Frustrating news today from the Green Brigade concerning their planned Green Wall returning at the Jock Stein Stand, traditionally known as The Celtic End for the two upcoming SWPL1 matches where title chasing Celtic FC Women take on Hearts then Hibs in the next few months.
Earlier this week North Curve Celtic announced that they would be returning to the women’s matches at Celtic Park and I cannot think of anyone involved with the Celtic FC Women set-up who would have been anything less than thrilled by that news.
Indeed you can say without any exaggeration whatsoever that the return of The Green Wall could help lift the Celtic FC Women team to a first ever SWPL1 trophy. So it is important.
After that exciting news, today we got brought back to earth with an almighty thump as the Ultras Group released a statement on their social media channels stating that this Green Wall would now NOT be happening and they laid the finger of blame at the doors of two senior Celtic executives.
“Despite our best intentions and efforts, the club has refused to facilitate The Celtic End for the upcoming Celtic FC Women matches at Celtic Park,” the Green Brigade’s statement reads.
“This is in stark contrast to similar matches last May where fan reps worked constructively with the club to promote the matches and draw record crowds.”
This is absolutely correct and anyone in the two record breaking crowds would be able to tell you just how spectacular a performance the fans in that Celtic End put on to drive the team to victory on both occasions, without any bother at all. So far so good.
Things now start to a little get messy with both Celtic Directors Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay coming in for severe criticism. Again from The North Curve’s statement:
Photo: Jeff Holmes
“This decision has been taken by Michael Nicholson, CEO, and Chris McKay, CFO. It is vindictive against the concept of The Celtic End, the fan groups behind the idea and the thousands of fans who want to see some level of consideration given to a goal-end standing section to rejuvenate a stale Celtic Park.”
North Curve Celtic continue: “Shamefully, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay would prefer for Celtic FC Women to be detrimented than have another positive advert for The Celtic End. Ironically, this decision contradicts the club statement following the cancellation of away tickets at the recent SWPL Glasgow Derby which decried others undermining the promotion and progress of the women’s game.
“At a critical time in both the men’s and women’s seasons, we have no desire to engage in a public spat which may distract positive support for both teams. For this reason, as well as for unreasonable obstacles, it is regrettable that we will not attend the upcoming Celtic FC Women matches at Celtic Park.”
So, as things stand, the Green Brigade will NOT be attending the two women’s game and there will be no Green Wall. That is likely to have the negative impact that they themselves fear will happen.
ON THE NEXT PAGE – THE CELTIC STAR SPEAKS TO CELTIC ABOUT THIS SITUATION…
The Celtic Star are proud supporters of the Celtic FC Women side and this afternoon we spoke to Celtic FC and made clear our position in that we would like ALL Celtic supporters, including The Green Brigade to be at the stadium to support Elena Sadiku and our Ghirls as they push forward towards a first ever SWPL title for the club.
In response to a fairly lengthy discussion on the matter Celtic issued The Celtic Star with the following statement that explains the club’s position:
“The group were made aware that the Jock Stein would not be made available due to certain safety concerns relating to this specific area, but arrangements have been made by the Club to allow the group to attend within the Rail Seating Section.
“This has been communicated to the group and the Club hopes that as many supporters and supporter groups as possible come along to support Celtic FC Women at the upcoming Celtic Park matches, as well as all other matches,” Celtic FC
So that’s the statement from both sides. The Celtic FC Women team should NOT be used as a political football. The Green Wall is mighty impressive and would look amazing as a STANDING SECTION within the stadium. This was showcased last season in the seated Jock Stein lower but Celtic had safety concerns after the two matches last season, with various falls, accidents and damage done to seats, due to over enthusiasm and not vandalism. So this decision by Celtic was probably inevitable.
The only way the Green Wall could ever happen at Celtic Park is if the club changed the relevant area of the stadium – sections or all of the lower Jock Stein stand – to a larger Rail Seating Section and were granted the relevant safety certificates. And for that to happen it is going to involve a much closer working relationship between the club and the ultras, which clearly a very long way from happening judging by today’s statement from The Green Brigade.
What the club is saying is that for safety reason this cannot happen in the Jock Stein stand in its current form as a seating area. Trying to change the ‘stale’ atmosphere inside Celtic Park is admirable but it is not going to be achieved by name calling and boycotts, the Celtic FC Women side has had no part in any disputes, rows or incidents in and around the men’s game and should not be affected as a result.
The Standing Section, which Celtic were pioneers in opening, is there to be used by the Green Brigade and the areas around it can also be used by other supporters who want to join in on their brilliant backing of the Ghirls.
The campaign to have the standing section increased in size and moved to the Celtic End is going to involve winning the hearts and minds of the Celtic supporters who are already in situ in their own seats in the Jock Stein lower. Seats that they pay for every year with their season tickets money.
It would also need a close working relationship between the Celtic Board and the Green Brigade and the thousands of fans that would like this idea to get off the ground. It’s a great idea, it would help the atmosphere significantly but each and every obstacle would have to be negotiated and agreements reached. Toys out the pram is never going to see it happen.
It’s a big ask and The Green Brigade did exactly that when they distributed flyers promoting their Celtic End idea across the Jock Stein lower. Did they get feedback from that from supporters seated in the Jock Stein lower? Do you sit there and if so what do you think of turning this into a Green Wall in The Celtic End?
Meanwhile as many Celtic supporters as possible should get along and help roar the Ghirls onto an historic first title win for Celtic FC Women. Tickets are available now for the game against Hearts on Sunday 21 April.
NB – This, nor the one at the top of this article, are NOT a paid for advertisements from Celtic FC – The Celtic Star promotes the Celtic FC Women team and are proud to do so. Our motivation is as simple as this, we want to win the league and there’s a very good chance that this will happen this season. So get along to Celtic Park and do your bit.