On Friday, February 20, 2026, the Lone Star Celtic Supporters Club proudly hosted the inaugural North American Sleep Out at Toyota Stadium & Soccer Center in Frisco, Texas, raising an incredible total in of $8K in support of Celtic FC Foundation. An additional donation of $1K will also be made to The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center in Dallas, Texas. For many years, participating in the Sleep Out at Celtic Park was something I personally admired from afar. Living in the United States meant that my visits home never aligned with the event, but the desire to bring that experience – and its powerful purpose – to North America never left. Approximately two years ago, discussions began around hosting a Sleep Out in Texas at Toyota Stadium & Soccer Center, home of FC Dallas. Plans were progressing well before a tournament scheduling conflict forced us to postpone the idea. When the opportunity arose again this year, we knew the time was right. With the support of our Vice President, James O’Sullivan – who also serves as legal counsel for FC Dallas – a date was secured for Friday, February 20, 2026. From there, the momentum grew quickly. Sponsors were approached, supporters committed and excitement built across our Celtic community here in Texas. Back in Glasgow, we were incredibly grateful for the guidance and encouragement from the Foundation team, who answered every question and supported us throughout the process. Their assistance ensured that our event remained aligned with the spirit and standards of the original Sleep Out. What made the evening even more special was the participation of Sharon Campbell from the Manhattan No 1 CSC, who travelled from New York to stand alongside Lone Star CSC. We were also joined by Derry man Kevin MacHugh, who now lives in Bangkok and has found himself working in Fort Worth for the past few months. What began as a local initiative became a shared moment of unity between supporters’ clubs – Lone Star, New York and Bangkok – reflecting the global strength of the Celtic Family. Participants gathered under the Texas sky, laying out sleeping bags on the concrete in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness and hardship. Despite colder-than-expected conditions, spirits remained high, strengthened by camaraderie and shared purpose. With the weekend fixture moved from Saturday to Sunday, the group made a collective decision to remain on site rather than head straight to our supporters’ bar for the scheduled post sleep out/pre match breakfast. In true Celtic fashion, Mark Hannigan brought his grill and prepared a full breakfast tailgate for us – a gesture that perfectly captured the warmth and community spirit that defines both our Club and our Foundation. Stephen McDonald and Angela O’Connor also went above and beyond – not only sourcing the bacon for the morning rolls, but personally making square sausage from scratch to ensure we had a true taste of home. Rico Fotheringham and Marie Lynott generously shared their famous secret-recipe lentil soup with crusty bread – and not forgetting the Kerrygold butter – along with a wonderful spread of other treats, bringing comfort to everyone after a long night under the stars. These thoughtful contributions helped create a real sense of community, reminding us that even far from Glasgow, the Celtic Family spirit is very much alive. This inaugural North American Sleep Out was more than an event – it was a statement of solidarity. From Dallas to Glasgow, supporters united in support of the founding mission upon which Celtic was built: “A football club will be formed for the maintenance of dinner tables for the children and the unemployed.” – Brother Walfrid Lone Star CSC is immensely proud to have hosted this historic first in North America and to stand alongside Celtic FC Foundation in continuing this vital work. Our thanks to FC Dallas for their wonderful support in allowing us use of their Toyota Stadium & Soccer Center facility. And a huge thank you to each and every person who participated or contributed. Karen Smith, Lone Star CSC
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