Big Jock Knew

"Big Jock Knew" is a song sung by some supporters of Scottish football clubs, particularly Rangers and Heart of Midlothian.[1] It is aimed mainly to antagonise supporters of Rangers' Glasgow rivals Celtic by alleging that former manager Jock Stein was aware of sexual abuse committed by former Celtic Boys Club manager Jim Torbett during the 1960s and 1970s, and did not notify the authorities.

Background

During Torbett's trial in 1998, former Celtic Boys' Club chairman Hugh Birt claimed that Stein and the Celtic board were aware of and covered up allegations made against Torbett.[2][3] Other witnesses testified that Stein, who by then was deceased, would not have been aware of the matter.[3] At Torbett's second trial Birt stated that Stein had an awareness of the allegations and dismissed Torbett, but the police were not called.[4] In 2017 the Daily Record reported that the BBC "had spoken to three other former Celtic Boys’ Club officials – who were employed at the time in question – who also say they were told Torbett was sacked by Stein after complaints Torbett had abused boys. But police were never called."[5]

Torbett was convicted of abuse against boys in his charge for a second time in 2018, relating to a spell in the 1980s after he returned return to Celtic Boys Club.[6][7] The trial again raised the question of the extent of awareness and involvement of Stein and other Celtic officials into the behaviour of Torbett during his first spell at the organisation, given that he was allowed to hold a position of trust around children for a second time.[4] A BBC Scotland investigation claimed to have other sources supporting Birt's version of events in 1974,[4] whereas Celtic's media releases at the time suggested Torbett had stepped down whilst held in high esteem due to work commitments.[4] The official club statement following the conclusion of the 2018 trial, which expressed 'deep regret' over the abuse, asserted that they only became aware of allegations against Torbett in the mid 1990s.[8][9]

Reaction

The song has provoked controversy and been condemned.[10][11] UNICEF expressed concern over the song and called for it to be banned from football games.[12] The song was not originally placed on a list of banned chants by the Scottish Premier League whereas other similar controversial chants, such as the Billy Boys, were.[13] In 2007, the then Scottish Football Association Chief Executive Gordon Smith called the song "morally repugnant."[14]

There have been several high-profile media mentions of it. In 2007, at the end of the song "Who Knew" by Pink, Real Radio DJ Steven McKenna stated, "Big Jock". This sparked angry complaints from Celtic fans calling for him to be sacked. The radio station then issued a public apology.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Sectarian & abusive Hearts fans 'do not represent the club or it's values'". Scotzine. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  2. "Stein 'covered up' allegations of abuse at Celtic Boys' Club". The Scotsman Highbeam.com. 7 November 1998. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  3. "Celtic Boys' Club founder guilty of shameless indecency; Anger over allegations suggesting that Jock Stein was involved in 20-year cover-up". Herald Scotland. 13 November 1998. Retrieved 7 December 2017. Former Celtic directors Mr Kevin Kelly, 61, and Mr James Farrell, 77, said they never heard of any allegations concerning the accused and Mr Kelly, a director in Torbett's Trophy Centre business, denied ever talking to Mr Birt about the matter. Asked if Mr Stein had tried to cover-up any allegations Mr Farrell said: "He would have been playing with dynamite if he had done that. Jock would never have behaved like that."
  4. Mark Daly; Calum McKay (5 November 2018). "How Celtic boys abuser was convicted for a second time". BBC News. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  5. McGivern, Mark (11 April 2017). "Celtic Boys' Club sex predator Jim Torbett given second chance to abuse young players". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  6. "Celtic Boys Club founder guilty of abuse". BBC News. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  7. "HMA v James Torbett". Judiciary of Scotland. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  8. "Celtic express 'deep regret' over Torbett child abuse". BBC News. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  9. "Celtic Football Club statement". Celtic F.C. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  10. Thompson, Bernard (24 August 2007). "More than a game". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  11. "Child Abuse is not something to use as a tool to beat rivals with in football rivalry". Scotzine. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  12. MacDonald, Stuart (10 January 2009). "Unicef: Famine Song banned". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  13. Broadfoot, Darryl (6 August 2007). "SPL urged to clarify banned chants". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  14. Spiers, Graham (24 November 2007). "Reid this and weep: accusations have no place in football world". The Times. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  15. Rose, Gareth (15 August 2007). "Club apologises to Celtic after sex abuse jibe". The Scotsman. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
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