RIORDAN MY CELTIC SECRET | TalkCeltic

regicfc · May 16, 2006

I hid my uncle's ashes in my Hibs tracksuit pocket and scattered them on pitch at Parkhead during warm-up

CELTIC new boy Derek Riordan last night revealed an amazing family secret.

The former Hibs player's uncle, Terry McGovern, was Celtic daft and always wanted his ashes scattered at Parkhead.

But, due to the thousands of requests they get, Celtic operate a ban on such memorials. So when his uncle died, Riordan smuggled his ashes into Parkhead in the pockets of his Hibs tracksuit.

And, as he joined his teammates for a warm-up, he scattered them on the pitch. Full story below...

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CELTIC capture Derek Riordan last night admitted he broke a club rule by secretly scattering his uncle's ashes on the Parkhead turf.

Tragic Terry McGovern took his own life two years ago. He was a massive Celtic fan and Riordan wanted to honour his memory in the most fitting manner possible.

The club do not permit the scattering of ashes on the park without special permission so the player smuggled them on to the field during the warm-up to a Celtic-Hibs clash and - in front of 60,000 unsuspecting fans - spread them on the turf.

It's a story that sums up the Riordan family's allegiance to Celtic - at least on his mother's side. In fact, their loyalty is so strong the player insists there was no way he could have joined Rangers when they went after him in January.

Riordan said: "My uncle Terry was a huge Celtic fan and before Hibs played them at Parkhead a couple of years ago I was given his ashes in a pouch by my Uncle Frank to dispose of them in the most fitting way the family saw fit.

"I sneaked the pouch into the ground with me and scattered them all over the pitch while warming up.

"My mum Rosanna's side of the family are all massive Celtic fans.

"I believe you are not allowed to do things such as that or have to be granted special permission but I had to do it for Terry and it just seemed the right thing to do. If Terry was still here now he would have been delighted to see me sign for Celtic.

"Wherever he is, I can guarantee he will have a smile the size of Leith Walk on his face when I run out at Celtic Park to make my debut."

Riordan revealed he would have risked the wrath of his mother's side of the family if he had signed for Rangers in January.

He said: "They are all big Celtic supporters and now I am the golden child because I have signed.

"I would have upset some of the family if I had chosen Rangers but it didn't get that far because I never got the chance to speak with them as Hibs rejected their bids."

And Riordan revealed that when he met Celtic boss Gordon Strachan and chief executive Peter Lawwell, he wouldn't have been allowed to leave Parkhead without his signature on a contract. He said: "I only found about Celtic's interest on Friday. My agent, JimMcArthur, informed Hibs that morning.

"Celtic are a massive club and they just made it clear they wanted to sign me. They have 53,000 season ticket-holders and that is frightening in itself.

"The way Celtic went for it and clinched the deal was impressive.

"I spoke with Peter Lawwell and Gordon Strachan and they made it clear they wanted me so much there was no way I would leave Celtic Park without committing my future to the club.

"Gordon Strachan was very impressive. He told me where he envisaged me playing and how much he rated me.

"He came across as streetwise and spoke with me not like he was my boss but on the same level and that was one of the things that greatly impressed me about him. He also said that he couldn't guarantee first-team football to any player but as soon as I spoke with him and Peter Lawwell my mind was more or less made up."

Riordan reminded Strachan that he had come across him before when he enjoyed a trial spell at Highfield Road.

Coventry were in the Premiership, Strachan was manager and Darren Huckerby was their top player.

But even though Strachan admitted he was a Riordan fan he couldn't remember him as a kid. The player said: "Kevin Thomson and I went down to Coventry for a trial but we were just 14 and Gordon Strachan admitted he did not remember me.

"Huckerby was a great player then and I was delighted to get one of his shirts."

But Riordan insists that he has not even entertained the thought of Champions League football with Celtic because he will remain with Hibs until October and could play in Intertoto Cup ties in the summer.

He said: "I am a professional and I will be fully committed to Hibs if I am selected to play.

"So I have not given much thought to the Champions League with Celtic even though that it is the stage every player wants to play on.

"If Barcelona win the Champions League Celtic will go straight into the group stage and that would be brilliant.

"I experienced European football with Hibs for the first time last season and it was fantastic and the atmosphere was great.

"I can only begin to imagine what the Champions League will be like especially inside a full Celtic Park with the passion of the club's supporters.

"The thing I am looking forward to most is playing in big games in front of that fanatical support.

"The first time I pull on the Hoops and run on to the park will be an amazing experience.

"I will feel a bit nervous also but I hope to get used to it.

"If I get a goal on my debut that will also help me."

And Riordan hopes the move to a high-profile SPL club such as Celtic will thrust him back into Walter Smith's national team plans sooner rather than later.

Riordan said: "If I play regularly for Celtic and score goals then hopefully that will help me get back into the Scotland set-up.

"I still harbour ambitions on the international front and I believe the opportunity will be there to get among the goals at club level and hopefully that will help me with regards to being picked again for Scotland."

Dark · May 16, 2006

:50:

Sanders · May 16, 2006

Sounds like a promising lad, full of ambition. Good luck to him

Stephen · May 16, 2006

Cant wait for him to pull on the shirt.

hubert · May 16, 2006

All the best at Celtic Derek! :50:

jaybhoy · May 16, 2006

He will get some Cheer form me when he plays him first game ! To score on his first game that would be a dream !

Jungle Bhoy · May 16, 2006

I'm sure everyone here at Celtic wants him to be a huge success. Good luck to the guy.

joehill2006 · May 16, 2006

I wish him well. I don't deny that i think he is not good enough tho, a thought endorsed when Caldwell said he still had some aspects of his game to work on. When he signs he'll be 24 and no longer treated with kid gloves, he will have to try and prove he's back page news rather than front now.

centrehalf · May 16, 2006

I think the situation seems to indicate that if he wasn't a Bosman he wouldn't be coming. Don't think he's one to set the heather alight, more a squad member who will be lucky to get enough appearances to qualify for medals etc.

come_on_the_hoops · May 16, 2006

I wish him all the best, fair play to him!!

mickey bhoy!! · May 16, 2006

good luck to him!!

Tonybhoy1967 · May 16, 2006

1st class story m8 well done, good luck Derek

mafyoo · May 16, 2006

sounds like a celtic lad through and through hope he does well

derryduck · May 20, 2006

I think he will do well and at least he wants to play here unlike some!!
Goo Luck Derek!

LB · May 20, 2006

Think we might have found our little Gem with this one ,i believe he is our best signing so far for next season ......Well Done to WGS

CHRIS2 · May 21, 2006

full of ambition