Yesterday at Hampden was a lot more like the Celtic we continue to follow in large numbers, we can now look forward to getting the opportunity to complete our World Record ninth treble at the same venue on May 24th. I note Aberdeen Chairman Dave Cormack is asking for a 50/50 ticket allocation split, which means that every Aberdeen fan there on Saturday will be able to buy two tickets, while around half of the Celtic Supporters there yesterday will not get the opportunity to buy one ticket, that cannot be allowed to happen. Another thing that should not be allowed to happen is the exploitation of the Celtic Support, which Dundee United have done with their eight pound increase in the ticket price for the game at Tannadice on Saturday. I have today written to Neil Doncaster of the SPL, and spoken to Michael Nicholson at Celtic. Copy of the letter is at the bottom of the page.
Back to yesterday’s game, it was a pleasure to be there as usual, the is no finer sight at the end of the season than to see Hampden Park covered in Green & White, and it certainly was yesterday. I believe St Johnstone sold around 1,500 tickets, Heart 20,000, and Aberdeen 10.000, we had around 40,000, which we get 25% of the share, which also means Celtic continue to fund the rest of Scottish Football, and the SFA/SPL with our appearances at Hampden Park, the final this season will be our fourteenth in the last ten years.
Daizen Maeda continues his remarkable season with another two goals yesterday, I hope Daizen has plenty of room for all the personal awards he is going to lift this season. James Forrest also continues to produce the goods, he was in fine form yesterday, I hope he gets the goal needed to complete his record of scoring in every season he has been in the Celtic first team. It was a case of how many against the Saint’s, it was always going to be hard to replicate the first half display with another four goals, I think their manager decided on damage limitation, and with the game won by half-time it was always about game management for Celtic, I think we handled that perfectly by getting all five subs some well-earned game time. We now have seven players who have scored ten goals or more this season, a remarkable achievement, and with six more games to go that list could grow.
It was a good all round display from the team, there were no failures at all, every player played his part, and when the medals are handed out at the end of the season they will all have played their part in winning the trophies. It also gives Brendan the chance of more history by becoming the first manager to win three trebles, so hopefully if he needs any motivation, that will suffice. James Forrest also has the opportunity to become the most decorated Celtic Player ever by overtaking Bobby Lennox. As a club we can now clinch our 55th title (where have I heard that before?) and 42nd Scottish Cup, taking us to 121 major trophies. Just imagine how many trophies we would have won if the game had been honest and transparent during all those years.
Glasgow’s still Green & White.
Dear Mr Doncaster
I’m writing to you to express my total disgust at the blatant exploitation of the Celtic Supporters by the people who run Dundee United. Clubs cannot be allowed to change ticket prices to meet the situation that arises. Simply because Celtic have the opportunity to clinch the league Title in the match at Tannadice on Saturday should not give Dundee Utd the right to fleece the Celtic Support by massively increasing the ticket price. I am astounded that this is allowed to happen, and it is allowed under SPL rules.
Dundee United’s claim that the increase is to offset the cost of extra policing and stewarding is an affront to the intelligence of the Celtic Support, there is no need for any extra security measures, I have never seen any trouble at a game between both clubs, at Tannadice, and I have been going there for nearly seventy years, Dundee Utd should be happy that they are able to fill their stadium, because it only happens when they play us and another team from Glasgow. Dundee Utd’s claim that they are charging non season ticket holders the same price is a smoke screen, as is their offer of an extra ticket to season ticket holders for £10.
I would like to think that honesty and respect would prevail in this situation, but I believe the Chris Mc kay (CFO) of Celtic has already tried that without success, and that Dundee Utd are taking an intransigent stand on the matter. I would like to you to speak directly to the officials of Dundee Utd, and ask them to reinstate the prices charged when we visited Tannadice the last time, and to accept that without the financial input of the Celtic Support at least twice a season they would be a lot worse off. I would also remind Dundee Utd, that the Celtic Support also have the choice of deciding not to visit Tannadice next season.
Kind regards,
Joe O’Rourke,
General Secretary,
Celtic Supporters Association.
