Why do I as a Liverpool supporter, have love for Celtic in my heart?

These are strange times. I find myself, as many of you probably do, sitting and reflecting back.

One thing that bubbled up is the question listed above.

My dad never liked football. Never liked any sport really. He only watches during the World Cup and only if one of the four countries of the UK get beyond the group stages…so not often you’ll appreciate. It was such a situation that got me into football. World Cup 1990. I was ten. Fine Italian drama. My dad has Welsh ancestry but was cheering on England. But on my mum’s side is Irish/Scot and Italian, she wasn’t…

After that summer back in school all my friends had two teams, one English and one Scottish that they supported. Put on the spot, without ever having really thought about club football before, I picked Liverpool as my English team. Grew up nowhere near Liverpool, knew next to nothing about it, but my hero was Dave Lister from Red Dwarf.

But I just couldn’t pick a Scottish one. Peer pressure bore down on me. All my friends seeing a chance to recruit an ally tried to sell their Scottish team to me.

I never did pick one. Fast forward a couple of years and I was delving into the history of my adopted team Liverpool, and I discovered a rich history of Irish and Scottish influence on its founding, development and successes. The team I had picked purely at random suddenly had a strong personal connection with my own history. Reading about King Kenny lead me to Celtic, and suddenly, I had an answer to who my Scottish team was.

I tell people I am a fan of Liverpool and I support Celtic. Not sure if that really fully makes sense to anyone but me, but I don’t care. It’s only ever once caused me real consternation, in 2003…

Fast forward to 2009 and I start dating my now wife…a Scottish Celtic fan through and through. She tolerates Liverpool, but only has eyes for Celtic. At least we get to share a lot of the same songs…and our mutual admiration for Virgil Van Dijk…

So, in these troubled times our shared song ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ has much more meaning. As does the determination of both sets of our fans to complete this season no matter how long it takes…

I’ll raise a glass to your nine-in-a-row, however long the pause button is on for.

Hail Hail, from Mark Edwards. Liverpool fan, Celtic supporter.

Mark Edwards

Myself with Paul, Stripey Cat, Neil and Friends

Incidentally Liam Kelly’s article on his first away day trip European adventure following Celtic was published on The Celtic Star last night was a brilliant read and you can enjoy it HERE.

And don’t forget to test your Celtic knowledge in David Potter’s latest quiz…

Take The Celtic Star’s Photo Tour of Celtic Park and enjoy our stunning photos from inside Paradise RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

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About Author

The Celtic Star founder and editor, who has edited numerous Celtic books over the past decade or so including several from Lisbon Lions, Willie Wallace, Tommy Gemmell and Jim Craig. Earliest Celtic memories include a win over East Fife at Celtic Park and the 4-1 League Cup loss to Partick Thistle as a 6 year old. Best game? Easy 4-2, 1979 when Ten Men Won the League. Email editor@thecelticstar.co.uk

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