Over the years the club has hosted many great functions. St Patrick dances in the Celtic Club were always a great success and as people’s social life changed, we also changed to having Christmas lunches which were also very successful. And not to forget our weekend trips to Sydney every June catching up with our fellow CSC Supporters enjoying few ales and songs! These trips were subsidised by the club if you turned up at most meetings and had your name marked off in the wee Jotter. These weekends away culminated in our trip to Vegas for the North American CSCs convention. We were the first club from down under to be represented at the top table on the Gala Supper night. Twenty of us made that unforgettable Trip. You can throw in several golf days as well. During all this time friendships have grown between the members and the bhoys and ghirls we have all met and this stands out above everything.
Times move on and inevitably brings change, none more so than in Technology and Communication. This has had a great effect on all Ex Pats ability to watch live games and read the latest Hoops news as it happens. We used to be able to get together if Celtic were in the cup final and it was being shown on TV live in Australia. Now it is like Glasgow. Most of us have Celtic TV and every Sevco and away game is live on BEIN sports. Admittedly at some very awkward times. This has been terrific but unfortunately has had an adverse effect on attendance at our club meetings. The days of craving news or a video recording of the Hoops had long gone, for most of us it was all there at the tip of your finger and in the comfort of your home.
During the massive change that Pay TV and the internet has made, there has been one constant. That has been the gathering of fans old and new to watch any games against The Forces of Darkness. Stuff the comforts of home. These games must be watched with fellow Tims, the more the merrier. I can think of nothing more enjoyable than a few beers, followed by gubbing Sevco, then another few beers and a sing song. Since O’Neill, Strachan, Lenny, Ronnie, Brendan and Lenny again, we have had some fantastic nights with massive crowds celebrating some memorable victories. Speaking of great crowds brings me to the game in Seville. At that time the club had to plead with the Celtic Club through our then President (Mick Costello) to get an early licence and open at 4AM and maybe supply some snacks. They eventually agreed. On the morning of the game when we duly arrived at 3-30AM apprehensive on whether we would get a decent turnout due to the early time there were hundreds waiting outside for the club to open. They were forced to open down stairs as well as upstairs as more than 400 bhoys and ghirls turned up. History will show we didn’t get the result we were praying for, but it was none the less a magnificent day!
