KTF Reviews

CELTIC MINDED 2

New Book, August 2006

Argyll Publishing

To be launched at Edinburgh Festival Fringe event Friday 18th August

Celtic Minded 2

Essays on Celtic football culture and identity

Edited by Dr Joseph M Bradley

As in many other countries, football in Scotland involves not only kicking a ball and winning trophies but issues relating to finance, power, politics, religion, community, humour, popular culture and identity.

The first Celtic Minded book (2004) explored aspects of the supporting culture that revolves around one of Scotland 's biggest sporting institutions, Celtic FC.

Celtic Minded 2 takes that story further with serious, witty, informative and reflective research and views on Celtic supporters' history, experience and culture.

This book emerges from a series of wider football and society studies by Dr Joseph Bradley, a lecturer in Sports Studies at the University of Stirling . In the book Dr Bradley has written an extensive thesis exploring the Scottish Executive's campaign ‘One Scotland Many Cultures' in relation to football. Each of the other contributors provides an essay exploring aspects of the culture and identity of the Celtic fans.

Celtic Minded 2 constitutes a wonderful examination of what a football club means and represents to a community.

Contributions originate from people from varied social, religious and ethnic backgrounds including from Ireland , Canada , England and Scotland : from members of the worldwide Irish diaspora and from those attracted to or simply interested in the meaningfulness of Celtic fan culture.

This book reflects upon the descendants of the Irish in Scotland who contribute to modern Scotland as a multi-cultured society. It is a book that challenges much of the established and embedded knowledge especially reflected in the media that exists about sectarianism, ethnicity and football in Scotland . The book aims to contribute to a better understanding of key aspects of modern Scottish society.

Celtic Captain Neil Lennon says:

“Having read Celtic Minded 2 I am convinced that its contributors have captured the true essence of Celtic and articulated the very soul and passion that constitutes this great club's support.”

Celtic Minded 2 is stimulating, thought provoking and a significant contribution towards Scotland holding up a mirror and understanding itself.