I mentioned on Sunday during my match report that I would be writing an article about the mindset that has completely engulfed our city rivals, and after enjoying basking in the glory of our fantastic win for a few days I’m finally getting around to posting it. Let me start by saying this, some of the stuff I witnessed and heard about that happened at the match on Sunday were some of the nastiest, hate-filled acts of aggression from their fans I can remember throughout my time supporting Celtic in the past 30 odd years.
I love being a Celtic fan. I was born a Celtic fan. I come from a family full of Celtic fans. Being born in the mid-80’s I have supported Celtic through their lows during the early 90’s, to their more recent highs that we have all become so accustomed to.
My eldest brother, who was a season ticket holder while living in Glasgow during the early 90’s, always reminds me to enjoy these times as he witnessed first hand some dark days during his time. Most Celtic fans have that mindset. Over the years I’ve enjoyed his stories from back in the day. No matter how bad we were he explained that him and his friends always kept the faith. They turned up every week and at times endured watching some atrocious football but always believed the good times would come back. As the song says:
“WE STOOD WITH PRIDE AND TOOK DEFEAT”
The reason I bring this up is because since 2012 when theRangers were born their fans have been hoping to see them resemble the old Rangers and climb to the top of Scottish football once more. Their first achievement came last season when they won the (behind closed doors) title and stopped Celtic claiming 10 in a row. I can remember when Celtic did the same in 1998. It was an amazing time and the Celtic fans rejoiced after years of hurt. The difference is that it was just unbridled joy and to be honest probably a great sense of relief we portrayed. This wasn’t the mindset after last season however.
In what should have been a happy occasion for supporters of theRangers, it was marred by a weird sense of victimisation. Not a feeling of pure joy at claiming such an important trophy but an attitude that this is what we deserve and we would have been here much earlier if the whole of Scottish football hadn’t ‘turned against us’. So George Square was trashed in scenes reminiscent of something out of a horror movie. Seeing footage of the ‘celebration’ it looked like people unleashing their anger more than enjoying winning a trophy.
The arrogance was back however. The ‘we are the people’ mentality once again in full flow. Their hero and saviour, the incredibly dodgy Dave King, now being hailed as some sort of Nostradamus. The ‘house of cards’ prediction is set to come true. It’s over. We are now the Kings of Scotland and Celtic’s fall from grace is only beginning.
Yet nobody stopped to survey exactly what had just happened. Yes they had won the league convincingly but absolutely no one can argue that Celtic didn’t completely implode that season. Things literally couldn’t have got any worse. I could list all the things that went wrong but we would be here all day. Celtic were an absolute shambles.
Yet at the end the day theRangers had only won the one trophy, in what was being hailed as an ‘incredible’ season. St Johnstone amazingly done the cup double. It wasn’t as dominate a campaign as their fans thought. They couldn’t be told however. Dave King predicted if we lost just one league title our whole club would cave in. His audience believed every word.
When we appointed Ange Postecoglou they were even more convinced. A fan base who love a glitzy name could do nothing but laugh at Celtic shopping in the ‘bargain basement’ for some ‘unheard of’ Australian. When the manager cleared the decks and brought in twelve new recruits they laughed at Celtic ‘wasting’ money on the likes of Kyogo. A diminutive, unheard of striker like him would never cut the mustard in Scotland. They were convinced they would canter to the league once more. Here’s the Ibrox mouth-piece Kris Boyd commenting last July on Ange Postecoglou being appointed Celtic manager.
🗣️”It is finished – there is no doubt about it.”
Kris Boyd believes his former club can’t catch Celtic now after Ange Postecoglou’s side moved six points clear at the top of the table👇 pic.twitter.com/mdVgf31Dqn
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) April 3, 2022
This time not only were their sights set on the league. A treble would do nicely too. And surely after their performances in Europe last season Champions League qualification was pretty much assured, with all the money that comes with it? Then Malmö happened. But all is ok as Celtic are struggling as predicted. Until they weren’t.
Suddenly the hoardes weren’t feeling as superior and supremely confident as they had done previously. With rumours circulating that manager Steven Gerrard was looking south of the border, theRangers fans worried until their great leader cleared the matter up with the infamous ‘do I look happy, do I look settled, don’t ask silly questions’ retort. In for the long haul then. Until he wasn’t. Snuck out the back door and sprinted down south, just as they had mocked Brendan Rodgers for doing a few seasons before.
Don’t ask me silly questions ! https://t.co/OT7MhkoEB4 pic.twitter.com/vZvC6aMubf
— Manpreet 🇧🇪 (@ManpreetPTFC_V5) November 11, 2021
With Celtic creeping ever closer the mood started to change drastically. Suddenly they were back to ‘everyone hates us, we don’t care’ mentality. Except they do care. The scatter gun was out once more. Referees were against them. The media were against them. The SFA were against them. The Scottish Government were against them.
Then the January window. Footballing megastar Aaron Ramsey brought in along with a £20m Manchester United wonderkid. Celtic again picking up nobodies from Japan. Nothing to worry about. Until they realise Ramsey isn’t anywhere near being fit and after a couple of appearances that Diallo isn’t cut out for Scottish football.
Speaking of miracles pic.twitter.com/LKZVTNsjR8
— PJ 🏴🇮🇪 (@PJ_1888) April 5, 2022
Yet Celtic’s ‘nobodies’ have hit the ground running. Then the 2nd February happened and suddenly Celtic were top of the league.
You can feel the anger growing, then the Sydney Super Cup was announced, or ‘Ange’s Homecoming’ as it’s also to be known as, and all hell broke loose. The final straw that broke the camel’s back. A tournament all about Celtic and their manager returning triumphantly to his homeland. Oh and did we mention Celtic are getting paid much more to appear than theRangers?
All this anger, all this fear, all this shock that Dave King was actually wrong and far from Celtic collapsing after losing one league title, they have actually strengthened and look better than ever came to a head on Sunday when Celtic rolled into Ibrox. The club lit a flame under the fans by making the build up in the stadium all about the ‘Old Firm’. Advertising boards displaying ‘this is the Old Firm’. An arch to welcome the players onto the pitch with ‘Old Firm’ strewn across the top. A cry against Celtic fans referring to the match as a Glasgow Derby.
I mentioned in my match report that I cringed when I saw it. I was genuinely embarrassed for them. Fans you can understand getting frustrated but the club getting involved and putting on a display like this was tinpot stuff.
During the match as it became clear Celtic were going to claim all 3 points things took a more sinister turn. Glass thrown into Joe Hart’s goalmouth, missiles fired at players taking corners, a man trying to enter the pitch to attack celebrating Celtic players, a Celtic physio split open by a bottle, Celtic players targeted once again while trying to celebrate with their own fans at the end. Absolutely disgraceful.
Yet for a club who literally seems to release statements on a regular basis they haven’t even bothered to release an official one saying they condemn the behaviour. What sort of message is that putting out? It beggars belief. I am certainly glad we dont have to visit Ibrox again this season as I worry about the safety of our players, staff and fans. Hopefully we don’t see anymore shameful scenes next Sunday with a mixed crowd at Hampden.
I just dont know where this ends. The hate that seems to be spewing out of Ibrox at the minute is like nothing seen before. Instead of the club trying to get a handle on this they seem to be almost enabling it. They certainly do nothing to diffuse it.
Now I know not all fans of the Ibrox club partake in this. I am friendly with a few guys in work who are huge fans of theRangers. I enjoy talking about football with them, often bantering back and forth as expected. They love their club as much as I love mine. I know they don’t condone behaviour like what we saw on Sunday.
Those fans who do think it’s acceptable to act this way at any football match however have to be weeded out. They should be named and shamed by the club and made to face the authorities. But will they? It seems at the moment like the club playing out of Ibrox has lost control of certain elements of its fan base.
Where was the statement from theRangers Board condemning Sunday’s disgraceful behaviour and apologising the Celtic employee who had his head split open while simply doing his job? Their silence is deafening.
The way things are going I genuinely fear that this is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Instead of nipping it in the bud now like what should happen, this will drag on until something truly horrifying occurs and everyone will then look back and think ‘we should have seen this coming’.
I won’t hold my breath.
Conall McGinty
Absolutely brilliant piece it’s exactly what I have been thinking and probably most of our support for years and you have defined it in òne splendid article well done.
Every Club should Refuse to play at the Crumble Dome.It’s the only way to Guarantee Players Staff and fans Safety.And do not let any of there Support in our Grounds
Not one mention in the press about the fact that some nutter actually went to the bother of breaking up a bottle and throwing the shards all over Joe harts penalty area.. do not miss the chance to rub it in these insects faces like never before.. rub it right in again and again
Spot on they say it’s a small minority from the 3rd minute that minority was a majority
Not all newco fans are bad they love their club just like the Celtic fans but something needs to be done about the thugs of ipox I hope the police find them & jail them
As we celtic support all know this is not the first time the rangers thugs have embarrassed there vile club and nothing gets done…Glasgow..Manchester even there tin cup win in 1972 they even wrecked and rioted….bottle thrown through the villareal team bus the list goes on and on…..I’m so happy for Celtic supporters….Hail Hail
Have to disagree they have a completely different mindset . The sense of entitlement and superiority complex come to mind. The two george square riots confirmed that when no one was held accountable. The second riot defied belief.
Have absolutely no faith in Glasgow’ ‘finest’ haven’t for years since the Mounties indiscriminately charged down Janefield street after a midweek Celtic r*ngers game endangering thousands of Celtic supports in the process for absolutely no reason. There was no trouble. Basically r*ngers fans will uniforms on. The kettled the Green Brigade pre peaceful demo in George Square yet March the r*ngers support to George Square watch them battle each other and wreck the place until enough was enough and that same support turned on the police. Makes my blood boil the way we’re policed to them. That’s why they take liberties in the knowledge there will be a softly softly approach to their actions. That’s why I’m not holding my breath at any significant charges after Sunday.
They have lost the plot now. Last season everything went right for them in the league, and we had a nightmare. The shambolic scenes at George Square and elsewhere, when they vented anger amidst their ‘55 celebrations’ were a disgrace and I agree with your article, they were convinced that Dave’s pack of cards comment had come to pass.
Yes they were back, ready to dine at Europe’s top table and sweep all before them domestically. You highlighted what I believe was the pivotal moment when Malmo eliminated them, that rattled them, denied them huge income, potential new signings, created Gerard’s itchy feet and a set in motion a number of problems.
We have a real opportunity to forge ahead now with big Ange and dominate again. HAIL HAIL
The stop the ten season I never saw as much unbridled joy as I did that day,Back home in Coatbridge throngs of our fans filled the streets to celebrate,but not one hint of trouble that’s the difference right there
see your still calling rangers a newco which is a new company not a new club eufa congratulated rangers last week on their 150th birthday so it is just a few bitter celtic fans that call us a new club the idiots who threw the bottles i hope are caught and jailed and banned from ibrox for life
but if you remember last season when a hearts player was almost hit by a bottle at parkhead nothing was said also when celtic fans hung dolls with gers colours on again nothing said
when fergus saved you he formed a newco which is a fact
leeds went bankrupt as did livingston and a good few others again nothing said but big bad rangers do it and all hell breaks loose
your own fans wont even let a minutes silence go by without booing making your club look bad you dont respect the war dead yet i bet you have relatives who died in the war
well when celtic eventually goes to court for the abuse victims i wonder who thinks that you brought the game into disrespute and celtic should be put down to the 3rd div
the snp sfa and spfl all hate rangers but rangers are a far more dignified club than celtic will ever be
and just because 2 or 3 idiotis fans throw bottles doesn’t make the rest of the fans or the club bad
away and print your bile elsewhere
watp
I smell a “Deludamol ” user !!!
A perfect article. Well done Conall.
I grew up through their hatred and bile in 60;s and 70’s and it was obvious that most serious trouble predominantly followed huns losing. They are a fascist organisation and always will be, with all it involves. Hatred, Bile, Racism, violence, aggression, and fundamentally, self-loathing ! . The idiot above, pretending to himself that he’s open-minded, gives the fascist slogan to end his comment .
Need I say any more ?
This a Celtic fans page mate and you are a new club and abuse comes out again Gordon Hunter go check him out oh and the new club said he was nothing to do with your new club as he was part of oldco you realy should know your history as the song goes before you come on a Celtic fans page before spouting your bile now back in yer box and will send some savlon for that burn if you want