On Torbett, Celtic should say: ‘We’re appalled – and we’re really sorry’
“What would I do if I was in charge at Celtic?”
As a lifelong fan of the Hoops, it’s normally a question that might fill a few minutes of relaxation, with pipe dreams of signing Lionel Messi and winning the Champions League.
Today, in the aftermath of former Celtic Boys’ Club monster Jim Torbett’s second conviction for child sex offences, it’s a much more serious proposition.
The first time he was put away – for two years – in November, 1998, I gave evidence against him in court.
This time he’s been given six years. Put a one in front of it, and you’d be getting closer to the punishment fitting the crime. But the opening of old wounds has seen victims thrust into the public eye and now calling on Celtic tomakeafulsomeapologyfor Torbett’s behaviour.
So that question – “What would do if I were in charge at Celtic?” – is something worth serious thought right now.
And my answer comes from the heart.
On Wednesday, the club released a statement outlining their stance in relationship to Torbett.
Well, I think Celtic need to give a bit more, for the sake of that monster’s victims.
Offering “deep regret” is fine, and putting new measures in place to protect young people at the club today is absolutely the correct thing to do.
But I think Celtic have got to be a bit more transparent and say: “We’re appalled – and we’re really sorry.”
Now, I understand why Celtic have taken the position they have. I can see why they have emphasised that Celtic Boys’ Club – which Torbett founded – and Celtic Football Club are separate entities.
Yet while I believe it’s possible that the will to apologise exists inside the club, I also believe their lawyers are probably telling them: “No, no, no”.
Celtic are a business, after all, and the people in charge will always look to protect that business.
For me, however, this is not about lawyers and money.
This is about the victims, and Celtic supporters, and people who have loved the club all their lives. There was never a feeling that there was a separation between the boys’ club and the big club
As one of those people, I just feel Celtic should be opening up a wee bit more.
Certainly, when I think back to my time at Celtic Boys’ Club, there was never a feeling that there was much separation between it and the big club.
Absolutely, without a doubt, the belief was that playing for Celtic Boys’ Club was a stepping stone to Celtic Football Club.
You knew you were being watched by people from Celtic when you were playing for the Boys’ Club.
You wore the same strip, your blazer had the crest.
At the end of the day, you felt like you were Celtic’s junior side. My captain was Roy Aitken, captain in the club’s Doublewinning Centenary season in 1988.
Tommy Burns, Paul Mcstay, Charlie Nicholas, Davie Moyes. They all played for the Boys Club before becoming professionals at Celtic Park.
Legally speaking, the football club and the boys’ club are separate entities, which is the line Celtic are sticking to.
But there were clear links. That can’t be denied.
And here’s a story I still think about to this day that offers a wee bit of insight into the situation.
The night I made my Hampden debut for Scotland – against Holland in 1982 – was one of the proudest moments of my life.
Don’t forget, I’m from around there.
I went to school in Govanhill, at Holyrood, and I’d grown up in the shadow of the famous old ground in Mount Florida.
That night, at the ground, a Celtic director – who I won’t name here – came up to me and said: “Why did we ever let you go, son?”.
That’s what he said to me, and that underlines the links that were there between the boys’ club and Celtic.
In my last year at Celtic Boys’ Club, I got 62 goals, which was a record, but I still didn’t get the chance to sign for Celtic.
So I’ve always thought: “Yeah, you’re right. Why did you let me go?”. Whether it was to do with what I had encountered with Torbett is the million-dollar question.
Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. I can’t say for sure.
Regardless, I think that for a Celtic director of the time to say that to me – a Celtic Boys’
Club player who never signed for the big club – suggests there was an affiliation between the two. I don’t know why Jim Torbett was allowed to return to Celtic Boys’ Club for a second time, some six years after his first spell ended.
He hadn’t been convicted of anything. So maybe somebody looked at it and thought: “OK, the rules of this country are until you’re found guilty, you’re innocent.”
But if it had anything to do with me, and there was even a hint of what he’d been up to, he’d have been nowhere near the place. The name of Jock Stein comes up when Torbett’s time in charge of Celtic Boys’ Club comes up.
All I can say about that is that I played for Jock with Scotland, and he never spoke to me about it.
Torbett has been done for a second time now, and the six-year sentence is rubbish.
I know, having given evidence against him first time round, that there have been other victims.
Indeed, I can think of two people that have called me in the past about their experiences with Torbett, but who have never come forward.
I hope they do because Torbett deserves to be locked up and have the key thrown away. Andialsohope Celtic can find a way to give his victims the comfort they are looking for.