IN years gone by whenever a stage was constructed in front of the main stand at Celtic Park, trouble wasn't far away.

During these days, not so long ago, this only happened when there was an AGM and it would be fair to say that not every time the supporters, or shareholders - to give them their official title - met those in charge could have been described in any way as an amicable occasion.

Indeed, with the league flag flying over the stadium in 1998, the first time that had happened in a decade than felt like a millennia, the-then board members were booed as they walked onto the said stage. They hadn't even been offered the chance to say anything.

The abuse of Fergus McCann was baffling. The pantomime treatment handed out to Jock Brown (remember him?) was a little more understandable.

However, yesterday at a sunny Celtic Park, everything was sweetness and light as the new kit was launched, and the club did a pretty heavy sell to the mostly young attendees, which included a chance to ask some players and coaches a few questions.

Such events can be cheesy, but this was quite good fun and those who were there of a certain age would be able to recall a time when relations between the club and support were rock bottom.

And that was after their best season in 10 years.

For those Celtic supporters who perhaps understandably take winning four league titles in a row for granted these days and for whom losing out on a Treble is something of a disaster would do well to remember the 1990s.

They should enjoy all of this because the good/bad times don't last forever.

Celtic had a new strip to unveil (it's green and white hoops, would you believe) and the chance for maybe a 1000 or so fans to get that bit closer to their heroes.

First up was John Collins and John Kennedy, two first-team coaches and former players who did not win enough at the club for very different reasons.

Indeed, it is some thought that for all Kennedy's injury woes, his collection of medals easily eclipses Collins's one Scottish Cup success in 1995. Different times.

Collins was asked what it was like to win his first league title at the club, some 25 years after he first walked through the door.

He said: "It is very special. We put in a great performance against Dundee on the Friday night which put pressure on Aberdeen, and then Dundee United did us a favour. All round it was a great weekend."

Ronnie Delia's right-hand man was then asked to reveal his favourite moment in a Celtic shirt.

Collins said: "Every time I walked down the tunnel in the six years I was here as a player. I was also a supporter as well. Trust me, when you run out and the fans are singing 'walk on' there is nothing like that anywhere in the world.

"I did enjoy scoring my first ever goal in an Old Firm match here."

To nobody's surprise, this drew a great round of applause.

For Kennedy, it was the European nights that stuck with him. He was only 19 when as a rookie centre-half played brilliantly in that famous 0-0 at the Nou Camp in 2004. Fate can be a horrible thing and within a week his career was all-but over. What a player he might have been.

He said: "I'm very grateful for the club to give me this opportunity. When you get injured to think you might not be involved, so I really appreciate this."

Collins, too, was thankful that the club he re-joined in the summer was not quite the one he left in 1996.

He said: "I am most pleased about the fact we've won trophies. This is what we came here to do. It's what the fans expect. Winning the League Cup was so important and it's great to get the title in the bag."

Then came some of the players and we learned that James Forrest is not a natural public speaker, Scott Brown is something of a stand-up comedian and Stefan Johansen had the best English of any other person there.

The new SPFA Scotland Player of the Year said: "It was great to win an award, but the most important thing for me is that we won the League and League Cup. I'm happier about those trophies."

The Norwegian must be a media officer's dream.

In 1998 at that eventful and unfriendly AGM, one of the first questions from the floor was about the pot holes in the car park, an important matter to be sure, but not the most vital anyone there could think of, given everything else that was happening at the club.

Fast forward 17 years and the questions were positive, funny and of the "what is it like to play for Celtic" variety.

There was no stick, just selfies. What would Fergus have made of it all?