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DECEMBER 1999/JANUARY 2000
www.celtic-connection.com
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JUBILANT Celtics supporters at the Royal Canadian Legion in Port Moody watching a live satellite telecast from Scotland of a match between the world-famous Celtics and Rangers football clubs.
Celtics Fans Catch Early Morning Action
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
VANCOUVER — On November 7, while driving out to Port Mood}' at 4 AM on a wet and soggy Sunday morning to see a live satellite telecast of the world-famous Glasgow-based Celtics and Rangers Football Clubs, I wondered who in their right mind — other than die-hard fans — would get out of bed at this hour to watch these fierce rivals play a match.
Was I in for a surprise! Arriving at the Port Moody Royal Canadian Legion on Clarke Drive, the parking lot was already almost full. Inside the hall, it was all business. People were lining up to get their tickets for the game, the coffee was on and breakfast was being served. As everyone was vying for the best tables for a good view of the big wide screen ...all in anticipation of the 5 AM game start.
It was all a sea of green and white striped shirts, scarves and hats. All worn with pride by men, women and children. In no time at all, the wide screen crackled alive with the Setanta sports symbol, signalling contact with Scotland and the beginning of the game. Shouts went up from the over 200-strong Celtic supporters as the Celtic players took to the field.
John Ward of the Celtic Supporters Club who had invited me to the game said, "I hope you will not be offended by the occasional bad language...because the supporters get very emotional at times about the game." What happens is occasionally you hear a table banged or words of encouragement or disapproval but once you're swept up into the intense emotion of the room, you become so focused, you never really hear anything.
After the game, which the Celtics lost.. I spoke to Ian Bankier, one of the members of the Celtic Supporters Club, who is originally from the Gorbals area of Glasgow.
I asked him about how the local club started and what was their purpose.
He said, "Well, about eight years ago, 10 of us got together in the basement of one of our houses and decided to start up a supporters club. We registered the club in Victoria to become a non-profit charitable organization, and things have just developed over the years.
"The membership stayed at about 18 to 20 until three years ago when we started to bring the games in live. It's the passion. People really want to see the games and be amongst each other. We average about 200 people each game, and for one game last year we had 310 people. Some of them are just occasional but most are die-hards. Members tend to be Irom Ireland and from all over Scotland, but for the most part from Glasgow and the immediate area.
"Every Christmas, we have a toy drive which all the members participate in. We ask them to bring toys in to the games and we collect these for needy families in the area. We've also bought two mechanized wheel chairs and donated them to local needy people."
A number of children, all dressed in the Celtic colours attended the game with their parents and I asked Ian if this was a normal occurrence. He replied, "Yes, we have a number of single parents in the club but also other parents just want bring their children to the games to take part in their culture. Sooner or later, I'll be bringing my grandaughter to see the games...even though she's only two now."
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For more information about the Celtic Supporters Club, call (604) 219-9357 for upcoming game information or Jimmy Faulds at (604) 942-4619 or Ian Banker at (604) 941-0087.
FOUNDING members of the Celtic Supporters Football Club in Vancouver: (L-R) I. Bankier, D. Ferns, T. Ferns, G. Ferns. J. Ferns, G. Gemmell, P. Trainnerand J. McGlaughlin. Not present in the photo are: Neil McGlaughlin, Jimmy Faulds, President of the Celtic Supporters Club and Harry McGinn, Vice-President. Another founding member, Tom Morrison passed away two years ago.
PETER DEVINE of Maryhill, Glasgow proudly wears a Celtics European Cup Champions t-shirt from 1967.
COLIN BLAIR and his son Eamon were out early in the morning to cheer on their favourite team. They were both dressed in the green and white Celtics colours.