Makes international debut as a substitute against USSR. Joins Nottingham Forest from Distillery in October.

My work was ‘fine arty abstract collage’ at that point, I hadn’t ever illustrated anything. I didn’t really know if I’d be able to make great collages with specific subject matter at short notice – with my relatively small archive of material, (and no internet at that time of course) but it all started there. I launched into commercial art and in a few months started calling myself an ‘Illustrator’. It took a while to learn how to successfully answer a brief though. Nottingham Forest made history at home and abroad without those involved ever knowing how fabled their run was. “You were on this ride,” O’Neill says. “You are going to West Ham and expecting to win, whereas the previous year trying to beat Bristol Rovers was a struggle. I don’t think we realised it was special until it was over. The night we lost to the Bulgarians [CSKA Sofia in 1980] in the European Cup, you thought: ‘Wow, that’s it.’ He has an enviable sense of composition, balancing shape, color, line, texture, and type with a precision that makes it all seem effortless. You have to have a really good eye to do all that. And Martin O’Neill has the best. He is a true master of collage.” – Graham Rawle. June 2019From an extract from Neil Lennon’s autobiography, (Lennon, Neil (2006) Neil Lennon: Man and Bhoy. HarperSport, ISBN-10: 0007233477) which describes gaffer Martin O’Neill’s famously inspirational speech at Anfield prior to the game.

Martin’s capability relies on being an international contemporary illustrator by keeping his old school technique his strong point of recognition.Martin O’Neill has reduced the number of nutters at Celtic because he has given them less to be nuts about. ” Trademark: after any major Celtic goal, he had a famous habit of jumping in the air with his fists raised. A little humorous but illustrated his wonderful character and emotion to all. The comparisons were difficult, and the arguments at times nauseating, but in 2014 both Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan were drawn to face each other in competitive matches for the Euro 2016 Championships. The first match was actually played at Celtic Park as Hampden was being renovated, and Scotland triumphed 1-0; the return leg was 1-1 with ex-Celt Maloney (who had played under both managers at Celtic) the scorer for Scotland in both games. Nobody was going to truly believe this would settle any old arguments. Time had passed by for the old debaters, and both managers should be respected for their time at Celtic.

From then on, Martin O’Neill’s teams had to battle and overcome Celta Vigo (violent players and incompetent referees), the highly rated Stuttgart (Germans) and then the big one, Liverpool, the biggest name to date. He has worked as an illustrator and artist for two decades and regularly exhibits his personal collages, sketchbooks, and prints. He is also a visiting lecturer across the UK. Martin lives and works on England’s South East coast with his wife and two daughters. The league turned out to be less of a challenge than expected. Rangers thought they were revitalised but weren’t. Celtic won the title comfortably, and Martin O’Neill could celebrate a third SPL title in four seasons (and his last as it turned out). Completing the League & Scottish Cup double piled on the agony for Rangers, but the quality of the play and the number of quality goals, really showed Martin O’Neill’s ability to fashion a consistently winning side. Celtic almost made it through the season undefeated in the league, but lost two games late in the season which spoiled the record. Up until Aberdeen’s win at Parkhead, Celtic had gone 77 games undefeated at home. How things were to turn out differently. Nobody could ever be said to believe what was to happen over the next few years, and the following only covers the true emotion of Martin O’Neill’s reign in brief for the whole Celtic support.What kind of visuals do you find work best for limited edition prints or originals? Does this differ from commissioned Illustration? Celtic is a way of life. Possibly more than anywhere else, it meant everything to the supporters. The club affected their lives in ways perhaps maybe other clubs didn’t do.” What sort of state do I leave Celtic in? Certainly a better state than I found them, and certainly a better state than you’re in.’

Normal pundits, absolutely, but ex-professionals having a go? Especially sometimes – and I’m not talking about here, I’m talking about in other parts of the United Kingdom – you have players who have done absolutely nothing in their career, nothing at all, who have been basement dwellers as footballers and ended up on a screen criticising something in front of them that they’ve never experienced either as a player or a manager. And they’re giving an opinion – their opinion is worthless. I’m not saying that every opinion up here from an ex-pro is worthless, far from it, but sometimes you have to disregard these things.” As an avid scavenger of ephemera, Martin O’Neill’s glorious compositions begin long before he assembles them as images. He seems to carry these found treasures in his head while the stowed physical pieces lie dormant in an erratic filing system of studio file drawers (…) until the right moment comes along.” You sell limited edition prints and original Artworks. Do you think selling work through various platforms is an area for illustrators to consider?

What are you looking for?

Client led briefs often lead to very interesting work anyway, or at least the offcuts and offshoot work which derives from it. Personal work & commissioned work feed each other & there’s no real difference for me regarding what kind of visuals I use. The penultimate challenge in the semi-finals was against Boavista; a tough set of matches which saw Celtic come from behind (in aggregate terms) to win and make it to the final (overcoming much of the opposition’s antics). It was a nervy affair, but it was thanks to Larsson’s late winner that Celtic got through. Martin O’Neill was there all the way, and with his team had overcome all challenges to get to the final. January: Signs new 12-month rolling contract. March: Celtic beaten 2-1 by Rangers in CIS Cup final. May: Celtic lose 3-2 in extra-time to Porto in the Uefa Cup final in Seville. Celtic lose SPL title to Rangers on thrilling final day.