football team here to believe in themselves.
At half time the Argentinian lads were welcomed onto the Parkhead turf.
So, global fan base, an academy producing talent players, modern stadium, great atmosphere.
In Scotland, Celtic stand alone.
Moreover, in Glasgow, the idea of a city rival to the Parkhead outfit is quite simply risible.
It’s almost enough to make you feel sorry for the Espanyol of Glasgow.
That’s until you have to interact with their valued customers.
The ambience at Ibrox is, as it has always been, one of seething xenophobic hatred of the other.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Fitba future is green and white.
Sure, they even know that in Argentina!
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Hopefully young Mike does the proper thing and commit himself to the land of his birth.
Hi Phil
Looking forward to Lisbon at end of month too.
If I bump into you I will buy you a cold beer.
Cheers
Cheers Steven
It was Anthony Ralston’s competitive debut……
Great stuff re the club and the Argentinian bhoys. Was exchanging tweets just 6 weeks or so with them on the breathtaking atmospheres in all Argentinian grounds. When I enquired which teams’ fans were ‘the bad guys’ the response was ‘none are, just passionate’.
Not like our Scotland then.
Truly a great time to be one of the Bhoys.
A historic year, and on the cusp of an historic season.
The Lisbon anniversary, Scottish Cup Final, then the big charity match at Celtic Park, all in the same week.
Invincible domestically, with 4 games to go, and 100 plus points and 100 plus goals setting new records. A clean sweep for the players and manager at the awards ceremony on Sunday night.
It doesn’t get much better. Same again next season Brendan please with some European football after Xmas thrown in
Ernesto “Che” Guevara did, of course, have a partly Irish background. Like Muhammad Ali, he was descended in part from people from County Clare.
They were obviously from the moronic inhuman Irish element so beloved of “Punch” and other GB MSM.
First caller to C1SSB tonight, a Sevco supporter, disagrees with you Phil. The gap is not as big as the SMSM make out.
There’s only one thing to say to that….
Ah, bless.
Really great piece you wrote there Phil. So heartening to see these two young men from “Good Air” Buenos Aires travel all this way to see what Celtic is all about. They get it!
This is the best Celtic have been since Lisbon on and off the field. Its exiting times seeing us just get better and better and watching the afterbirth of old rangers sqwirm from week to week.
Long may it continue.
Power to you elbow….
I can remember the days when the Hun apologists would after their latest outrage , be it sectarian, racist or just violent thuggery , excuse it , using the “two sides of the same coin” deflection , hard to believe I know , fortunately not even the most rabid of The Scottish Hun press try now , a form of progress I guess , there is no Old Firm and I personally want nothing to do with them on every Level .
One of the great things about supporting Celtic is that most years your playing in Europe , Myself and my wife travel to the away games ,usually to somewhere near wherever the game is being played ,not necessarily the actual place and turn it in to a mini break ,see the sites ,meet the people. Down through the years we have travelled all over Europe like this ,and have made many friends down through the years. A wee break is great particularly in our younger years when we lived in London ,and there was the game itself as well. By and large our support has conducted itself well ,ambassadors for club and nation (Celtic ) on the odd occasion where someone has forgotten themselves they are generally policed up by our own support and reminded of who they are. We have been back to places as well to renew acquaintances, and by and large its been an absolute hoot. Some of the exploits of the support are just top drawer . I am very proud to be a Tim, BTW nae mugs either when it came right down to it. “US” not smug , just proud. I like to think we also have style ,and speaking of style or the lack of it, the forces of darkness decided not to attend the PFA awards last night ,how style less is that. They never let you down. cheers John
Hey Phil, just missed you
At the imp.
Both those guys are a credit to the world fan base that we have HH.
Oh hope too see you taking in the sights in Lisbon.
I will have the pleasure of dining with one of the big mans bhoys on the night.
Take care my friend.
In the heat of Lisbon ?????
I really hate those Argentinians.Buenos Aires Portenos………..how do I know?I married one of them!If that doesnt make u hate someone I dont know what does!!
seriously,great to see they guys here.When last in BA I attended the Superclasico at La Monumental wearing my Celtic shirt and most Boca fans I met didnt know anything about Celtic so more power to the guys.
All in all, we are a more intellect-driven and inclusive bunch in the Main Stand at paradise. There seems to be more in the way of love in our hearts than malevolence or hubris. What went on both during the game and at half-time on the pitch on Saturday was beautiful: but for an old Celt like me, it was just another day at the office. We are A Club like No Other!
Hi Phil,
Truly appreciated that article,really showing that Our Beloved Club has a real Global fan base,all encompassing and truly open and receptive to all.The last time I spent any amount of time on The Celtic Way,instead of marching through it keen to get into Paradise for the match,was with my father who somehow knew the exact time when King Kenny Dalglish was leaving Paraddise for the final time before embarking on his Liverpool career.Kenny was also accompanied by his father and was kind enough to sign his autograph for me,before they got into his fancy Jaguar and headed south to Anfield.Great memory.
Great read.☮️
I would imagine that, by virtue of the fact that Thatcher and her Conservative and Unionist cronies had a bit of a WATP moment in 1982, any chance of any Argentinian football fan supporting Sevco is so miniscule, they would have to train the Hubble telescope on that part of South America to find somebody – anybody – sporting a red, white, and blue scarf around their neck, or a blue shirt bearing a 32Red logo on its frontage. Welcome to the Celtic family, Geronimo and Seba!!
Just cant picture those boys in The Louden..Great that they Embraced, our welcoming aspects, in Alba . If you can avoid all things red white and blue in Scotland it really is a nice place to stay. Great they are returning with such great memories.
Usually accurate, but this was not a debut for young Ralston.
Noted.
That said I thought the lad was excellent at right back.
It was his first league debut his other matches were friendlies HH
It was his first competitive debut….
This is a wonderful story,
I recall being in Lisbon about 10 years ago for a Benfica Celtic Champions League game and meeting a lad that had flown from Mexico City to watch Celtic play Benfica. He had no Irish or Scottish connections but followed Celtic because of the history and what the club stood for.
I have met Celtic fans from all over Europe at other games we played, be it summer friendlies or European games and it’s the same thing. It’s our history, our politics, our culture that sets us apart.
I myself have no Scottish connections and am from Cork. I supported the club as a young lad when I saw tricolours and Che Guevara flags being flown by Celtic fans. It didn’t take me long to figure that this was the club for me. I have been a die hard supporter ever since, pretty much 20 odd years now and try to make at least a few games a season. I even lived in Glasgow for 5 years when the opportunity presented itself to work there and held a season ticket for all of this time and even for a year after I returned to Cork.
We are truly more than a club.
The natural club for a Rebel…
Jerry,
A coupla years back,I met a fella from West Wales-clue to those who know!-for an Aberdeen v Celtic game.
In Cardiff,Dempseys IIRC.
CELTIC DAFT,HE WAS!!!!
I asked him why he supported us,he didn’t have any Irish or Scottish background,he wasn’t even a Celt from Wales-he was from Norfolk.
The Red Card to Thatcher. And that made me look into Celtic.
And supported them ever since.
Good timing,imagine becoming a fan by accident-nowt worse than a convert,btw!-on Centenary Double Day!!!
HH Chris,if you read this.
Brilliant, I’m sure we have picked up a lot of new members to the Celtic family across the world with our recent Palestinian solidarity.
Hail hail
We have.