ian1964

Celtic Boys' club beast abused young player in toy shop while other man watched Gordon Woods has bravely told how Jim Torbett attempted to rape him and then carried out a sex act. By Keith McLeod 04:30, 28 OCT 2019 Updated07:42, 28 OCT 2019 Celtic Boys’ Club beast Jim Torbett sexually abused a young player in a toy shop in Glasgow – while another man watched. Gordon Woods was just 13 years old when evil Torbett preyed on him. And Gordon, now in his 60s, has revealed to the Daily Record that other coaches at the boys’ club told him after his first trial that he was not a good enough player – but Torbett intervened and told him to continue to come to training. Gordon has now taken the brave step of revealing to his close family the abuse he suffered decades ago. He said: “I never played a competitive game for Celtic Boys’ Club. I wasn’t good enough. I now know Torbett kept me going to training for the simple reason I’d be a sitting duck for his predatory behaviour. “I’m speaking out now after all these years because I’m disgusted at Celtic FC’s claim that they were separate from the boys’ club. That was not my experience. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Gordon, who has the right to anonymity, has allowed us to use his name because he wants Torbett to know who he is. He said: “I want him to remember me and I want him to think about what he did to me. I also want him to know that I will not be silenced any more.” He says he was taken to the toy shop on Maryhill Road by Torbett on two occasions. And he claims that another man who was involved with Torbett – and Celtic Boys’ Club – was present on one of the occasions in the 1960s. Gordon said: “One of the times in the toy shop – when it was closed for lunch – Torbett took me into the storeroom or back room of the shop. “He attempted to rape me and then carried out a sex act. I remember thinking that the door was open and the other man was in the shop. “I thought that was why the door was left open, so the other man could see in. I remember thinking, ‘He’s watching this’, because there was no reason to leave the door open. Afterwards, Torbett carried on as if nothing happened.” Gordon says the shop – and Torbett – were producing miniature European Cups and giving them to boys’ club members or selling them. He says he was also abused on two occasions by Torbett at a flat in Pinkston Drive in Glasgow. Gordon says he believed he was with Celtic FC because the boys’ club was viewed as one and the same. He recalled a trip to Dumfries for a match against a local team in 1968. He said: “I slept in and I knew I had missed the bus. I phoned Celtic Park and spoke to one of the secretaries. “I told them that I had missed the coach. Sometime later, the phone rang in the house and it was the secretary I had spoken to. “She asked if I could be at St Enoch Square underground station by 12 o’clock. A big burgundy car arrived and inside were Jock Stein and Sir Bob Kelly. Stein was driving. “I went all the way to Dumfries with them. There was a big box next to me in the back. There was a brass latch and inside was two doors and it was the European Cup, or a replica of the European Cup. They were taking it to show the boys of the team we were playing and the people down there. It was an honour to be in the same car as both these men. “I listen now to Celtic FC saying that Celtic Boys’ Club was a totally separate organisation. Yet there was me having missed the bus, phoning Celtic Park, speaking to a Celtic FC secretary and then being picked up by the Celtic FC manager and chairman for a boys’ club match in Dumfries. “It enrages me the stance that Celtic are taking now. Whatever they are saying now, was definitely not the case at the time.” Gordon remembers attending Celtic Park for a match in September 1968 when Torbett summoned him to his car. Gordon says he would normally sit in the passenger seat, but on this occasion another boy was in that seat. Gordon said he got in the back and Torbett said he thought their “friendship” should end. He says he recognised the boy – who gave evidence against Torbett in the late 90s. Gordon added: “This has affected me more in later years. “I have now been able to explain this to my family, to let them know that this happened to me when I was very young and didn’t really know what was happening to me. I’m glad I’ve found the courage to speak. I hope that this will help others.” Boys’ Club founder Torbett was jailed in November for six years, former general manager Frank Cairney, 84, was jailed in January for four years, fellow boys’ club coach and Celtic FC man Jim McCafferty, 73, was jailed for six years and nine months, while former chairman Gerald King, 66, was convicted of preying on children at a Glasgow school but avoided jail. In May, the Record revealed how Celtic FC cleared Torbett and Cairney of wrongdoing in 1986 – despite the club’s claim of “separate entities” and that allegations first came to light in the early 1990s. Gordon is a client of Thompsons Solicitors, which is seeking damages from Celtic FC for a string of clients. Patrick McGuire from the firm said: “Mr Woods’ harrowing account of abuse at the Celtic Boys’ Club sheds new light on the scale of the abuse, as well as the close connections between the Boys’ Club and Celtic. “Particularly disturbing is his account of what happened to him at a toy shop frequented by his abuser. “In telling his story publicly, Mr Woods has shown great courage which should be admired. He, along with all the other survivors from Celtic and Celtic Boys’ Club, want the club to take responsibility for the decades of abuse which happened on their watch and to show respect to those survivors by effecting quick and appropriate settlement of all legal actions.” https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/celtic-boys-club-beast-abused-20738746

Steven Gerrard has called for the Ibrox crowd to play their part in helping James Tavernier through his slump in form after another mixed afternoon for the Rangers captain. Gerrard gave his skipper his full backing ahead of the draw with Porto in midweek and Tavernier was again under the spotlight after the win over Motherwell. A first half penalty miss ultimately didn’t prove costly for Rangers as goals from Jermain Defoe and Filip Helander saw Gerrard’s side come from behind to see off the Steelmen. And the Gers boss has urged supporters to stick with the 27-year-old after high-profile mistakes against Young Boys and Hearts in recent weeks. Gerrard said: “I don’t think you can doubt James’ character. He knows that in the last couple of weeks, he’s in the firing line. “I’d like the crowd to help him a bit more. Sometimes when it’s tough and you’re not at your best, you need your crowd to be with you rather than against you. “So there’s a plea for the crowd to stay with him because he will play through it and he can change games, like he did for us today. “It was an excellent delivery for Filip’s goal and a fantastic header. But James needs his people now - it’s important. “There were a few groans and moans and it doesn’t help. I understand it. I totally get it. I was just as frustrated as them on the side more than enough today. “But when you are a player in the firing line and not everything is going for you, you need your people with you. You need your team-mates with you. Especially where we are. “Yes, we haven’t hit the level today, but we are in a good place in the Europa League, have a semi-final this weekend and are top of the league besides goal difference. We need the fans with us. “The fans have been absolutely outstanding with me from the first day, so write about that. “But not every player stays at the top of their game for 60 games. It doesn’t happen. Big players are going to have dips. “But when you feel them on your back even more, it is very difficult to play through it and find form as quick as you can. “We need our punters with us. They are always with us in terms of the bigger picture and getting behind the team, of course they are, but groaning when someone over hits a cross or blah, blah, blah. It doesn’t help.” https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/17996823.steven-gerrard-calls-ibrox-crowd-help-rangers-skipper-james-tavernier-form-dip/?ref=twtrec

Dundee United’s 133 per cent wages-to-turnover ratio emerges ahead of AGM David Fowler 26 Oct 2019, 16:47 Updated: 26 Oct 2019, 16:48 DUNDEE UNITED’S wages-to-turnover ratio is 133 per cent, according to reports. The Scotsman claims the figure was revealed in a brochure released to United shareholders ahead of the club’s AGM on Tuesday. It’s claimed the latest financial statement does not include the salary of Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland, who joined the Tannadice outfit in July. Football business data experts Statista say the accounting calculation is “a key performance indicator used by businesses to evaluate the efficiency of staff as a generator of income as a function of the club’s revenue”. Last year respected soccer money guru Swiss Ramble published the wages-to-turnover ratios of several Scottish Premiership clubs. Ross County topped the table (83%) followed by Rangers (74%), Celtic (58%), Hibs (56%), Hearts (51%), Aberdeen (51%) and Kilmarnock (43%). United’s wages are said to be around the £4milion mark, with turnover at £3.12m. The Scotsman says the Scottish Championship leaders have reported an operating loss of £3.8m - the highest in their history. Earlier this month Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson ruled out a January exit for Celtic and Rangers target Shankland. https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4882751/dundee-united-wages-turnover-agm/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1572105210

They will just advertise their £10k poppy donation and carry on as usual...…….

Jas Boyd · @Jas72Boyd 23rd Oct 2019 from TwitLonger Resolution 12 is still deid bhoys !!! I see the Res 12 lawyers are still milking the mentalists from across the city……..and Spain. Apparently they are pushing Celtic to get it on the AGM agenda again following slap down after slap down by the Celtic plc board. Like any AGM, if you garner support from a percentage of shareholders then you can, in essence, force it onto the agenda. And from reading elsewhere, this may happen at the next AGM. Lets quickly remind ourselves of all the false starts and ALL the money spent keeping some small ineffective law firm in business. Fail 1:Originally, Auldheid (the leader of the pack) claimed that as Rangers had an outstanding tax bill at 30th June 2011, Rangers should not have played in Europe that year and Celtic were deprived of money.Then I came along and explained they should sue their law firm as the rules clearly show that had Rangers disclosed the tax due at 30th June, they would still have played in Europe anyway and any punishment from failure to pay it would take place the following season.A month or so later, UEFA confirmed to Resolution 12 that my interpretation was 100% spot on.Fail 2:Their 2nd attempt was to then state it was no longer to do with the 30th June date(they had given up on that idea) and that because the tax was due from a period prior to 31st March, Rangers should not have played in Europe that year and Celtic were deprived of money.Then I came along again and explained the rules further confirming that according to the strict wording of the rules, an amount due in tax only becomes an “overdue payable” when a bill is presented along with a date it has to be paid by. It is not overdue payable at the date of the bill……only if its not paid on time. Rangers received that bill on 20th May. It became an “overdue payable” on the 19th June.Fail 3:It was back to the lawyers again for a 3rd go and this time, they will present a case that shows Rangers accepted the tax liability on or around the 27th February and that this in turn means they should have disclosed it on 31st March meaning Rangers should not have played in Europe that year and Celtic were deprived of money.Sorry to disappoint you guys, but you need to get better lawyers. You see, lets assume UEFA ignore their rule about what constitutes an overdue payable(they wont) and agree with you that when Rangers accepted the liability in February 2011, prior to the bill being issued in May 2011(they wont), Rangers STILL would have had to disclose it on 31st March.Im sorry to disappoint again but this would fail also. The pesky rules are clear that on the 31st March, the bill has to be an overdue payable prior to 31st December 2010. So even if there was somehow a miracle and UEFA sided with you on the other fronts(they wont) it would still fail on the final point.You are going to be slapped down again. The Celtic Board have taken legal guidance on this on 2 previous occasions and their "more competent" legal team have told them that the 2 bob outfit the Res 12 guys are using are simply wrong and just taking money from the poor sods.Auldheid and the Res 12 guys are simply trying to keep face with the fans who have funded in excess of £30,000 to keep this circus going. That £30k+ included a full page advert written in French which appeared in a Swiss newspaper. Yip that’s right. Take that in for a minute. There are no more narratives. You have been pumped for money. And your next step is to consider if there is a potential recovery to be had from the solicitors who have been using you and perhaps giving you wrong advice on rules and laws.Resolution 12 is still deid.As you were. https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sr1tlm

See behind the scenes as Rangers drew away to FC Porto in the Europa League. https://rangers.co.uk/tv/view?it=17897&c=&act=watch&r=2106192200

We were, however chances were equal, I never felt disappointed last night as I did v YB in the last match. Prior to the match I felt a draw would be a good result, I certainly never felt we were going to win.

TBF it felt like a win

Porto hard man Pepe admitted he was hugely impressed with Rangers after their superb Europa League display. Steven Gerrard's men returned to Glasgow with a hard-fought point which could easily have been three after an excellent showing in Portugal. And the 36-year-old, 106-times capped former Real Madrid stopper, was complimentary about the Ibrox side's performance at the Estadio do Dragao. He said: "We scored a good goal, but conceded before the interval. "We tried to respond in the second half. But Rangers are a team who are very strong on the counter-attack with very fast players. "I think the draw was a fair result because both teams had opportunities. "Perhaps if we had stayed ahead by the interval it could have been a different story. "At times, we took some risks by pushing men forward. But we were wary because Rangers were so strong and they were also very good in the air. "We knew Rangers were a good team. I think we worked as hard as possible and our team spirit was good too. "The group is very open and we knew it would be like that as soon as the draw was made. It has four very competitive teams. It will go right to the last game." And Porto goalscorer Luis Diaz was impressed with his Colombian international team-mate Alfredo Morelos after the Rangers in-form striker cancelled out his fantastic opener. He said: "Morelos had a great game and scored a good goal. But I thought we had enough opportunities to win. "We knew all about Rangers' quality before the game. They are very tough and they have quality players. "I think we showed the correct attitude though. It's a really tight group and we will have to play well to qualify." https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/4877445/pepe-rangers-porto-very-strong-morelos-europa-league/