affreg

Eddie McCafferty from Greenock founded the Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters Clubs in 1986.

Eddie at that time was the President of the Greenock Celtic Travel Club who operated from The Para Handy Bar in Greenock.

In those days supporters clubs could not gain membership of The Celtic Supporters Association who were registered at Celtic Park.

Due to the ever increasing all ticket matches Celtic were involved in at that time, Eddie decided to write to the Celtic View in March 1986 inviting representatives of all registered clubs to a meeting to discuss the formation of an alternative Celtic supporters organisation.

The response to the letter in the Celtic View was overwhelming in as much that we had to restrict the numbers who wished to attend the first meeting to two representatives from each club.

Ironically when our first meeting took place we were granted the use of premises at The Broomfield Tavern in Provanmill Glasgow by the local Celtic supporters clubs who were one of the largest clubs at that time in the supporters Association.

Around 300 supporters attended the first meeting from various clubs across the country, also in attendance on that day were the then Celtic directors Jack McGinn & Tom Grant.

A committee was duly appointed and their first task was to name the newly appointed body

THE AFFILIATION OF REGISTERED CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUBS

Subsequent meetings followed & a constitution was put together for the approval of the Celtic board of directors. After various meetings with the board of the club our constitution was given the seal of approval and we were accepted by the club as the 2^nd official body of Celtic Supporters Clubs in August 1986.

Since our foundation we have grown in strength & numbers, we now have member clubs across the UK together with clubs in Northern & Southern Ireland. We also have member clubs in Canada & USA. Only recently we have had enquiries from fans wishing to start up clubs in such places as Kuala Lumpar & West Africa.

Over the last few years we managed to put together some very successful social events. On the 25^th May 1992 we held the Lisbon Lions 25^th Anniversary party at the Normandy Hotel, Renfrew.

Almost 800 supporters & invited guests turned out for what was a truly memorable occasion.

We also embarked on series of road shows in 1992 where every Tuesday evening we would travel around various supporters clubs across the UK & Northern & Southern Ireland for a question & answer session.

We were accompanied on the road shows with two first team members & two former players. In all we visited around 60 supporters clubs.

At that time the insurance giants Confederation Life sponsored us.

We also had the privilege of staging our annual five a side competition at Celtic Park prior to the Manchester United match in the chase away the blues evening held as a farewell to the old jungle.

Our most recent event was a joint effort with the Supporters Association when we put together a testimonial dinner for Peter Grant. Over 600 supporters joined in another hugely successful night held at The Normandy Hotel.

We have also co-ordinated several European coach trips for supporters who wished to travel to see the team in action.

We again plan to continue with this for this season’s venture into Europe.

Clubs wishing more information on the Affiliation should contact

Mick Dinning

5 Partridge Road

Greenock

Inverclyde

Scotland

PA16 7AX

Mick can also be contacted by e-mail & the address here is MDINNING@YAHOO.COM

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