The Celtic Trust was established in 1999 with the primary purpose of providing an umbrella organisation that, through the mobilisation of the combined shareholdings of ordinary supporters in Celtic Plc, would seek to assist Celtic to prosper on the playing field and financially, while also staying true to its historic roots as a social institution taking proper account of the community which it serves.
Arguments in favour of supporter representation on the Board
The Celtic Trust is a supporters' trust, an organisation established to represent the interests of small shareholders and supporters at Celtic.
It's Constitution as an industrial & provident society (a co-operative) gives each member one vote on matters of policy, and with regard to electing the officers of the Trust. Every year the Trust has to submit annual accounts to the Financial Services Authority (FSA). As an incorporated body it can own shares in its own right, and we do own shares in Celtic.
For those of you who use Twitter, you may wish to 'follow' the Celtic Trust on this service as we are now posting 'tweets' from time to time.
The Celtic Trust will be promoting two resolutions to the 2009 PLC AGM. These will be on the issues of supporter representation on the PLC Board and on the issue of the distribution of European Away Tickets and on the use of a travel partner. The precise wording of the two resolutions will shortly be sent to all members in the form of a ballot (as required by our constitution and by law). Once agreed we will begin the process of collecting supporting signatures from the holders of ordinary (voting) shares in Celtic PLC. At that point the resolution requisition forms will be available for download here. In the meantime you can see the wording of the 2009 resolutions here.
Today Celtic released the following statement:
Celtic FC Honours National Famine Memorial Day
Celtic Football Club today announced that it is to mark National Famine Memorial Day on 17th May 2009. The day has been earmarked by the Irish Government to commemorate and honour the 1.5 million people, who either perished or emigrated from Ireland during the Great Irish Famine from 1845 -1851.
As a mark of respect, the Celtic team on Sunday will wear the Club’s Celtic Cross on their shirts when the team plays against Hibernian FC on Sunday.
The Cross, representing a bridge between Scottish and Irish cultures, is the symbol of the Club’s charitable arm, established to continue the charitable work initiated by the Club’s great founder Brother Walfrid, an Irish Marist Brother.
Celtic Chairman John Reid commented:
“Given Celtic’s proud Irish heritage, this Club is inextricably linked to the Great Famine and the subsequent immigration from Ireland.
“Celtic Football Club therefore is proud to be marking National Famine Memorial Day in this manner as we pay our respects to all those affected by the Great Hunger, one of the most tragic chapters in modern world history. The Irish Famine resulted in death, disease and displacement of people on an unimaginable scale with the West of Scotland becoming a principal point of refuge”.
“The Famine is a lesson from history which should never be forgotten but from the despair and death of famine arose new hope, new life and a new future, part of that came in the in the shape of Celtic Football Club.
“The desperate people who fled Ireland and their offspring born in Scotland, became the collective parents of Celtic Football Club. The Club’s main inspiration Brother Walfrid and Michael Davitt, the club’s first patron, were both young children during the Famine in Ireland”.
“Celtic is a Scottish Club with proud Irish roots, an organisation which represents a fusion of cultures between both countries. We are a Club open to all and while we celebrate our traditions, it is important that we also celebrate our diversity.”
“During the past 120 years Celtic has developed into a world class football organisation which strives for excellence and success on and off the field. However, while we always aim to build and grow, there will be one constant - we will always remain much more than a football club and we will always remember our proud heritage.”
The Celtic Trust would like to congratulate Celtic for this excellent intiative and statement and we would also like to congratulate our good friend and colleague, Joe O'Rourke, General Secretary of the Celtic Supporters Association whose idea it was.
The Celtic Trust will be promoting two resolutions to the 2009 PLC AGM. These will be on the issues of supporter representation on the PLC Board and on the issue of the distribution of European Away Tickets and on the use of a travel partner. The precise wording of the two resolutions will shortly be sent to all members in the form of a ballot (as required by our constitution and by law). Once agreed we will begin the process of collecting supporting signatures from the holders of ordinary shares in Celtic PLC.
Representatives of the Trust Board recently met with the current and prospective Match Commanders at London Road Police station to discuss a number of concerns brought to us by our members concerning the treatment of our fans both at home and away fixtures. The notes of the meeting can be found here.
A line drawn under a disgraceful episode
.
A letter sent to the Celtic Plc Board regarding the widely condemned racist behaviour of the Rangers fans who chant about An Gorta Mor (The Great Hunger) was discussed at their recent meeting. A response was received directly by the Celtic Trust and a general response has now been posted (in the form of a letter to the fans from the Chairman)on the club's website (www.celticfc.net). The Celtic Trust welcomes the condemnation from the PLC Board and we hope that the club, together with Strathclyde Police, will take firm and direct action against any person found to be singing this song at Celtic Park.
Membership fees/donations can now be paid using Paypal - please see membership page
The Irish Government has protested to the Scottish Government about the racist chants of the Rangers Fans who have been asking us since last season 'why don't you go home?'. The Celtic Trust condemned this song as soon as it first began to be sung (see Archive under 'Holocaust chants'). We also, along with other groups, raised this in a meeting with Show Racism the Red Card some months ago. This organisation, charged with removing racism from Scottish football, agreed that the song was racist and apologised for not dealing with it sooner. Since then, however, they have not replied to any contact from us and have made no public statements on the matter. This is a clearly racist song and the response by sections of the media trying to link it to sectarianism is a blatant attempt to portray this as a tit for tat process. Even worse is the response of some commentators to link it to the issue of faith schools. This is entirely a problem for the Rangers support, their organisations and their club, and those bodies charged with removing racism from football. The Celtic Trust has no intention of engaging in any media-directed game which is designed to take the spotlight from the racists responsible for the singing of, and defence of, this song.
WALFRID BADGES FOR SALE
The Trust still has a supply of Brother Walfrid badges at £1 each (discounts for bulk buy negotiable!). All money raised will go to the CSA's Walfrid's Wells campaign which supplies fresh water wells to communities in Nigeria who are suffering from the lack of easily available clean water. Contact us via the phone/email details on our contacts page.
Arguments in favour of supporter representation on the Board
The Celtic Trust is a supporters' trust, an organisation established to represent the interests of small shareholders and supporters at Celtic.
It's Constitution as an industrial & provident society (a co-operative) gives each member one vote on matters of policy, and with regard to electing the officers of the Trust. Every year the Trust has to submit annual accounts to the Financial Services Authority (FSA). As an incorporated body it can own shares in its own right, and we do own shares in Celtic.
Follow Celtic Trust on Twitter
For those of you who use Twitter, you may wish to 'follow' the Celtic Trust on this service as we are now posting 'tweets' from time to time.
Resolutions to the 2009 Celtic PLC AGM
The Celtic Trust will be promoting two resolutions to the 2009 PLC AGM. These will be on the issues of supporter representation on the PLC Board and on the issue of the distribution of European Away Tickets and on the use of a travel partner. The precise wording of the two resolutions will shortly be sent to all members in the form of a ballot (as required by our constitution and by law). Once agreed we will begin the process of collecting supporting signatures from the holders of ordinary (voting) shares in Celtic PLC. At that point the resolution requisition forms will be available for download here. In the meantime you can see the wording of the 2009 resolutions here.
The Celtic Trust would like to offer our sincere condolences Henrik Larsson and his family on the tragic death of his brother and also to the family and friends of Gordon Lennon, Captain of Dumbarton FC, who died on Sunday in a car accident.
Click here to find a Review of the Tommy Burns Video by Kenny Butler who attended the launch last week on behalf of the Celtic Trust
Celtic mark the first National Famine Memorial Day
Today Celtic released the following statement:
Celtic FC Honours National Famine Memorial Day
Celtic Football Club today announced that it is to mark National Famine Memorial Day on 17th May 2009. The day has been earmarked by the Irish Government to commemorate and honour the 1.5 million people, who either perished or emigrated from Ireland during the Great Irish Famine from 1845 -1851.
As a mark of respect, the Celtic team on Sunday will wear the Club’s Celtic Cross on their shirts when the team plays against Hibernian FC on Sunday.
The Cross, representing a bridge between Scottish and Irish cultures, is the symbol of the Club’s charitable arm, established to continue the charitable work initiated by the Club’s great founder Brother Walfrid, an Irish Marist Brother.
Celtic Chairman John Reid commented:
“Given Celtic’s proud Irish heritage, this Club is inextricably linked to the Great Famine and the subsequent immigration from Ireland.
“Celtic Football Club therefore is proud to be marking National Famine Memorial Day in this manner as we pay our respects to all those affected by the Great Hunger, one of the most tragic chapters in modern world history. The Irish Famine resulted in death, disease and displacement of people on an unimaginable scale with the West of Scotland becoming a principal point of refuge”.
“The Famine is a lesson from history which should never be forgotten but from the despair and death of famine arose new hope, new life and a new future, part of that came in the in the shape of Celtic Football Club.
“The desperate people who fled Ireland and their offspring born in Scotland, became the collective parents of Celtic Football Club. The Club’s main inspiration Brother Walfrid and Michael Davitt, the club’s first patron, were both young children during the Famine in Ireland”.
“Celtic is a Scottish Club with proud Irish roots, an organisation which represents a fusion of cultures between both countries. We are a Club open to all and while we celebrate our traditions, it is important that we also celebrate our diversity.”
“During the past 120 years Celtic has developed into a world class football organisation which strives for excellence and success on and off the field. However, while we always aim to build and grow, there will be one constant - we will always remain much more than a football club and we will always remember our proud heritage.”
The Celtic Trust would like to congratulate Celtic for this excellent intiative and statement and we would also like to congratulate our good friend and colleague, Joe O'Rourke, General Secretary of the Celtic Supporters Association whose idea it was.
Resolutions to the 2009 Celtic PLC AGM
The Celtic Trust will be promoting two resolutions to the 2009 PLC AGM. These will be on the issues of supporter representation on the PLC Board and on the issue of the distribution of European Away Tickets and on the use of a travel partner. The precise wording of the two resolutions will shortly be sent to all members in the form of a ballot (as required by our constitution and by law). Once agreed we will begin the process of collecting supporting signatures from the holders of ordinary shares in Celtic PLC.
2009 Trust AGM Report
Trust Reps meet with Police
Representatives of the Trust Board recently met with the current and prospective Match Commanders at London Road Police station to discuss a number of concerns brought to us by our members concerning the treatment of our fans both at home and away fixtures. The notes of the meeting can be found here.
A line drawn under a disgraceful episode
First Minister withdraws charge of bigotry against Celtic Trust Chair
Response from UEFA re poor seating at Villarreal game
Celtic PLC EGM Friday 21 November 2008
Celtic PLC AGM 2008 Report
.
Celtic Chairman responds to complaints re famine song
A letter sent to the Celtic Plc Board regarding the widely condemned racist behaviour of the Rangers fans who chant about An Gorta Mor (The Great Hunger) was discussed at their recent meeting. A response was received directly by the Celtic Trust and a general response has now been posted (in the form of a letter to the fans from the Chairman)on the club's website (www.celticfc.net). The Celtic Trust welcomes the condemnation from the PLC Board and we hope that the club, together with Strathclyde Police, will take firm and direct action against any person found to be singing this song at Celtic Park.
Membership fees/donations can now be paid using Paypal - please see membership page
IRISH GOVERNMENT PROTESTS RE FAMINE SONG
The Irish Government has protested to the Scottish Government about the racist chants of the Rangers Fans who have been asking us since last season 'why don't you go home?'. The Celtic Trust condemned this song as soon as it first began to be sung (see Archive under 'Holocaust chants'). We also, along with other groups, raised this in a meeting with Show Racism the Red Card some months ago. This organisation, charged with removing racism from Scottish football, agreed that the song was racist and apologised for not dealing with it sooner. Since then, however, they have not replied to any contact from us and have made no public statements on the matter. This is a clearly racist song and the response by sections of the media trying to link it to sectarianism is a blatant attempt to portray this as a tit for tat process. Even worse is the response of some commentators to link it to the issue of faith schools. This is entirely a problem for the Rangers support, their organisations and their club, and those bodies charged with removing racism from football. The Celtic Trust has no intention of engaging in any media-directed game which is designed to take the spotlight from the racists responsible for the singing of, and defence of, this song.
WALFRID BADGES FOR SALE
The Trust still has a supply of Brother Walfrid badges at £1 each (discounts for bulk buy negotiable!). All money raised will go to the CSA's Walfrid's Wells campaign which supplies fresh water wells to communities in Nigeria who are suffering from the lack of easily available clean water. Contact us via the phone/email details on our contacts page.