Willowford CSC was founded in the 1969-1970 season and originally began on the grounds of St Bernard’s Chapel on Wiltonburn Road, South Nitshill. The parish priest, Father Carney, objected to the bus leaving there, as other people were not behaving. within the chapel grounds and pleaded that it would be better for them to leave the chapel aisle in Willowford.
Early members and committee members included John Hunter, Peter and Pat Harmon, Jimmy O’Brien, Eddie Hunter, Ernie Walsh, Hughie McAuley, Frank McConville, Jimsy Murphy, and Willie Miller, among others.
The following season, the club moved to Aberdeen with a two-storey flat, which included an optical bar on the ground floor, which helped both him and the club’s funds. It has become a tried-and-true meeting place for a number of years, adding a stop in Blackford for a fish dinner on the way back.
In the mid-’70s, several stalwarts joined the bus, adding Davie Murray, John Robinson, and Danny Hayes, who were joined in the late ’70s by Stan McNicol, John Ramsay, Dennis McCafferty, Willie Walker, and a young Gerry McGinlay. Aberdeen remained a highlight, with plenty of late-night adventures in the late 80s, with a fantastic welcome at the Parkvale FC Supporters Club and later, at the TUC Club near the docks.
The proximity of the docks sparked controversy when Willie Miller and John Ramsay, with the help of an old contact in Nitshill, Willie Bentley, brought boxes of fish, which are remembered for their smell, back on the road.
In the late ’70s and early ’80s, the club was lucky enough to have Bobby Murdoch on the bus on several occasions while he was jogging for a while at the nearby Levern Water Hotel.
Another character on the bus, Oakie, never joined, as I never knew if he was a Celtic, Rangers or Partick Thistle fan. Members who joined the band in the early ’80s included Robert Allan, Ben Logan, Willie Cusack, Donnie McKinnie, and Mary Gillies, who was the first female member in a time when there were none.
His nickname “Bobby,” as well as his Tammy, helped convince all the skeptics. She, however, was defeated on a trip to Dundee when the committee, while in a pub, found herself sitting by the women’s toilet. “Bobby, that’s the ladies,” was greeted with an “I know. “You may have heard a pin drop. She was very popular and dressing up with Tammy has become a matter of choice rather than necessity. He’s still traveling, but sadly Willie Grieve (the face of Celtic’s dementia care task as part of the Lions Lunchbreak initiative) and Luke McShane recently passed away.
A captivating story revolves around a Player of the Year ball held in 1983/84 for winner Frank McGarvey, where Frank was approached by the club to see if he wanted a trophy or an award.
Frank said his vacuum cleaner was damaged and asked if the club could get him a replacement, so Frank received a new vacuum cleaner with the logo!to thank a dozen members who invested an extra £5 a week at the start of one of the seasons.
Several names were discussed previously, from Tam “Da” Scott, Bobby Stewart, Charlie MacAree, Dennis Craig, John Cameron, and Frank Daly. James Kerr joined the organization in the late 1980s, along with John Condon, Paul Murray (R. I. P. D. ), Jade Walsh, Sid Wilkie, Malky Barr, Lawrie Meechan, Stiv McKenna, and Drew Noble, among others.
There were several charity nights in the years that followed, with advisory dogs for the blind, a local hospice, and other local charities and families benefiting from those nights. From the early to mid-90s, several pillars left the club as age progressed. to them.
The new halls at Celtic Park hosted several of the club’s dance parties, which were well received. The club continued to host games independently, but in the mid-90s, out of necessity, they shared many buses with Alex McCabe Neilston CSC. and Thornliebank Emerald CSC.
It was about this time that the Willowford Club had fallen into disrepair and was now abandoned, as noted by the pastor of St. John’s. Bernard, who commented at the Mass that “the insurance expires next Friday and we cannot allow it to be canceled. “renewed. ” Fortunately, the corridor burned to the ground Tuesday night, solving a tricky corridor for the local parish.
By the end of the century new faces emerged: Dunky Simpson, Phil McCafferty, Robert Ray, Tam and Billy Cassidy, Phil Rodgers (owner of the Cavfinishish Bar) and his son Brian Rodgers, Div Moore, Raymie Gallacher, Kev McWatt, Chris’ Roxy. “Hannah, John Hutcheon, Mick and Tam Barrett and Dan Fitzpatrick.
– Sunday, January 1, 2023
Following a vote among the membership, it was agreed to replace the 1997/98 CSC call of the original Willowford CSC to reflect the existing starting point, sponsorship and local pub – Cavendish 7-1 CSC.
Phil Rodgers had very kindly sponsored the bus for a number of years, up to and including the early 2000s, which saw successes on the pitch and incredible celebrations in the upstairs lounge of the pub.
Seville was a great opportunity, with the club getting a hundred tickets for a charter trip, adding a two night stay in Seville, unfortunately some hotels were cancelled late, which then involved a 90 mile journey for a full bus to and from Cordoba. . .
Many members travel to away games in Europe, and James Kerr and Marc Morrow have chapters in Frank Rafter’s e-book “Standing on the Shoulders of the Giants” detailing their travels to Blackburn and Boavista.
During this period, other younger members joined the club, adding Gary ‘The Big Owl’ Anderson, Kenny Congalton, Mick Melvin (RIP), Martin Ingles, Gerard McGinlay Jr. (RIP), Sammy Graham, Craig and Paul Gallacher, Marc. Fotheringham, Gary McCall, John Hayes, John and Stephen Currie and Marc Gannon.
The club has traveled several times over the years. The coaches to Lyon, Bordeaux, Ajax, Rennes and a few further south were a fantastic experience.
The bus continues to thrive thanks to strong regulars and the region, which recently hosted parties for Mary’s Meals and one of their own under difficult circumstances. The band “Errigal” played on the latter occasion for free. In recent years, an unfortunate phenomenon has been the trend toward food banks, and members are incredibly excited about all those initiatives.
A thank you also to everyone who watched the bus to get home and leave, Shannon and Declan Kerr, Ryan Wilkie, Steven Ridley, Chris O’Donnell, Kev Gallagher, Darren ‘speccy emerald’ Malloch, The Tierney’s, Davie and Evan Curran. , Robert & Ryan O’Donnell, Mark Allan, The Morrows, Stevie Kerr, Ped Dickson, Panda, Jimmy Doc, The Steels, Martin Melvin, Conner Gallen, Jack & Davie McGonigle, Louise McGilloway, Denise Bradley, John & Annmarie Donnelly, Pat McBride, Tich Walker, Pierce Hutcheon, ‘Auld’ Gerry Strain, The 3 Dans and Aiden, Tosh, Whitey, Ricky & Elaine Kernachan, Kieran Fitzpatrick and, last but not least, Ross Bready, Martin and Jac Gallagher from ‘The Bhoys’, Martin Crumlish, Mick, Cheryl and Jaxon Bentley. Many thanks also to Doddsy, Kenny McDade, Jim Gallacher, Marty Gilmore, Gerard Strain Jr. , Des Cunningham and Willie Adams, who are helping them tremendously with possible tickets.
There are also several bus drivers and operators who have supported them through thick and thin. Hughie McGinley, John Condon Sr. , Phil Rodgers Sr. and John Cameron (Western/Arriva), John and Mark Gilmartin, Andy McCreadie, Brian ‘Daydza’ McDade (Pride of the Clyde), Jim McInally (Abbey) and many more. Other.
An excerpt from Football Without Fans: The History of Celtic Supporters’ Clubs through David McIntyre (Celtic Bars). Football Without Fans: The History of Celtic Supporters’ Clubs is now available in print and Kindle HERE.
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