Heroes and vigilantes…Johnstone No.1 CSC is 80 years young

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·3 de junio de 2025

Heroes and vigilantes…Johnstone No.1 CSC is 80 years young

Heroes and vigilantes…the Johnstone No.1 CSC is 80 years young!

Johnstone No.1 CSC 80th Anniversary. Photo Matt Corr

It still hurts like Hell. I guess you know the feeling

It took a very special Celtic night on Saturday to shake me out of the post-Hampden depression. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how often you’ve been there. It still hurts like Hell. I guess you know the feeling.

OneFootball Videos

A big deal for me in the years since I ‘gave up the day job’ has been to share the stories of the incredible events and characters which make up Celtic’s long, unbroken history. That may be through the stadium tours, books, podcasts or articles or just through conversation on social media.

Well not every Celtic supporter has easy access to all of the above so last autumn, I decided to extend that offering and stick my toe in the water to see if any supporters’ clubs would be interested in having bespoke slideshow presentations produced reflecting their own heroes.

Johnstone No.1 CSC 80th Anniversary. Photo Matt Corr

Peter Scarff CSC in Linwood

The first of those took place in November at the home of the Peter Scarff CSC in Linwood, a venue which it transpires played a huge part in the tragically short life of the young Celtic great.

Next up was a visit to the base of another CSC honouring a Celtic hero taken long before his time, Peter Johnstone in Muirhead. Peter fell at the Battle of Arras in that monstrous conflict we know as the First World War.

The Billy McNeill Commemoration Committee in Bellshill invited me to reflect on the early years of Cesar and my first venture across the water was to Newry in April, where Tommy Sheridan morphed between a young and elderly Willie Maley to narrate a mini-play I had written commemorating the career of the great man in the town of his birth, where his statue takes pride of place thanks to the efforts of some incredible Celtic supporters.

A support like no other, indeed.

Johnstone No.1 CSC 80th Anniversary. Photo Matt Corr

The latest event took place on Saturday evening in Johnstone, an area which it turns out has an incredible link to Celtic FC stretching all the way back to the formation of the club in the late 19th century. Some of the Johnstone No.1 CSC committee members had been at the Peter Scarff presentation and approached me earlier this year regarding the possibility of producing something as a surprise for their members at their 80th anniversary celebrations.

Absolutely, and over the weeks and months which followed I researched those connections, weaving in the photos and stories provided by Joe Tonner which brought those characters and events to life.

I won’t spoil it for anyone who’s interested in watching or listening to the presentation, as a link is attached, but suffice to say that as well as the triumphs and tragedies associated with any Celtic story there are also a few rather unusual events in there.

Johnstone No.1 CSC 80th Anniversary. Photo Matt Corr

It was 58 years ago this week that my dad and my godfather uncle – who moved to Johnstone from Springburn in 1967 – made the inaugural pilgrimage to the city of Lisbon to see history being made at Estadio Nacional. So it felt right and fitting that I was in Johnstone to include that trip in my story of the connection between area and club, together with my cousin, his daughter, who lives and works there to this day.

It would be late in the evening before I heard that the current Inter side suffered the same fate as Herrera’s men all those years ago, blown away by an exciting brand of attacking football.

The evening itself was a triumph, thanks to the efforts of Joe and the rest of his Johnstone No.1 CSC committee, their hosts the Peter Scarff Social Club and the many friends old and new who attended. It’s no mean feat for a supporters’ club to reach such a milestone, particularly in an era when it is no longer possible to roll up at away grounds with a busload of 50+ members and pay into a match, as we did back in the day.

🔗 Facebook

It started off as two trophies triggering so many memories were welcomed into the hall to rousing cheers, the League Cup followed by – appropriately enough on Champions League final night – the European Cup. Together they formed a brilliant backdrop to stage proceedings.

Celtic’s DNA is alive and well in Johnstone, a raffle organised with over £700 going to a local cancer charity and local duo Green Valley entertaining the crowd with a set which ranged from Elvis to Grace and pretty much everything in between.

Joe acted as master of ceremonies, paying tribute to members who ensured that the club would survive through the darkest of days and to long-serving President Don Kane, who is standing down to focus on his health. I had the pleasure of meeting Don last year and he has been a huge supporter of our work at Celtic Star Books over the years. Indeed, Don is one of the members of the exclusive ‘Ten Club’ who own our entire collection. The eight available books were on sale at a pop-up bookstore on the night, giving me the opportunity to speak with so many great Celtic people.

An evening spent in the very best of company and a much-needed tonic.

Have a look at the YouTube video which covers the night and the video clip of my presentation.

And if you’re interested in having me along at one of your functions to present and/or set-up a bookstore as something a wee bit different for your guests, then please just get in touch.

Meanwhile, here’s to the next 80 years for everyone at Johnstone No.1 CSC!

Hail, Hail!

Matt Corr

Follow Matt on X/Twitter @Boola_vogue