Celtic Boys’ Club U15s asked to leave store after complaints from customers and staff

Apr 28 2011 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

AN Uddingston-based Celtic boys’ football club expressed dismay this week – after they had to leave a supermarket where they were bag-packing to help fund a trip to a football tournament.

Dressed in club blazers and ties, Celtic Boys’ Club U15s had been at ASDA’s Motherwell store in a bid to raise money to attend the tournament taking place in Holland in June.

They had planned to carry out the bag-packing from 11pm until 6pm. But they had to leave after two hours following complaints from customers and staff.

Club chairman Paul Barnes said this week the boys were all “immaculately dressed” and on their best behaviour.

He added: “We were asked to leave because the blazers had a Celtic badge on it.

“First of all we were told staff were unhappy, and after an hour we were told customers were unhappy.

“We were then told we had to remove our blazers and ties or leave the store.

“Some of the boys were upset at this, but decided to remove their blazers and ties.

“However, the customer service manager returned again to say the manager wanted us to leave the store.”

Mr Barnes pointed out that the club has members from both sides of the Old Firm divide.

He added: “We have supplied Premier League teams like Hamilton, Motherwell, Celtic and Hibernian with players and we currently have three boys on trial with Rangers.”

An ASDA spokesman said this week the company did not take sides in sport and “hadn’t got it right” on this occasion.

He commented: “We welcomed the Celtic Boys’ Club into our Motherwell store on Friday with the best of intentions and the boys did a great job helping our customers with their shopping.

“Although our colleagues acted with the boys’ best interests at heart, we recognise that asking them to remove their ties and blazers could have been upsetting and we are sorry for this. Whilst it was always intended that the boys would finish bag packing at 3pm, as is standard for charity bag packers, we should have explained this more clearly in advance.

“As a goodwill gesture, we will be donating £200 to the Celtic Boys’ Club for their upcoming trip, as well as £200 each to the local Rangers and Motherwell FC Under 15s, which we hope will help young people from across the local area to enjoy their sport.”

An account has been opened to fund the boys’ club’s trip to Rotterdam in June. To make a donation contact thecelticboysclub1996@hotmail.co.uk