Some people never pull on the famous Celtic shirt but still influence the club.

Robert Kelly is one such example, a man renowned for his iron grip on control of the club in the 1950s and 1960s.

This latest podcast tells the full story of this.

Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).

From next month, you can also buy Part 1 of the two-part book series ‘Green, white and silverware’ by Matthew Marr, describing Celtic’s less well-known trophy wins.

For pre-order information, visit: https://celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com/books-and-articles/

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Another defeat to Rangers leaves Celtic with one win in twelve against their city rivals and, more worryingly, a team that increasingly looks as though it has forgotten what it is supposed to be. Harry, Andrew and Keith pick through a derby where the change to 3-5-2 quickly descended into tactical roulette, with Celtic starting without a winger and eventually ending up with three of them, while Rangers simply proved stronger, sharper and rather more certain of what they were doing.

The discussion moves beyond another poor ninety minutes to the lack of physicality, fitness, identity and leadership throughout the side, the recurring weaknesses of individual players, questions over the coaching structure and whether keeping Martin O’Neill beyond last season's rescue mission was ultimately a mistake.

With rumours already circulating about another managerial change, there is also the rather extraordinary prospect of Celtic entering a fifth managerial period in eleven months. It is a fairly sombre assessment of a club badly in need of a spark, although we do establish that Celtic Park's main entrance is currently better defended than the team, Liam Scales may still be tying his bootlaces and, if all else fails, a EuroMillions might just provide enough cash to tempt Pep Guardiola.

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This Sunday, Celtic face Rangers at Celtic Park.

Over the years, the Celts have played the two Ibrox clubs at 14 different locations.

This latest podcast tells the full story of these venues.

Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).

From next month, you can also buy Part 1 of the two-part book series ‘Green, white and silverware’ by Matthew Marr, describing Celtic’s less well-known trophy wins.

For pre-order information, visit: https://celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com/books-and-articles/

Enjoy…

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s free to all podcast, we pick through the bones of a truly dreadful 3–0 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox, with Harry joined by Matthew & Andrew to ask how Celtic could be so comprehensively outfought and outplayed.

The discussion starts with team selection but quickly moves to the bigger problem: a side with no coherent shape, no resilience under pressure and seemingly no clear method of progressing the ball from defence to attack. Celtic’s midfield is repeatedly exposed, the forwards become isolated, and the lack of urgency is summed up by Matthew’s description of a wider “malaise” prompting Andrew’s line that Celtic have gone from a “jobbing team” to a “jogging team.”

The chat from the bhoys turns to whether this is something Martin O’Neill can actually fix with the squad he has. The use of a system that works against weaker domestic opposition but collapses when Celtic face teams capable of pressing with pace and physicality.

With another Rangers game looming, the conclusion is that simply swapping personnel won't be enough: Celtic need more energy in midfield, a clearer structure and, above all, a system that actually suits the players available. As Andrew puts it, the team looks like tissue paper against decent opposition, and after another 3–0 loss at Ibrox, the most positive assessment anyone can muster is - at least it was only three.

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The 1901 Exhibition Cup is one of Celtic’s strangest trophy successes.

It involves a cup won by Rangers but displayed by the Celts.

This latest podcast describes the full story.

Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).

From next month, you can also buy the two-part book series ‘Green, white and silverware’ by Matthew Marr, describing Celtic’s less well-known trophy wins.

To get details, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X and Bluesky or keep listening to the Celtic Underground.

Enjoy…

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Thanks for reading The Celtic Underground Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

Celtic made it five league wins from five with a 2-1 comeback victory at St Mirren, but much of the post-match discussion inevitably centres on VAR after two Celtic goals were ruled out in controversial circumstances.

Andrew, Saint and Stephen pick through those decisions and debate whether, for all its flaws, Scottish football is still better with VAR than without it. There’s also plenty on the football itself: Celtic’s increasingly potent attack, the continuing vulnerability of a midfield without a genuine defensive presence, Yang’s improvement, Duran’s emergence and what happens when Høgh returns, the criticism of Sinisalo, and whether new arrival Sorensen might finally provide the balance the team has been missing.

With St Johnstone next and Ibrox looming, the discussion turns to team selection, horses for courses and whether Martin O’Neill should be prepared to change the system when the occasion demands it.

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Celtic followed up the home win over Falkirk with a comfortable 3-0 win over Aberdeen, and Andrew and Stephen join Harry to discuss a side that suddenly looks enjoyable to watch again. There’s plenty on the performances of Duran, Yang, Donovan and McGregor, first impressions of the new arrivals, and why increased competition throughout the squad may be lifting the level of those already there. The discussion also returns to the painful European exit and the uncomfortable truth that two things can be true at once: Celtic should have strengthened earlier, but the players and management should still have seen out a four-goal advantage.

With the transfer window now closed, the focus turns to what Celtic have actually built. Has recruitment finally moved away from hedging bets on several cheaper players towards spending proper money on better ones, or does another frantic deadline week demonstrate that the underlying problems remain? The guys go position by position through the squad, debate the missing defensive midfielder and the goalkeeping situation, and look at the increasingly difficult UEFA homegrown-player problem.

Finally, attention turns to St Mirren and how Martin O’Neill begins integrating a raft of new players while preparing Celtic for the bigger tests ahead.

This podcast is available to members of the CU community immediately with everyone else able to pick it up from Friday lunchtime.

We have excellent content for free and paid subscribers. There’s the main podcast available to all on a Monday morning with Harry’s post-game Monopods to all paid subscribers within 12 hours of the final whistle. Wednesdays sees Matthews History podcast available to all and Sunday has Andrew exclusive guests available to members of the CU community. These are all interspersed with various articles and Ross Hall’s postgame coverage of the B-Team.

If you want to ensure that you never miss any content you can become a paid or free subscriber by clicking the links.

The Celtic Underground Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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In Celtic’s history, the name John Thomson will always be tinged with tragedy.

95 years ago, the Fife goalkeeper died whilst representing the Celts.

This is the story of his life.

Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).

From next month, you can also buy the two-part book series ‘Green, white and silverware’ by Matthew Marr, describing Celtic’s less well-known trophy wins.

To get details, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X and Bluesky or keep listening to the Celtic Underground.

Enjoy…

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe

For this weeks free podcast, Harry is joined by Matthew & Keith to pick through the aftermath of Celtic’s extraordinary European collapse against LASK and the response at Celtic Park in the weekend win over Falkirk.

Despite the anger surrounding the Champions League exit, the backing for the team provides a reminder of the difference between supporting Celtic and being satisfied with how the club is being run. The guys assess the Falkirk performance, the early impressions of Celtic’s new arrivals and where the squad remains worryingly short, with left-back, defensive midfield and goalkeeper among the areas discussed as the transfer deadline approaches.

The conversation then widens to the bigger question of what Celtic do next. With Europa League football now the reality, should the club reset and set an ambitious target for the competition rather than dwell on Champions League failure?

There’s discussion of recruitment, Martin O’Neill, the coming games with Rangers and the continuing frustration at a club sitting on considerable resources while investment is needed both on and off the pitch. From the ageing Celtic Park experience to the inadequate facilities currently provided for Celtic Women, the question running through the episode is less about one disastrous European night and more about whether Celtic have the ambition and strategy to make the most of the position they are in.

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25 years ago, the life of one Celtic legend came to an end.

Bobby Evans was a massive player for the club in the 1940s and 1950, best remembered as the captain of the 7-1 side.

This latest history podcast tells his story.

Every week, you can listen for free to more tales from Celtic’s past, as told by Matthew Marr (Hail Hail History).

You can also soon buy the two-part book series ‘Green, white and silverware’ by Matthew Marr, describing Celtic’s less well-known trophy wins.

To get details, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X and Bluesky or keep listening to the Celtic Underground.

Enjoy…

Apple podcasts

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Amazon

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecelticunderground.substack.com/subscribe