Brendan Rodgers is optimistic that the reinstatement of away supporters for Glasgow Derby matches is just a starting point…
It all goes back to Beautiful Sunday
Following an announcement from the two clubs on Friday, theRangers will receive 2400 tickets for their visit to Celtic Park on March 16 with this expected to be reciprocated for visiting Hoops supporters for the split match at Ibrox in April or May.
However, Rodgers is eager for away allocations to keep increasing and eventually restore the larger away sections that were traditionally in place at both stadiums before the Ibrox club had thrown their toys out the pram in 2018.
“Yeah. I think everyone is [happy to see the away allocation back],” said the Celtic boss. “It’s a big part of the fixture. Having been involved in it both with the supporters there, both home and away, and then obviously them being taken away, it does make a difference.
“I think it is great for everyone. Great for the game, great for the spectacle of the game and obviously for the supporters getting the chance to see their team, which is great. We just have to get the supporters back in the stadium again,” he added. “That was the start point and then hopefully it can get somewhere near to what it was before, because that always created an amazing atmosphere.”
The 52 year-old emphasised that no away fans at either ground from 2022 was “out of our [Celtic’s] control,” and praised CEO Michael Nicholson for reaching a resolution on the matter. “This is all the club, the club have dealt with it really well,” he said. “Like I always said before, this wasn’t a Celtic thing, this was something that sadly was out of our control at the beginning of it all.”
“Thankfully now both clubs have come together. It has been Michael and the people behind the scenes who have dealt with it. It’s great for all of us involved in the game.”
Beautiful Sunday broke Dave King and that led to the away allocations being cut – Lest We Forget
Conor Spence
Celtic in the Thirties
Both volumes of Celtic in the Thirties are also available on Amazon Kindle, with the links to order below. Signed copies of both volumes are still available on hardback from Celtic Star Books and if you would like author Matt Corr to add a special dedication to your copies please let us know. Order hardback copies HERE or for Amazon Kindle click by clicking on the images below…
