Football Without Fans – Uphall Shamrock CSC

Uphall Shamrock CSC was initially founded in 1986 by Peter Charleston from the Volunteer Arms in Uphall. The bus eventually came to an end in the early 1990s. It was reformed in 2018 by Kieran Lynch, Keith Lindsay, Kevin Connolly, and Kevin Ferguson. The only change that was made was to the club badge.

The bus now leaves from the Oatridge Hotel in Uphall and goes to every home game, cup game, and the occasional away game when tickets are available. When the bus started in the 1980s, they travelled to all away games in an old Transit Luton with old wooden car seats in the back. They went on many away trips and to testimonials, such as at Highbury and Old Trafford.

In 1986 when the bus went to Highbury for the David O’Leary testimonial, a few of the members missed the game due to their high alcohol consumption and went back to Highbury the next day and had a run about on the park, then walked up the marble staircase before being caught by security and thrown out.

Craig Rhind and Drew McCulloch went to get all the tickets when they were a lot easier to get. The bus was full of characters and big personalities, and a lot of previous members they have been in contact with don’t have much recollection of their time on the bus due to a good percentage of them spending their time in the local boozers, especially on away days.

On an away trip to Dundee, they stopped at Milnathort near Kinross, where Martin Clarke went to the toilet, which was outside the pub’s first door on the left, but he went to the right and ended up in someone’s house, where he was chased by a man with a walking stick.

Apparently, one time Roy Aitken joined them on the bus. The bus is very friendly and welcomes new members of all ages. There are many big characters and there is always someone starting a song or winding other members up. Unfortunately, they lost two great members with big personalities who are sadly missed. Henry ‘Big H’ Docherty and Hugh ‘Shug’ McCrudden.

Brian McClair and Scott Reid (Methadone Mick from Still Game) are both honorary members of their club. A few of their members travel to many of the European games. The club tries to do a lot for charity, giving to local charities, or if any of their members have suggestions, they will give if they can. They hold race nights and Irish nights, with some of the money going to charity. Over Christmas 2022, they held their first community food drive for the West Lothian Food Bank and teamed up with Xcite Broxburn. It was extremely successful and will become a regular thing for their club.

An extract from Football Without Fans – The History of Celtic Supporters Clubs by David McIntyre ( Celtic Bars). Football Without Fans – The History of Celtic Supporters Clubs is out now and available in print and kindle versions HERE.

More from Football Without Fans this week on The Celtic Star, the Celtic supporters website. Will it be your CSC that’s featured?

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