Sligo link to Celtic lives on in Super cup

AS THE CELTIC ACADEMY TEAM PREPARE TO TAKE PART IN THE SLIGO SUPER CUP LATER THIS MONTH, FORMER SLIGO CHAMPION EDITOR JIM GRAY TALKS TO SEAN FALLON JNR ABOUT HIS FATHER’S LEGACY AND WHY SLIGO IS SO SPECIAL IN THE CELTIC STORY

WHEN the Celtic under12 a cade my team takes its place at the inau - gural Sligo Super Cup at the end of this month it will represent an unique spiritual homecoming.

For the Glasgow stars of tomorrow will be lining out at the Sean Fallon Centre, The Showgrounds based facility named in honour of a Sligoman who is the very essence of the indelible Sligo/ Celtic connection, a link which can be traced all the way back to the very foundation of the club 130 years ago by the Ballymote- born Marist Brother Walfrid.

The late Sean Fallon is a genuine Celtic legend, having won every domestic honour in Scotland during a long and distinguished playing career.

He was Jock Stein’s assistant manager when Celtic became the first British team to win the European Cup 50 years ago, and he is still remembered at Celtic Park as the “Iron Man”.

His son, Sean Jnr, recognises the special significance of a young Celtic team competing in his father’s home town, describing it as a cementing of the relationship between Sligo and the Glasgow club.

“My dad would be so proud,” Sean confims.

“As a young man, his life was marked by a fierce determination to be the best that he could be and he followed that philosophy during his playing career.

“As a coach, he proved to be inspirational to young players and had a great eye for developing young talent.

“So for a young Celtic team to be coming to play in a facility named in his honour in his beloved Sligo is something really special.

“I have no doubt he will be keeping an eye on proceedings from the best seat in the house.”

Sean, an AIB executive in his native Glasgow, relates how his dad was always so acutely aware of his role in maintaining the unique link between his home town and Celtic.

“Dad was always conscious of the fact that the club was founded by a Sligoman.

“That was a great source of pride and inspiration to him during his career.

“So much so, that when the time came to leave Celtic, the thing that saddened him most was the fear that the link between Sligo and Celtic might somehow be broken.

“Thankfully, that has not happened.

“I can assure anyone that the link is very real and deeply respected by all at Celtic to this day.

“That link has always been very special to my dad and all our family, and tournaments such as this serve to cement that relationship,” Sean adds.

He is delighted that some of the games during the tournament will be staged at the Sean Fallon Centre.

“The centre is a very public acknowledgement of my dad’s career and his love for both Celtic and Sligo.

“It’s a visible recognition of his legacy and of his contribution to soccer generally.

“My family is very proud and honoured that there is such a public recognition of his life in his home town”, Sean outlines

Interestingly, Sean believes the visit of the young academy team could pave the way for a trip to Sligo by the senior Celtic team in the not too distant future.

“I recall a few years ago Celtic were invited to a tournament in Limerick, and the Chairman invited me to his office to discuss the possibility of taking in a visit to Sligo during that trip.

“Unfortunately, the Limerick event didn’t go ahead so plans were shelved.

“But it proved to me there is always an interest in Celtic around coming to Sligo whenever a suitable opportunity arises.

“The participation of the under- 12s in the Sligo Super Cup might well pave the way for the first team to come here down the line.

“That would be terrific,” Sean explains.

Local Celtic fans will be unsurprised to hear Sean singing the praises of Brendan Rogers, who has just guided the club to another runaway Scottish championship success.

“The great thing about Brendan is that he gets the ethos of the club.

“The club was founded by Brother Walfrid to feed the poor of the East End of Glasgow, and that charitable ethos has survived even as the club has become a worldwide football institution.

“It’s important we have a manager who buys into that history, and Brendan gets it every inch of the way.

“The club is hosting a huge 50th anniversary celebration of the European Cup victory in London later this year, and proceeds are being donated to the Irish Emigration centre in London.

“That’s an example of what Celtic is all about, and I believe those gestures as much as the trophies are what makes us such a special club,” Sean maintains.