Jambo Journo shares his despair over the Celtic takeover of Tenerife

It seems that getting a jolly out to Tenerife wasn’t entirely to the linking of Joel Sked, sharing his expert knowledge with subscribers to the Hearts Standard he revealed how Celtic tops were impossible to avoid.

The former Scotsman reporter has a well recorded dislike of all things Celtic, from fans, players and managers through to trophy successes and the general popularity of the club that has dominated Scottish football for all of his adult life.

Sked is a regular on the sofa with A View From The Terrace, the Friday night hipster effort from BBC Scotland where middle class no-marks offer their wacky, off-beat views of Scottish football with jealousy of Celtic a recurring topic.

With income from print publications falling off the radar Newsquest have decided to repeat the ‘success’ of the Rangers Review and The Celtic Way in the capital with dedicated publications for Hearts and Hibs fans. On subscription.

Most mainstream publishers can no longer justify the expense of sending someone on a salary over on a pre-season trip to build up trust and contacts for the season ahead but Sked was handed a week in Tenerife with nothing more to do that hoover up a few interviews from the Jambo players as they geared up for the new season.

Unfortunately a cloud was cast over the trip by the clientele of The Irish Fidder and The Hoops Bar, the two main Celtic pubs in Playa de las Americas and Los Cristianos. Kieran Tierney and Scott Brown have been known to drop in for a drink with the Celtic fans enjoying the Canarian sunshine.

Sked explains:

From a selfish work perspective, it is very much hoped that Hearts will return to the island for future pre-season trips – just remember to choose a hotel that has hot water and not up a hill that resembles the steep parts of Arthur’s Seat. It was a welcome escape from a mixture of rain, wind and hayfever and a chance to get some sun on pasty white Scottish skin.

What couldn’t be escaped, however, was the raft of Celtic tops. A phenomenon that all Scottish football fans are aware of. The holiday uniform of Old Firm fans. But this was another level. No other team was represented quite like the Scottish champions. Flying out of Edinburgh, Celtic tops.

Flying back, Celtic tops. Going out for dinner, Celtic tops. Sitting outside the Irish Rover, Celtic tops. Lounging by the pool, Celtic tops. Picking up some food from the Mercadona, you guessed it! Celtic tops.

At one point, across from Scotch Corner in Costa Adeje, on the night of England’s semi-final with the Netherlands, two guys wearing Celtic tops walked past one another, looked at each other and acknowledged each other with a knowing gesture.