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The
Belfast Celtic Club have since my last contribution a few months back
taken a step which has placed the club in a position that must ensure its
being the leading Irish club of the future. It
has long being felt that a properly equipped athletic ground is very
desirable in Belfast, but while many projects were discussed, even one in
aid of furthering the present Ulster ground, none came to anything.
It
has however been left to Celtic to go one better, and put in practical
operation their ideas. They secured seven acres of ground abutting the end of
Donegall road adjoining Broadway, and in close proximity to their old
enclosure. Nothing could be
better from the club's point of view in having their new home in the place
where their first endeavours to found a club, which will, I hope, gain an
eminence such as is possessed by their Glasgow namesakes.
The
old ground at the "Klondyke" was an eyesore, but, when completed,
new Celtic Park "will be a thing of beauty and a joy for ever."
But it costs money to effect these changes, and how better could
Celtic raise it but to ask all interested in the club, of those who wish
to see sport prosper, to give practical proof to their earnestness.
It
is encouraging to say that the response has been far exceeding the most
sanguine expectations in this respect.
The Capital is £3,000, in £1 shares, and over half that amount is
already subscribed, and there is little doubt but the balance will soon be
forthcoming. It would, indeed,
be a pity that the herculean efforts made by the management of the Celtic
Club should not be rewarded as they deserve, and I am only expressing the
hope on their behalf that those who have not so far subscribed will get a
form from Mr. P.S.Brady, 25 Chichester Street, Belfast, solicitor; orthe
National Bank Ltd., High Street, Belfast, and send their quota in early.
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In the raising of interest, and
to show that the new club was more than in name, the Directors at once set
about "putting their house in order."
In this matter three of them - Messrs. D. McCloskey, C.Watters, and
John Rooney - have been the most energetic.
The old players, such as Fleming
(back), Nicholl (half), Dornan, Doherty, and Clarke (forwards), were
secured, and as Jack McConville (who captained the team two seasons ago)
and Connor, who went to Clyde and Glentoran respectively last season, were
induced to come back, the outlook was promising. At the same time the members of the old committee, who are
now connected with the club, were of the opinion that the club should be
even stronger in players. This
was soon remedied, and today they have Donnelly, the Glasgow Celtic
goalkeeper of last season: McAvoy, a Glasgow junior back, who was with an
English league club, Grimsby Town; Boll, Buchanan, and Maguire, three
forwards from Glossop, Third Lanark, and Smithston Albion clubs
respectively.
This list, with what seems one of
the best 2nd X1's that has so far been in connection with the
club, makes it certain that the team should go well into the honours
during this present season. An
old athlete in the person of W.Foster, who has trained many first-class
long and short distance runners, will train the team, and if the elevens
but pay him the attention he ought to receive, then the players are bound
to do well. Saturday last was
the day set apart for the opening of the new ground, and, considering the
short time at the disposal of the contractors since the lease and
agreements were signed for, they did very well.
There will be every endeavour
made to get it into proper order for the remainder of the season, and when
completed the ground and enclosure will be a credit to Celtic, Belfast,
and with few superiors in the Kingdom of its class.
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