Celtic - Ireland?

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Celtic-Ireland clash on the cards

October 26, 2004

Speculation is growing that Brian Kerr’s Republic of Ireland side will be invited to take on Scottish Premier League side, and quasi-Irish club, Celtic in a money-spinning testimonial for defender Jackie McNamara at Parkhead next year.

Celtic have a massive fanbase from around Ireland and among the Irish diaspora worldwide, inspiring thousands to make the journey to Celtic Park from the Emerald Isle every fortnight.

They sold out a series of games in the United States for the past two summers, primarily because of their links with Ireland.

The game is being mooted as a testimonial for veteran defender McNamara, who has spent the past nine years at Parkhead, making more than 250 appearances for the Bhoys. He is currently captain of Martin O’Neill’s side.

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Just read this on another forum but couldn't find it already here... anyone knows a bit more?

Should be very nice for McNamara, and a great match for the fans ofcourse ;)!

I wonder who represent ireland, cant see RMK doing it for a start

Young Miller will get a hot reception. I bet he's "injured" if this game goes ahead. Come to think of it, RMK and JOS will no doubt carry knocks too.

:rolleyes: PP

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Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

I wonder who represent ireland, cant see RMK doing it for a start

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hey hey, Zat Knight, come on down! :p

I think its a disgrace if the irish national team take part in this...

What the hell is a national team doing playing a club side... and especially if the testamonial is for someone who isnt even irish! :mad:

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Originally Posted by The Legend

I think its a disgrace if the irish national team take part in this...

What the hell is a national team doing playing a club side... and especially if the testamonial is for someone who isnt even irish! :mad:

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Spot On - Great shout! There are far more deserving causes who we should be helping before getting involved in this sh*te.

David Langan for one, a great servant to Ireland who suffered a horrific football injury and for several years has had difficulty walking. He is now living on state assistance. What about us playing Birmingham City, with Kenny C. as captain and Clinton up front.

We should get our priorities right and look after our own instead of lining the pockets of some ordinary Scottish player who has no connection with Ireland. :mad: :mad:

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Originally Posted by Superhoops

We should get our priorities right and look after our own instead of lining the pockets of some ordinary Scottish player who has no connection with Ireland. :mad: :mad:

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Yawn... :rolleyes:

Would the last person to read this post please turn out the lights.

:rolleyes: PP

Kerr should put out a B type team then. There is no point in picking up injuries etc for a meaningless friendly. Kerr can look at a few options.;)

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Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

Kerr should put out a B type team then. There is no point in picking up injuries etc for a meaningless friendly. Kerr can look at a few options.;)

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I have no arguments with that. It's been mentioned elsewhere and seems sensible enough.

:) PP

I think its a very good idea accually, sure ireland played sunderland for a charity match... why shouldnt ireland play celtic... we have alot in common, when is it on?

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Originally Posted by davros

The same happened with Packie Bonnar.....I was there....good stuff!

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Dav,

Seem to remember P.Bonner of Celtic being from Donegal and playing a few games for ROI! For his testimonial at Celtic, there was some logic in ROI being the opponents.

Still can't fathom out why ROI should be taking part in testimonial for the benefit of someone who has no Irish connections and who played for Scotland. Surely, a Scotland XI would be more suitable? Surely, real Celtic fans would turn up en masse regardless of who the opponents were!

Take off your Celtic hat for a moment and imagine if Rangers invited ROI as opponents at a testimonial for some Jock player with no Irish connections. I know it would never happen but if it did would you be supportive if ROI took part?

What about if Man U. invited ROI as opponents at a testimonial for say, Gary Neville? Would you be OK with this?

No? neither would I!

I dont have a major problem with it so long as :-

A) We dont risk key players esp. if there is an important qualifier coming up.

B) Linked to the above, its not during "international weekend" (ie one of the ones FIFA set aside).

If its done say over the summer, and BK uses it to test out squad players rather than risk the big players then I dont see there being a problem. (I'm not saying play the u-21s but I am saying rest the key players and play players who are good but dont get much international practice eg Kenny, Harte, Kavanagh). In other words if its like the match v Jamacia at Charlton then its fine.

On another note, we've got the Croatians and Portuguese lined up either side of new year. I presume there will be more friendlies later on in the season, any idea who the opposition will be ? I'd love it if we played the Germans or Italians in a friendly as its been a while since we've played either at home or away.

I think I heard Italy were being lined up for the November friendly, but they had a prior agreement with someone for that date.

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Spot On - Great shout! There are far more deserving causes who we should be helping before getting involved in this sh*te.

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Niall Quinn's testimonial was against Sunderland and he made over £1,000,000 which he gave to charity, had you a problem with that match ?

David Langan should get a testimonial before Jackie who? It's about time that either Birmingham, Derby or Oxford got together with the FAI and helped this bloke out.

I'm all up for a Celtic - Ireland game (or any other visit of the boys on this island I live on) with the proceeds going to a decent cause - in the case of Celtic or Hibernians, what about asylum seekers of Scotland? Would seem appropriate and sufficiently irritating to the establishment, but not to some pampered, overpaid footballer. Those with their 'Celtic hats' might think he's worth it, but I personally couldn't give a f*ck for him.

BTW, Ireland played a testimonial at West Ham for Tony Gayle (no Irish connection) in 1994 and the only time they visited Old Trafford for a testimonial was for Matt Busby in August 1991.

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Originally Posted by Irishgael

Niall Quinn's testimonial was against Sunderland and he made over £1,000,000 which he gave to charity, had you a problem with that match ?

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Absolutely none, I attended that game.

However, there are two major differences between the Sunderland game and this game against Celtic:
1) Niall Quinn is Irish and was a member of the Irish squad at the time. McNamara has no Irish connection
2) Niall Quinn donated the entire proceeds of the Sunderland game to charities in Ireland and in the Sunderland area. If McNamara were to do the same, then it would be worthwhile for that purpose alone. Somehow, I doubt this would be the case, otherwise the game could be promoted as a 'charity match' without any association to a Jackie McNamara benefit game.

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Originally Posted by lopez

David Langan should get a testimonial before Jackie who? It's about time that either Birmingham, Derby or Oxford got together with the FAI and helped this bloke out.

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Good shout amigo, exactly the point I made earlier!

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Originally Posted by davros

Incidentally,Messrs.Busby & Gale :confused:,had no direct association with Ireland.....didn't seem to provoke the 'outrage',this game may,allegedly,contend?!

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Prob not, but this website wasn't around then. Dunno about Gayle (the vast majority at the game were hammers fans) but I'd never pass up the opportunity to see an Irish side in London. However Busby definitely came from the £10 max a week era. I didn't begrudge him a penny of my money.

Anyone with the ear of Rooney and the other clowns, should perhaps put the word out about Langan. Brum game would definately bring in some money. He is the one bloke who stands out as needing some kind of assistance. Didn't he end up in some sort of menial job as a cleaner, FFS? Perhaps the Boston Celtics Jacket could have a word with Brian?

So If McNamara requests Ireland for what will presumably be partially a charity game at least, are we to expect that Kerr should refuse because the player in question isn't Irish enough?

Whilst not being a Celtic fan, I would think that one doesn't have to be to appreciate that under the current circumstances, (with the fickleness of football fans the same the world over) Ireland would be a more lucrative draw for Celtic than the Scottish National team.
(Sadly, a San Marino over 45's XI would no doubt be a more lucrative draw than The Scottish team at the mo, but thats another story..)

It seems, therefore, it would stand to reason that players from ANY team, Celtic, West Ham, Man U, Barry Town, wherever, would sometimes bypass the obvious to request the biggest potential draw for their day in the sun.

If it suits Kerr & Ireland to pay tribute to another servant of international football, then so be it. Perhaps a gesture such as this would jar the memory of those closer to home who haven't recognised deserving cases..

If agreeable, he should, (as has been mentioned above) already be preparing it as a both a blooding ground for the young, and a carrot on a stick for the rusty & out of favour, (not to mention that whole warm fuzzy Sesame Street feeling he'll get from giving up his time to help out another....)

And if McNamara's request should be refused?
I would just hope it would be for less uncharitable reasons than his place of birth.

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Originally Posted by GalwayFrancis

I think its a very good idea accually, sure ireland played sunderland for a charity match... why shouldnt ireland play celtic... we have alot in common, when is it on?

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If the proceeds go to charity then it is a good thing, I don't think Jackie needs the cash. In fact if he does take the money it would be pretty disgusting.