The Melbourne No1 Celtic supporters club has a proud history and legacy operating successfully for over 35 years. The Club was was formed in 1982 by Pat McElhinney. Pat now lives down in the Melbourne Peninsula but is still active in the Celtic community and is a life member of the club. Since our conception we have had many homes and meeting places, including The Bentleigh Club, The Blarney Stone; and The Middle Park Hotel, before finally settling for many years in the Celtic Club at Queen St in the City until its closure 2 years ago. We have now found our new with Chaz and Alex in the Turf Bar also in Queens St Melbourne. We will return to this subject later in the article.
Australia in those earlier days was very different from the Australia of today, no more so than in communication with family and friends in the Old Country. Phone calls back home cost a pretty penny, so you mostly relied on pen and paper for family news and the Monday newspaper for the Celtic result. In those early days, up until 5 or 6 years ago, the club met every second Wednesday. It was also the advent of the video player, so with someone in charge of trying to ensure regular delivery of Celtic highlights, the members would turn up every meeting hoping to get a glimpse of the bhoys in action. Pat tells the great story of when one night the telly the members were watching went on the bunk. Not to be beaten, Pat quickly drove home. He marched into the living room and unplugged the telly while his missus was watching Neighbours; Said telly was put in the back of the car and driven back to the meeting where the bhoys and ghirls could watch the end of Sportscene.
