Celtic and US Presidential Elections

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The Celtic Star

·5 novembre 2024

Celtic and US Presidential Elections

The Celts are in Champions League action tonight – but the eyes of the world will be on America as it chooses its next President…

Politics and Celtic are never far apart, and there are various club connections with US Presidents – not all that Bhoys’ fans might want.

A detailed view of the statue of Brother Walfrid, Founder of Celtic, prior to the Cinch Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and St. Mirren FC at Celtic Park on January 18, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Vidéos OneFootball

Joe Biden’s Secret Service codename is Celtic

The current American President, Joe Biden, has an obvious link. His Secret Service codename is Celtic, although it’s to do with the Celts as a tribe rather than football. In fact though, the pronunciation of Keltic does fit with what Brother Walfrid actually wanted as the Bhoys’ name.

Celtic at the White House, July 2024. Photo Celtic FC

Celtic visited the White House in July 2024

In addition, there was recently a Celtic visit to the White House. This summer, the club took part in a three-game US tour, facing DC United, Chelsea and Man City. During this time, Celtic players and officials had a tour of the US President’s residence.

Daizen Maeda at The White House, July 2024. Photo Celtic FC

Celtic at Turnberry Hotel

One of the candidates in today’s election, Donald Trump, is a controversial figure (to say the least). He has Scottish links through his mother, and owns the Turnberry Hotel in Ayrshire. In the past – before Trump owned it – this hotel was used by Celtic for different purposes, including as a pre-match getaway and even for prize-giving events.

John F. Kennedy CSC, Perth. Photo Celtic Bars.

Celtic Supporters’ Clubs that are named after an American President

There’s even some Celtic Supporters’ Clubs that are named after an American President. John F Kennedy was of course noted for his Irish links, and was also America’s first Catholic President. In Scotland, two CSCs use his name in their title: the John F Kennedy Perth CSC and Giffnock JFK CSC.

In fact, John F Kennedy once visited Glasgow, acting as a representative for his father Joseph, who was US Ambassador to Britain. Patrick Dollan, a well-known Celtic fan, greeted JFK to the city. Dollan was the first Glasgow Lord Provost to hail from an Irish Catholic background.

New York CSC and Henry Kissinger

Another controversial US President link for Celtic concerns Henry Kissinger. Kissinger was Secretary of State to President Richard Nixon. He was regularly the target of protests concerning US policies in places like south-east Asia. Perhaps surprisingly given most Celtic fans political views, he was also once given honorary membership of the New York CSC.

Celtic playing on Presidential Election Day

Celtic have different links with dates of the US elections. The Bhoys were founded on 6 November 1887; on the first anniversary of this event (6 November 1888), Benjamin Harrison was elected US President, beating the incumbent President Grover Cleveland.

Tonight isn’t Celtic’s first time playing on the day of a Presidential election, it will be the fourth time that this has happened.

Photo Imago. 08 11 1988 Schumann SV Werder Bremen Celtic Glasgow 0 0 Thomas Wolter left and Mirko Votava both Bremen against Anton Rogan Celtic in the European Cup 1988. The Celtic Star.

The first came in 1988. Champions Celtic went to Germany and drew 0-0 with Werder Bremen, playing in the European Cup. On 8 November 1988, Republican George Bush (Senior) was elected, beating Democrat Michael Dukakis.

The Celtic support queuing for tickets for Celtic v Borussia Dortmund, 3 November 1992. UEFA Cup, Celtic Park. Photo The Celtic Wiki

03/11/92 UEFA Cup 2nd round, 2nd leg. Celtic v Borussia Dortmund at Celtic Park, 3 November 1992. Photo The Celtic Wiki

Four years later, Celtic again played as George Bush this time lost the election. On 3 November 1992, Bush lost to Bill Clinton, who would be re-elected in 1996. On the day of the 1992 election, Celtic lost 2-1 at home to Borussia Dortmund, exiting the UEFA Cup.

Alan Thompson scores from a free kick during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Shakhtar Donetsk on November 2, 2004 at Celtic Park. Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

12 years after this, Celtic played as another Bush won a presidential election. On 2 November 2004, George Bush (Junior) was re-elected, beating John Kerry in the race. That night, Celtic won 1-0 in a Champions League tie, overcoming 9-man Shakhtar Donetsk in Glasgow.

Every Celtic fan obviously wants to win tonight. But given the state of the modern world, it would be more important for this election to somehow bring change and improvement.

More important, but unfortunately, not more likely…

Matthew Marr

Follow Matthew on Twitter @hailhailhistory

Celtic fans after the UEFA Champions League match between Atalanta BC and Celtic FC at Stadio di Bergamo on October 23, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Celtic in the Thirties (Volumes One & Two) by Matt Corr published today

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr, Volumes One & Two, Published by Celtic Star Books, November 2024. Image The Celtic Star

The very best of luck to Matt Corr whose double volume history of Celtic in the 1930s is published today on Celtic Star Books.

Telling the Celtic story is always worthwhile and Matt has become an esteemed Celtic story-teller in recent years since his first book Invincible which was published in 2020 before co-writing the best seller Walfrid and The Bould Bhoys with Liam Kelly and the late David Potter.

Since then he’s written the official Harry Hood biography (Harry Hood, Twice as Good) and Majic, Stan and the King of Japan which tells the story of Gordon Strachan’s first season at Celtic.

Harry Hood – Twice as Good

Majic, Stan and the King of Japan

Now though Matt takes his Celtic work to another level with Celtic in the Thirties, Volume One & Two, which has taken three years to research and write and features every player who played for Celtic in that incredibly dramatic decade for the club and indeed the world.

You can order your signed copies from Celtic Star Books and these will be posted alongside all the pre-ordered copies tomorrow. Please note that postage is only charged on the first book.