Celtic have recognised the efforts of the Celts For Change group by unveiling a plaque at the foot of the Jimmy Johnstone statue.
Celts for Change emerged in September 1993 as frustrations grew at the lack of direction and leadership from the existing board and played a lead role in Fergus McCann’s takeover of the club in March 1994.
McCann flew in from Canada to present the Bank of Scotland with a £1m deposit to keep the club in business before finally wrestling control from the White and Kelly families.
In the pre-internet days supporters were much less informed than they are presently but thanks to the efforts of the fanzine movement those fans unhappy with the direction of the club were able to find a common voice.
At that time Celtic hadn’t won the championship since the Centenary season of 1987/88 with the Liam Brady era coming to an end.
Word quickly spread among fans about the state the club was in but with three generations of the White and Kelly dynasty ruling the club change was never going to be straightforward.
Celts for Change, formed by malcontents Matt McGlone, Brendan Sweeney,Colin Duncan, David Cunnigham and John Thompson galvanised disillusioned supporters and quickly gained a voice in the media with radio and television appearances.
A number of protest events were arranged, including picketing the Bank of Scotland HQ in Glasgow city centre before the group called for a fans’ boycott of a home match against Kilmarnock.
The boycott issue was the strongest weapon that the group had but with the clubs positioning worsening a boycott was called having previously used the slogan of Back the Team, Sack the Board.
Various potential investors emerged, including Willie Haughey, Gerard Wiesfeld and Brian Dempsey, but it was McCann who forced the issue through with his then business partner Dempsey.
Now almost 20 years after taking the first steps to revolutionise the club Celtic have recognised the efforts of five fans who helped to shape the modern Celtic.
CLICK HERE for more details on Celt’s for Change
Looking at the shenanagins going on elsewhere it’s bizzare to think we were being threatened for, as I remenber it, a lousy 6 million owed to a bank, and correct me if I’m wrong, the bottom line on the, some would say david Murray instigated, threats from the bank was an outstanding ONE MILLION overdraft.
Never forget the hearse at CP Bhoys, when they’re looking for sympathy for benefit cheats fc.
HH
Well done these guys but for me the lack of any credit for Fergus McCann is astonishing.
He was the one who not only wanted change but risked his own money to make it happen. Had he not done what he did Celtic would no longer exist. I would like to see the stadium named after him. HH
Well done to these 5 guys who did galvanise the support. I agree with Brendan about Fergus, however, both Fergus McCann and Brian Dempsey deserve enormous credit. Both of them fought hard to keep the club together and oust the parasites who were running the club into the ground at the time. Fergus and Brian had a vision which Matt et al helped to bring to fruition. So it would be nice to recognise Fergus and Brian in some way, even though I suspect they would not look to countenance this themselves. Neither were looking for personal glory, but had Celtic and their fans at the forefront of their thoughts. They did what they said they would do, both using their skills and resources as well as they were able. There is no doubt that Fergus brought about the massive changes, but he acknowledge his debt to Brian at the time. Without Brian, I do not believe that the catalyst for change would have happened so quickly. Brian’s modesty would not, however, allow him to detract from what Fergus achieved.
Words cant explain how grateful Celtic and there millions of fans will always be to Fergus and his board for re-shaping Celtic into the club it is now, and on the birthday of brother walfrid i have never been more proud to support Celtic, we may have lost some battles over the years but we won the war in the end, hail hail, 125 YEARS OF UNBROKEN HISTORY+
Its worth remembering Fergus walked into Paradise and put six million of his own hard earned into the club to square that debt away without having any position or responsability within the club itself.
A fantastic thing to have done and IT’S have no doubt in my mind he done it for no other reason than a love of the Tic.
Couldntl agree more, this turning point in our 125yr history should be recognised by Celtic, and recognised in a significant way.
HH
‘And I’
Tabletitis totally to blame for that one.
The guys who founded the Celts for Change group deserve to be recognised for the pivotal role they played in such a defining moment in our club’s history, when our club was on the brink of the abyss these guys unified the Celtic support under Celts for Change and sent out a clear message to any potential investors that this club, it’s traditions and history was worth saving and with the backing of the fans there were solid foundations to build on.
Now that their efforts have been officially recognised by the club it is now time to officially recognise the role of Wee Fergus and Brian Dempsey because put quite simply without them our club, it’s traditions and it’s proud and unbroken 125 years of history would have ceased to exist in 1994. What these two men did for Celtic Football Club should NEVER be underestimated or forgotten and they deserve to be recognised in a more meaningful way that befits their contribution to the history of our club.
FERGUS McCANN.
A HERO THEN.
A HERO NOW.
A HERO ALWAYS .
GOD BLESS THE WEE MAN WAY THE BUNNET.
I agree with recognizing Fergus McCann. What about when the stadium renovation is done with the new pathway. It should be called Fergus McCann Way or Avenue. Even call the new store and museum the Fergus McCann building.
I remember going to celts for change meetings during those traumatic times. Fergus was a visionary and way ahead of the times in terms of how a football club and its finances should be ran. Total carnage now on the other side of the city and Edinburgh. They’ve all walked away. At least we stood shoulder to shoulder and had true leadership from fans, Fergus and Dempsey.
The way our investors and fans dealt with the situation back then was by facing up to the situation and recognising what needed to be put right. There was no shirking of responsibility. There was no squealing about it being the fault of others – they simply got on with the job and took those within the club who were responsible to task, eventually getting rid of them. Contrast that with goings on elsewhere. Thank God for ‘the Bunnet’ , Brian Demsey and ‘Celts for Change’.