With Hope In Our Hearts

Foundation’s Christmas Appeal will help those most in need … that has always been the Celtic way

IF it’s true that folk who find a job they love will never have to work a day in their lives, then I haven’t lifted a finger in almost 25 years. Few of my colleagues at Celtic Park will be even remotely surprised by the second part of that statement…

The truth is, while I recognise its need, I don’t actually love the work I do at all – certainly not since moving across to Celtic FC Foundation just over five years ago.

What type of society has Foodbanks for the poor and feeding programmes set up for young people to ensure they can survive and get an education in 2018? What is there to love about that?

It shames me, it angers me, and it saddens me.

No, it’s the working alongside people who have a desire to make a difference, and the organisation that I work for – Celtic Football Club - that I love. And I love it because of its social conscience and because of the people who support it, the people who facilitate the type of projects I’ve just mentioned.

Those are the type of people who recognise the need for systemic change for a huge part of the population is the only way we can deliver equality. I call those people, Celtic supporters. And, in many cases, just people with whom the Celtic story resonates.

Celtic is a collective of many smaller component parts who share a value and a common goal. The staff have it, the players have it, supporters’ clubs in every continent have it, the Green Brigade have it and so many other people have it too.