Episodes
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God Save Ireland: The Story Of An Old Celtic FC Anthem
God Save Ireland is a patriotic Irish song that has a major place in Celtic's history. This is the story behind the ballad.
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Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 14 - Won By Rangers FC
In 1901, Rangers won the Glasgow Exhibition Cup in very controversial fashion. A year later, Celtic would become champions of Britain and end up keeping a trophy engraved with the words 'Won By Rangers FC'. Here's how! www.amazon.co.uk/TAKE-ME-YOUR-PARADISE-incidents/dp/1700120271/
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Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 13 - World Cycling Championships
In the late 1800s, Celtic hosted the World Cycling Championships at Paradise. The decision to do so would have a major impact on the future direction of the club. https://www.amazon.co.uk/TAKE-ME-YOUR-PARADISE-incidents/dp/1700120271/
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Johnstone Vigilante Committee
The story of a group of Celtic supporters who took forceful action against agents from English clubs, who kept signing Celtic players in the days before professionalism was introduced to Scottish football.
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The Greatest Celtic XI Pre-Lisbon
In 2002 an official greatest Celtic XI was voted for by supporters. However, no players from before the Lisbon Lions era featured in the team. To ensure that the heroes from the first 80 years of Celtic's history are not forgotten, it was decided that a podcast on the Greatest Celtic XI…
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Celtic Park Fires: Paradise Twice In Flames
Celtic Park suffered two stadium fires in the first half of the 20th century. The impact is still felt today as some incredibly valuable items were destroyed. This short episode tells the story of those events
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Belfast Celtic - Glasgow Celtic's Greatest Friend
Belfast Celtic FC was a legendary Irish football club, which played a key role in the history of Celtic FC in Glasgow. This episode looks at the relationship between the two famous institutions and the role which the Belfast Celts played in shaping the Glasgow club's identity. "When we had…
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A Geordie Bhoy: Alan Thompson - Guest
Former Celtic star Alan Thompson is set to release a biography - A Geordie Bhoy - on 1 December 2021. In this episode, Tommo gives listeners a taste of what to expect in the book, as he talks about his time at Celtic, his wider football career, and shares some personal stories away from the…
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The Political History Of Celtic Football Club
In the modern game, Celtic Football Club can no longer be as politically outspoken as it once was. Governing bodies and sponsors dictate that, but whilst this is the case at boardroom level, many supporters of the club remain vocal in their political views and sympathies. This episode looks at…
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Celtic In The Black & White Era - Guest - Steve Finan
Steve Finan is a journalist of 40 years' standing who has made the transition to author. He is a cobwebbed and dusty expert on newspaper and magazine archives and creates football nostalgia books, mainly drawing upon the extensive material in the DC Thomson archive. One of his recent books…
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Harry Hood: Twice As Good - Guest - Matt Corr
Mention the name Harry Hood and it evokes memories of a wonderful footballer in a glorious era, most notably at Celtic, his boyhood club. The chants rang out as he scored vital goals against the giants of European football under those massive lights in Glasgow’s east end, in the intensity of the...
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Guest - Paul McQuade - Celtic Daft: The Johnny Doyle Story
Johnny Doyle came from a Celtic-daft family and had to be persuaded to give up his local supporters club membership to try and become a professional footballer. Under Ally MacLeod's guidance, teenage Doyle went on to win international honours before Celtic spent a record fee to take the flying...
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Guest - David Potter - Alec McNair Celtic's Icicle
Celtic historian and author David Potter has written dozens of books about Celtic Football Club and it's legendary figures. In this episode, David discusses his new book - Alec McNair Celtic's Icicle. Packed full of incredible stories about one of the greatest ever Celts, this episode is not to…
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Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 11 - Floodlight Failure
In the late 1800s, Celtic were among the first teams in Scotland to host night time matches under the aid of electric/gas light. It was a far cry from modern floodlighting and the experiment was doomed to fail.
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Michael Davitt - Celtic's Radical Patron
In 1889, Michael Davitt was named Celtic's second Patron. He was also invited to lay the centre sod of turf, imported from Donegal, at the opening of the new Celtic Park in 1892. An IRB man, Land League founder, Politician, International Speaker, GAA enthusiast and Celtic fan - Michael Davitt had...
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Celtic's Most Important Founding Fathers
There were over 20 individuals involved in founding Celtic Football Club in late 1887. Sadly, many of these men have been forgotten over the years. In this episode, I list those identified as founding fathers, before exploring the stories of the four most important people in terms of establishing...
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The Celts Who Fell In War
A number of Celtic players and supporters served in WWI & WWII. Some died, two won the Victoria Cross Award and one was awarded the Military Cross. This episode looks at those stories and explores the difference in attitude at the club between both conflicts.
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Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 8, 9 & 10 - The Final Protest, Johnstone Vigilante Committee, Singing In The Face Of Landlords
Celtic's chaotic early years on the pitch had already seen protests and confusion in the Scottish Cup. The Glasgow Cup Final of 1889 was no different. From that incident, I move on to the story of how a group of Celtic supporters in the town of Johnstone organised themselves to target English...
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The History of Celtic Supporter's Groups
Throughout Celtic's history, the support has played a major part in shaping the club. Celtic fans have organised themselves and created their own groups since the late 1800s. In this episode, I explore the history of Celtic Brake Clubs, Supporter's Clubs, the Celtic Supporter's Association, Celts...
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Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 7 - Quillanite Quislings
A split emerged between members of Celtic's committee ahead of the club's first AGM in 1889. As a result of the fallout, James Quillan founded a rival Irish club in Glasgow. Who did he take with him and why? More importantly, what impact did this have on Celtic?...
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St. Conval's Cemetery: Graves of McStay, McInally & Dodds
Three legendary Celtic players are buried at St Conval's Cemetery in Barrhead. An ideal site to visit for locals during lockdown. This is the story of the legendary trio. To see more landmarks and sites of Celtic interest, visit the following link, where you can purchase a copy of The Holy…
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Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 5 and 6 - Cup Chaos & Fortunate Finalists
Celtic reached the Scottish Cup Final in their first full season; a quite remarkable achievement. However, the competition featured some controversial incidents and it was far from plain sailing for the Celts.
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Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapters 3 and 4 - Glory To The Hibees & Brother Walfrid's Confirmation
Hibernian's Scottish Cup Final victory in 1887 is celebrated at St Mary's Church Hall in Glasgow. A series of speeches plant the seed of Celtic in the minds of those present. Thereafter, Brother Walfrid organises a further charitable football event - The East End Catholic Charity Cup - it's...
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Take Me To Your Paradise: Chapter 2 - Football Fundraiser
Brother Walfrid sets up the 'Penny Dinner Scheme' as part of The Poor Children's Dinner & Breakfast Tables. I explore the thinking behind this initiative, which other Marist Brother became involved with the project, and how the pair discovered football as an important fundraising tool....
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Take Me To Your Paradise: Introduction & Pat 'Tailor' Welsh
Pat 'Tailor' Welsh found himself on the run after an Uprising in Ireland. A British soldier captured him but allowed Welsh to escape to Glasgow, where he played a part in founding Celtic Football Club and was responsible for bringing Willie Maley to the club. But what was Maley's connection to...