The 1893 Founding by Brother Walfrid

Lore & Background

The source does not describe the late Victorian era in Glasgow, initial meetings, or the club's rapid ascent. It states only that in 1887, Walfrid founded The Celtic Football Club as a means of raising funds for the Catholic poor and deprived in the East End of Glasgow. In 1892, he was sent to London's East End, where he organised football matches for and showed great kindness to the barefoot Catholic children in Bethnal Green and Bow, and established The Poor Children's Dinner Table.

In Their Own Story

The source does not describe a specific first match, cobblestones, or a collection box. It records that in 1893, Walfrid was sent by his religious order to London's East End. There he organised football matches for and showed great kindness to the barefoot Catholic children in the districts of Bethnal Green and Bow. The charity he established was named The Poor Children's Dinner Table.

Reader's Guide

While other clubs may have emerged from school teams or social circles, the source states that Celtic was founded in 1887 by Brother Walfrid as a means of raising funds for the Catholic poor and deprived in the East End of Glasgow. In 1893, Walfrid was sent to London's East End, where he continued his work by organising football matches for and showing great kindness to the barefoot Catholic children in Bethnal Green and Bow, and established The Poor Children's Dinner Table. This chapter shows that Walfrid's mission of using football for charity continued beyond Glasgow.

Did You Know?

• Brother Walfrid's birth name was Andrew Kerins (Irish: Aindreas Ó Céirín).
• He was born on 18 May 1840 in Ballymote, County Sligo, Ireland.
• He joined the Marist Brothers Teaching Order in 1864.
• In 1892, he was sent to London's East End, where he organised football matches for barefoot Catholic children in Bethnal Green and Bow.
• The charity he established in London was named The Poor Children's Dinner Table.