Celtic Soul Podcast

Celtic’s most decorated player, James Forest sits down with the Celtic Fan Media to chat about his time at Celtic ahead of the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden.

Milish and Matt look back at Saturdays win over Hibs at a sun drenched Celtic Park and look ahead to the last away day of the season in Aberdeen which also doubles as a dress rehearsal for the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden Park.The bhoys also look ahead to another Trophy day on Saturday at Celtic Park. The Mr. Sheen is out at Celtic Park Trophy room making sure the SPFL trophy is gleaming for the presentation to Callum McGregor and the bhoys. Across the city the rangers who are soon to be announced as the Leeds United reserves are celebrating finally getting a home win. The champagne corks are also popping at Ibrox after their groundsman picked up a silver spade for looking after the playing surface which was made easier for him this season with so much manure on it. The golden spade will now take pride of place in the trophy room alongside the famous bicycle. 

More than 90 Minutes Celtic Fanzine Editor, Andrew Milne chats to George Baker about FC United of Manchester 20 years after the foundation of the football club. The club set up in protest to Malcolm Glazer's takeover of Manchester United' is a statement often used to describe FC United. But while there is no doubt that FC would not have happened without the American invasion, it was the catalyst, the final straw, but not the sole reason.The material theft of a Manchester institution, forcibly taken from the people of Manchester, was the tip of a pyramid of destruction, with changing kick off times for the benefit of television, soulless all-seater stadia full of 'new' supporters intent to sit back and watch rather than partake in the occasion, heavy handed stewarding and ridiculously priced tickets propping it all up.By May 2005 some supporters had had enough. The failure to prevent Glazer and repeat the successful repulsion of Rupert Murdoch in 1998 resurrected a 'last resort' idea from that previous campaign and the FC United wheels were put in motion. A group of individuals determined to continue the fight formed a steering committee and FC United of Manchester was delivered.Critics of the idea argued that if supporters were disgruntled with the Premiership then why didn't they go and support other local cash-strapped clubs instead of setting up their own? But that wouldn't have been theirs would it? It wouldn't have been United and it wouldn't have been right to takeover another club after they had just been taken over themselves. Nor could they drift off in various directions and be lost to each other and maybe football forever. They wanted to maintain the momentum of the protest, to stick together, to sing United songs, to reminisce and bring back the good bits of the good old days. They wanted Our Club, Our Rules and they got just that, a member owned democratic, not-for-profit organisation created by Manchester United fans. A club accessible to all of the Greater Manchester community, dedicated to encouraging participation of youth whether it be playing or supporting and to providing affordable football for all.

Fanzine stalwarts Milish & Matt McGlone look ahead to this weekends Glasgow Derby and celebrate 41AR and 55 Titles. 

Former Celtic Player Didier Agathe joins Andrew Milne on the Celtic Soul Podcast to chat about his Football Academy in Bangkok, his faith after being told he would never play football again and the journey he took which would lead him to Glasgow.He talks about training on his own for 3 months in a park and sleeping in his car before finally getting Celtic to offer him a permanent contract after stints at Raith Rovers and Hibs. After he signed Martin O’Neill asked him to sit in an empty Celtic Park on his own for half an hour while Eyal Berkovic told him he would never play for Celtic. Martin O’Neill knew better and he became a big part of that famous team that won a treble in his first season, gave us some memorable nights in the Champions League and took us on the road to Seville.

Matt McGlone from the Alternative View joined Milish to talk about the impact Maeda has had this season at Celtic and to talk all things Celtic including looking back at the recent Hearts and the rangers games and preview the weekends game in Perth v St. Johnstone and the welcome away ticket allocation. Matt always shares a few gems from his time supporting Celtic on the podcast and this episode is no different when he tells the tale of a chance meeting with Rangers captain Richard Gough at Selhurst Park in London with the League Trophy after Celtic stopped the blue half of Glasgow doing 10IAR. The Bhoys also share stories about club legend Billy McNeill and remember Evan Williams who sadly passed away recently.

In Conversation - Celtic's goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo Celtic's young goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo chats to us about his SPFL debut and being patient waiting for his first team opportunity as understudy to Kasper Schmeichel which came last weekend when he kept a clean sheet against Hearts. He was called into action early in the game on three occasions.He made his Celtic debut earlier in the season  in the League Cup v Raith Rovers in the 5-0 win but has had to patiently wait for his chance since then. Brendan Rodgers said earlier this week that first choice goalkeeper Schmeichel could be out for up to five or six weeks after getting injured on international duty for Denmark. Now Sinisalo has a chance to impress as Celtic head towards another SPFL Trophy starting this weekend away to St. Johnstone. He will also be travelling across the city to Ibrox when the league splits and has also a Hampden Park Scottish Cup debut to look forward to against St. Johnstone. 

Paul McSherry or Shyness as he is known as grew up in and around Celtic Park before signing S Forms for his bhoyhood club. He made it as far as the reserves before being released by Liam Brady. He then signed for Motherwell before heading to the US on a soccer scholarship.He now lives in New York and is a member of the Manhattan No. 1 Fenian Bhoys CSC. He still travels to see Celtic and was in Dortmund and Zagreb this season to cheer on Celtic and is still in search of an away Champions league win on his travels across the Atlantic Ocean. Listen to his story and hear about Liam Brady in training and sharing a pitch with so many famous Celtic names. McAvennie. McStay, Rogan, Coyne, Nicholas and Bonner to name  a few. 

On this episode of The Celtic Soul podcast we REWIND to pay tribute to Johnny Marron who passed away suddenly. Johnny chatted to host More than 90 Minutes Editor, Andrew Milne in the studio about his life following Celtic home and away, life growing up in the Gorbals and some of the characters and the famous past residents of the area as Covid restrictions lifted and Ange moved into the Celtic hot seat. .Born and Bred in the Gorbals, Johnny married Caroline and settled in Drogheda but his heart always remained in Glasgow and he continued to visit regularly to see Celtic and catch up with his mates in the Brazenhead from the Franks CSC until his sudden death. RIP Johnny