Growing up during the 1990s, like I did, was hardly the best of time to be a Celtic fan. At the time, the biggest matches that our team would be involved in would be ‘old firm’ games.
For the first few years that I attended these matches, it was never an enjoyable occasion, the majority of them, Celtic lost. My seat at the time in Celtic Park was in the south stand at the end of the row which was near the away fans.
I was close enough that they could hit me with whatever random objects they could find lying around. Never mind that I was only a child, this was “ra peepul” so it was ok for them to do this.
I spent most of the times watching those games in abject misery. Don’t get me wrong, there were some good games to watch. We had a few wins versus them at home, just not very many.
Sometimes, these games were decided on a free kick being denied or given. Perhaps a yellow card to a key player early on ensured that they were wary of every tackle that they went on to make.
Others were just strange decisions that nobody could make any sense of. Of course, as I got a bit older and a bit wiser, I learned what these strange decisions were. They were a result of my ‘Celtic Paranoia’.
At the time, I know that there is no way that I could have been the only fan to think that ‘something’s just no right wi’ this mob’.
Fast forward on a bit and it turns out that we, Celtic fans, were misdiagnosed. We never actually suffered from ‘Celtic Paranoia’,  however there were a massive amount of influential people who kept telling us that we did.
I don’t just mean non footballing supporting neutrals. I am talking along the lines of people who were in a position of power. Influential people such as journalists. And not only journalists but people who later became known as the establishment.
‘The establishment’ is a fairly knew concept to me now. Who are they? What do they do? Why do they do whatever it is they do? How do you become part of this “establishment”.
While I was living through these grim times as a Celtic fan, a large number of other fans were also doing the same. One fan in particular was doing it. He was regularly travelling the length and breadth of Scotland not to mention across Europe to watch Celtic, Paul Larkin.
Some of you may recognise his name as he is a prominent figure within the world of the “internet bampot”. Paul’s most recent book, ‘The Asterisk Years’ spends time highlighting why we were not paranoid enough.
He doesn’t just ramble on about poor decisions that have gone against us. The book is full of facts and figures to back up the arguments that are being made. When I first heard what the point of the book was, I thought surely someone will stop this from being published.
Some have tried and failed. I listened to a few podcasts with the author and he’s made the point that there is nothing illegal in the book therefore, it cannot be stopped.
Some of the questions that I have asked earlier in this piece about the ‘Establishment’ are clearly things that Paul has asked himself at some point too.  ‘The Asterisk Years’ is a book that I struggled to put down. It’s a combination of stories from Paul’s time of following Celtic throughout these years and it goes into a lot of detail to explain why the diagnosis of ‘Celtic Paranoia’ was incorrect.
I would say that if you have ever wondered about what goes on “in the background” this book gives a pretty good indication.
I was lucky enough to have been able to buy a ticket to go along to the Glasgow book launch. Within 2 days, the book was finished. As a fan who lived through these times, it’s very easy to relate to the book.
Overall, I found it was a good read and it’s another one of many Celtic related books that I would recommend to fellow fans.
CLICK HERE to buy The Asterisk Years
CLICK HERE for Paul’s other books
Great article. For years I suffered from paranoia about becoming paranoid, so I better read the book.
The establishment is the Masonic bedrock that is used and hijacked by anti-Catholic people who are commited to the demise of an organisation that stands for everything they are not. Please spare me the guff about Catholics being members of this vile cult. No Christian or catholic worth their core would tolerate this gang and their wee gang hut.
The welcome news is that their influence and numbers are dwindling like that other caring, sharing group the orange order. We have seen it all before for so long in the working environment,the favouritism and unfairness. A shower of in-bred mutants is a fair description.
Steve, excellent piece.
Paul Larkin knows his stuff.Much to the
annoyance of the establishment and MSM.
I look forward to reading this truthful and
factual book.
The ‘paranoid’ label was an attack on both
the club and the fans.
MSM when dining on their ‘ succulent lamb’ , courtesy of Minty, would be told to
‘spin’ stories about the ‘paranoid’ club.
BUT NOT ANY MORE.
The ‘dead’ clubs sycophants have been found out.Brave journalists,like Jim Spence,listen to yourself and other bloggers.Graeme Spiers regards the Zombies as a ‘NEW ‘ club.
So,Steve, all the bloggers good work is not
going unnoticed.The ‘ establishment ‘ are
finding it harder to work to their own biased agendas.
The 90’s were bad,on and off the park.
The 10’s are bliss, with the Huns where they are,and daily stories of wrongdoing.
HERE’S TO 10 – IN – A – ROW !!
Keep up the good work.
Steven when I say you’re lucky…what I mean is….
You only endured this through the 90’s if I read you correctly….
Spare a thought for older folk like me…who suffered it through from the 50’s…..
BBC Scotland’s No Catholic policy on employment..( Peter Thomson..Head of Sport..our arch enemy…except we didn’t know it)….Reputedly tried to destroy 7-1 footage…
“Tiny” Wharton..top referee…openly Masonic….
R.Davidson…top referee…Openly a Rangers fan….
Scotland’s top newspapers..The Scottish Daily Express and Evening Citizen…openly Masonic and Orange ( Special edition printed on the 12th)…..and openly pro-Rangers…
The instruction to Celtic to remove the Tricolour from Celtic Park…
I could go on….
The point is…
It’s nothing new….and more worryingly….it hasn’t really gone away….
One day….maybe
Good article Steven….
Will get the book.
Mike,A name you mention reminds me of Davidson from Newport-on-Tay.When he was officiating at any of our games in the sixties/seventies,I know for a fact that day signillad big Jocks shortesest team talk.He would tell the players who was the ref for that days game adding lets make it torture for him and put on a display. They inevitably did.
Davidson came from Airdrie it was john Gordon who came from new port on tay as for tait I was at a sportsmans dinner he came in wearing a sash he tried to make out it was a bit of fun
yep,youre dead right as I commented below.
Cheers Yogi….
and here’s another one…and I know it’s true…’cos it’s me he said it to…
Bobby Tait …blueandorangenose from East Kilbride…(added 6 or 7 mins. on against Hearts if you remember and got his last game refereeing Sevco…aw bless………..) had been promoted to Grade 1…
He came up to me in the pub and said…..
“Mike..the next time your lot are chanting whose the Mason in the black…You can tell them it’s me”….True story…
I was barred from the pub for a month for my reaction…it was worth it…
wee shite.
Fantastic book by Paul Larkin, this story can’t just end here we must take this to the next level.
We can’t depend on the media doing anything about Sevco, they’re in fear of their lives from sevcoians.
If the only thing we can do is help spread the word, don’t ever let them forget they die cheating.
HH
yogi
Bobby Davidson came from Airdrie. It was Gordon from Newport on Tay. We had it rough from most refs in those days. A guy called Callaghan was suspended by the SFA when he mistakenly didn’t send off Big Yogi for flattening Willie Johnston of deidco in 1969 ish.
I stand corrected sir,and well I remember The huns official complaint that Callaghan didn’t send off Yogi for decking that wee nark Johnston. It was 1969 League Cup section game,played on a wed.night. Imake my apologies in advance gentlemen If my memory lets me dow again. Many Thanks.
J.P.R Gordon, Neport-on-Tay,Thats the Bastard.
They died cheating and chasing lions it’s over sevco is heading same way for any1 in doubt of the paranoia check charlotte fake overs posts on twitter.
The sfa is proven to be bias and jack Irvine had a campaign of hate towards faith and club this is well sinister and low the 12 th man was the ref for them tramp the dirt down and embrace fairness the sfa and jack have blood on there hands to hail hail the war is over the rebels have won sevco is joke and the freak of sport
…Hail-Hail Bhoys…just lovin all the comments.
So now we know we where no paranoid I was never Paranoid Liveing in the West of Scotland Carluke to be exact the home off two flute bands So live was keep your head down I wach your back at all times work they made sure you had to travel far to find work No Cathoilc need look for work at centring steel work talk about South Africa we had no go areas Police if you just look at them God help you Hail Hail JMJ