The Green Brigade issued a leaflet before Saturday night’s game against Kilmarnock seeking an improvement in the atmosphere at Celtic Park in 2025…
Green Brigade take the knee for Palestine. Photo The Green Brigade
Brendan Rodgers’ side booked their place in the Scottish Cup fifth round over the weekend with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over an organised Kilmarnock side. Domestically, Celtic are well on their way to another historic season under Brendan Rodgers, but it doesn’t come more exciting than Wednesday night’s encounter with BSC Young Boys knowing a victory guarantees a knockout playoff round tie in February.
Atmosphere needs improving
However, there have been murmurings from the manager around the Celtic Park atmosphere in recent weeks, and now Celtic’s main ultras group have added fuel to the fire with a message for all supporters heading into this calendar year.
The Green Brigade, Photo The Celtic Wiki
Prior to the match on Saturday a pamphlet was handed out to supporters in the North Curve section of the stadium which read, “as we begin a new year, Celtic maintains a dominant lead in the league while chasing another treble. However, this dominance on the pitch is sadly unmatched in the stands, prompting us to make this plea.”
The standing section brought a buzz to Celtic Park
“In 2016, Celtic became the first club on these shores to reintroduce standing to top-flight football. The standing section brought a buzz to Celtic Park thanks to everyone contributing: revolutionising the atmosphere and advancing ultras culture across the country. As we approach 10 seasons of the standing section, its influence has unfortunately regressed. There are multiple reasons for this, some of which we take responsibility for as the ultras group leading the section.”
The Green Brigade’s ‘At Least You Still Have The Northern Lights’ banner at the Premier Sports semi-final as Celtic beat Aberdeen 6-0. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star
The responsibility to back the team sits with us all
“However, the responsibility to back the team sits with us all. As ultras, we introduced a different style of support in 2006-one we continue because we enjoy it and believe it’s effective. However, we appreciate that this style isn’t for everyone at all times therefore we are beyond the point of expecting 3.000 hands in the air, bouncing on the spot, swaying side to side or doing the huddle – despite all being common in the early years of the standing section.”
“We are therefore simply asking four things of you: Sing, be vocal, back the team, and harass the opposition. Clap along to songs to create more noise. Stay until the team leaves the pitch to show your appreciation. Keep your phone in your pocket, enjoy and contribute to the moment.”
“We don’t want to patronise anyone about the importance of backing the team nor eulogise the Celtic atmosphere. However, lazy, complacent, and spoiled attitudes have afflicted the support, even on European nights. While many factors contribute to this, the unavoidable truth is that we can do better for our team.”
Green Brigade Annual Foodbank Collection, 2024. Image: Green Brigade
North Curve Celtic
“In 2016, we introduced North Curve Celtic to bridge the gap between the Green Brigade and other fans in the standing section. This initiative has been successful, with visible achievements such as the murals in the concourse.
“However, NCC has also stagnated, hindered by restrictions and poor engagement from the club. Simply put, the board does not want a large, active fan movement but knows it cannot stop the evolution of fan culture.”
First up in Celtic versus Young Boys in the Champions League on Wednesday night and as a support we need to create the best atmosphere of the season to roar the Bhoys into the next play-off round. The RB Leipzig atmosphere was incredible and the best so far this season but we can beat that on Wednesday and play our part in getting Celtic across the line.
So every single Celtic supporter at the game, LET’S MAKE SOME NOISE FOR THE BHOYS!
This week’s Champions League fixtures. Image UEFA
Conor Spence
Kasper Schmeichel protests after Bobby Wales scores during the Scottish Cup Fourth Round match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on January 18, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
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Green Brigade making a statement!,
How did it go when Celtic Management asked them to stop us getting fined in Europe with setting off Flares etc ?
Obviously they see themselves more important than those who run the club.
Patronising at it’s worst.
The gobshites within the GB seem to think of themselves as some form of rebel movement.
Using the Republic movement to enhance themselves with the songbook?
What a bunch of jokers.
Our club years ago had that reputation regarding the republican movement, but has long gone, and hopefully remains so.
And the republican movement, would never have entertained such a bunch of arse holes in the first instance either.
So a bunch of wannabes wanting to be rebels, by singing rebel songs is all these eejits are.
Start getting back to singing proper Celtic songs might earn themselves better respect within the older generation within our support imo?
Not unreasonable to ask fans to engage in creating an atmosphere but the GB have little credit after all their self righteous messaging and disregard for the safety of others by their repetitive use of pyrotechnics.
Get this in your heads, you are not the sole guardians of Celtic’s history, that belongs to all of us, and not all of us agree with the political and cultural posturing that comes out of the North Curve.
I love football. I love Celtic and there more than a few societal issues that I have strong views on but I don’t feel the need to bring it into a football stadium, despite the fact that I support many of the causes the GB seek to highlight.
Give your heads a shake and then get behind the football team.