Today (23rd February 2007) I was required to visit the community that produced the Celtic Badge. I attended Requiem Mass in St. Joseph’s in High Bonnybridge and Fr. Kelly helped us all to say goodbye to Bridget Coyne (nee Bradley 1910).

Her life story runs parallel with the Celtic Story.

Bridget’s father, Ned, arrived in the East End of Glasgow around the 1880’s. He was from Derry and he was only 16 years old. Ned must have had the equivalent of a front seat when they staged the first Celtic Show in 1888. Celtic surely touched his heart. Among the many immigrant Irish in the East End was a girl – Elizabeth New from Tullamore, Co. Offaly. She definitely touched his heart.

Ned and Elizabeth were married in Shettleston in 1892 and they produced 16 children, the first born Mary 1893 and the youngest in 1915 – James.

James, my father, loved Celtic, big time.

Along with Charlie Quinn, he co-founded the Bonnybridge Celtic S.C. A member of the club, one of the Doyle family designed the bus plaque that was in time to become the official logo of Celtic F.C. Ltd.

My father was president of the club, season ticket holder and one of three delegates of the Celtic Supporters Association. Danny McCue was a representative from Falkirk St.Mungo’s. They liaised with the Celtic Directors, namely Desmond White’s father and Robert Kelly. My father thought highly of Mr. White and very little of R. Kelly.

My father told me that Kelly made two meaningful contributions to Celtic: (1) he successfully defended the right to fly the flag above the old jungle; (2) he brought back the big man to Celtic Park. That apart Kelly, IHO, was an absolute liability. My Dad related several shocking anecdotes about Kelly, but on a day like today I am in no mood to be negative or uncharitable.

Both the Association Members and the Celtic Directorate expressed admiration for the Bonnybridge bus plaque. The Directors indicated that they would like to adopt it for their own. After due consultation and consideration, Celtic supporters either at club or association level responded to this ‘request’ and the plaque design was gifted to Celtic F.C. without any thought of 1% of any future royalties.

And to think that they are now talking about stamping the badge on 120 million Pepsi Cola cans.

I was so proud to see the logo outside a Celtic Supporters Club in San Francisco. It is on every Celtic View that I have ever purchased ( I have the complete collection since 1965). The badge is displayed on all articles of Celtic merchandise and countless millions of people all over the world have seen this unique badge on an equally unique and impressive hooped shirt.

I was one of the very first to cast eyes on the Badge when I sat on my father’s knee on a Celtic bus in Bonnybridge and I was only two years old.

I was taken aback at the prohibition on the recent Maloney article (I think it was poor Arsely Parsley that copped it). All of us must be mindful of the legal repercussion when you place the badge above any written statement. None the less the removal of the badge from the article came across as rather pompous and humourless.

The badge IMO was never meant to stifle laughter or suffocate teasing and light banter. Even today, given the solemnity of the occasion there was still great amusement when we recalled Bridget’s foibles and idiosyncrasies.

I have inherited my father’s love for Celtic F.C., but I equally appreciate and admire its supporters, most especially the ones I have met on Celtic buses. There are some cracking stories about the memorable characters and situations that developed over the years as we travelled on Celtic business. My Dad told me a lovely story about the Bonnybridge Celtic bus and its supporters.

At the outset of its formation club membership was heavily over subscribed considering that buses were rationed and not readily available, then not every member was guaranteed a place on the bus. Your name was put in a hat and you trusted to good fortune. Only one person was assured of a seat by unanimous approval. My father invited me to speculate as to who that might be: I suggested ‘the driver’, I was told to behave myself. Alright then I said the President? Wrong. Charlie Quinn? No. The man Doyle? Still wrong. Bus convener? Try again – I give up. Well, it was our honorary member whose name did not require to go into the hat – one of our parish priests.

May perpetual light shine upon my Auntie Bridget and my Dad and Canon McCabe, and all deceased members of Celtic Supporters Clubs throughout the world. May they rest in peace.

Young Ned (taken from KStreet Forum)