Dubai CSC

The Dubai Celtic Supports Club give us an introduction to their club.........

Founded in 2003 by a group of expats residing in Dubai and still lead by the club President Martin McGinty, the Dubai Hoops CSC has been an integral part of the Celtic Community in the Middle East. The go to place to watch the matches for resident members here in Dubai or welcoming Celtic fans visiting from all over the world either on holiday or in transit.

However, the choice of the Dubai Hoops as our name was not a given. The original Committee made up of the club President, Paul Scott, Franny McClure (RIP), Ivan White, Laurie Elder, Derek Keegan (RIP), Andy Karacinski and Pat Canning had to select from the following:

1. The Emerald Exiles

2. The Yasser Arafat No.1 and

3. The Dubai Hoops

Fortunately they chose wisely and with the Charlie the Camel logo, designed by Derek Keegan, the Dubai Hoops have gone from strength to strength over the last 20 years mirroring the success on and off the park which has been enjoyed by Celtic FC.

The Dubai Hoops CSC were inaugurated when Billy and Liz McNeill attended a gala dinner. With over 300 in attendance, Cesar took great pleasure in explaining to some followers of the forces of darkness what the European Cup looked like.

During the 2006/2007 season, the Dubai Hoops became the first CSC in the world to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of that famous win in Lisbon. We were very honoured to welcome Celtic Royalty to our Club. Our most famous son Billy McNeill along with the mercurial Bertie Auld, Tommy Gemmell, Jim Craig , Willie Wallace, John Yogi Hughes, Charlie Gallagher, Joe McBride , John Fallon and Willie O’Neill together with the widows of Jimmy Johnstone (Agnes), Bobby Murdoch (Kathleen) and Ronnie Simpson (Rosemary) spent a week in Dubai with the supporters.

The week culminated in a dinner dance in the Great Ballroom where Billy and Tommy paraded the European Cup, leaving not a dry eye in the 500+ attendees. The week was that much of a success that Billy McNeill left Dubai with a steak pie named after him…

We have welcomed so many stars past and present to our club and will continue to do so. This being our 20th Season together we will celebrate with another Gala dinner and be joined by Brian McClair , Peter Grant , Roy Aitken ,Derek Whyte and over 150 guests . This promises to be a great night and hopefully one of many celebrations this season.

Dubai, like many major cities in the world, has seen massive changes over the past 2 decades and the Dubai Hoops CSC has had to adapt to these changes. Many members have come and gone, economic progress may take a plunge, but the Dubai Hoops CSC is there and will always be there. We have approx. 160 members and welcome tourists from far and wide each week to watch the games. We are based in McGettigans Bar Dubai World trade centre and show every game no matter the day or time.

We would like to wish Catholic United all the very best for the season and hopefully we can welcome you to our club if any club member or fan visits Dubai in the future.