The Battle To Save Celtic: Part 5 - Hugh Keevins, Sports Broadcaster
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- čas přidán 17. 03. 2024
- 🟢 30 years ago this very month Scots-Canadian businessman Fergus McCann swept into Celtic Park and secured the clubs very existence with an eleventh hour investment that would alter the course of Celtic’s history for ever.
A move such as that however can’t be engineered by just one man and many figures played a key role in what eventually took place on that day back on the 4th of March 1994.
🍀 In this special new series by The Celtic Exchange we speak to some of those individuals as we bring you the inside stories of what unfolded during that incredible time in Celtic history.
We’re covering the story from all angles and in Part 5 we speak to a man who had a front row seat for many of the incredible events that unfolded as the battle to save Celtic rumbled on.
Hugh Keevins needs little introduction to anyone with even a passing knowledge of Scottish Football and in his role as a journalist and broadcaster at that time he was closer than most to the story of how Fergus McCann eventually swept to power.
In a career spanning over 50 years and counting he describes it as the most exciting time of his journalistic career and in this latest episode you'll hear exactly why!
💪 The Battle To Save Celtic is a new mini-series by The Celtic Exchange marking 30 years since Fergus McCann's takeover of Celtic in March 1994 .
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Love your content, but Keevins - raised Celtic minded - is a liquidation denier who talks Celtic down at EVERY opportunity !
Think you might be pleasantly surprised by this one Magnet
When you’re a Celtic minded journalist ( and their are a few ) you sometimes need to do that surely you must understand that.
I felt the same way before watching it and seeing that Dempsey was next, I wanted to see episode 6 before coming back to listen to Hugh. His four Irish Grandparents was a surprise and he uses "we" a lot in reference to mobilising Dempsey and other fan groups to take the action they did, as though he's admitting to be part of it as opposed to being a neutral journalist. On radio, he has been predicting our downfall for years and keeps getting his predictions wrong in individual games where we've gone behind or haven't scored and for me, that's got a bit annoying. I think his relationship with Celtic went downhill after getting it so badly wrong about Lubo and maybe there's no love lost after the slaggings he's taken for that over the years. His need to balance his views on every point he makes has probably prolonged his career on radio but again, gets a bit tired and predictable. Nevertheless, he's always come across as fairly likeable and his story of the takeover is just as interesting as the others I've listened to thus far.
@@gfg890 Thanks for the comments gfg and for taking the time to watch. Hugh's story's an important part of what went on back then and just speaking of personal experience with him he couldn't have been more generous with his time and stories.
The guy running this show , is a brilliant host/interviewer ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON !
Cheers for the kind comments Thomas 🙌🍀
A copy of this excellent podcast should be sent to the Celtic Board of directors.
Hopefully its of interest to anyone of a Celtic persuasion Joe
Should BUT they would not pay attention
and just bin it .
Very good interview and Hugh is obviously a very intelligent and informed man. He has frustrated me over the years like he does many Celtic fans perpetuating the OF and same club nonsense and and generally being an Uncle Tim. We all know he is a Celtic man, but he betrays it.. However, in this interview he speaks of that heritage and Celtic family and how important and crucial the takeover was for our beloved club. The interview provided another great insight into this period, this time from a journalist's perspective, though he did get Rob royston mixed up with Cambuslang..haha. Well done again. Looking forward to watching the interview with the great Brian Dempsey. My brother and me met him over in Rome few years ago when we beat Lazio. Pure gentleman and he even recited his immortal victory quote .." The game is over, the rebels have won" What a man 😁🍀
Another great interview. Really enjoyed listening to Hugh’s story 🍀
Cheers Brian, Hugh has some great stories to tell
This is a fantastic series of interviews. If you haven’t watched the rest I highly recommend you do. Absolutely first class. 😎👍👏👏👏👏💚🍀💚
Cheers IronBhoy really appreciate it. The series isn't finished yet either...
@@TheCelticExchangeaward winning in terms of those gongs ACSOM are always going for. Hopefully the 6th part is the great orator himself 🙂
@@user-py6tr4kt9jThat could be a 2 or 3 parter in itself. 😂💚🍀💚
@@user-py6tr4kt9j It sure was! 🙂 Part 6 with Brian Dempsey available now
A brilliant listen Tino. Auld Shug isn't a bad egg. Keep up the good work
Thanks Jedi, was a great episode to record
Cracking series on a pivotal time in our club's history. Fergus is up there for me with Brother Walfrid, Jock Stein and Billy McNeill as a titan of our club. Great to have these interviews for posterity.
Agree with you there Athlone, such an important part in our history.
Absolutely fantastic series. Hats off to everyone at the podcast
Thanks Michael, really appreciate that.
Enthralling Tino. Journalism/media at its very best. Great listening to this as I learnt a lot. Will work my way through the others in the series now! 👍
Thanks Mark! Let us know what you think of the others! 🍀
This series of podcasts are amongst the best ive ever seen from any Celtic youtubers, absolutely fantastic . These interviews are massively important to the history of Celtic, i imagine people in 50 years and beyond being fascinated by this.
Thanks for the kind comments Michael. Been a brilliant series to work on and glad you've enjoyed them.
Wow! Outstanding interview Tino. Listening to Hugh made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I've even more respect for the man. Great series.👍👏👏👏👏
Brilliant, thanks Jim. Hugh was phenomenal!
Watched all 5 now.....absolutely brilliant!!
Thanks Frank, glad you've enjoyed them
Really enjoyed this series of shows fair play Tino, fair play Hugh Keevins .
I was only a young teenager at this time and was aware of the situation but totally unaware what individuals and groups achieved to save our great club and I can only say a massive thank you and will remain eternally grateful!!
Cheers CCW, thanks for the kind words.
We must be a similar age and its been a big learning curve here for me. Cheers, Tino
Tino well on you for the interview with Hugh Keevin’s, first really enjoyed the interview Hugh is a very intelligent man his Story on the Celts for change was very insightfull and for me engrossing too, Brilliant Content from you Tino, we’ll done to you and Hugh exelent interview..☘️🍀👍
Mick, really appreciate the kind comments. A brilliant episode to record with Hugh
When I saw Hugh Keevens was on I thought oh dear but was pleasantly surprised. It was goog to get a journilistic account of the time and great memories of the great man Tommy. Another brilliant podcast Tino can't wait until the next one.
Thanks George. Think a lot of folk have been pleasantly surprised by Hugh 👍🏻
Sensational stuff Tino.
Cheers Bash! Thanks for watching them
Thoroughly enjoying this series Tino. Hugh is one of Scottish footballs great characters. Really interesting to hear his stories from that time and I wasn't aware of just how pivotal the press was at the time. Although I don't always agree with his opinions he is always entertaining.
That's exactly where I land Trebor. Don't always agree with Hugh on a lot of things, but he has a really interesting story to tell here.
Great stuff again, can't get enough of this series!
Cheers Patrick, glad you're enjoying it.
This has been a really enjoyable series. Fantastic work
Thanks Bryan, glad youve enjoyed it
I love the imitations everyone does of Fergus! “Luigi McCari!”😂
They're uncanny Mark!! :-)
Great interview. Hugh is always good to listen to. Best one on Radio Clyde. Fans that criticise him fail to appreciate the nature of his job and that pundits should be criticising our club.
Regarding Fergus, I appreciate what he did. But I think he could have pushed the boat out a bit more to stop the 9 for Rangers. Give Pierre, Di Canio etc a pay rise. A few more quid spent would have won us the league and still allowed Fergus to leave with plenty in his pocket.
I think hindsight is making people forget these things now. Fergus did do great, but he wasn't perfect and made some wrong decisions. Hence the booing that day.
Thanks for the comments Teddy. Hugh was great and glad you enjoyed it.
I'd agree with you on Fergus. Its become clear that he was so focus on the business side/infrastructure of the club that the football almost became secondary. Think just a couple more signings at that time may have stopped things sooner.
Yet again an amazing interview with Hugh. Every one of your interviews in this series gets 5 stars from me. I've been up, down, teary at times & proud ! Thank you 👏👏👏
Thanks Jimmy - its been a rollercoaster 🙂
Good content guys. Keevins just loves sinking the boot into celtic
Cheers Tam. Some very good Celtic stories from Hugh in this one.
Superb 🍀
Cheers Paul, thanks for watching 👍🏻🍀
Amazing Tino, loving the series. Makes you have a different opinion on Keevins
Yeh it does Michael, real
eye opener. Glad you’ve been enjoying the series 👍🏻🍀
Excellent pod 🍀
Thanks Kris 👍🏻🍀
If Shuggy is ever "shown the door by Clyde" based on this interview Celtic Exchange should get him on regularly. Clearly he still has Celtic at heart. The issue with Mister Keevins is divided loyalties with a legacy media outlet; and how that format makes him sound!
We couldnt afford his wages ;-)
Apart from what he said about Lennon at the end, Hugh spoke really well here especially about Tommy Burns, loved that segment.
You can hear the genuine affection there LC
My da went to over to speak to tommy burns and billy stark on holiday in the early 90’s n i was like dont bother them but he got a fotos with both of them and shouted me over to be in them he’s a proper celtic legend
Outstanding ..Bhoys ,stirs my heart as I am 63yrs now ,what a time,but we won Hail Hail 👏👏👏💚
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it. What a time!
Hugh, if you remember, the newspaper fraternity had turned on Fergus and framed him as a bad guy.
Yep, was definitely the case James
Hugh is excellent speaker
Really talented broadcaster G
It was a turbulent time for Celtic, but the fans saved the club with all the help from the groups you have highlighted in your series. Fergus was a stubborn guy, no doubt, and fans were unhappy with him over TB. But looking back he should be regarded as a hero.
Definitely a hero James. Many played their part, but Fergus' came up with the money when needed nost
Excellent series have enjoyed it
Really has been quite a project by Tino !!
Cheers Anne, really appreciate it🍀
@@moeszyslak7304 And its not over yet Moe!
Hi from south Africa .I really enjoyed the show with Hugh..what a big surprise I got I have been listening to radio Clyde and I knew nothing about Hugh background .I can only say thanks for all the work u did in the dark years .and it sounds like u have had a great wife that supported u in those dark celtic days ..a big thanks I started watching celtic in 1967 .and then landed in south africa in 1975 until now hail hail
Great to hear from you Daniel and glad youve been enjoying the shows
This is excellent, again. Compelling listening. Although Keevins doesn’t do himself a lot of favors sometimes with his output at times, he does retain that ability to tell a story extraordinarily well, and has a wealth of media experience that is pretty much unrivaled. Quite enigmatic.
Top notch content again, well done. HH
Thanks Hammy. Whatever anyone's opinion Hugh's a talented broadcaster and was great when we spoke.
I recall them days and recal speaking with Bobby Lennox outside Celtic park in 1990 ..Not about bad times in how Celtic were then in 1990 and early 90s after ..Just football talk ive already mentioned on Celtic forums about loss to feyenoord in 1970s European cup final in the San Siro and it is one match which still rankles Bobbys memory to this day as Celtic did not turn up for the final in that ill say what Bobby didnt and it is because tight fisted board said no when asked whats for bonus if we win most important and biggest trophies in European football and told by board Tommy Gemmell and Bertie Auld ive since heard who asked and answer from tight board was No Bonus . This went back to rest of players 2 days before flying out to Milan for tht final and rest is history ..All Bobby said to me was Celtic knew thy were a better team than Feyenoord and if that final was one weel later then its a Guarantee Bobby said that Celtic would have won that final .
Anyhow Celtic board today are not much use to the team side at all as still tight as a drum they all are and Desmond is core of problem why Celtic are not spending on the team for Europe mainly in mind ..As have better players which come for extra millions which club have but wont spend then id not want see Celtic fc board without them many millions .
Cheers for the. comments Stevie. Sounds about right with Bobby and the players around 1970 unfortunately. An indication of how the board were acting in those times.
@@TheCelticExchange
The Board are the same re greed today ..Celtic should have practically had this title sewn up this IF the board had spent in last close season past and in theJanuary window but failed ..Even if we win this title i still wont ever like this board ..And they do not deserve the team winning the title at all
not for the way they have acted
All they do is sell our better players for good millions in profit and carry on as per usual..its then the next player from the conveyor belt who turns up seen as doing well and then that player in a year or 2 sell guy for big profits ..Them big profits dont go near buying in better players for the team to be made stronger and better
than the ones we normally go for as around 3m / 4m / 5m/ 6m normally isnt going to get you very good footballers ..We spent 6m on Sutton and 6m on Hartson decades ago now and its way time board upped the anti .
Oriley is showing up good this season
but he looks like is the next for the offski from the conveyor belt and the clubs tight board shall rake it in big time again from millions in profit in which dont go back into the team to be made back up even stronger
They shall also in close season to come just weeks before season books are to be renewed begin their normal BULL erm
We are looking at this player for 9m / 10m and this other player for same amounts
And when the time comes all the young gullible fans then renew up all the season books again and thats all board want is MONEY and they receive much millions with such ..then they shall later purchase in 2/3 players so much cheaper and fans conned again and again ^
In todays football we should be spending out say on 3 x 10m players ..and the club are in a very healthy way who can afford this easily ..It normally gives a team like Celtic a cple of better quality than the 3m 4m 5m players they sometimes sign
once in a while ^ in
which is well in need more quality especially if u want to make the further rounds within Europe
AND just when did Celtic make the further rounds in Europe ? Seems a long time ago .now being decades ago .
But we wait see what becomes this season and still good chance with players back to win this title and Scots cup for a double ..though id take title alone now for big bucks again which come with this title only if board play game with fans and the team and buy in good player replcements where needed should be the priority in the next close season for the board . We shall see what becomes in time ..Awe the best guys .
Spew keevins 😂 cmon bhoys
If you watch you'll see just why we had Hugh on
Listen guys watched it was really informative good episode hail hail but he's a specky tube puts celtic down every chance he gets on other shows actually feel like av done myself and celtic a disservice listening to him personally lol hail hail ☘️☘️☘️
@@the_bhoys_in_green 🤣🤣🤣
Brilliant / scary stories of my youth !
Always remember my pal Joe Boyle getting interviewed outside Celtic park for itv news !
Brilliant interview and thanks Hugh !
Brilliant stuff Francis. Hope you , Joe and others have (mostly!) good memories from those times!
Great interview HH Dublin 🇮🇪🇵🇸
Cheers Robert!
Thank you for the content
Thanks for watching Andrew.
Great content,keevins a sound gut when he's not on Clyde
Cheers Peter. Some really interesting stuff from Hugh 👍🏻
Anyone who is ever critical of wee hugh and say hes anti celtic, needs to listed to this!!!
Yes he has a go at celtic and there performance but thats his job !
Was a really interesting episode Monk 👍🏻🍀
First time I've actually liked this man
Some great stories Alex. Hugh has been a great help to us with things for this series.
Great stuff. Wee hugh the tim
HTT 🙂
Just proves by far how much better we are as fans compared to the deadclub as we would never let our club die
👍🍀
That was fkn superb
Cheers Sean, appreciate it
Great series this. Absolutely brilliant interviews. Just managed to force myself to listen to this particular one though due to the guest. Typing this just after his comments on Fergus and his treatment from the media. Maybe Keevins can plead not guilty on that charge however he's made a career of slating Celtic and printing or speaking utter garbage about all things Celtic. You couldn't mark his neck with a blow torch. 2 words, Lubomir Moravcik.
Thanks Broxbhoy, glad you enjoyed it
Keevins is a joke. He's been an ibrox cheer leader for decades.
I remember the programme with George Galloway Hugh said to him "you don't have a monopoly on Irish grandparents" 😂
A decent line to be fair 🍀🤣
@@TheCelticExchange I actually wrote that at the start of the podcast without realising Hugh would quote it himself later on
Auld shug likes to play the panto villain he’s good at what he does it’s good to hear him talk away from radio clyde
Agreed emc. He was brilliant on this episode.
i was at the match when we drew 4 each with third lanark after we were 4 nil up at half time
September 1963 John! Brilliant stuff. Were you outside protesting after...? 🙂
@TheCelticExchange yes and of course the vitriol was mainly directed to Bob Kelly
You can tell Hugh loves a bit of drama - telling the guy if the story is true say nothing and I’ll put the phone down in ten seconds, followed by goodnight 😂
I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure that game v Killie when the fox ran on the park was Simon Donnellys debut and he scored the winner
You may be right, will need to check
The Shugster. Takes me back
Some really good stories in this one Joe
Hugh it’s Rochdale, g g is in , 👍🏻
???
@@TheCelticExchange George Galloway is no for Rochdale not Bradford
@@TheCelticExchange mp for Rochdale
@@jamesquinn7492 Got ye James, cheers
There are teams in Europe who don't spend £10 million on players such as Copenhagen, they do better than we do
Keevins,never forgived fergus for banning him from parkhead
Not entirely sure thats the case. Hugh was banned in 2000, Fergus left in 1999
Good chat.
Fergus walking away with a 400% profit of Celtic money will never sit well with me. Not to mention calling us all bigots and refloating the club twice, diluting the fans shares. Now we have other family dynasties it seems.
I dont understand why Fergus making a profit is a problem? Was he meant to just gamble his money, and sacrifice 5 years of his life for fun?!
@TheCelticExchange Does anyone really need 40 million pounds? In 1999 money?
He refloated the club twice to make his obscene profit thus diluting the shares of the people who actually saved the club. All about opinions. It was 40 years ago.
At least we have a well run club now 🤭💚✌🏿
Behave yourself.
The bunnet was the only man to put up the real money to stop the club from going into administration.
Said what he would do.
Build a new stadium, 50,000 plus season ticket holders.
Had the share issue.
Didn't agree with everything the wee man did but in the end he was instrumental in saving our club.
Can't believe some of the celtic fans on here.
You must have been the ones chasing the celtic team bus during the covid season and giving it to Neil Lennon.
A man who had suffered death threats, was physically assaulted at swinecastle plus at various places in Glasgow.
Are you the ones that leave 15 or 20 minutes before the game ends at celtic park.
Support the team to the end
Every time I hear a new story about Tommy Burns like that I bubble....
Was a great story Robert
@@TheCelticExchange the world is a poorer place without TB...
I've watched ever part of this . The battle to save Celtic. Why have you got this clown on this part. All he does is bad mouth our club . Nothing but negative comments all the time .
Not sure if you’ve listened to this episode or not Paul but if you do you’ll realise the important part Hugh and others had to play
T I n o love your pod but can’t stand this guy :::ask him what happened on Celtic players xmass night out down in Newcastle hh joe. Little. Ireland 🇨🇮🇨🇮🇨🇮🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪😎
Not really relevant to this topic Joe. Will maybe ask that next time 🙂
@@TheCelticExchange t I n o to keep it in context the guy Ida sharlit ton never admits what he was born into :::,ie tim Tim ton
Wouldn't listen to a word Keevins says.sorry i'm out.
No worries if not for you John, but others have been pleasantly surprised by this one
Get this raging Hunnery bellchief off!
Sorry Leanne! Hugh's not for everyone but he had an important part to play here.
He talks pish ,Hail Hail .
Have you actually listened Robert?
Spew Kevins? I might pass on this. What i love about the growth of fan media is getting away from these old dinosaur unkle Tims. 🤮
He has an important story to tell here Macaroon. Through this series we've been trying to cover every angle and this is definitely part of that
Revisionist history …. The fans HATED Fergus …. Remember it well …. Even booed him when he unfurled the flag at Celtic park after stopping rangers 10 in a row
A minority did. A noisy probably drunken minority. I never booed. I was grateful. Still am.
@@michaelfern4079 nor did I …. And it wasn’t a minority
@@theskinner3040 a majority hated fergus McCann. I’ve yet to find a Celtic fan to this day admit he hated him and booed. Most can’t remember because they were too drunk.
@@michaelfern4079 Few folk have contacted us to admit they booed at the time but regret it now.
I enjoyed the first 4 but boycotting this one. Can’t stand this guy
Fair enough Alan. Lots of good info in it though and helps with the telling of the overall story
Why does this clowns story matter??
Exactly!!
If you listen Barney you'll see just what an important role Hugh and others played. If he's not your cup of tea that's fine but at least you'll see where he fits into the story
@@TheCelticExchange i did listen and I totally reject his revisionism.
@@TheCelticExchange Hugh Keevins didn’t give a toss about Celtic then or now. It was always about him. I’m amazed this guy is still afforded such credibility in Scottish football journalism. Name one scoop, one massive story that was down to him? He’s offered the square root of feck all for 50 odd years yet gets lamented like some McIlvaney. He’s nothing but a fare dodging names dropper
@@TheCelticExchange don’t take my word for it btw as he says the highlight of his journalistic career was being ejected from Celtic Park for being a twat in print.
A great series so far until this clown appeared. A “journalist” who denies that Rangers are a new club and who spouts anti Celtic rhetoric on a daily basis. Why, just why?
Hugh's maybe not everyone's cup of tea but think you'll find it an interesting episode Barca
@@TheCelticExchangeI gave it a watch, and I’m glad I did. I had no idea how closely Keevins was to the whole takeover, very interesting listening to that. The Tommy Burns story was amazing, and I always get emotional listening to stories about the great man. I also want to add that you’re an excellent interviewer, you let the story flow with just the right amount of direction. Great series, thanks.
@@barcabhoy7193 Thanks for watching this one Barca, a lot of good stories here from Hugh and glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for the kind comments too, its a lot easier to do when the guests themselves are such good speakers. Really appreciate your support 👍
HH GREAT INTERVIEW CALM TRUE FULL OF REAL WHAT HAPPENED & GOOD LUCK TO HUGH HH KTF THANKS💚🤍💛🙏🙏☘☘☘
Cheers Joseph, appreciate it
Awww naw am looking for some diazepam and a mug off tea and a hammer before a start to watch it Tino I'll score it out of ten when am done mate ..... 👍
Cheers for giving it a go Prophet 🙂
@@TheCelticExchange I did Tino and it was surprisingly good mate very enjoyable you could see how many times Keevins was gonna say he a celtic fan was hurting him 🤣🍀
@@TheCelticExchange 9½ Tino
@@The_Prophet... Will take 9.5s all day long Prophet! 😄