Willie Wallace v Kris Boyd on the Ange Homecoming Tour Glasgow Derby in Australia

Willie Wallace and Kris Boyd has been outlining their thoughts on the news this week that the Ange Postecoglou Homecoming will arrive in Australia in November and will include a game against theRangers – the first ever friendly match between the two clubs since theRangers were formed in 2012. The Lisbon Lion has lived in Australia since the 1980s perhaps is better placed that Boyd to give an insightful opinion on how this game will play out – if it happens – Down Under.

There are fresh doubts over whether this game will ever take place with the support act status annoying the likes of David King and Kris Boyd and jokes about Celtic manufacturing t-shirts for the tour which will read “We’re not half of anything, we’re three quarters” in a cheeky reference to the way the money is being split for this tour. Maybe the two clubs can fly down together with theRangers sitting at the back of the plane?

Kris Boyd, writing in his Scottish Sun column today is totally against his old Ibrox clubs taking part in the Ange Homeocoming Tour which will include a Glasgow Derby match rather than the Old Firm coat tails they desperately wish to hold onto.

“To think they could organise an Old Firm (sic) game and brand it a ‘friendly’ is actually mind-blowing. It beggars belief. Have they not been paying attention all these years? My fear is if the game goes ahead it will be chaos — and that’s the last thing our game needs.

“When the Old Firm game takes place in Glasgow there’s an acceptance of it and what comes with it. Police Scotland know how to handle it. But take that animosity to Sydney and it’s got the potential to get completely out of control and that’s what really concerns me.

“That’s why, for me, it simply cannot be allowed to happen. It’s not just going to be ex-pats at the game. There will be people who fly from Scotland to Australia, and they are not going there for a few tinnies with their rivals.

“Old Firm game or Glasgow Derby, whatever you want to call it, this will kick off. Gers should pull out and arrange their own tournament for November at Ibrox and recoup their money that way,” Boyd argues.

Celtic legend Wille Wallace, who has actually lived ion Australia for many years, is perhaps better placed to judge how this game is going to play out if and when it takes place in Sydney in November.

25/5/1967 European Cup Final Football. Celtic v Internazionale (Inter Milan). Willie Wallace.

“This will be a competitive match as always and I expect the stadium to sell out completely,” Willie Wallace, Lisbon Lion

“This has been a long time coming because it’s been talked about for a while,” Willie Wallace told David Friel at Scottish Sun. “I know in the past people were very keen on having Celtic play Rangers in Australia — because the interest has always been massive. For whatever reason, it didn’t get finalised, but I am glad it is now. I am all for it.

“There are thousands of fans from both clubs over here. You can emigrate, but the football doesn’t ever leave you. All the fans gather at their supporters’ clubs for the games, and it’s great they will get a chance to see the Old Firm (sic) match in Australia.

“I know it will be billed as a friendly, but that is never the case when Celtic play Rangers. Having played in many Old Firm matches, that simply won’t happen,” Wispy said.

Photo:imago/Kicker. Angelo Domenghini (Inter Milan) Willie Wallace (Celtic)

“Fans will be coming from all over the country to watch this game — you could take it to any city in Australia and the tickets would fly. The Sydney stadium holds 83,000, but that won’t be an issue. I’m really looking forward to it.

“I know a lot of guys on both sides over here — they love different clubs but they get on well. They hold Celtic and (the)Rangers golf days and invite each other, so I am sure the banter will be flowing before the game. It will be a different occasion for the Australian authorities, but I think it will go well.

“You just don’t get trouble over here at football,” Wille said, destroying the point made by Boyd in his column today.

25.05.1967 Photo: imago/Kicker/Metelmann

“I was involved when Celtic were in Brisbane, before and during the trip. That was a great visit and you could see the support for the club over here during that weekend. The fans wanted to see Celtic train. You saw all the replica kits around the city for days. But I was also asked to be a local ambassador on one of the Rangers tours, and it was exactly the same.

“There were signing sessions and it was packed — so the interest in both clubs is definitely huge in Australia.”

“They love Ange Postecoglou in Australia — he is regarded as the best manager they have ever produced. That will increase the interest around the game as a lot of neutrals will want to see his team play. Ange won the Asian Cup with Australia and took the team to the World Cup. He is a popular guy.

“There will definitely be thousands wanting to see the Celtic matches because of him, and that can only be a boost for the game over here. You want as much interest as possible in football in Australia and these games will help.”

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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