| Supporters |
Biog
Fullname: Frances Hinton
Died: Nov 2016
Notes:
Francie Hinton was a major figure in the lives of Celtic supporters over an era.
As head of the Celtic Supporters Association he held a very high prominent position which made him highly visible.
Not always an easy role, and often with his critics, however he still carried out his role for over a generation.
Many will have had interactions with Francie over the years and his name will be one that Celtic historians will find dotted amongst the many articles written on the support from the years he was heavily involved.
RIP.
Added note:
(MonTheCandy of KDS)
Francie Hinton was no doubt a controversial character in the supports history.
For many of us the first time meeting him was at the London Rd social club looking for tickets usually on a cold midweek afternoon.
Think most of us would except he was a wee bit grumpy in nature.
“Aye, in there”
Some of us even went on Euro trips on his bus.
Which was a bit like going to the dancing with your parents.
And of course, there was the Old Board/Fergus story in 1994.
Seemed like the only two people on the planet supporting the Old Board in the final weeks were Gerry McSherry and Francie.
Francie unlike Gerry did actually go to see Celtic.
You’d have needed bawz like an elephant to do what Francie did that day outside the old Rangers end, when he attempted to counter demonstrate the Celts for Change boycott.
I don’t think we should run away from our history and Francie Hinton was part of the supports history.
Like it or not.
(MonTheCandy of KDS)
Surprised Francie Hinton never got a mention, one of about two people along with Gerry McSherry who supported the Old Board until the bitter end. Francie Hinton who was a big noise in the Celtic Supporters Association was almost impossible to talk to and that was on a good day. He actively stood by those families in word and deed to the ridiculous level.
That night of the Kilmarnock game was like watching a Confederate General after Lee had surrendered. I doubt he truly knew what he was involved in. Think he thought it the young team up the back of the bus he was dealing with. And that final meeting of the CSA when he resigned. I thought the crowd was going to lynch him. ffs man in the name of God, Go.
And then there was Gerry McSherry who it turned out had never been to a Celtic game since the Hampden Riot. Turns out he’s still alive and well!!!
The whacky part after it was all over was Gerry McSherry wrote weekly to Fergus for about 2 years praising him. Story goes Fergus binned every one of his letters.
Best description of Gerry McSherry would be a lost soul.
I never got into the City Halls but saw the pictures later in a book and laughed at the chancers sitting in the audience before during and after the war.
Best one was a work colleague many years later who professed not to be interested in football to the tenth degree. Hate it load of pish.
That was until he was pointed out sitting a couple of rows from the front in the City Hall right beside my old man in his white raincoat.
Obituary
Francie Hinton: A true Celt, faithful through and through
By: Newsroom Staff on 23 Nov, 2016 14:31
EVERYONE at Celtic was shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Francie Hinton on Monday evening.
Francie, 76, had been attending Celtic Park his whole life and was a well-known face to many fans and club officials. Francie ran the Greenfield CSC for many years and was famous for his European trips, where fans from all over Scotland made their way to London Road to catch the bus on another European adventure.
Francie served the Celtic Supporters’ Association faithfully for 25 years where he held the post of President, bringing him into contact with many Celtic greats over the years.
Francie is survived by three sons, Tony, Francie and Richard and we send our deepest sympathies to the boys and all the extended family.
The funeral mass for Francie Hinton will take place next Tuesday, November 29 at 9am at St Mary’s Church, Calton, Glasgow.