Tribute to Celtic’s oldest season ticket holder who died aged 101
THE family of Celtic’s oldest season ticket holder who has died aged 101 has spoken about how lucky they were to have him. Lifelong Hoops supporter Peter Ciarella died on January 5, and tributes have since flooded in from fans and supporters’ clubs across the world.
Paul Loughran has said he feels ‘ honoured’ to be Peter’s grandson and is immensely proud of who he was: a die- hard Celtic fan, a ‘ fiercely independent’ man, a dedicated electrician, and a wonderful Papa.
Paul, 40, who is an additional support needs teacher, told the Glasgow Times: “I’m absolutely honoured, to be honest; he was a very unique person and I’m so proud and very lucky to have him in my life.”
Pasquale Domenico Ciarella was born in Picinisco, Italy in 1921. His family moved to Scotland when he was three years old, and Paul who has had his own season ticket since he was 14 describes them as ‘ a real Celtic family’.
He said: “His father, my greatgrandfather, was Scottish, and he was born in 1888, when Celtic was founded. At the time a lot of immigrant communities from Italy and Ireland went towards Celtic.”
While living in Scotland, Pasquale became known as Peter and first saw Celtic play in 1932 under their first manager, Willie Maley.
Ninety years later, he watched them beat Hibernian 6- 1 under Ange Postecoglou, and he has achieved the remarkable feat of seeing Celtic under every manager they have ever had.
Beginning in the 1930s, Peter would make regular 200- mile trips to Glasgow from Lochgilphead, where he lived and worked in his own shop, Burgh Electrics.
He put as much into the store as he did his love for football, as he worked until the age of 97 and remained independent until he passed away.
At 97, Peter was recognised by Celtic as the world’s oldest season ticket holder. He would vividly recall a cup game that happened almost 85 years ago and has been in the stands at some historic moments in the club’s history.
Paul said: “He was at the 1938 Coronation Cup final, Celtic v Everton, and he talks very clearly about that game.
“He was in Lisbon in 1967 and that was his first ever trip abroad apart from when he came here from Italy. At that time, you needed to be super rich to go on planes.
“He was at the 1970 final in Milan, and he also went to Seville for the 2003 UEFA Cup Final even though he didn’t have a ticket and he was 82!”
One thing Paul finds remarkable about his Papa’s love for Celtic is that at two of his footballing idols played in Hoops jerseys almost a century apart.
He said: “He would talk clearly about goals Jimmy McGrory had scored, and he was a big fan of Henrik Larsson.
“Even recently if I showed him a photo of Larsson, he would recognise him. Those were his two favourites it’s incredible that there’s like, 90 years between them.”
Peter had a few knocks to his health in recent years and he would often watch football at home, but Paul commented that he “rebounded so well” to everything and managed his last trip to Parkhead only three months ago.
“We got in touch with Celtic and they put us in the director’s box, so he got the VIP treatment and was taken down to the board room and all that,” Paul explained.
“Going to that game completed the set of seeing games under every manager. We think he is the only one to have ever done that.
“Rod Stewart was sitting in front of him, and my Papa recognised him and was infatuated with the state of his hair!”
As his family prepare to bid a final farewell to Peter at his funeral tomorrow, Paul thinks fondly of his Papa as a positive person who loved Celtic, his family and who just ‘ lived’.
He said: “He lived every day and he never once said anything about when he dies, never anything negative. His last words to me were ‘ take care of yourself’ and he shook my hand. He always said that to me.”