OXON SHAMROCKS

CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUB

AT THE SIX BELLS BICESTER

      Oxon Shamrock CSC Newsletter

May 08

    Championees

So another year of biting our nails, of Highs and Lows comes to an end. Happily it all ended spectacularly well with the Big Dutchman delivering the goods in an emotionally packed Six Bells, a Huddle out in Kings End, and many, many happy Hoops too. The songs were song “Holy Goalie” (I am sure Joe D makes these up himself”)  Faithful Through and Through, Hail, Hail, and so many more. A Big thanks to Gordon and the Bhoys for making it a Season to remember, not forgetting the last 16 of the Champions League again.

It is worth remembering the early days of this Season when it took an Extraordinary General Meeting to get the Club back up and running, the debates caused by the appointment of John Reid caused some concerns, and of course our “Friend “ from Banbury failing to reimburse the Club for tickets he had received. In the latter one at least we put the Association right on how we as members felt. Still didn’t get us our money though.

 While we are on this topic I would like to thank a few people whom without it would have been a more difficult year. Catherine O’Connor has done an excellent job as Treasurer, and will present a comprehensive statement to all at the A.G.M. to all the guys who bought the football cards to the visiting Bhoys of which there were many thank you. Two people deserve a special mention, John Daly and Gordon Neilson. Both these guys have sold the cards, looked after the flag, bought the cards and flowers that we needed to buy all while we watched the Celtic win the league. Perhaps next year a few more of us will take up the little things that make this Club what it is.

Membership Forms for the forth coming Season are available now from myself. It would be good to get these out of the way before the start of next season. We have had a good response so far with sixteen members so far and a number of regulars still to  complete and return forms. As soon as you can Bhoys please.

Charity. We presented a Cheque for £250.00 to Fr. Paul Martin at Christmas this year to go towards the proposed building of a Community Hall at the back of the Church. This year we need to be looking at another local project which might benefit from a donation from the Club

As with every year we had some difficult times to come through none more so than the death of Tommy Burns. The scenes outside Parkhead, the tributes from people, really showed how the Celtic Family and indeed all of Scotland come together. For us all it was extremely difficult time to come through and at least for a day both sides of the Old Firm cast aside their differences. Who would have thought of it Walter Smith and Ally Mcoist the latter in bits outside the Church helping to carry this Legend of Celtic Football Club to his final resting place.

Rest In Peace Tommy.

Phil O’Donnell another young man who wore the Hoops with distinction taken from us so cruelly six months before Tommy. Hard times for us all. The match this week end to honour Phil in particular, but now Tommy also is a sell out and a more fitting occasion than a full house at “Paradise” well it doesn’t get any better than that.

Closer to home we all had a shock when we heard how Dave had been taken unwell, and for some time we were again asked for prayers to see him through. This Club would have found it difficult to full fill its ambitions without Dave’s initial support and we are all glad to see him round the place again with his usual quips and remarks. It is unlikely that Dave will return to work behind the bar at the Bells and on behalf of us all I would like to wish him continued recovery and time to enjoy his family, well the Grandchildren anyway.

The Club would like to thank Dave and more recently Lisa and all the other Staff and friends in the Bells for their Hospitality during the past Season, like I said at the outset Highs and Lows but we have come through them together and we look forward to next season and four in a row.

George Deans.

Secretary.  Oxon Shamrock CSC