Celtic Slang | About Celtic | Celtic’s Foundation
Details
Reference to: Fergus McCann
Derivations: –
Started: c1994
Definition
The Bunnet is an affectionate nickname given in reference to former Celtic Chairman Fergus McCann.
In comparison to many other wealthy self made men, Fergus McCann had a very austere look. Eschewing expensive high class brands and extrovert suits, Fergus McCann preferred an old fashioned look, the most notable addition being the tried and tested sturdy Bunnet.
At one point these caps used to be ubiquitous amongst supporters and a symbol of the old blue collar working class man. Watch old match day games from the early 20th Century and you’ll see that practically all the men on the terraces are wearing one. Now, they are rare but one adherent to the old cap was Fergus McCann who seemed to not leave home without one always pictured with one as he came and went from work.
On his arrival as the new club chairman, Fergus McCann even started a mini boom in the sales of bunnets as some fans bought one to wear in recognition of his fight for the club.
Fergus McCann at heart was a conservative man, and despite his wealth he was very much grounded preferring elbow grease to boardroom ruminations. It was something that made him appear peculiar to the haughty few in the corporate world but the rest realised what he stood for: old fashioned thrift to invest against modern day credit spending speculation.
His cap thus made him stand out very much from not just the makers and breakers amongst his counterparties at other major clubs but also to many of his own colleagues on the board at Celtic. David Murray at Rangers (his then counterpart at Rangers) very much enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and liked to flaunt and boast about his wealth (e.g. expensive suits, private jets, vineyard in France etc). That wasn’t Fergus McCann, and his Bunnet was the symbol that represented this austere reputation and contrast to the rest. In time, Fergus McCann’s ideology was to trump David Murray’s cod-philosophy in business as Rangers went into liquidation whilst Celtic steadily built from the foundations Fergus McCann set up.
The fans in turn anointed McCann with the nickname ‘The Bunnet‘, and it has remained a much loved term of endearment from the Celtic support to him.
We all miss seeing Fergus McCann with his Bunnet around the club but it will forever be one of those treasured memories we’ll all keep.
