Sports Poets Society

23 Oct 2025 - Scottish Daily Mail By JOHN McGARRY LIAM SCALES is adamant that the Celtic squad were unmoved by Brendan Rodgers controversially comparing the current squad to a Honda Civic. The manager’s remarks came on the back of a dismal summer transfer window which has led to the club exiting the Champions League and falling five points behind Hearts in the title race. But the Irish defender insists Rodgers’ much-debated choice of words hasn’t even registered with the players as they seek to turn their patchy form around after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Dundee at Dens Park. ‘I don’t know about others in the dressing room but, for me, it’s not going to affect me, and it wasn’t a talking point among the players,’ claimed Scales ahead of this evening’s Europa League visit of Sturm Graz. ‘We know it was a disappointing result, and if that’s a way to motivate people to do better, then that’s the only way I could really look at it. ‘I didn’t notice anything different in how we’ve been leading...

Keir McMeekin is latest Scot to try Gannon-Doak route to glory ... after leaving Hearts for bright lights of Manchester aged 15 "When he first kicked a ball at the age of five,  I was told he was a natural" 15 Oct 2025 - Scottish Daily Mail By JOHN McGARRY Chief Sports Feature Writer THE ball was fired across the turf towards the fledgling midfielder with an almighty lick. How was his touch? Velvet, as it happens. Next? Nothing which followed that morning at Riccarton drew anything more than approving looks from the seasoned professionals who were running the rule over the precocious talent in their midst. Those present recall there wasn’t a trace of fear in Keir McMeekin ’s body when in possession. There was a grace in the way he moved, a natural-born footballer. In a small-sided game, he dropped his shoulder and deceived his direct opponent. Not only could he see the passes others couldn’t, but he also executed them. By the end of the session, he’d made a mark on those team...

Strong showing: Trusty holds off £55m man Elanga Celtic look set to soar out of the blocks in title defence after brushing star-studded Newcastle aside with ease 21 Jul 2025 - Scottish Daily Mail JOHN McGARRY Chief Sports Feature Writer at Celtic Park CELTIC are now crunching through the gears so quickly that their defence of the Premiership title looks destined to start at a fiendish pace. Coming off the back of an impressive victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Algarve , Saturday’s dismantling of an expensively assembled Newcastle side was every bit as comprehensive as the scoreline suggested. Notwithstanding the fact that Eddie Howe’s men are two weeks behind Celtic in preparation for the new campaign, you could only admire the way in which Brendan Rodgers’ side bettered them in pretty much every department. While results in pre-season are notoriously poor indicators of what lies ahead, performances do count for something. And with so many familiar faces hitting the straps a fortnigh...

Keeping the faith: Tierney is confident distractions won’t affect Rodgers Tierney backs Rodgers to shut out speculation 19 Jul 2025 Scottish Daily Mail By JOHN McGARRY KIERAN TIERNEY believes Brendan Rodgers will cope with the ongoing speculation surrounding his long-term future at Celtic. The Northern Irishman is entering the final year of his contract and, despite having touched on the matter in talks with the club’s powerbrokers at the end of the last campaign, there’s been no indication yet that he will agree to stay on beyond 2026. But Tierney, who was persuaded by the 52-year-old to return to the club from Arsenal this summer , claims the uncertainty surrounding the manager’s position will have no bearing on how he or the team perform. ‘I don’t think he’ll bother too much about the outside noise,’ said Tierney. ‘He’ll just get on with his job because he knows he’s got a job to do. And, as his players, we’ve got a job to do. And we need to do it to the best of our ability. ‘That ...