The history of Glasgow Celtic FC runs contrary to many people’s expectations. Celtic, who today is among the favourites of punters betting on the game and gamblers placing their Scottish punts as opposed to Premier League Free Bets, did not start off with deep pockets. Rather they started in poverty, in the streets of Glasgow and in an Irish immigrant’s home. To know how they began their journey, read this short yet insightful article.
The Roots
In 1887, an Irish man by the name of Andrew Kerins, popularly called Brother Walfrid came up with the idea of initiating a football club with the aim of raising funds. The proceeds were meant to aid and assist the immigrant Irish families and to reduce their perils.
The first meeting of the club was held in a tiny hall in St. Mary’s Church in Forbes Street, where the idea was pitched and agreed upon. The participants suggested a variety of names such as Emerald Harps and Glasgow Hibernia, but then it was narrowed down to Wilfred’s suggestion – Glasgow Celtic, a name which represented the history of the club stemming from Scotland.
The Firsts
Though the jersey of the club has been modified many times over the years, two major colours – green and white, were used in the first jersey. These have been continued till today as the most prominent and vital colours for the club.
One year after the team’s formation, the FC played its first-ever match against their Glasgow neighbours in 1888. This year marked the beginning of a healthy rivalry between the two clubs, which has only increased in these 130 years.
Because of their Irish roots, the club gained popularity among the local Irish residents like wildfire. Their following among the people was further strengthened when the club opened their home ground – Celtic Park in 1892. The park was inaugurated ceremoniously with great men of the time like Michael Davitt and T.D. Sullivan gracing the occasion with their presence.
Community Ethos
Celtic FC since its beginning was strongly inclined towards its charitable causes and helping out the community was its core ethos. In 1894, the club played against the Clyde FC and generated £60 as revenue from ticket collection. Celtics donated this amount to Davitt for using it Ireland for eviction relief aid. Due to their continuous support, Davitt wrote about the FC that, “the members of this renowned athletic association are young Irish men who are generous supporters of every national and good cause.”
Shifting Towards Professional Career
Sooner or later, the FC had to compete with other football clubs, and in 1897 Celtic decided that they were ready to embark on their professional journey. This began with appointing Willie Maley as their first manager who continued his association with the FC for 43 years and became the reason behind Celtic lifting 30 trophies under his command.
One remarkable change that Willie introduced was inducting new players from the local community. This ensured a sense of pride on the field and also prevented the team to drain its wealth by signing from other clubs. Today, the club has a dedicated fan base, and their Irish sentiment has become stronger than ever.