Celtic Learning helps new immigrants in English language skills

By: Paul Cuddihy on 23 May, 2013 13:06

THE Celtic Learning Centre has been offering support to new immigrants to Glasgow in developing their English language skills. The young people involved are Somalian, Slovakian, Polish, Cameroonian, Kurdish, South African, Afghan and Iraqi.
 
The pupils, from Holyrood and All Saints Secondary schools, have been working on Celtic Learning’s established Literacy course. 
 
On this course, pupils produce a magazine on the theme of UEFA Champions or Europa leagues. This develops not only literacy but also an understanding of social subjects, as well as an awareness and respect of other cultures.
 
The children have also been given the opportunity to attend Celtic Park as guests of the club at a recent home games and just recently had the chance to meet Celtic defender Thomas Rogne.
 
Masrour Kareem was one pupil who attended the course. He said “We go to Celtic Park every Friday to make a magazine. This is good for learning English. It also improved my spelling. I’d like to thank everyone involved at Celtic FC for giving up their time to support us. Thanks!”
 
Tony Russell, Head of the Celtic Learning Centre, said: “Celtic has always been a club open to all and we are proud that we have been able to welcome these young people to Celtic Park.   
 
“It has been a tremendous programme which has seen the confidence of these young people grow and given them a welcome to Scotland which they have really appreciated.   
 
“I think it has been fantastic to teach these young people and watch their skills and confidence grow as they integrate into school life.  
 
“It is fitting that we have launched this programme in our 125th anniversary season and we look ahead to repeating this in the next school year.” 
 
Laurie Byrne, Headteacher of Holyrood Secondary, added: “The Literacy programme at Celtic Park has the chance to help build, very naturally, bridges between between young people from different cultures and backgrounds and can provide a context in which both language and friendship can develop.
 
“I know the enormous benefit that our young people have had from their involvement with the Celtic Learning Centre, developing language in a context, having the excitement of the physical situation of being at an iconic football stadium and associating with a club which is part of the history and culture of Glasgow and Scotland.
 
“All of this helps enthuse young people to want to work together and feel part of this community. I also believe that the opportunity our new Scots have had to go along to Celtic Park on a match day, mixing very naturally with our established Scots community, many of us from previous waves of immigration, gives all of our young people a chance to feel included together as part of the Glasgow community.”

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Kris Commons retires from international football

By: Newsroom Staff on 21 May, 2013 21:46

KRIS Commons has announced that he has ended his Scotland career to concentrate on his family and on club football. The Celtic midfielder won 12 caps and scored two goals for Scotland.
 
Kris told the official Celtic website: “I have enjoyed my time immensely with the Scotland team and it was a very proud moment every time I pulled on the Scotland shirt. I will always, of course, be a Scotland supporter.
 
“I have thought about this decision for some time. At this stage of my career I just want to give Celtic my 100 per cent commitment and ensure I can prolong my club career as long as possible.
 
“I also want to give my young family more attention, something I have not been able to do for some time.
 
“Neil Lennon had spoken to Gordon in person a while back and I was really pleased to speak to Gordon today. I am on very good terms with him and I wish him and the Scotland team all the very best for the future. I am sure Gordon will do a great job.”
 
Scotland Manager Gordon Strachan said: “I spoke to Kris tonight and understand his family considerations. I wish him the best of luck for the future.”

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Manager: Our fans were second to none in Seville

By: Paul Cuddihy on 20 May, 2013 17:07

NEIL Lennon remains extremely proud to have been part of the Celtic squad which reached the UEFA Cup final. That’s not to say there are still moments when he thinks ‘What if…’ It’s a thought which has crossed the mind of every player involved in that European campaign, along with Celtic supporters throughout the world.

Yet, with the 10th anniversary of what has become known simply as ‘Seville’ coming tomorrow, May 21, the former midfielder, now manager of Celtic and winner of two consecutive league titles, believes it was a great achievement by the club.

They reached their first European final in 33 years while over 80,000 Celtic supporters travelled to Spain, providing an exemplary example of how to support your team regardless of the result.

The behaviour of the Celtic fans was later acknowledged by both FIFA and UEFA, who awarded them their Fair Play Awards.

“That’s high up in my CV, playing in a European final, particularly for a Scottish club because it doesn’t happen very often,” he said. “It was a fantastic achievement and something I’m very proud of – the whole run, the fact I played in the majority of the games, and that experience of playing in a final.

“There were great memories and it was a great achievement. And the support we had that night was incredible.

“There was a new generation who had never seen Celtic in a European final before, and then there was the older generation who had seen the Lions in 1967 and ’70. And to see different generations coming together for that one night was very special.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s been 10 years. You think about it year after year. It was a brilliant experience but, ultimately, we lost it and that’s the whole nub of it because you want to win it.

“I have never watched the whole final again. I’ve seen bits and pieces of it but I couldn’t tell you any sort of definable moments at all, apart from the goals.”

Celtic’s run to the 2003 UEFA Cup final actually began with defeat and disappointment. After the previous season’s exploits in the Champions League group stages, the club were eager to take part in that prestigious competition again.

Standing between them and another appearance in the group stages was Swiss side FC Basel. The Hoops took a 3-1 lead to Switzerland, but on the night a 2-0 defeat saw Basel progress on the away goals rule. It was a real blow to the team.

“If anyone had said then that we’d be in a European final come May, we’d have laughed at them because we were very low, but it just shows what can happen in a season and how your fortunes can change.

“I really started thinking we could do it after we beat Liverpool at Anfield. I didn’t know too much about Boavista because they weren’t a glamorous team. They were probably the least-fancied team we played along the way, and in terms of the ties we had gone from being the underdogs to probably the favourites.

“It turned out to be the most difficult one over the two games because they were very defensive the way they were set up and they were very hard to break down.

As for Neil Lennon’s highlight? You suspect he’d like someone to invent a time machine so that he – indeed, all of us, could go back to May 21, 2003 and reverse the scoreline. That won’t happen, unfortunately, but the memories of that night in Seville and, indeed, the whole European campaign will live long in the memory.

“Liverpool was fantastic,” he said. “So was Blackburn away, and that moment when Henrik scored against Boavista. It was the longest 12 minutes of my life after it.

“It was weird because it wasn’t a big stadium, but just that moment when the final whistle goes and you’re going to a European final with Celtic was just incredible. It still gives me goosebumps thinking about it now.”

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Chief Executive: Silverware Saturday was special

By: Newsroom Staff on 13 May, 2013 14:04

HAVING secured a second consecutive league title last month, the Hoops got their hands on the SPL trophy on Saturday, with captain Scott Brown raising it aloft at a packed and jubilant Paradise.

The celebrations came after an emphatic 4-0 victory for Celtic over St Johnstone and Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell praised everyone on and off the field for making it such a special day.

“Getting the league trophy is always a great occasion,” he said, “and the team produced a performance worthy of champions to win the match.

“Neil, his backroom staff and all the players deserve congratulations for their efforts in retaining the league title.

“It was a fantastic atmosphere on Saturday and, once again, our supporters were magnificent. It’s been an important year for the club as we celebrate our 125th anniversary and there have been some great moments along the way.

“Those 48 hours back in November, when we held a special event in St Mary’s to mark our anniversary and then, the following night, beat Barcelona 2-1 in the Champions League will live long in the memory.

“It’s fitting that in this, our 125th year, we are the Scottish champions and that the league flag continues to fly over Celtic Park.

“I’d like to thank all our supporters for making Saturday a great occasion, and the whole season a memorable one. Our season’s not finished, of course, and we hope to finish with a Scottish Cup victory at Hampden on May 26.

“Even as we look forward to that occasion, the club is already planning for next season. We have a title to defend again, while our aim is to once again bring UEFA Champions League group-stage football to Celtic Park.

“As always, your support is vital in all of this, and it’s something that everyone at the club appreciates.

“The reward we’ve offered to season ticket holders for next season is a thank-you for the club for that support and commitment, and we look forward to further success here, both at home and in Europe.”

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Celtic donation presented to Calum’s Cabin charity

By: Newsroom Staff on 10 May, 2013 16:59

NEIL Lennon today officially presented a £12,500 donation to Calum´s Cabin on behalf of Celtic FC Foundation. The donation was presented to Calum´s family and Lord McConnell, Chairman of the Cash for Kids Board of Trustees.

Calum’s Cabin began in memory of brave schoolboy, Calum Speirs, who sadly passed away in 2007 at the age of just 12 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
 
His family, through their own experience, wanted to help other families experiencing similar difficulties and the idea was to create somewhere on the Isle of Bute where families dealing with a child with cancer could come for a welcome break.
 
The success of Calum’s Cabin, which opened in 2007, has led to an ongoing expansion of the facilities, and a recent Radio Clyde Cash For Kids Day aimed to raise much-needed funds for this fantastic charity, with a target of £25,000 to be raised on the day.

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