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The Media
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Topic Started: 1 Nov 2017, 11:12 PM (581,093 Views)
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wigwam
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17 Mar 2018, 01:42 PM
Post #2301
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- Gothamcelt
- 17 Mar 2018, 11:08 AM
Sutton on Boyata: "Nearly a week on and I still don’t know what he was doing against Rangers. It wasn’t just a poor display - it was delusional". Rangers had all the luck going as Celtic and Boyata gifted them the chance of a win, but they fluffed it - SuttonOur columnist takes issue with Barry Ferguson who reckoned the Hoops were fortunate in Sunday's dramatic win. Spoiler: click to toggle ByChris Sutton There was a bit of luck involved with Celtic’s win at Ibrox last weekend. Rangers were lucky Celtic let them make a go of it. Fellow Record Sport columnist Barry Ferguson is entitled to his view that Rangers was unfortunate to lose Sunday’s Old Firm game. Likewise I can disagree. There’s a huge difference between bad luck and poor play. Rangers had the opportunity to get something from the game because Celtic played poorly - and they didn’t because they were also poor when they needed to step up. Graeme Murty’s side’s bravado backfired because they didn’t have a Scott Brown to get them over the line. Luck didn’t come in to it. Celtic gifted-wrapped a couple of goals and Jozo Simunovic was stupidly send off. How much more luck to Rangers need? Celtic had the firepower to see it out but I’d calm down with the celebrations. The fans will relish having the bragging rights but they shouldn’t ignore the major concerns that last weekend only highlighted. I’ll tell you what, if I was Efe Ambrose’s agent watching last week I’d be straight back on the phone to Parkhead. Efe was a figure of fun at Celtic for a long time but if he’s produced a performance like Dedryck Boyata’s he would be ridiculed for weeks. Nearly a week on and I still don’t know what he was doing against Rangers. It wasn’t just a poor display - it was delusional. Celtic were not lucky to get off the hook last Sunday. They were only on the hook because they put themselves there. I don’t want to get personal but you have to point the finger at Boyata. The opening goal was extraordinary. People say it was rustiness after his spell out but I’m not having it. I’ve been in the position where I’ve been chucked in to an Old Firm game at centre half. I’ll be honest, when Martin O’Neill told me on the morning of the game I was absolutely s***ing it. I hadn’t played the role for months but I just told myself to stick to the fundamentals, keep it simple and don’t take any chances. For goodness sake play safe. It’s Ibrox, the place is rocking, they’ve been talking themselves up, the last thing you do is give them any encouragement. Boyata did the complete opposite but the shocking thing was that it wasn’t entirely surprising, because he’s got it in him at any time. Everyone makes mistakes but he should be maturing as a player. He’s not a kid any more, he’s 26-years-old and has hopes to go to the World Cup with Belgium. I just hope Roberto Martinez was busy last weekend. Boyata’s obviously Brendan Rodgers’ go-to guy, and he can’t have real faith in Marvin Compper who played the previous week. Whatever way you look at it, the defence is a massive worry. There’s the double Treble on the line at Hampden next month but thy might get away with it because I’m still not convinced Rangers have much more to offer than they did on Sunday. But they have to look at the bigger picture and this backline will have no chance of getting Celtic to the Champions League next season. The managed to scrape through despite several scares in the last couple of campaigns but they’ve got four qualifiers next time around. There’s no chance they’ll get away with it defending they way they have at home and in Europe this time. It has to be the big priority for Rodgers in the summer. A year ago Jozo Simunovic was smashing into Kenny Miller and hailed a hero but he’s gone backwards at a rapid rate. I’m still to be convinced about the Compper signing and Hendry - and Ajer are ones for the future rather than to be relied on getting to the group stages. The way the defence crumbled at Ibrox only made Scott Bain’s performance all the more impressive. I’m amazed he looked so composed with those guys in front of him. He came through it, though, and has made himself undroppable for the rest of the season, as far as I’m concerned. Odsonne Edouard also produced the goods when it mattered and he’s putting up a decent case for Celtic to stump up the cash for him in the summer. I know the £7m talked about is a hefty outlay for a 20-year-old in Scottish terms but that will be the big question. Are Celtic just thinking in Scottish terms or do they have wider ambitions. Edouard would be value for money compared to some as, although he’s far from the finished article, he does have a lot of potential. I don’t see him as a direct replacement if Moussa Dembele goes though. He’s not a natural No.9 for me, I think his best position is coming off the left. He is strong and quick, with a goal threat, and there’s no doubt he is better at linking up with Dembele than Griffiths. Edouard’s still behind those two in terms of being the out-and-out front man but there’s a case to have him in the side. Dembele is undoubtedly a big game player - which is exactly what Alfredos Morelos needed to be for Rangers but he failed miserably. I’ve said before I like Morelos but it’s no use being a flat-track bully against St Johnstone and Ayr. You need to do it when it matters, but he couldn’t stick the ball in an empty net from three yards. That’s not bad luck. It’s rank rotten finishing. In contrast, Celtic have the firepower to take them all the way to a Treble. But the defence will need to get lucky or they could turn the Champions League qualifiers into a rollercoaster ride from Hell. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-luck-going-celtic-boyata-12201077 He knows exactly how to push their buttons. The remark about not having a Broony will particularly hurt.
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justinjest
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17 Mar 2018, 02:45 PM
Post #2302
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hun has no religious connotations, so how can it be classed as sectarian? I've always believed it was used to describe the rangers fans who rampaged through Europe in the 70's and the term stuck - am I making this up? Was the word used to describe them before this? My B-I-L is an ex-ST at ibrox, my sons refer to him as a big hun because of this, he doesn't appear to have any issue with this (my sons are COS prods, are they huns as well?). I've been trying to have a discussion with James Dornan about sectarianism - he insists that Celtic fans sing sectarian songs, I've asked him to name them. I've also asked him again, as I have other elected members, what they are doing about the orange order and why nobody in government will take a stance against them. And why in this day and age of cuts, do councils have to use money to police / marshall the walks when there are plenty of better projects that the money could be used for.
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doyle07
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17 Mar 2018, 03:30 PM
Post #2303
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You wonder what all these cants would be saying back in the 70's when their favourite club refused to employ, at any level, Catholics
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Fly Pelican
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17 Mar 2018, 03:40 PM
Post #2304
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Sevco have a ten million pound player on their bench today, pretty impressive.
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Wailer
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17 Mar 2018, 03:42 PM
Post #2305
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- Ned Rise
- 17 Mar 2018, 01:10 PM
- Archibald P Treadwhistle
- 17 Mar 2018, 11:57 AM
- Father John Misty
- 17 Mar 2018, 11:01 AM
Matthew Lindsay: Scottish football must still Act to stamp out the scourge of sectarianism Spoiler: click to toggle IT was with a quite impeccable sense of timing that a group of former and current match day delegates, all of whom had requested anonymity, voiced their concerns about how little the football authorities in this country were doing to tackle sectarianism earlier this week.
Just a day later, amid widespread rejoicing among academics, clubs, officials, police officers, politicians, prominent public figures and supporters, the contentious Offensive Behaviour at Football Act was repealed.
Those who opposed the act argued that it was ineffective and unnecessary and pointed out police and the courts already had sufficient powers to punish the sort of conduct it was introduced to tackle.
“It is wrong to create a law which applies to one demonised sector of society,” a petition which received 9,000 signatures and was handed in to the Scottish parliament three years ago stated with undeniable logic.
“This legislation was a clumsy political response to one football match (the infamous Old Firm game at Celtic Park back in 2011) which serves only to unjustly criminalise football supporters.”
All four opposition parties clearly agreed. The SNP government was outvoted by 62 to 60 at Holyrood on Thursday. The act will be taken off the statute book next month. Few will mourn its passing.
Neil Lennon, a man who knows as well as anyone about the darker side of the game in this country, is of the view that huge strides forward have been made in the battle against this age-old problem in recent years.
“I think it is better,” the Hibernian manager said. “The majority of supporters in the country now are supporting within the laws of the game.”
Alas, the match delegates who spoke to BBC Scotland of their experiences disagreed. They are distressed by the fact that nothing continues to be done to address what they are convinced remains, albeit to a lesser degree than in the past, a problem in the Scottish game.
“It was so frustrating,” said a former delegate. “I know that some of those who are still working today are absolutely appalled that nothing has changed. It seems like the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) is content to sweep the issue under the carpet.”
The SPFL employ match delegates to ensure their rules are adhered to during matches and reporting sectarian signing comes within their remit.
But one pointed out: “We had numerous meetings with the police, who told us which songs to look out for, but it was pointless because when we reported them, nothing was ever done.”
The reasons for that is there is, unlike in the Champions League, Europa League, Premier League in England and many other leagues around Europe, no strict liability rule in Scotland.
If a club can show they took all necessary precautions to prevent acts of delinquency before a game and then illustrate they took measures against those responsible for misconduct afterwards then they will escape punishment.
There is no appetite for strict liability to be introduced in this country either. Those who oppose it believe it is open to abuse. A rival fan, they say, could infiltrate the support of the team he detests and act in a manner which will result in a fine or sporting sanction.
But if Scottish football is unprepared to take action then others may be. James Kelly, the Labour MSP stressed that a “much wider and more serious conversation” was needed to tackle sectarianism and offered to work with the government on the issue.
Regardless of how well meaning his intentions are, the prospect of our elected representatives once again involving themselves in to football matters, something which both UEFA and FIFA take a decidedly dim view of, is an unappealing one.
Matches in Scotland are still blighted by chants about “Fenians” and “Huns” and other phrases which have no place in the modern game and the fact they are broadcast around Britain, Europe and the world on television continue to reflect badly on this country.
The Offensive Behaviour at Football Act may be soon be no more, and good riddance to it, but the clubs, the SFA and the SPFL must now act themselves and stamp out what remains a concerning issue.
There's nothing sectarian about the word 'hun.' And I don't think many Celtic fans mind being called 'fenian.' Many will take it as a badge of honour!
I think you're right there. Many will. It's all about context. If Celtic fans are going to chant about being in a 'Fenian army' then the huns can quite easily argue that no one is likely to take offence at a poster talking about their 'match against the Fenians'. I actually thought the initial poster said 'march against the Fenians' so either they changed it or I read it wrong. They could probably also argue that their banner with a Celtic fan getting kicked in the head is no more or less offensive than effigies/dolls/whatever being hung from the stand. But add in their balaclavas and 'red hand salutes' and their general poison and racism. In that context, I don't like them. If they're offended by the word hun, that's up to them. It's not sectarian though, no matter how hard they go on about it. I've had a few huns call me a Fenian, thanking them and saying "proud of it, hun" seems to get them a tad upset.
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richiebhoy1888
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17 Mar 2018, 09:14 PM
Post #2306
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Everyone's Fantasy Football first pick
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- justinjest
- 17 Mar 2018, 02:45 PM
hun has no religious connotations, so how can it be classed as sectarian? I've always believed it was used to describe the rangers fans who rampaged through Europe in the 70's and the term stuck - am I making this up? Was the word used to describe them before this? My B-I-L is an ex-ST at ibrox, my sons refer to him as a big hun because of this, he doesn't appear to have any issue with this (my sons are COS prods, are they huns as well?). I've been trying to have a discussion with James Dornan about sectarianism - he insists that Celtic fans sing sectarian songs, I've asked him to name them. I've also asked him again, as I have other elected members, what they are doing about the orange order and why nobody in government will take a stance against them. And why in this day and age of cuts, do councils have to use money to police / marshall the walks when there are plenty of better projects that the money could be used for. the word Hun is in no way sectarian . Fans of every club in Scotland refer to them as " the Huns" , yet the demographics of Scotland would suggest that most clubs with the exception of Celtic and possibly Hibs have a majority Protestant fan base. Celtic in my experience also have a sizeable Protestant support ,and the ones i know also refer to them as " the Huns" so how can it be classed as sectarian ?? It's nonsense
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CARLOW BHOY
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17 Mar 2018, 09:27 PM
Post #2307
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Retired and now a BT Sports pundit
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H = huge
U = underachieving
N = numpties
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Father John Misty
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17 Mar 2018, 09:47 PM
Post #2308
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- richiebhoy1888
- 17 Mar 2018, 09:14 PM
- justinjest
- 17 Mar 2018, 02:45 PM
hun has no religious connotations, so how can it be classed as sectarian? I've always believed it was used to describe the rangers fans who rampaged through Europe in the 70's and the term stuck - am I making this up? Was the word used to describe them before this? My B-I-L is an ex-ST at ibrox, my sons refer to him as a big hun because of this, he doesn't appear to have any issue with this (my sons are COS prods, are they huns as well?). I've been trying to have a discussion with James Dornan about sectarianism - he insists that Celtic fans sing sectarian songs, I've asked him to name them. I've also asked him again, as I have other elected members, what they are doing about the orange order and why nobody in government will take a stance against them. And why in this day and age of cuts, do councils have to use money to police / marshall the walks when there are plenty of better projects that the money could be used for.
the word Hun is in no way sectarian . Fans of every club in Scotland refer to them as " the Huns" , yet the demographics of Scotland would suggest that most clubs with the exception of Celtic and possibly Hibs have a majority Protestant fan base. Celtic in my experience also have a sizeable Protestant support ,and the ones i know also refer to them as " the Huns" so how can it be classed as sectarian ?? It's nonsense They've used it to describe us in the past, probably because we left the floodlights on at CP for the luftwaffe FACT. It appears in a few loyalist songs too, I think one even mentions fenian huns. It's pathetic of the huns and their lapdogs in the press to try and attach it to sectarian behaviour. Jock Stein-Protestant, Neil McCann-Hun, it's really that simple, religion has never come into it.
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Gothamcelt
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18 Mar 2018, 01:47 AM
Post #2309
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If he can't talk about at this time, why talk about it?
TOO SOON Former Celtic star Emilio Izaguirre says agents unsettled him and his family as he reveals it’s still ‘really hard’ to talk about Hoops exit The Honduran defender became a fans' favourite during seven trophy-laden years at Parkhead but decided to make the move to Saudi Arabia last summer
Spoiler: click to toggle By Valentina Servera and Aidan Scott EMILIO IZAGUIRRE has blamed agents for unsettling him and his family and prompting his Celtic exit. The Honduran stopper became a fans’ favourite during his seven trophy-laden years with the Hoops. But the emergence of Kieran Tierney saw him reduced to a squad player, and Izaguirre feared for his international career. He eventually decided to move on, joining Saudi Arabian big-spenders Al-Fayha last August. But now the 31-year-old says agents are to blame for the end of his Celtic career, and admitted it is still very difficult for him to talk about his departure. Izaguirre said: “I left Celtic because of problems with some agents. “It’s really hard for me to talk about it. One day I will talk about why I left Celtic. “It was due to having personal problems with some English agents, and it was hard for me to leave. “Brendan Rodgers was upset with me because I was coming here, and I was sad to leave but as they say, you never know what can come tomorrow.” Izaguirre enjoyed huge success during his time at Celtic and was named the SPFA Players’ Player of the Year for the 2010-11 season. Speaking last November, he admitted that the Hoops will always be in his heart. On a personal level, the left-back also has great memories of his years spent living in Scotland. But he now claims that was spoiled towards the end of his playing spell at Celtic, due to some agents unsettling his family. He added: “At Celtic I won 11 trophies – six leagues, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups. I spent my best moments there. “The fans were amazing with me, and what else can I say about what Celtic represents? “But those are things that I really don’t want to talk about, it was a really hard time for my wife, my kids and I. “My baby girl was born in Scotland and my son also grew up there, but everything was in English. “They go to an international school here (in Saudi Arabia), so everything is English except the History of Arabia. “That helped us a lot, and Al-Fayha has treated us amazingly.” Izaguirre revealed he had some opportunities to play for European clubs this season, as well as receiving interest from some sides in the USA. But he made it clear the problems he was having were a factor in his move to Al-Fayha. He said: “One day I’ll talk about it when I’m more relaxed. I really hope it comes soon so I can talk about why I left. “But here it’s a beautiful experience. “I didn’t have many options, the ones I had were here, in Europe and in MLS, but with the problems I had and because of my agent, I decided to come here.” https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/2361349/celtic-emilio-izaguirre-agents-family-hard/
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screwtop
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18 Mar 2018, 08:24 AM
Post #2310
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I see Kevin McKenna is at it again.
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tinytim81
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18 Mar 2018, 08:40 AM
Post #2311
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- justinjest
- 17 Mar 2018, 02:45 PM
hun has no religious connotations, so how can it be classed as sectarian? I've always believed it was used to describe the rangers fans who rampaged through Europe in the 70's and the term stuck - am I making this up? Was the word used to describe them before this? My B-I-L is an ex-ST at ibrox, my sons refer to him as a big hun because of this, he doesn't appear to have any issue with this (my sons are COS prods, are they huns as well?). I've been trying to have a discussion with James Dornan about sectarianism - he insists that Celtic fans sing sectarian songs, I've asked him to name them. I've also asked him again, as I have other elected members, what they are doing about the orange order and why nobody in government will take a stance against them. And why in this day and age of cuts, do councils have to use money to police / marshall the walks when there are plenty of better projects that the money could be used for. As I recall an English newspaper originally called them huns after a riot (might have been at the end of a friendly with Aston Villa?). Anyway, the paper described their continental ventures as stomping across Europe, "like a pack of marauding huns".
I'm sure someone will have the original article.
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smudgethecat
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18 Mar 2018, 08:51 AM
Post #2312
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As long as the current board remain in charge at Ibrox we'll be alright.
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shugmc
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18 Mar 2018, 10:41 AM
Post #2313
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- screwtop
- 18 Mar 2018, 08:24 AM
I see Kevin McKenna is at it again. Feel free to share it with us
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Gothamcelt
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18 Mar 2018, 10:47 AM
Post #2314
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Retired and now a BT Sports pundit
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With a host of the SFA’s sponsorships and commercial deals lapsed, and no TV deal in place for the Scottish Cup next season, the clubs want major change at Hampden. That' because they are too busy looking after themselves than to worry about the good of the game.
SPFL clubs at war as Hibs look to block Neil Doncaster's SFA appointment Only four clubs backed the rebellion and SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan sent clubs an email revealing the bid to stop Doncaster voting.
Spoiler: click to toggle ByGordon Waddell Angry SPFL chiefs have exposed a desperate plot to change the balance of power in the ongoing war between the SFA and the league. And it’s understood Rod Petrie’s Hibs were the club behind the bid to subvert board changes at the top of the game. A day of back-door dealing was sparked by Partick Thistle’s Ian Maxwell resigning his spot on the main SFA board to pursue his bid to replace flop Stewart Regan as CEO. The SPFL eventually put forward chief executive Neil Doncaster to replace Maxwell. But MailSport has obtained an email sent by Murdoch MacLennan, the SPFL chairman, to members revealing a clandestine bid to stop Doncaster even being allowed to vote. It’s believed the rebellion ended up with only four signatories, despite attempts by Hibs to whip up support from Premiership clubs. The Easter Road club – who wanted Petrie’s ally, Aberdeen’s Duncan Fraser, promoted from the Professional Game Board instead of Doncaster – were supported by the Dons, Ross County and Kilmarnock. SFA vice president Petrie stood to be the biggest beneficiary of that scenario, having lost his power base alongside president Alan McRae with his failed bid to keep Regan in a job and their disastrous management of the recruitment process to replace Gordon Strachan. The Hibs chief is due to inherit the top job in a year’s time but fears being neutered by the power shift at the top. With a host of the SFA’s sponsorships and commercial deals lapsed, and no TV deal in place for the Scottish Cup next season, the clubs want major change at Hampden. Despite a flurry of calls and emails, though, the SPFL quelled what little uprising there was and voted to use Doncaster as their placeman, a move which will continue to limit the influence of the longest-serving blazers. MacLennan’s email to all 42 SPFL members said: “I am writing to let you know that following Ian Maxwell’s resignation, Neil Doncaster was today elected unopposed from the PGB to SFA Board. “I was surprised that before the PGB meeting, I received a number of emails from clubs calling for Neil to be instructed by the Board not to vote at the PGB meeting on the issue of who would replace Ian Maxwell. “The Board unanimously rejected the proposal. The Board were clear the rules should be complied with.” https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/spfl-clubs-war-hibs-look-12205312
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Novelty_Bauble
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18 Mar 2018, 10:56 AM
Post #2315
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- Father John Misty
- 17 Mar 2018, 11:24 AM
- Gothamcelt
- 17 Mar 2018, 11:08 AM
Sutton on Boyata: "Nearly a week on and I still don’t know what he was doing against Rangers. It wasn’t just a poor display - it was delusional". Rangers had all the luck going as Celtic and Boyata gifted them the chance of a win, but they fluffed it - SuttonOur columnist takes issue with Barry Ferguson who reckoned the Hoops were fortunate in Sunday's dramatic win. Spoiler: click to toggle ByChris Sutton There was a bit of luck involved with Celtic’s win at Ibrox last weekend. Rangers were lucky Celtic let them make a go of it. Fellow Record Sport columnist Barry Ferguson is entitled to his view that Rangers was unfortunate to lose Sunday’s Old Firm game. Likewise I can disagree. There’s a huge difference between bad luck and poor play. Rangers had the opportunity to get something from the game because Celtic played poorly - and they didn’t because they were also poor when they needed to step up. Graeme Murty’s side’s bravado backfired because they didn’t have a Scott Brown to get them over the line. Luck didn’t come in to it. Celtic gifted-wrapped a couple of goals and Jozo Simunovic was stupidly send off. How much more luck to Rangers need? Celtic had the firepower to see it out but I’d calm down with the celebrations. The fans will relish having the bragging rights but they shouldn’t ignore the major concerns that last weekend only highlighted. I’ll tell you what, if I was Efe Ambrose’s agent watching last week I’d be straight back on the phone to Parkhead. Efe was a figure of fun at Celtic for a long time but if he’s produced a performance like Dedryck Boyata’s he would be ridiculed for weeks. Nearly a week on and I still don’t know what he was doing against Rangers. It wasn’t just a poor display - it was delusional. Celtic were not lucky to get off the hook last Sunday. They were only on the hook because they put themselves there. I don’t want to get personal but you have to point the finger at Boyata. The opening goal was extraordinary. People say it was rustiness after his spell out but I’m not having it. I’ve been in the position where I’ve been chucked in to an Old Firm game at centre half. I’ll be honest, when Martin O’Neill told me on the morning of the game I was absolutely s***ing it. I hadn’t played the role for months but I just told myself to stick to the fundamentals, keep it simple and don’t take any chances. For goodness sake play safe. It’s Ibrox, the place is rocking, they’ve been talking themselves up, the last thing you do is give them any encouragement. Boyata did the complete opposite but the shocking thing was that it wasn’t entirely surprising, because he’s got it in him at any time. Everyone makes mistakes but he should be maturing as a player. He’s not a kid any more, he’s 26-years-old and has hopes to go to the World Cup with Belgium. I just hope Roberto Martinez was busy last weekend. Boyata’s obviously Brendan Rodgers’ go-to guy, and he can’t have real faith in Marvin Compper who played the previous week. Whatever way you look at it, the defence is a massive worry. There’s the double Treble on the line at Hampden next month but thy might get away with it because I’m still not convinced Rangers have much more to offer than they did on Sunday. But they have to look at the bigger picture and this backline will have no chance of getting Celtic to the Champions League next season. The managed to scrape through despite several scares in the last couple of campaigns but they’ve got four qualifiers next time around. There’s no chance they’ll get away with it defending they way they have at home and in Europe this time. It has to be the big priority for Rodgers in the summer. A year ago Jozo Simunovic was smashing into Kenny Miller and hailed a hero but he’s gone backwards at a rapid rate. I’m still to be convinced about the Compper signing and Hendry - and Ajer are ones for the future rather than to be relied on getting to the group stages. The way the defence crumbled at Ibrox only made Scott Bain’s performance all the more impressive. I’m amazed he looked so composed with those guys in front of him. He came through it, though, and has made himself undroppable for the rest of the season, as far as I’m concerned. Odsonne Edouard also produced the goods when it mattered and he’s putting up a decent case for Celtic to stump up the cash for him in the summer. I know the £7m talked about is a hefty outlay for a 20-year-old in Scottish terms but that will be the big question. Are Celtic just thinking in Scottish terms or do they have wider ambitions. Edouard would be value for money compared to some as, although he’s far from the finished article, he does have a lot of potential. I don’t see him as a direct replacement if Moussa Dembele goes though. He’s not a natural No.9 for me, I think his best position is coming off the left. He is strong and quick, with a goal threat, and there’s no doubt he is better at linking up with Dembele than Griffiths. Edouard’s still behind those two in terms of being the out-and-out front man but there’s a case to have him in the side. Dembele is undoubtedly a big game player - which is exactly what Alfredos Morelos needed to be for Rangers but he failed miserably. I’ve said before I like Morelos but it’s no use being a flat-track bully against St Johnstone and Ayr. You need to do it when it matters, but he couldn’t stick the ball in an empty net from three yards. That’s not bad luck. It’s rank rotten finishing. In contrast, Celtic have the firepower to take them all the way to a Treble. But the defence will need to get lucky or they could turn the Champions League qualifiers into a rollercoaster ride from Hell. https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-luck-going-celtic-boyata-12201077
I don't always like Sutton's articles but that's spot on. I watched the game back the day after and Boyata was actually worse than I originally thought. "For goodness sake play safe. It’s Ibrox, the place is rocking, they’ve been talking themselves up, the last thing you do is give them any encouragement. Boyata did the complete opposite but the shocking thing was that it wasn’t entirely surprising, because he’s got it in him at any time. Everyone makes mistakes but he should be maturing as a player. He’s not a kid any more, he’s 26-years-old"
Spot on.
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kkc08
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18 Mar 2018, 11:00 AM
Post #2316
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Retired and now a BT Sports pundit
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- shugmc
- 18 Mar 2018, 10:41 AM
- screwtop
- 18 Mar 2018, 08:24 AM
I see Kevin McKenna is at it again.
Feel free to share it with us Here it is
Spoiler: click to toggle
17th March Faith no more? Have catholic schools had their day, asks Kevin McKenna Kevin McKenna
PEAK Catholicism happened for me in 1975. I was 11 years of age and have often thought since that my one chance of accessing heaven without any dispute came and went during those anointed 12 months. I wouldn’t say I’d spent the year actively seeking an untimely demise but if this had occurred I’d have been a lot more sanguine about it then than at any time since. I’m likely to require snookers now.
My teacher at St Machan’s Primary in Lennoxtown, a remarkable woman called Nan McCafferty, had told us about an ancient Catholic observance called the First Friday Devotion. Basically, this entailed attending morning Mass on the first Friday of nine consecutive months. In return the devotee would receive “the grace of final repentance”. This was over and above our normal Sunday Mass attendance. It held out the hope that you wouldn’t die without receiving the sacraments and thus the road to salvation might become a little less jaggy. And so, I dutifully attended Mass at 8am on the first Friday of every month throughout that year, fully expecting to become a better person. In a life where most of the Deadly Sins proved irresistible to me I have often since wondered if my devotion throughout 1975 might be accepted as decent deposit in the final reckoning.
Kevin McKenna: Why university lecturers are seeking democratic accountability
In those days most of my friends existed inside a Catholic bubble. The parish priest was a regular visitor and, on Holy Days of Obligation we were marched over a park and through a housing scheme to attend yet another Mass. There was a saint for every affliction and statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary stood ready each May and November to be garlanded with flowers while we sang hymns from little blue books rubbed smooth by the thumbs of those who had sat in these seats over decades. Outside of school our friendships with our Protestant neighbours continued unhindered into adulthood.
We were third and fourth generation Irish and the Catholic faith of our parents and grandparents had been a rock to them. It helped them to endure widespread discrimination in the employment market and the barely-concealed contempt of Scotland’s civic institutions which viewed them as ill-educated jailbirds. Their faith was more than just Church on a Sunday and the teachings of the bible: it was something that defined their humanity; their politics; their relationships and their responsibilities to the state. The schools were sacred to them because they were extensions of the faith and, as such could be entrusted with the spiritual formation of their children. These schools also had to be very good at education. In the face of rejection by the professions and the acute hostility of the old guilds and the Scottish engineering industry they carried the hopes of thousands of families that their children might come to experience a life better than theirs.
The Catholic secondary was no less devout but significantly less cosy. This was where the business end of a Catholic education was to be found and it was where the passport out of the ghetto lay. In Scotland these schools served a dual purpose vital to the economic and civic health of the nation. They formed a bridge that allowed the Irish immigrant community to contribute to wider Scottish society while maintaining its precious faith. The excellence of Scotland’s Catholic secondary schools since their establishment 100 years ago and the sheer breadth of the education they provide have played a significant role in breaking down the fear and suspicion of the Irish.
Ten years ago the then First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Scotland’s diversity is a source of strength, not weakness. For too long, the attitude of some has been, at best, grudging acceptance of Catholic education and, at worst, outright hostility. All faith-based schools play a significant role in helping to shape, inspire and strengthen our young people to learn. It’s time to celebrate their contribution to Scottish education.” Later this year his successor Nicola Sturgeon is expected to echo those sentiments when she delivers the annual Cardinal Winning Lecture.
Kevin McKenna: Why university lecturers are seeking democratic accountability
Yet, even as the Church in Scotland celebrates the centenary of Catholic state schools provided for in the 1918 Education Act, there is a growing acknowledgment within its own community that a rational debate has to take place about their purpose in a country much changed from that which existed a century ago.
From the early 1920s onwards these schools were gradually transferred from Church ownership to state ownership. The civil servants and politicians who drew up the original legislation probably didn’t know it at the time but they were bringing forth one of the great pieces of enlightened, progressive and inclusive legislation that has ever been produced in this country. Before 1918 most Scottish schools were ‘board schools’ organised by school boards and supported by local rates. The Catholic community though insisted on establishing more than 200 voluntary schools. These received some central funding but nothing from the rates which Catholics were still paying. The Act sought to bring these schools under the umbrella of the state principally owing to concerns about an unsatisfactory two-tier system.
Both the Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland were approached to secure their agreement. The Kirk was happy to acquiesce with what was on offer, believing that, as the nation’s established church all safeguards on faith and instruction would automatically follow. The Catholic Church, though, insisted on two fundamental concessions: the absolute right of local bishops over appointments and the right to teach the Catholic faith in the way it wanted. Scotland was happy to grant this and the arrangement has been beneficial to all sides. There are now more than 365 Catholic schools in Scotland.
In the 21st century the pattern of religious observance in this country has altered drastically. Only around one quarter of Scotland’s 700,000 Catholics attend church, a picture of decline matched by the mainstream Protestant churches. If Catholic families are turning away from their own church in such numbers where is the argument for faith schools in a nation where Catholics are much more comfortable in their Scottish skin than they were 100 years ago?
Mark Cairns is headteacher at the non-denominational Cumbernauld Academy and a practising Catholic. He feels it is now time to have a mature and rational debate about the purpose of Catholic schools in 21st century Scotland. “Look, there can be no doubt that Catholic schools have contributed magnificently to Scotland’s education system and they helped form me and define me as a person. But I wonder if sometimes a sort of Catholic exceptionalism is aired by some whereby it’s claimed that Catholic schools possess some kind of moral X-factor somehow missing in the non-denominational sector. This would be at odds with the reality in schools such as Cumbernauld Academy.
“I know there are brilliant Catholic schools but everything that makes them great can also be found in a good non-denominational school. At Cumbernauld Academy we have a strong pattern of pastoral support based on fundamental core values of decency, respect for others and honesty. We have a mission to reach out to disadvantaged communities at home and overseas. Crucially, the spiritual needs of all children – no matter their faith background – are met. I don’t know of any non-denominational school where this is not the case.”
Cairns also points to an area where there might be a clash between Catholic moral teaching and the needs of LGBT children. His school has just been awarded LGBT Youth Scotland’s Silver LGBT Charter which recognises an assortment of best practices.
“As a practising Catholic I fully understand the church’s teaching and tradition on some of these issues. But here my primary responsibility is to the care and wellbeing of all my pupils. Though I know that the pastoral care in Catholic schools is excellent I also wonder if there is the potential for a conflict of interests in this area.”
At St Ninian’s Secondary in Kirkintilloch, a few miles north of Glasgow, the head Paul McLaughlin is conducting me on a mini-tour of his 700-pupil school as it gets back to normal following the ravages of the Beast from the East. This is where I spent four happy years in the late 1970s and though a smart new-build now rests on the site of the old school, which had stood here since 1874, a familiar sense of warmth and contentment washes over me and for a moment I am slightly overcome. The day I walked out of here I left behind my last few genuinely carefree moments but it was a place where I’d been encouraged to think clearly and to believe that anything was possible.
Kevin McKenna: Why university lecturers are seeking democratic accountability
McLaughlin is at ease with the pupils and them with him. We walk through the games hall and encounter a group of boisterous first year boys larking about with a football. He loves the fact that they don’t feel the need to stand to attention and salute him.
Later, in his office, he outlines the philosophy and values of St Ninian’s in the 21st century. He points out that, never having taught in a non-denominational school, he can’t comment on what goes on in them but refutes any suggestion of Catholic exceptionalism. “What there is in this school and others I’ve been at is perhaps a sense of us all being in this together and of facing in the same direction; a sense of community where everyone feels they belong and where they feel valued as individuals.
“As well as our traditional feeder schools we have a non-denominational primary school where the parents of their primary seven pupils, almost without exception, want to send their children here. Now obviously they’re not sending them here because we’re a Catholic school or because they are guaranteed to get great academic results but because they recognise that this is a school founded on care and compassion for others and doing things the right way.
“But let’s be honest here; we’re just down the road from Lenzie Academy, [one of the top-rated schools for academic achievement in the country], so for these parents to be so keen to send their children here tells you that they think we’ve got something; that they like what we’re about and that they believe we have a North Star in terms of the values that guide us.”
As an illustration he offers the story of a second year pupil who took her own life a couple of years back and of much-loved teacher who died recently at the age of 50. “I would not have liked to have gone through that in a school which didn’t possess the same values we have here,” he says. “And anyway,” he adds, “even if you don’t buy into this why would anyone want to close down schools which have shown a standard of continuing excellence based on care and compassion for the whole person and for others and which have worked for the great benefit of this country.”
He gently refutes the notion that the pastoral care of LGBT children might be compromised in a Catholic school. “At St Ninian’s we don’t see LGBT children or Asian children or children with learning difficulties or mental health issues. We only see the whole child and want to establish a framework where they will all be cared for and all their needs met. In our Religious Education classes our students are encouraged to question belief at all times.
“But let’s also be clear about something: our parents have repeatedly told us that while of course they would be concerned if our academic standards slipped they would be much more concerned if they felt that our Catholic identity was slipping.”
Monica Kierney, the head girl at St Ninian’s, is passionate about how Catholic education has helped shape her outlook on the world beyond. “I think Catholic social teaching has never been more relevant to society than it is today,” she says. “It encourages me and my friends to work for a fairer world as well as urging us to be the best that we can be. It has given me opportunities to think of others and to help them by following the example of Jesus. As I move on from school I can only speak of the positive value my Catholic education has given to me in preparing for the future.”
The term ‘post-Christian society’ is still loosely conferred on a modern Scotland where there are many more philosophical and behavioural attractions competing with religious faith for our hearts and minds. In the 2011 census though, 53.8% of Scots identified as Christian. Yet, how many more, while professing no religious conviction had their values and ethics shaped, at least in part, by faith?
Dr Roisin Coll, Director of the St Andrew’s Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education at the University of Glasgow, has no doubts about the value of Catholic education in seeking ways to combat unfairness and social inequality. “In Scotland there exists a synergy of school, community and government key to combating disadvantage and the social mobility of the Catholic community. Many Catholics have their historical roots in famine and disadvantage and this has helped mould our response today to those who feel alienated or excluded.
“Catholic schools ‘get it’ since we understand this narrative and we understand the commandment ‘love thy neighbour’ which means we have to do something about it; to respond; to make a difference. Catholic education seeks to make a difference whether it is in the lives of people confronting hardship and poverty in their own community or people confronting dislocation, asylum and violence from refugee communities. Catholic education has embedded a sense of solidarity with disadvantaged communities because that is part of our own narrative, our memory.”
Visiting St Ninian’s this week rekindled memories and stirred echoes of half a lifetime ago. I was cared for here by men and women who were dedicated to helping me and my friends make something of ourselves. These people, grounded in the faith and wisdom of ages, also instilled in me the political values and social perspectives which have helped form me. Without this faith I am nothing and Scotland is utterly reduced.
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AG67
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18 Mar 2018, 11:07 AM
Post #2317
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I always thought that "Huns" came from likening them to the Germans in WW2 and their master race BS, seeing themselves as above everyone else in the arrogant way Rangers do. I know a lot of Dundee/Dundee Utd fans who refer to them as the Huns although most now probably refer to them as the zombies. Lost count of the number of times people have said to me they don't like Celtic, but they absolutely detest Rangers and I think it has nothing to do with religion. I don't think Huns is sectarian, it is not a reference to religion just more a description of them and their attitude towards others. I would also say that a good deal of the people I know that support the two Dundee teams dislike Rangers a lot more than I do and took great pleasure in their meltdown circa 2012. Back in the day Dundee could probably be described as Diet Huns along with Hearts but not nowadays. Hearts and Rangers used to be quite pally but again, not these days, although I doubt Hearts fan call them Huns. One of my mates, Dundee Utd fan, turned up to fives one week with a Rangers shirt on, only to turn round and reveal "Liquid" and a number 8 on the back. Brilliant. The two Rangers fans present didn't share the amusement of others, but again, the Dundee/Dundee Utd fans there laughed the loudest, more so than me and the other Celtic fan there. He actually said he bought in JJB or Sports Direct as they were selling the shirts off cheap and the lettering and the number actually cost more than the shirt itself As others have said, it is quite amusing the amount of times I have been called a "Fenian" and the person doing it thinks they are insulting me as they are a little bit ignorant. Quite amusing in a way. I often tell them to check the meaning of it and then try and come up with something that is actually an insult next time. The level of ignorance regarding Celtic at times is eye opening, have had people ranting at me and calling Fields of Athenry an "IRA song" and even more laughable a few have said the same of "that Soldiers Are We song". What do you say to that....
Edited by AG67, 18 Mar 2018, 11:23 AM.
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padrepio
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18 Mar 2018, 11:09 AM
Post #2318
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- charlie nicholas
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no gordon parks column in this weeks Sunday Mail......
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Novelty_Bauble
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18 Mar 2018, 11:12 AM
Post #2319
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- padrepio
- 18 Mar 2018, 11:09 AM
no gordon parks column in this weeks Sunday Mail...... Pen, belt and shoelaces confiscated?
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Timmy7
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18 Mar 2018, 11:16 AM
Post #2320
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- kkc08
- 18 Mar 2018, 11:00 AM
- shugmc
- 18 Mar 2018, 10:41 AM
- screwtop
- 18 Mar 2018, 08:24 AM
I see Kevin McKenna is at it again.
Feel free to share it with us
Here it is Spoiler: click to toggle
17th March Faith no more? Have catholic schools had their day, asks Kevin McKenna Kevin McKenna
PEAK Catholicism happened for me in 1975. I was 11 years of age and have often thought since that my one chance of accessing heaven without any dispute came and went during those anointed 12 months. I wouldn’t say I’d spent the year actively seeking an untimely demise but if this had occurred I’d have been a lot more sanguine about it then than at any time since. I’m likely to require snookers now.
My teacher at St Machan’s Primary in Lennoxtown, a remarkable woman called Nan McCafferty, had told us about an ancient Catholic observance called the First Friday Devotion. Basically, this entailed attending morning Mass on the first Friday of nine consecutive months. In return the devotee would receive “the grace of final repentance”. This was over and above our normal Sunday Mass attendance. It held out the hope that you wouldn’t die without receiving the sacraments and thus the road to salvation might become a little less jaggy. And so, I dutifully attended Mass at 8am on the first Friday of every month throughout that year, fully expecting to become a better person. In a life where most of the Deadly Sins proved irresistible to me I have often since wondered if my devotion throughout 1975 might be accepted as decent deposit in the final reckoning.
Kevin McKenna: Why university lecturers are seeking democratic accountability
In those days most of my friends existed inside a Catholic bubble. The parish priest was a regular visitor and, on Holy Days of Obligation we were marched over a park and through a housing scheme to attend yet another Mass. There was a saint for every affliction and statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary stood ready each May and November to be garlanded with flowers while we sang hymns from little blue books rubbed smooth by the thumbs of those who had sat in these seats over decades. Outside of school our friendships with our Protestant neighbours continued unhindered into adulthood.
We were third and fourth generation Irish and the Catholic faith of our parents and grandparents had been a rock to them. It helped them to endure widespread discrimination in the employment market and the barely-concealed contempt of Scotland’s civic institutions which viewed them as ill-educated jailbirds. Their faith was more than just Church on a Sunday and the teachings of the bible: it was something that defined their humanity; their politics; their relationships and their responsibilities to the state. The schools were sacred to them because they were extensions of the faith and, as such could be entrusted with the spiritual formation of their children. These schools also had to be very good at education. In the face of rejection by the professions and the acute hostility of the old guilds and the Scottish engineering industry they carried the hopes of thousands of families that their children might come to experience a life better than theirs.
The Catholic secondary was no less devout but significantly less cosy. This was where the business end of a Catholic education was to be found and it was where the passport out of the ghetto lay. In Scotland these schools served a dual purpose vital to the economic and civic health of the nation. They formed a bridge that allowed the Irish immigrant community to contribute to wider Scottish society while maintaining its precious faith. The excellence of Scotland’s Catholic secondary schools since their establishment 100 years ago and the sheer breadth of the education they provide have played a significant role in breaking down the fear and suspicion of the Irish.
Ten years ago the then First Minister Alex Salmond said: “Scotland’s diversity is a source of strength, not weakness. For too long, the attitude of some has been, at best, grudging acceptance of Catholic education and, at worst, outright hostility. All faith-based schools play a significant role in helping to shape, inspire and strengthen our young people to learn. It’s time to celebrate their contribution to Scottish education.” Later this year his successor Nicola Sturgeon is expected to echo those sentiments when she delivers the annual Cardinal Winning Lecture.
Kevin McKenna: Why university lecturers are seeking democratic accountability
Yet, even as the Church in Scotland celebrates the centenary of Catholic state schools provided for in the 1918 Education Act, there is a growing acknowledgment within its own community that a rational debate has to take place about their purpose in a country much changed from that which existed a century ago.
From the early 1920s onwards these schools were gradually transferred from Church ownership to state ownership. The civil servants and politicians who drew up the original legislation probably didn’t know it at the time but they were bringing forth one of the great pieces of enlightened, progressive and inclusive legislation that has ever been produced in this country. Before 1918 most Scottish schools were ‘board schools’ organised by school boards and supported by local rates. The Catholic community though insisted on establishing more than 200 voluntary schools. These received some central funding but nothing from the rates which Catholics were still paying. The Act sought to bring these schools under the umbrella of the state principally owing to concerns about an unsatisfactory two-tier system.
Both the Catholic Church and the Church of Scotland were approached to secure their agreement. The Kirk was happy to acquiesce with what was on offer, believing that, as the nation’s established church all safeguards on faith and instruction would automatically follow. The Catholic Church, though, insisted on two fundamental concessions: the absolute right of local bishops over appointments and the right to teach the Catholic faith in the way it wanted. Scotland was happy to grant this and the arrangement has been beneficial to all sides. There are now more than 365 Catholic schools in Scotland.
In the 21st century the pattern of religious observance in this country has altered drastically. Only around one quarter of Scotland’s 700,000 Catholics attend church, a picture of decline matched by the mainstream Protestant churches. If Catholic families are turning away from their own church in such numbers where is the argument for faith schools in a nation where Catholics are much more comfortable in their Scottish skin than they were 100 years ago?
Mark Cairns is headteacher at the non-denominational Cumbernauld Academy and a practising Catholic. He feels it is now time to have a mature and rational debate about the purpose of Catholic schools in 21st century Scotland. “Look, there can be no doubt that Catholic schools have contributed magnificently to Scotland’s education system and they helped form me and define me as a person. But I wonder if sometimes a sort of Catholic exceptionalism is aired by some whereby it’s claimed that Catholic schools possess some kind of moral X-factor somehow missing in the non-denominational sector. This would be at odds with the reality in schools such as Cumbernauld Academy.
“I know there are brilliant Catholic schools but everything that makes them great can also be found in a good non-denominational school. At Cumbernauld Academy we have a strong pattern of pastoral support based on fundamental core values of decency, respect for others and honesty. We have a mission to reach out to disadvantaged communities at home and overseas. Crucially, the spiritual needs of all children – no matter their faith background – are met. I don’t know of any non-denominational school where this is not the case.”
Cairns also points to an area where there might be a clash between Catholic moral teaching and the needs of LGBT children. His school has just been awarded LGBT Youth Scotland’s Silver LGBT Charter which recognises an assortment of best practices.
“As a practising Catholic I fully understand the church’s teaching and tradition on some of these issues. But here my primary responsibility is to the care and wellbeing of all my pupils. Though I know that the pastoral care in Catholic schools is excellent I also wonder if there is the potential for a conflict of interests in this area.”
At St Ninian’s Secondary in Kirkintilloch, a few miles north of Glasgow, the head Paul McLaughlin is conducting me on a mini-tour of his 700-pupil school as it gets back to normal following the ravages of the Beast from the East. This is where I spent four happy years in the late 1970s and though a smart new-build now rests on the site of the old school, which had stood here since 1874, a familiar sense of warmth and contentment washes over me and for a moment I am slightly overcome. The day I walked out of here I left behind my last few genuinely carefree moments but it was a place where I’d been encouraged to think clearly and to believe that anything was possible.
Kevin McKenna: Why university lecturers are seeking democratic accountability
McLaughlin is at ease with the pupils and them with him. We walk through the games hall and encounter a group of boisterous first year boys larking about with a football. He loves the fact that they don’t feel the need to stand to attention and salute him.
Later, in his office, he outlines the philosophy and values of St Ninian’s in the 21st century. He points out that, never having taught in a non-denominational school, he can’t comment on what goes on in them but refutes any suggestion of Catholic exceptionalism. “What there is in this school and others I’ve been at is perhaps a sense of us all being in this together and of facing in the same direction; a sense of community where everyone feels they belong and where they feel valued as individuals.
“As well as our traditional feeder schools we have a non-denominational primary school where the parents of their primary seven pupils, almost without exception, want to send their children here. Now obviously they’re not sending them here because we’re a Catholic school or because they are guaranteed to get great academic results but because they recognise that this is a school founded on care and compassion for others and doing things the right way.
“But let’s be honest here; we’re just down the road from Lenzie Academy, [one of the top-rated schools for academic achievement in the country], so for these parents to be so keen to send their children here tells you that they think we’ve got something; that they like what we’re about and that they believe we have a North Star in terms of the values that guide us.”
As an illustration he offers the story of a second year pupil who took her own life a couple of years back and of much-loved teacher who died recently at the age of 50. “I would not have liked to have gone through that in a school which didn’t possess the same values we have here,” he says. “And anyway,” he adds, “even if you don’t buy into this why would anyone want to close down schools which have shown a standard of continuing excellence based on care and compassion for the whole person and for others and which have worked for the great benefit of this country.”
He gently refutes the notion that the pastoral care of LGBT children might be compromised in a Catholic school. “At St Ninian’s we don’t see LGBT children or Asian children or children with learning difficulties or mental health issues. We only see the whole child and want to establish a framework where they will all be cared for and all their needs met. In our Religious Education classes our students are encouraged to question belief at all times.
“But let’s also be clear about something: our parents have repeatedly told us that while of course they would be concerned if our academic standards slipped they would be much more concerned if they felt that our Catholic identity was slipping.”
Monica Kierney, the head girl at St Ninian’s, is passionate about how Catholic education has helped shape her outlook on the world beyond. “I think Catholic social teaching has never been more relevant to society than it is today,” she says. “It encourages me and my friends to work for a fairer world as well as urging us to be the best that we can be. It has given me opportunities to think of others and to help them by following the example of Jesus. As I move on from school I can only speak of the positive value my Catholic education has given to me in preparing for the future.”
The term ‘post-Christian society’ is still loosely conferred on a modern Scotland where there are many more philosophical and behavioural attractions competing with religious faith for our hearts and minds. In the 2011 census though, 53.8% of Scots identified as Christian. Yet, how many more, while professing no religious conviction had their values and ethics shaped, at least in part, by faith?
Dr Roisin Coll, Director of the St Andrew’s Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education at the University of Glasgow, has no doubts about the value of Catholic education in seeking ways to combat unfairness and social inequality. “In Scotland there exists a synergy of school, community and government key to combating disadvantage and the social mobility of the Catholic community. Many Catholics have their historical roots in famine and disadvantage and this has helped mould our response today to those who feel alienated or excluded.
“Catholic schools ‘get it’ since we understand this narrative and we understand the commandment ‘love thy neighbour’ which means we have to do something about it; to respond; to make a difference. Catholic education seeks to make a difference whether it is in the lives of people confronting hardship and poverty in their own community or people confronting dislocation, asylum and violence from refugee communities. Catholic education has embedded a sense of solidarity with disadvantaged communities because that is part of our own narrative, our memory.”
Visiting St Ninian’s this week rekindled memories and stirred echoes of half a lifetime ago. I was cared for here by men and women who were dedicated to helping me and my friends make something of ourselves. These people, grounded in the faith and wisdom of ages, also instilled in me the political values and social perspectives which have helped form me. Without this faith I am nothing and Scotland is utterly reduced. Don’t see anything wrong with that
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