THERE was a special guest at Lennoxtown last week as Joseph Dodds, the grandson of Celtic great, Joe Dodds, visited the club’s training ground.

He was there to help present a £10,000 donation from Celtic FC Foundation to Poppyscotland, which will be used primarily to support Poppyscotland’s education project called ‘Sowing the Poppy Seed’ which takes the form of an Internet-based project, available to all schools in Scotland.

The project focuses on the key question ‘Why is it important to remember?’ and looks at how conflict arises and the effects that conflict has on communities.  

Joseph’s grandfather, Joe Dodds, served in the First World War. He had made his made his debut for Celtic in 1908 and played 378 games for the club in two spells at Celtic Park. He is regarded as one of the best and fastest defenders the club has ever produced and it is said that there is nowhere of an account of him having had a bad game for Celtic. 

Joe was part of a Celtic defence which was thought of as possibly the best in the UK at the time, helping create the foundations upon which Celtic dominated Scottish football in that era.

As The Great War intervened, Joe served on the front line in France, after which he returned to Celtic for a second time.   Between 1908 and 1920 he collected seven league titles and three Scottish Cup winner’s medals and added a further league title medal with Celtic in his last season.

Joseph told the official Celtic website: “I was honoured to be asked along here to support this cause on behalf of my grandfather. Being part of the family, he was always special to me.

“He was part of the Royal Artillery, and my cousin Lorna told me that he was involved in the terrible train tragedy near Dumfries during the war (Quintinshill rail disaster). My grandfather was injured in it and he gave one of his Celtic medals to the nurse that helped him.”

Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell said: “Celtic Football Club is delighted, once again, to continue its support of Poppyscotland.

“As we approach Remembrance Sunday it is important that we take time to remember the victims on all sides of all conflicts across the globe. We are again pleased to become involved with the educational programme which educates children as to why it is so important to remember.”

Celtic supporters should note that a minute’s silence will take place before the 3.30pm kick-off at this Sunday’s game against Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium.

In addition, fans are also advised that due to an event being staged in Dingwall, the town will be heavily congested until 2pm, with associated road closures and fans are advised to take this into account in their travel plans