Monday, November 17, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Sick Celtic fans taunt player over horror injury
Nov 14 2008 By Keith Jackson - Daily Record
KEVIN THOMSON spoke of his disgust last night after internet sickos rejoiced over his career threatening knee injury.
The Rangers midfielder is facing up to eight months out of the game after a horrific accident at Kilmarnock on Sunday when the insides of his left knee were left in tatters following a challenge with Kilmanock's David Fernandez.
Thomson jetted to London on Wednesday to visit a Harley Street specialist who confirmed the player's cruciate ligament has "disappeared completely".
He has also damaged both medial ligaments in the joint.
Dr Andrew Williams is confident surgery will save Thomson's career and that he should be back in time for the start of next season.
But the leading surgeon has also warned the 24-year-old that there is a small risk that the operation might NOT be a success.
While Thomson braces himself for the op he has also been informed of vile and repulsive taunts on a Celtic fans' website - mocking the moment he suffered his horror injury.
Since Monday users have been invited to click on a picture of Thomson lying in agony on the Rugby Park turf to gain entry to the site.
The picture was framed in black and adorned with the foul slogan Karma - it's a ****.
The page was eventually removed yesterday.
In part of an extraordinarily frank interview with Record Sport, Thomson said: "I'm gobsmacked by this.
"Just to realise there are people out there who are capable of doing something so sick turns my stomach.
"Since Sunday I have had nothing but support and kind words but there are always some idiots out there who are capable of stuff like this.
"These people can do what they want but they won't dampen my mood.
"If anything, this kind of thing just makes me all the more determined to get back playing again."
It's understood Rangers chief executive Martin Bain is "appalled" by the sick jibe and he moved quickly yesterday to have a statement released by Ibrox PR chiefs.
It read: "The club condemns this type of behaviour on any unofficial site.
"To make fun of Kevin, who has suffered a serious knee injury that has ended his season, is totally abhorrent and further backs up the club's position that such sites are full of bile which is totally unacceptable and has no place in football."
Celtic also moved to distance themselves from the site last night.
A club spokesman said: "We would condemn all material of this nature.
Unfortunately, content of this kind features on sites related to a number of football clubs.
"This particular one has absolutely no connection to Celtic Football Club."
Thomson is determined to bounce back from this latest shattering blow which comes five years after he suffered an almost identical injury to his right knee.
He said: "The surgeon has to be honest so he has pointed out that some operations are not completely successful.
"But he is the best in Britain - he has done similar operations on some of the top players at Chelsea and Manchester United - and he is more than confident that I'll be back within six to eight months.
"I've been through it all before and there is no doubt in my mind I'll be back in a Rangers strip before long.
"For the first time in my life I'm getting excited just thinking about the first day of pre-season training!"
KEVIN THOMSON spoke of his disgust last night after internet sickos rejoiced over his career threatening knee injury.
The Rangers midfielder is facing up to eight months out of the game after a horrific accident at Kilmarnock on Sunday when the insides of his left knee were left in tatters following a challenge with Kilmanock's David Fernandez.
Thomson jetted to London on Wednesday to visit a Harley Street specialist who confirmed the player's cruciate ligament has "disappeared completely".
He has also damaged both medial ligaments in the joint.
Dr Andrew Williams is confident surgery will save Thomson's career and that he should be back in time for the start of next season.
But the leading surgeon has also warned the 24-year-old that there is a small risk that the operation might NOT be a success.
While Thomson braces himself for the op he has also been informed of vile and repulsive taunts on a Celtic fans' website - mocking the moment he suffered his horror injury.
Since Monday users have been invited to click on a picture of Thomson lying in agony on the Rugby Park turf to gain entry to the site.
The picture was framed in black and adorned with the foul slogan Karma - it's a ****.
The page was eventually removed yesterday.
In part of an extraordinarily frank interview with Record Sport, Thomson said: "I'm gobsmacked by this.
"Just to realise there are people out there who are capable of doing something so sick turns my stomach.
"Since Sunday I have had nothing but support and kind words but there are always some idiots out there who are capable of stuff like this.
"These people can do what they want but they won't dampen my mood.
"If anything, this kind of thing just makes me all the more determined to get back playing again."
It's understood Rangers chief executive Martin Bain is "appalled" by the sick jibe and he moved quickly yesterday to have a statement released by Ibrox PR chiefs.
It read: "The club condemns this type of behaviour on any unofficial site.
"To make fun of Kevin, who has suffered a serious knee injury that has ended his season, is totally abhorrent and further backs up the club's position that such sites are full of bile which is totally unacceptable and has no place in football."
Celtic also moved to distance themselves from the site last night.
A club spokesman said: "We would condemn all material of this nature.
Unfortunately, content of this kind features on sites related to a number of football clubs.
"This particular one has absolutely no connection to Celtic Football Club."
Thomson is determined to bounce back from this latest shattering blow which comes five years after he suffered an almost identical injury to his right knee.
He said: "The surgeon has to be honest so he has pointed out that some operations are not completely successful.
"But he is the best in Britain - he has done similar operations on some of the top players at Chelsea and Manchester United - and he is more than confident that I'll be back within six to eight months.
"I've been through it all before and there is no doubt in my mind I'll be back in a Rangers strip before long.
"For the first time in my life I'm getting excited just thinking about the first day of pre-season training!"
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A Spurs fans view on Celtic
They support the IRA..enough said...these genetic throwbacks bring shame on a famous CLub.As for the scandal of telling serviceman that they would not be welcome at the ground wearing the uniform is traitorous.
Rememberence Day gives us as a Nation time to reflect and pay homage to those who died fighting for the freedoms we to-day enjoy.
To disrespect those who lost their lives fighting the Germans should be arrested and charged under the anti terrorist laws.
What these mental pygmies dont understand that is the second world war the deluded and evil regime assocaited ginger hair with being a jewish trait so all those Irish with a ginger bounce would have found themselves taking a shower....Democracy isnt perfect but I doubt the thickos who made this protest would understand.
In Dublin there is a memorial to a Nazi U Boat.am I offended by it.NO..The Irish remained neutral and got support from the nazis..how suprised they would have been had they allowed the Germans in only to see their population slaughtered just like every other country they infected...
Rememberence Day gives us as a Nation time to reflect and pay homage to those who died fighting for the freedoms we to-day enjoy.
To disrespect those who lost their lives fighting the Germans should be arrested and charged under the anti terrorist laws.
What these mental pygmies dont understand that is the second world war the deluded and evil regime assocaited ginger hair with being a jewish trait so all those Irish with a ginger bounce would have found themselves taking a shower....Democracy isnt perfect but I doubt the thickos who made this protest would understand.
In Dublin there is a memorial to a Nazi U Boat.am I offended by it.NO..The Irish remained neutral and got support from the nazis..how suprised they would have been had they allowed the Germans in only to see their population slaughtered just like every other country they infected...
Silence is not Green, White and Golden
Written by a user of vanguardbears.com
Silence is not Green, White and Golden
In December 1915, when I was seventeen and a half, I ran away from home to join the 4th Battalion East Surreys. I was under age so I had to lie to the recruitment sergeant. I said I was eighteen years old and my name was Sydney Harrison. I told the truth later though, because if I’d been killed as Harrison, nobody would ever have known what happened to me.
Arras was the first time I went over the top. We played football together as we went over. That was the tradition in the East Surreys. I remember the ball dropping at my feet and I passed it to Captain Maxwell. ‘That was a good pass you made young Withers!’ he shouted before he thumped it towards the German lines.
I got wounded at the end of that battle. I was temporarily blinded in one eye but it could have been worse. At the end of the battle, I lay bleeding in a trench. There was blood coming out of my eye, pouring out all over my face. My head looked blown in. They thought I was dead and they were going to bury me. I was in a half-conscious state and I can remember a soldier getting hold of me and saying “Here – this blokes alive!’ That man saved my life, by calling that out. I’d have been buried alive in Arras, if it hadn’t been for him.
Above, the words of Cecil Withers from the book “Last Post – The Final Word From Our First World War Soldiers”. Cecil recounts his time on the Western Front as a teenager fighting for our country.
Last weekend 65 senior football matches were played in Great Britain. Prior to kick-off at 64 of them, fans of opposing clubs put aside their rivalries and stood silent in tribute to those brave men and women who gave their lives in service of our country. In the 65th senior game the mould was broken. Celtic Football Club spat in the face of common decency by instead hosting a minute’s applause in recognition of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Think about it. Applause. For 20 million lives destroyed.
Those of a Celtic persuasion couldn’t even bring themselves to admit who they were honouring. The Celtic Park Master of Ceremonies told the 55,000 crowd the minute’s applause was to remember “the Celtic players who died in both World Wars”. He further stated that the clapping of hands to show respect for the dead is “the Celtic way”. It most certainly is.
Of course the increasingly incompetent Lex Gold of the SPL must shoulder part of the blame for the shame that this has heaped upon Scottish football. The option of a minute’s applause as an alternative to the traditional silence should never have entered his distorted mind. In the name of decency it simply shouldn’t have been an option. Let’s not mince words here. This option was devised to save Celtic Football Club acute embarrassment.
In decrying Gold, let’s not lose sight of who the real culprits are in this blackest of days for Scottish football. Celtic Football Club. Their directors and Chief Executive could and should have insisted they follow protocol. Their Chairman is a former Secretary for Defence for God’s sake. They could and should have shown they cared and turned their backs on the hate-filled cretins amongst their support who intended disrupting proceedings. They could and should have requested police eject anyone breaking the silence from their stadium or arrest them for breach of the peace. But damage limitation, not decency and decorum, was order of the day and foremost in the minds of John Reid, Peter Lawwell and Co.
“Keep the name of Celtic clean at all costs” the mantra once again. Thus they opted to shame themselves and their football club in the most contemptible way imaginable.
Predictably the Celtic-minded apologists were at their pre and post-match best, deflecting and rewriting as only they can. On Saturday morning the Daily Record told us the minutes applause was introduced in Scotland after Hearts fans disrupted a silence for the Pope. Lies. The first minutes applause in Scotland took place at Ceptic Park in honour of the late great George Best. The reason? Best had made some derogatory remarks about Gerry Adams and the IRA in his Mail on Sunday column a year earlier, propmting outrage in Republican circles. The Celtic heirarchy knew any silence would be disrupted.
At pains to propagate the increasingly risible “tiny-minority” line, the media once again did Peter Lawwell’s bidding for him. Numbers for those who walked out of Celtic Park in protest against “British Imperialism” ranged from a few hundred to Hugh Keevins’ ridiculous 20 figure. Mark Guidi in the Sunday Mail clawed hopelessly as he stated “a maximum of 80 Celtic fans left the stadium”. How bloody desperate.
Celtic of course refused to speak out, their work done for them. “Not worthy of comment” said a Celtic spokesman, just as 3500 of their fans singing loudly in tribute to their IRA heroes at Tynecastle the previous weekend had similarly been “not worthy of comment”. Are we really to believe that these same morons would have respected a silence one week on? The same Celtic supporters who had verbally abused poppy-sellers outside the Hearts stadium? The same Hearts who lost a whole first team in the fields of France during the Great War? Of course they would. We know exactly what would have happened, and Celtic knew too. Thousands of their clubs fans would have been shown up for exactly what they are – hate-filled, shameless anti-British fascists and racists.
Keevins described the actions of the assembled throng of IRA sympathisers as “a serious embarrassment for us as a country”. Wrong Mr. Keevins. They are a serious embarrassment to Ireland as a country, for these creatures are not Scottish or British, they are Irish. Ask them for yourself.
On Saturday night I watched the Festival of Remembrance on BBC1. I sat in awe as Lance Corporal Mathew Croucher of 40 Commando Royal Marines was piped in carrying the Book of Remembrance, by Scottish soldiers. Lance Corporal Croucher had thrown his body across a live hand-grenade to save the lives of two of his comrades. Only his backpack saved him from being blown to pieces. He was awarded the George Cross for his bravery. I was reminded of Sergeant Michael Willets of 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, husband and father, who threw himself on top of a hand-grenade tossed into Springfield Road Police Station Belfast by the IRA in 1971. Sergeant Willets gave his own life to save the lives of Catholic/Nationalist/Republican women and children sheltering in the station. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross.
I continued to watch as British soldiers of all races, creeds and colours paid tribute to fallen comrades. I listened intently as Lt. Col. Joe O’Sullivan 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment lamented the loss of three of his men in Iraq. The Lt. Col. could I’m sure trace his roots back to Ireland should he so choose. This set me thinking. Why are people like Joe O’Sullivan, and thousands of others like him, fully assimilated and proud of the adopted country of their ancestors, yet we in West-Central Scotland have the continual embarrassment and perpetual shame of those of Irish ancestry who despise us?
The answer is Celtic Football Club. An organisation diseased to its core. In the beginning we had Marist Brother Walfrid introducing bigotry to football when founding the club “prompted by a fear that Protestant soup kitchens might tempt young Catholics into apostasy” and “worried about the dangers of young Catholics meeting Protestants in their place of employment or leisure” (Football historian Bill Murray from his book “The Old Firm”). Walfrid's co-recruitment agent for Celtic was a Fenian, Pat Welsh, on the run from Ireland suspected of murder. Choice company for a man of the cloth. This would of course be the same Walfrid that Celtic history books clearly document as leading the singing of Irish rebel songs in St Mary's Parish Hall, Glasgow, in November 1887.
On to the opening ceremony for Celtic Park when the convicted Fenian gun-runner and “embittered Irish Nationalist who was anti-British to the backbone” Michael Davitt laid the first piece of turf. Fast-forward to September 17th 1941, when the SFA closed Parkhead for a month because of Celtic fans’ “serious misbehaviour and pro-German chants”. To the Falklands conflict when Ce ltic fans chanted “Argentina, Argentina” and “Malvinas, Malvinas” in support of Galtieri’s fascist military dictatorship. Not forgetting 30 years of Provisional IRA support and the Celtic Board of Directors’ insistence on P.A. broadcasts of dewy-eyed ballads “rebelling against the Crown” and featuring “let the people sing” Irish Republican lyrics. I could add the Irish Republican vocalist at Jackie MacNamara’s testimonial, the disruption of a minutes silence for a member of the Royal Family, Republican flute bands playing at testimonial matches, Celtic players singing IRA songs………..
I would also mention the dozens of “Celtic pubs” that are little more than meeting places and breeding grounds for terrorist sympathisers and what former Celtic chairman Fergus McCann so deftly described as “Celtic-minded Catholic bigots”. Witness the IRA theme park that the Barrowlands ghetto of Glasgow has become with its Sinn Fein shops and public houses festooned in Irish Republican symbology. Shame on Glasgow City Council who seem happy to allow this area to expand.
Swathes of Liverpool and Everton fans can trace their Irish heritage back to when their ancestors sailed to England. Likewise the Arsenal fans of Kilburn and other areas of London heavily populated by descendents of Irish settlers, but they don’t embarrass their club in the way Celtic fans do. That’s because their board of directors don’t actively encourage them to. History has shown us that Celtic Football Club and its fans have used anything at their disposal to express their pro-Irish Republican anti British stance. On Saturday, even by their own standards, they reached a new all time low. The scandalous events show us nothing has changed in over 100 years. Celtic fans espouse a brand of puss-filled Irish Republicanism that brings with it a hatred unrivalled anywhere in European football. This is Scotland’s REAL secret shame.
‘When you go home, tell them of us and say, for their tomorrow, we gave our today’
Cecil Withers passed away on 17th April 2005, at the ripe old age of 106. May he rest in peace. Were he were alive to witness Saturdays events, one wonders if he’d still believe the sacrifice of his fellow soldiers made was worth it.
Silence is not Green, White and Golden
In December 1915, when I was seventeen and a half, I ran away from home to join the 4th Battalion East Surreys. I was under age so I had to lie to the recruitment sergeant. I said I was eighteen years old and my name was Sydney Harrison. I told the truth later though, because if I’d been killed as Harrison, nobody would ever have known what happened to me.
Arras was the first time I went over the top. We played football together as we went over. That was the tradition in the East Surreys. I remember the ball dropping at my feet and I passed it to Captain Maxwell. ‘That was a good pass you made young Withers!’ he shouted before he thumped it towards the German lines.
I got wounded at the end of that battle. I was temporarily blinded in one eye but it could have been worse. At the end of the battle, I lay bleeding in a trench. There was blood coming out of my eye, pouring out all over my face. My head looked blown in. They thought I was dead and they were going to bury me. I was in a half-conscious state and I can remember a soldier getting hold of me and saying “Here – this blokes alive!’ That man saved my life, by calling that out. I’d have been buried alive in Arras, if it hadn’t been for him.
Above, the words of Cecil Withers from the book “Last Post – The Final Word From Our First World War Soldiers”. Cecil recounts his time on the Western Front as a teenager fighting for our country.
Last weekend 65 senior football matches were played in Great Britain. Prior to kick-off at 64 of them, fans of opposing clubs put aside their rivalries and stood silent in tribute to those brave men and women who gave their lives in service of our country. In the 65th senior game the mould was broken. Celtic Football Club spat in the face of common decency by instead hosting a minute’s applause in recognition of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Think about it. Applause. For 20 million lives destroyed.
Those of a Celtic persuasion couldn’t even bring themselves to admit who they were honouring. The Celtic Park Master of Ceremonies told the 55,000 crowd the minute’s applause was to remember “the Celtic players who died in both World Wars”. He further stated that the clapping of hands to show respect for the dead is “the Celtic way”. It most certainly is.
Of course the increasingly incompetent Lex Gold of the SPL must shoulder part of the blame for the shame that this has heaped upon Scottish football. The option of a minute’s applause as an alternative to the traditional silence should never have entered his distorted mind. In the name of decency it simply shouldn’t have been an option. Let’s not mince words here. This option was devised to save Celtic Football Club acute embarrassment.
In decrying Gold, let’s not lose sight of who the real culprits are in this blackest of days for Scottish football. Celtic Football Club. Their directors and Chief Executive could and should have insisted they follow protocol. Their Chairman is a former Secretary for Defence for God’s sake. They could and should have shown they cared and turned their backs on the hate-filled cretins amongst their support who intended disrupting proceedings. They could and should have requested police eject anyone breaking the silence from their stadium or arrest them for breach of the peace. But damage limitation, not decency and decorum, was order of the day and foremost in the minds of John Reid, Peter Lawwell and Co.
“Keep the name of Celtic clean at all costs” the mantra once again. Thus they opted to shame themselves and their football club in the most contemptible way imaginable.
Predictably the Celtic-minded apologists were at their pre and post-match best, deflecting and rewriting as only they can. On Saturday morning the Daily Record told us the minutes applause was introduced in Scotland after Hearts fans disrupted a silence for the Pope. Lies. The first minutes applause in Scotland took place at Ceptic Park in honour of the late great George Best. The reason? Best had made some derogatory remarks about Gerry Adams and the IRA in his Mail on Sunday column a year earlier, propmting outrage in Republican circles. The Celtic heirarchy knew any silence would be disrupted.
At pains to propagate the increasingly risible “tiny-minority” line, the media once again did Peter Lawwell’s bidding for him. Numbers for those who walked out of Celtic Park in protest against “British Imperialism” ranged from a few hundred to Hugh Keevins’ ridiculous 20 figure. Mark Guidi in the Sunday Mail clawed hopelessly as he stated “a maximum of 80 Celtic fans left the stadium”. How bloody desperate.
Celtic of course refused to speak out, their work done for them. “Not worthy of comment” said a Celtic spokesman, just as 3500 of their fans singing loudly in tribute to their IRA heroes at Tynecastle the previous weekend had similarly been “not worthy of comment”. Are we really to believe that these same morons would have respected a silence one week on? The same Celtic supporters who had verbally abused poppy-sellers outside the Hearts stadium? The same Hearts who lost a whole first team in the fields of France during the Great War? Of course they would. We know exactly what would have happened, and Celtic knew too. Thousands of their clubs fans would have been shown up for exactly what they are – hate-filled, shameless anti-British fascists and racists.
Keevins described the actions of the assembled throng of IRA sympathisers as “a serious embarrassment for us as a country”. Wrong Mr. Keevins. They are a serious embarrassment to Ireland as a country, for these creatures are not Scottish or British, they are Irish. Ask them for yourself.
On Saturday night I watched the Festival of Remembrance on BBC1. I sat in awe as Lance Corporal Mathew Croucher of 40 Commando Royal Marines was piped in carrying the Book of Remembrance, by Scottish soldiers. Lance Corporal Croucher had thrown his body across a live hand-grenade to save the lives of two of his comrades. Only his backpack saved him from being blown to pieces. He was awarded the George Cross for his bravery. I was reminded of Sergeant Michael Willets of 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, husband and father, who threw himself on top of a hand-grenade tossed into Springfield Road Police Station Belfast by the IRA in 1971. Sergeant Willets gave his own life to save the lives of Catholic/Nationalist/Republican women and children sheltering in the station. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross.
I continued to watch as British soldiers of all races, creeds and colours paid tribute to fallen comrades. I listened intently as Lt. Col. Joe O’Sullivan 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment lamented the loss of three of his men in Iraq. The Lt. Col. could I’m sure trace his roots back to Ireland should he so choose. This set me thinking. Why are people like Joe O’Sullivan, and thousands of others like him, fully assimilated and proud of the adopted country of their ancestors, yet we in West-Central Scotland have the continual embarrassment and perpetual shame of those of Irish ancestry who despise us?
The answer is Celtic Football Club. An organisation diseased to its core. In the beginning we had Marist Brother Walfrid introducing bigotry to football when founding the club “prompted by a fear that Protestant soup kitchens might tempt young Catholics into apostasy” and “worried about the dangers of young Catholics meeting Protestants in their place of employment or leisure” (Football historian Bill Murray from his book “The Old Firm”). Walfrid's co-recruitment agent for Celtic was a Fenian, Pat Welsh, on the run from Ireland suspected of murder. Choice company for a man of the cloth. This would of course be the same Walfrid that Celtic history books clearly document as leading the singing of Irish rebel songs in St Mary's Parish Hall, Glasgow, in November 1887.
On to the opening ceremony for Celtic Park when the convicted Fenian gun-runner and “embittered Irish Nationalist who was anti-British to the backbone” Michael Davitt laid the first piece of turf. Fast-forward to September 17th 1941, when the SFA closed Parkhead for a month because of Celtic fans’ “serious misbehaviour and pro-German chants”. To the Falklands conflict when Ce ltic fans chanted “Argentina, Argentina” and “Malvinas, Malvinas” in support of Galtieri’s fascist military dictatorship. Not forgetting 30 years of Provisional IRA support and the Celtic Board of Directors’ insistence on P.A. broadcasts of dewy-eyed ballads “rebelling against the Crown” and featuring “let the people sing” Irish Republican lyrics. I could add the Irish Republican vocalist at Jackie MacNamara’s testimonial, the disruption of a minutes silence for a member of the Royal Family, Republican flute bands playing at testimonial matches, Celtic players singing IRA songs………..
I would also mention the dozens of “Celtic pubs” that are little more than meeting places and breeding grounds for terrorist sympathisers and what former Celtic chairman Fergus McCann so deftly described as “Celtic-minded Catholic bigots”. Witness the IRA theme park that the Barrowlands ghetto of Glasgow has become with its Sinn Fein shops and public houses festooned in Irish Republican symbology. Shame on Glasgow City Council who seem happy to allow this area to expand.
Swathes of Liverpool and Everton fans can trace their Irish heritage back to when their ancestors sailed to England. Likewise the Arsenal fans of Kilburn and other areas of London heavily populated by descendents of Irish settlers, but they don’t embarrass their club in the way Celtic fans do. That’s because their board of directors don’t actively encourage them to. History has shown us that Celtic Football Club and its fans have used anything at their disposal to express their pro-Irish Republican anti British stance. On Saturday, even by their own standards, they reached a new all time low. The scandalous events show us nothing has changed in over 100 years. Celtic fans espouse a brand of puss-filled Irish Republicanism that brings with it a hatred unrivalled anywhere in European football. This is Scotland’s REAL secret shame.
‘When you go home, tell them of us and say, for their tomorrow, we gave our today’
Cecil Withers passed away on 17th April 2005, at the ripe old age of 106. May he rest in peace. Were he were alive to witness Saturdays events, one wonders if he’d still believe the sacrifice of his fellow soldiers made was worth it.
Sweeping Since 1888
Visit this site also for more insight into the history of Shame FC
http://sweepingsince1888.blogspot.com/
http://sweepingsince1888.blogspot.com/
DAILY RECORD HOTLINE 11/11/08
"Celtic were heavily criticised for sanctioning a minute's applause at the weekend and not all of it came from fans of other teams. Some of their own support are unhappy at the manner in which they handled such a sensitive issue.
Tommy Taylor, Alloa, said: "On the day so many acts of bravery should be remembered it is sad that Celtic's attitude will be remembered as an act of cowardice."
James Malloy, Lincoln, said: "I came up for the game and felt like leaving after 10 minutes, I was so disgusted by the fans who protested. Some of the stuff going on is ridiculous and it is appalling and embarrassing. There should be a statement from the club condemning these people."
Joe Fitzpatrick, Fife, said: "I am a Celtic fan and proud of where the club came from but this has gone too far and I point the finger at Peter Lawwell and John Reid. They have turned Celtic Park into some kind of Irish theme park on matchdays and it is not a 'cosy' Irishness either.
"I fully expect guys to be dressed as leprechauns manning the turnstiles in the near future. We need to rein this in - I don't want to see it at my club."
David White, Erskine, said: "Jim Traynor's article about the minute's applause at Parkhead was spot-on. Every ground had a minute's silence apart from Celtic Park and the club should come out and tell us why. Is Reid frightened some of his club's supporters would have let them down? He ought to get his house in order."
Sam Edgar, Dunfermline, said: "I am disgusted by the minute's applause. After 90 years of silent tribute, what they did was demeaning and whoever made the decision to do that should apologise to the British Legion."
Sam Veitch, Yorkshire, said: "Only in Scotland could Armistice Day become a football issue. But the SPL made it that way by insisting every club wore poppies on their shirts. The argument over the minute's silence or minute's applause stemmed from Hearts fans, when some of them couldn't keep quiet during the silence for the death of the Pope."
James Forsyth, Antrim, said: "What were the police doing when the protesters outside Parkhead were singing their songs in support of the IRA? I hope Celtic ban the fans who walked out of the stadium to support them."
Tommy Taylor, Alloa, said: "On the day so many acts of bravery should be remembered it is sad that Celtic's attitude will be remembered as an act of cowardice."
James Malloy, Lincoln, said: "I came up for the game and felt like leaving after 10 minutes, I was so disgusted by the fans who protested. Some of the stuff going on is ridiculous and it is appalling and embarrassing. There should be a statement from the club condemning these people."
Joe Fitzpatrick, Fife, said: "I am a Celtic fan and proud of where the club came from but this has gone too far and I point the finger at Peter Lawwell and John Reid. They have turned Celtic Park into some kind of Irish theme park on matchdays and it is not a 'cosy' Irishness either.
"I fully expect guys to be dressed as leprechauns manning the turnstiles in the near future. We need to rein this in - I don't want to see it at my club."
David White, Erskine, said: "Jim Traynor's article about the minute's applause at Parkhead was spot-on. Every ground had a minute's silence apart from Celtic Park and the club should come out and tell us why. Is Reid frightened some of his club's supporters would have let them down? He ought to get his house in order."
Sam Edgar, Dunfermline, said: "I am disgusted by the minute's applause. After 90 years of silent tribute, what they did was demeaning and whoever made the decision to do that should apologise to the British Legion."
Sam Veitch, Yorkshire, said: "Only in Scotland could Armistice Day become a football issue. But the SPL made it that way by insisting every club wore poppies on their shirts. The argument over the minute's silence or minute's applause stemmed from Hearts fans, when some of them couldn't keep quiet during the silence for the death of the Pope."
James Forsyth, Antrim, said: "What were the police doing when the protesters outside Parkhead were singing their songs in support of the IRA? I hope Celtic ban the fans who walked out of the stadium to support them."
Monday, November 10, 2008
Stop the claptrap now
Jim Traynor, 10/11/08 - Daily Record
STOP clapping. Silence. Please. What was that all about on Saturday?
Only in Scotland could observing a minute's silence for those who fell in battle for their country become such an issue.
God Almighty, millions died and some of us have to agonise over how they should be remembered. Pathetic, isn't it?
And it would be so easy to blame the SPL. After all, everything is their fault.
From the warming, or indeed cooling of the planet depending on which mad scientists you believe, to the state of the economy, Lex Gold and his little helpers are responsible for so many of the world's ills.
The SPL are incapable of making the correct calls. They exist, I suspect, to take the heat off that SFA lot along the Hampden corridor.
But even though we should be used to their Inspector Clouseau approach to management by now, the SPL's refusal to order their clubs to observe a minute of silence at the weekend should be remembered as one of their most disgraceful and possibly cowardly acts.
And yet, it was a simple matter because the way we remember our war dead in this country is through a minute's silence. That's it. Silence, not hand clapping. Just silence.
The deep, sombre quiet on Remembrance Day is a source of comfort to all those who lost fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, friends and comrades in the First and Second World Wars and who today are still losing loved ones in far away places with unpronounceable names.
Frankly, the SPL had no right to suggest anything different and I can only assume they did so because they didn't want to place Celtic in an awkward situation. That shouldn't have been any of their concern. They should have considered nothing other than the feelings of all the many millions in this country who will fall silent again tomorrow on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.
But having been given the choice Celtic opted for a minute's applause before their match against Motherwell and it should be stressed that just about every fan inside Celtic Park applauded.
Of course they did because like the vast majority of football fans they are decent people and were always going to remember the dead. It's just a pity the SPL and Celtic didn't have a little more faith in them.
They would, I'm sure, have observed the silence almost to a man with a small number refusing.
Had they called out or jeered then only they, and not the club, would have been shamed. In fact, Celtic would have deserved enormous credit for having done the right thing and the handful who would have tried to ruin the silence could have been flushed out.
That would have been a good thing and would not have brought condemnation on the club.
But by opting for the applause Celtic set themselves apart. They also left themselves open to all sorts of accusations and didn't help their own cause by saying they went for the applause because that's the way things are done at Celtic Park and around Europe.
Applauding has become fashionable but at this time of the year it is hardly appropriate.
There is only one proper way to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and that is by falling silent.
Nothing is more poignant than that silence and it wasn't Celtic's place, or the SPL's, to change that unless they had canvassed their fans and asked them what they preferred.
A handful of Celtic's Irish fans did exercise their right to protest against the wearing of poppies and the minute of remembrance on Saturday but they were ignored by the masses.
As protests go, this one was pretty feeble with some of those taking part looking more than a little embarrassed.
And that enforces the belief that Celtic should have been bold enough and confident enough in all the terrific work they are doing to weed out the last of those fans who still want to laud the IRA and cling to the past.
We all know they are there and it's silly to deny their existence.
They could and should have been outed on Saturday and that would have been another step forward for us all in this country.
The chance was lost, however, and you have to wonder what Celtic's chairman was thinking on Saturday. Does John Reid really believe applause is the correct way to remember the country's fallen?
Surely not. After all, the former Secretary of State for Defence was one of the highest-ranking politicians who sent the British Army to fight in a war that should never have been started.
He's no longer in the Government but the troops are still in Iraq and Afghanistan and the dead count gets higher.
So what does Reid think is the appropriate way? Has he ever stood at the Cenotaph and applauded? Does he think all those voters who elected him MP for Airdrie and Shotts would agree with a minute's applause?
You have to doubt very much if Reid feels applause was appropriate on such a solemn occasion but, actually, Reid did observe silence. He hasn't said a word about Celtic's decision to break ranks and that's unusual for aman who likes to talk.
Perhaps he would care to explain his silence some time. Maybe he'll let everyone know if he thinks Celtic did the right thing.
Come on John, speak up. You might even be applauded for it.
STOP clapping. Silence. Please. What was that all about on Saturday?
Only in Scotland could observing a minute's silence for those who fell in battle for their country become such an issue.
God Almighty, millions died and some of us have to agonise over how they should be remembered. Pathetic, isn't it?
And it would be so easy to blame the SPL. After all, everything is their fault.
From the warming, or indeed cooling of the planet depending on which mad scientists you believe, to the state of the economy, Lex Gold and his little helpers are responsible for so many of the world's ills.
The SPL are incapable of making the correct calls. They exist, I suspect, to take the heat off that SFA lot along the Hampden corridor.
But even though we should be used to their Inspector Clouseau approach to management by now, the SPL's refusal to order their clubs to observe a minute of silence at the weekend should be remembered as one of their most disgraceful and possibly cowardly acts.
And yet, it was a simple matter because the way we remember our war dead in this country is through a minute's silence. That's it. Silence, not hand clapping. Just silence.
The deep, sombre quiet on Remembrance Day is a source of comfort to all those who lost fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, friends and comrades in the First and Second World Wars and who today are still losing loved ones in far away places with unpronounceable names.
Frankly, the SPL had no right to suggest anything different and I can only assume they did so because they didn't want to place Celtic in an awkward situation. That shouldn't have been any of their concern. They should have considered nothing other than the feelings of all the many millions in this country who will fall silent again tomorrow on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.
But having been given the choice Celtic opted for a minute's applause before their match against Motherwell and it should be stressed that just about every fan inside Celtic Park applauded.
Of course they did because like the vast majority of football fans they are decent people and were always going to remember the dead. It's just a pity the SPL and Celtic didn't have a little more faith in them.
They would, I'm sure, have observed the silence almost to a man with a small number refusing.
Had they called out or jeered then only they, and not the club, would have been shamed. In fact, Celtic would have deserved enormous credit for having done the right thing and the handful who would have tried to ruin the silence could have been flushed out.
That would have been a good thing and would not have brought condemnation on the club.
But by opting for the applause Celtic set themselves apart. They also left themselves open to all sorts of accusations and didn't help their own cause by saying they went for the applause because that's the way things are done at Celtic Park and around Europe.
Applauding has become fashionable but at this time of the year it is hardly appropriate.
There is only one proper way to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and that is by falling silent.
Nothing is more poignant than that silence and it wasn't Celtic's place, or the SPL's, to change that unless they had canvassed their fans and asked them what they preferred.
A handful of Celtic's Irish fans did exercise their right to protest against the wearing of poppies and the minute of remembrance on Saturday but they were ignored by the masses.
As protests go, this one was pretty feeble with some of those taking part looking more than a little embarrassed.
And that enforces the belief that Celtic should have been bold enough and confident enough in all the terrific work they are doing to weed out the last of those fans who still want to laud the IRA and cling to the past.
We all know they are there and it's silly to deny their existence.
They could and should have been outed on Saturday and that would have been another step forward for us all in this country.
The chance was lost, however, and you have to wonder what Celtic's chairman was thinking on Saturday. Does John Reid really believe applause is the correct way to remember the country's fallen?
Surely not. After all, the former Secretary of State for Defence was one of the highest-ranking politicians who sent the British Army to fight in a war that should never have been started.
He's no longer in the Government but the troops are still in Iraq and Afghanistan and the dead count gets higher.
So what does Reid think is the appropriate way? Has he ever stood at the Cenotaph and applauded? Does he think all those voters who elected him MP for Airdrie and Shotts would agree with a minute's applause?
You have to doubt very much if Reid feels applause was appropriate on such a solemn occasion but, actually, Reid did observe silence. He hasn't said a word about Celtic's decision to break ranks and that's unusual for aman who likes to talk.
Perhaps he would care to explain his silence some time. Maybe he'll let everyone know if he thinks Celtic did the right thing.
Come on John, speak up. You might even be applauded for it.
Applause Just Poppy-Cock
Gordon Waddell 9/11/08 - Daily Record
SHAME on the SPL for their Remembrance Day cowardice. I said last week to stop pandering to the brain-dead minority and restore the minute's silence.
At the time I was talking about footballers who'd passed away. Never did I think the SPL would allow a minute's applause for our war dead.
To surrender to a minority of Celtic fans threatening a protest is pathetic. Let them shame themselves instead of shaming the rest of us.
SHAME on the SPL for their Remembrance Day cowardice. I said last week to stop pandering to the brain-dead minority and restore the minute's silence.
At the time I was talking about footballers who'd passed away. Never did I think the SPL would allow a minute's applause for our war dead.
To surrender to a minority of Celtic fans threatening a protest is pathetic. Let them shame themselves instead of shaming the rest of us.
Celtic wrong on applause for war dead
Graham Spiers 10/11/08 - The Times
One of the most moving experiences of my life was in spending a week a few years ago visiting the theatres of battle of the First World War in France. These humble little villages where the fighting unfolded – such as Beaumont Hamel, Thiepval, Bapaume and Beaucourt – remain scarred and pockmarked to this day by the terrible events of 90 years ago. Farmers in the region still talk about their “Iron Harvest”, when various bits of bullet, shell or other implements of battle are dug up every day as they go about their work.
And all around this beautiful region wild poppies sway in the breeze.
I grew up wearing a poppy around the week of Armistice but, ever since that visit to France, I have worn one with an even greater sense of gratitude. The poppy, surely, is nothing if not a simple, sombre, dignified symbol of remembrance for all men and women who died in battle. The poppy is not meant to be imbued with either political or religious significance. It says simply and uncomplicatedly: “We remember them.”
This debate has spilt into the football arena this Armistice weekend, with Celtic attracting criticism for holding a minute’s applause rather than a minute’s silence before their match against Motherwell on Saturday. And, while Celtic Park resounded with appreciative applause, I believe Celtic were wrong to reject the traditional time of silence as a means of honouring Europe’s war dead.
The Celtic Park club have tried to claim that a minute’s applause is now the done thing in British football, citing the recent deaths of Tommy Burns and Jimmy Johnstone as moments when just such acts were held at Celtic Park. But the annual Armistice commemoration is different. All across Britain this weekend, almost without exception, periods of silence – for one minute or two – are being held. And there is a liturgical difference between staging a rousing applause for one man’s life, and the same act for millions who sacrificed their lives in circumstances which many would argue warrant no applause whatsoever.
This is a sensitive subject, but let’s be blunt about it. Celtic did not hold a minute’s applause on Saturday because they thought it was the new fashion. On the contrary, Celtic organised an applause because the club was worried that a minute’s silence would be marred by protesters within their ranks.
It takes a particularly skewed sense of outrage to want to desecrate a time of silence for innocent men and women who died in battle, yet that is what a few indignant hotheads wanted to do at Celtic Park. Leaflets were handed out before the Motherwell game and, of all things, those twin imposters of evil – the humble poppy and a time of silence – were deemed to be things of outrage.
It is embarrassing for Celtic that such people should cause the club a problem, and, mercifully, their particular interpretation of Armistice weekend is rejected by more than 99 per cent of Celtic fans. But that was the situation the club faced on Saturday. Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, simply could not risk the excruciating scene of a minute’s silence being violated, so applause was chosen instead.
Such controversies surrounding the more extreme elements who follow the Old Firm have their complications. Lord knows, Rangers suffer enough from it. But in Celtic’s case, the club’s Irish roots, while wanting to be rightfully celebrated, can trigger such unrest among supporters, as well as the type of offensive singing we heard again from Celtic fans at Tynecastle last weekend.
I have little doubt that this latest Armistice squabble at Celtic Park, for those who feel fevered about it, has its roots in the interface of Irish and British history. It just seems a pity to me that those who died in battle many years ago should once again be the victims.
Remembrance Weekend, surely, can rise above all the current efforts to politicise it or score points. Just as there is a small group of Celtic fans who want to upstage the memory of the Armistice as something objectionable
One of the most moving experiences of my life was in spending a week a few years ago visiting the theatres of battle of the First World War in France. These humble little villages where the fighting unfolded – such as Beaumont Hamel, Thiepval, Bapaume and Beaucourt – remain scarred and pockmarked to this day by the terrible events of 90 years ago. Farmers in the region still talk about their “Iron Harvest”, when various bits of bullet, shell or other implements of battle are dug up every day as they go about their work.
And all around this beautiful region wild poppies sway in the breeze.
I grew up wearing a poppy around the week of Armistice but, ever since that visit to France, I have worn one with an even greater sense of gratitude. The poppy, surely, is nothing if not a simple, sombre, dignified symbol of remembrance for all men and women who died in battle. The poppy is not meant to be imbued with either political or religious significance. It says simply and uncomplicatedly: “We remember them.”
This debate has spilt into the football arena this Armistice weekend, with Celtic attracting criticism for holding a minute’s applause rather than a minute’s silence before their match against Motherwell on Saturday. And, while Celtic Park resounded with appreciative applause, I believe Celtic were wrong to reject the traditional time of silence as a means of honouring Europe’s war dead.
The Celtic Park club have tried to claim that a minute’s applause is now the done thing in British football, citing the recent deaths of Tommy Burns and Jimmy Johnstone as moments when just such acts were held at Celtic Park. But the annual Armistice commemoration is different. All across Britain this weekend, almost without exception, periods of silence – for one minute or two – are being held. And there is a liturgical difference between staging a rousing applause for one man’s life, and the same act for millions who sacrificed their lives in circumstances which many would argue warrant no applause whatsoever.
This is a sensitive subject, but let’s be blunt about it. Celtic did not hold a minute’s applause on Saturday because they thought it was the new fashion. On the contrary, Celtic organised an applause because the club was worried that a minute’s silence would be marred by protesters within their ranks.
It takes a particularly skewed sense of outrage to want to desecrate a time of silence for innocent men and women who died in battle, yet that is what a few indignant hotheads wanted to do at Celtic Park. Leaflets were handed out before the Motherwell game and, of all things, those twin imposters of evil – the humble poppy and a time of silence – were deemed to be things of outrage.
It is embarrassing for Celtic that such people should cause the club a problem, and, mercifully, their particular interpretation of Armistice weekend is rejected by more than 99 per cent of Celtic fans. But that was the situation the club faced on Saturday. Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive, simply could not risk the excruciating scene of a minute’s silence being violated, so applause was chosen instead.
Such controversies surrounding the more extreme elements who follow the Old Firm have their complications. Lord knows, Rangers suffer enough from it. But in Celtic’s case, the club’s Irish roots, while wanting to be rightfully celebrated, can trigger such unrest among supporters, as well as the type of offensive singing we heard again from Celtic fans at Tynecastle last weekend.
I have little doubt that this latest Armistice squabble at Celtic Park, for those who feel fevered about it, has its roots in the interface of Irish and British history. It just seems a pity to me that those who died in battle many years ago should once again be the victims.
Remembrance Weekend, surely, can rise above all the current efforts to politicise it or score points. Just as there is a small group of Celtic fans who want to upstage the memory of the Armistice as something objectionable
There's more...
Theres a second page to this website with lots more on the history of Celtic FC and their fans.
Page 2
Page 2
Celtic refuse to respect minutes silence for war dead
This weekend while every single decent citizen of the UK, stood in silence to remember our fallen, a football club in Glasgow dishonoured the dead and applauded like fucking morons. This club had a leaflet and walk out protest against the British Army & The Haig Fund. Celtic Football Club. Scum bastards, The sporting wing of the I.R.A.
Friday, November 7, 2008
National Radio DJ labels Celtic fans "Scum"
Well done to everyone who helped spreading the word to the DJ who let all of Great Britain know all about the self named. Because of the history of violence celtic fans have towards members of the press I have decided to leave the persons name off here. Greatest Fans In The World
Fascist Element of Celtic Fans Plan Anti Remembrance Protest
A HARDCORE group of Celtic fans are plotting to disrupt a poppy day event at Parkhead.
They will SHUN a minute’s silence for war dead — then WALK OUT of the stadium.
The protest comes after Celtic agreed, like all other SPL clubs, to wear poppies on their jerseys this weekend.
That angered supporters group the Green Brigade, which is spearheading the planned action at Saturday’s game with Motherwell.
They are backed by Cairde Na hÉireann — a sister group of Sinn Fein — and TAL fanzine, which said: “We will be protesting against this pro-imperialist nonsense.”
They’ll hand out leaflets showing grieving Iraqi civilians and calling Hoops chairman John Reid — the former Defence Secretary — a WAR CRIMINAL.
And the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs said yesterday it should’ve been consulted over the poppy decision.
A club spokesman said: “We expect any protest to be inconsequential.”
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Celtic fan invades park again
The night proved awkward for Celtic in other aspects. Once more Celtic Park was the scene for a pitch invader to make himself known, holding up the play for a few moments in the opening half, and the Scottish champions will be nervous about Uefa’s response to the act. It is the second time in successive Champions League campaigns that such an episode has been suffered by Celtic, and a further fine and censure surely loom.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5094019.ece
Intruder sparks fine fears
Published Date: 06 November 2008
CELTIC could face another Uefa fine after a fan ran on to the field during last night's match against Manchester United.
The man, who appeared to be wearing a Celtic scarf underneath his coat, which had a red and blue hood, encroached in the 35th minute, when Celtic were leading 1-0.
Last October, a Celtic fan ran on to the same field and touched AC Milan goalkeeper Dida, leading to Uefa fining the club £13,000. Celtic were warned they would have to pay an additional £13,000 if they failed to control their fans again in the next two years.
Dida turned to chase the fan before dropping to the ground. The Brazil international was then carried off the field on a stretcher and replaced, but was suspended for two Champions League games for pretending to be injured. The ban was reduced to one match on appeal.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Celtic FC asked to solve their terrorism problem
Celtic FC asked to solve their terrorism problem
A member of the Northern Ireland Assembly has called for Celtic to solve it’s terrorism problem following disgusting scenes at Tynecastle last Sunday where the visiting fans sang the praises of the IRA.
Jimmy Spratt, the Democratic Unionist MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) for South Belfast strongly condemned the Celtic fans responsible for the filthy chants and called on Celtic Chairman John Reid to root out the problem.
Horrified Hearts fans and television viewers across the world were subjected to horrific songs and chants in support of IRA murder gangs from 3 minutes into the game - amongst the filthy ditties were the Boys Of The Old Brigade; Roll Of Honour (about the 1981 H-Block suicides) and Oo Ah Up The Ra.
Mr Spratt had over 30 year of police service in the Royal Ulster Constabulary before entering public life and has seen the effects of terrorism at first hand. He was also Chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Federation.
http://www.dup.org.uk/JimmySpratt.asp
His statement reads as follows:-
http://www.dup.org.uk/
SPL MUST NOT IGNORE PRO-IRA CHANTING: SPRATT
South Belfast DUP MLA Jimmy Spratt has called on the Scottish Premier League to take swift and decisive action against Celtic Football Club after sections of their support engaged in a series of pro-IRA chants during their recent game versus Hearts. After writing to the SPL outlining the need for action, Mr Spratt said:
"For several months Celtic Football Club has been extremely vocal in their condemnation of certain chants coming from supporters of other clubs. After listening to repeated instances of pro-IRA chanting in the course of their televised game against Hearts, their subsequent silence about the disgraceful conduct of their own supporters has been deafening.
Such glorification of terrorism has no place within sport and must be condemned outright. The Scottish Premier League must intervene and take decisive action in order to bring such chanting to an end. I would further call on the Chairman of Celtic Football Club, John Reid, to condemn those responsible and outline what measures the club intends to take to eradicate such naked sectarianism. As a former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, he will be acutely aware of the murderous, barbarous campaign of the IRA which brought bloodshed to the streets of Northern Ireland, and indeed across the United Kingdom.
Until Celtic Football Club can get its own club in order, dictation to other clubs and supporters will be viewed as sheer temerity."
A member of the Northern Ireland Assembly has called for Celtic to solve it’s terrorism problem following disgusting scenes at Tynecastle last Sunday where the visiting fans sang the praises of the IRA.
Jimmy Spratt, the Democratic Unionist MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) for South Belfast strongly condemned the Celtic fans responsible for the filthy chants and called on Celtic Chairman John Reid to root out the problem.
Horrified Hearts fans and television viewers across the world were subjected to horrific songs and chants in support of IRA murder gangs from 3 minutes into the game - amongst the filthy ditties were the Boys Of The Old Brigade; Roll Of Honour (about the 1981 H-Block suicides) and Oo Ah Up The Ra.
Mr Spratt had over 30 year of police service in the Royal Ulster Constabulary before entering public life and has seen the effects of terrorism at first hand. He was also Chairman of the Northern Ireland Police Federation.
http://www.dup.org.uk/JimmySpratt.asp
His statement reads as follows:-
http://www.dup.org.uk/
SPL MUST NOT IGNORE PRO-IRA CHANTING: SPRATT
South Belfast DUP MLA Jimmy Spratt has called on the Scottish Premier League to take swift and decisive action against Celtic Football Club after sections of their support engaged in a series of pro-IRA chants during their recent game versus Hearts. After writing to the SPL outlining the need for action, Mr Spratt said:
"For several months Celtic Football Club has been extremely vocal in their condemnation of certain chants coming from supporters of other clubs. After listening to repeated instances of pro-IRA chanting in the course of their televised game against Hearts, their subsequent silence about the disgraceful conduct of their own supporters has been deafening.
Such glorification of terrorism has no place within sport and must be condemned outright. The Scottish Premier League must intervene and take decisive action in order to bring such chanting to an end. I would further call on the Chairman of Celtic Football Club, John Reid, to condemn those responsible and outline what measures the club intends to take to eradicate such naked sectarianism. As a former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, he will be acutely aware of the murderous, barbarous campaign of the IRA which brought bloodshed to the streets of Northern Ireland, and indeed across the United Kingdom.
Until Celtic Football Club can get its own club in order, dictation to other clubs and supporters will be viewed as sheer temerity."
Monday, November 3, 2008
CELTIC FANS IRA songs storm
CELTIC fans were blasted last night for allegedly singing pro-IRA chants during their 2-0 win over Hearts yesterday.
Punters watching the Tynecastle match on TV claimed a section of the support sang IRA anthem ‘The Boys of the Old Brigade’ and “Ooh Ah Up the ‘RA”.
One disgusted viewer said: “Celtic seemed to have taken great strides in wiping this filth out at Parkhead. Unfortunately a large section of the travelling support seem hell bent on dragging the club through the mud.”
Last night a Celtic spokesman said: “Anyone found guilty of such behaviour will be dealt with in the strongest possible way.”
Cops arrested two fans and ejected two others at Tynecastle but would not say what for. Stewards threw out 12 supporters.
Punters watching the Tynecastle match on TV claimed a section of the support sang IRA anthem ‘The Boys of the Old Brigade’ and “Ooh Ah Up the ‘RA”.
One disgusted viewer said: “Celtic seemed to have taken great strides in wiping this filth out at Parkhead. Unfortunately a large section of the travelling support seem hell bent on dragging the club through the mud.”
Last night a Celtic spokesman said: “Anyone found guilty of such behaviour will be dealt with in the strongest possible way.”
Cops arrested two fans and ejected two others at Tynecastle but would not say what for. Stewards threw out 12 supporters.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Celtic bigots target Scotland star
FOOTBALLERS can enjoy their holidays even when they have been booed off the park at the end of the season.
Neil McCann endured some indifferent form throughout last season before being jeered each time he touched the ball in his final outing before the summer break. But a Rangers player appearing in Dublin knows to expect catcalls.
Perversely, the satisfaction he took from his holiday in Tenerife was enriched by the events at Lansdowne Road.
When Scotland won 2-1 there in May the Republic of Ireland support - many wearing Celtic tops - singled out McCann for particular abuse, although Billy Dodds and Barry Ferguson were also identified.
There was a sectarian undertone to the hounding of McCann, a Scottish Catholic and supposed "Celtic man" employed by Rangers, but it did not have the desired effect on his game. His performance was the most impressive of the Rangers trio that night and his best in a Scotland shirt since a previous win in another country's capital, at Wembley six months earlier.
Yet London and Dublin were flattering, misleading representations of his form over the course of last season. He had much to live up to after his first half-season at Rangers, when he arrived in December, 1998, and went on to score twice in the decisive 3-0 championship victory at Parkhead the following May, but his contribution throughout Dick Advocaat's second league-winning campaign was patchy. He was never sure of a place in the starting XI and, although their styles differ enormously, was under pressure from the goalscoring exploits of Jorg Albertz from the left side of the Rangers midfield. Confidence slipped away.
"Last season there was a wee dip in my form," he admitted last week in Holland during Rangers' pre-season tour. "I never doubted my ability, but sometimes the confidence was not there. You end up not trying things that you would when you're flying and that's frustrating for a winger."
He is arguably more central to his international side's plans than his club's, but McCann is relaxed about the likelihood of returning to prominence at Ibrox. There is a gallus streak in the former Port Glasgow boy whose precocious flamboyance in training as a teenager at Dundee sometimes irritated older, but less gifted team-mates.
He has discovered that a degree of arrogance is central to emerging from the mass of talented alternatives at Rangers.
"There has to be an element of arrogance. I would be lying if I said I didn't have that. I was always told when I was a youngster that I was that way inclined: a little bit cocky and arrogant. When I was coming through the ranks at 16 with Dundee you can imagine what I got called sometimes.
"If you come into the game as a young guy you need added determination and arrogance. A bit of that, going hand in hand with hard work, is the only way to get on here."
Billy Dodds, who is five-and-a-half years older than McCann, but also spent time at Dundee early in his career, has followed a similar route.
"We come from the same kind of working-class backgrounds," said McCann. "We have had to work for what we want."
He had intended to mentally shut himself off from football during his holiday, but found it impossible as thoughts drifted towards the coming season and the seven new signings made by Advocaat. "I am very determined this year because I know how difficult it's going to be to win a place in the side, as you can see with the boss bringing in more players."
None of the new arrivals offer direct competition to McCann on the left wing, although Allan Johnston can be used there. Wingers can follow circuitous routes to reach their destination, but it has taken four years, via Hearts, Rennes, Sunderland, Birmingham and Bolton, for the pair to come together. McCann was signed by Hearts for #200,000 in the summer of 1996 to replace Johnston, who had left on a Bosman for Rennes.
At the time Johnston was the more senior, established talent, but four years on the roles have been reversed. In his first season at Rangers "Magic" must ensure he does not disappear into the reserves as a victim of Andrei Kanchelskis, who has been impressive in his pre- season appearances so far.
McCann is entitled to harbour broader ambitions. "I want to be a success and play at the highest level," he said. "First of all get into the Rangers team and win everything. And I want Scotland to be in a major championship and be a part of that. I have a lot of targets."
In achieving them, he is almost certainly guaranteed to generate further jeers from supporters in Celtic tops.
Copyright 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
Neil McCann endured some indifferent form throughout last season before being jeered each time he touched the ball in his final outing before the summer break. But a Rangers player appearing in Dublin knows to expect catcalls.
Perversely, the satisfaction he took from his holiday in Tenerife was enriched by the events at Lansdowne Road.
When Scotland won 2-1 there in May the Republic of Ireland support - many wearing Celtic tops - singled out McCann for particular abuse, although Billy Dodds and Barry Ferguson were also identified.
There was a sectarian undertone to the hounding of McCann, a Scottish Catholic and supposed "Celtic man" employed by Rangers, but it did not have the desired effect on his game. His performance was the most impressive of the Rangers trio that night and his best in a Scotland shirt since a previous win in another country's capital, at Wembley six months earlier.
Yet London and Dublin were flattering, misleading representations of his form over the course of last season. He had much to live up to after his first half-season at Rangers, when he arrived in December, 1998, and went on to score twice in the decisive 3-0 championship victory at Parkhead the following May, but his contribution throughout Dick Advocaat's second league-winning campaign was patchy. He was never sure of a place in the starting XI and, although their styles differ enormously, was under pressure from the goalscoring exploits of Jorg Albertz from the left side of the Rangers midfield. Confidence slipped away.
"Last season there was a wee dip in my form," he admitted last week in Holland during Rangers' pre-season tour. "I never doubted my ability, but sometimes the confidence was not there. You end up not trying things that you would when you're flying and that's frustrating for a winger."
He is arguably more central to his international side's plans than his club's, but McCann is relaxed about the likelihood of returning to prominence at Ibrox. There is a gallus streak in the former Port Glasgow boy whose precocious flamboyance in training as a teenager at Dundee sometimes irritated older, but less gifted team-mates.
He has discovered that a degree of arrogance is central to emerging from the mass of talented alternatives at Rangers.
"There has to be an element of arrogance. I would be lying if I said I didn't have that. I was always told when I was a youngster that I was that way inclined: a little bit cocky and arrogant. When I was coming through the ranks at 16 with Dundee you can imagine what I got called sometimes.
"If you come into the game as a young guy you need added determination and arrogance. A bit of that, going hand in hand with hard work, is the only way to get on here."
Billy Dodds, who is five-and-a-half years older than McCann, but also spent time at Dundee early in his career, has followed a similar route.
"We come from the same kind of working-class backgrounds," said McCann. "We have had to work for what we want."
He had intended to mentally shut himself off from football during his holiday, but found it impossible as thoughts drifted towards the coming season and the seven new signings made by Advocaat. "I am very determined this year because I know how difficult it's going to be to win a place in the side, as you can see with the boss bringing in more players."
None of the new arrivals offer direct competition to McCann on the left wing, although Allan Johnston can be used there. Wingers can follow circuitous routes to reach their destination, but it has taken four years, via Hearts, Rennes, Sunderland, Birmingham and Bolton, for the pair to come together. McCann was signed by Hearts for #200,000 in the summer of 1996 to replace Johnston, who had left on a Bosman for Rennes.
At the time Johnston was the more senior, established talent, but four years on the roles have been reversed. In his first season at Rangers "Magic" must ensure he does not disappear into the reserves as a victim of Andrei Kanchelskis, who has been impressive in his pre- season appearances so far.
McCann is entitled to harbour broader ambitions. "I want to be a success and play at the highest level," he said. "First of all get into the Rangers team and win everything. And I want Scotland to be in a major championship and be a part of that. I have a lot of targets."
In achieving them, he is almost certainly guaranteed to generate further jeers from supporters in Celtic tops.
Copyright 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Celtic Death threats against Irishman
NORTHERN Ireland striker David Healy has told of his shock and disbelief after death threats against him were posted on a website.
The threats followed comments he made last week after the World Cup qualifying win over San Marino, when he said he was glad his "goal famine" was over.
This was interpreted as being sectarian by people posting messages on internet site YouTube.
It is understood the remarks were being seen as a reference to a Rangers fans' sectarian chant to Celtic fans at Old Firm matches, titled 'The famine is over, why don't you go home?'.
In the interview Healy said: "I am pleased the famine or the drought or whatever people would call it is over. I am pleased with the score sheet and pleased that we won."
At the time of the interview, Healy was getting back on track after three games without a goal.
In the build-up to the international game he had been taken to task in the media about a perceived lack of goals in World Cup qualifiers.
His remarks also follow on from former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland John Reid, a Celtic fan, saying the song sung by Rangers fans was racist and sectarian.
Rangers subsequently told their fans not to sing it.
But it appears one of the fans posted it on the internet claiming it was some sort of support from Healy.
In a statement issued yesterday, Healy said he was "shocked and angry" at the entire affair.
"I was asked the question if I was pleased we had scored and we had won.
"I made reference to famine and people have maliciously represented those comments. I am hugely disappointed in this. I am very angry.
"I am shocked and angry that my post-match comments have been twisted and misquoted in this way. They have been taken so completely out of context it would be laughable if it wasn't so offensive. I have asked my agent to request that UTV have their footage removed from YouTube, as the comments posted on this site are attempting to maliciously link me to this vile and offensive song.
"I am the innocent party. Any real football fan will see that there is absolutely no connection between my football-related comments and this song.
"Really I am hugely disappointed that anyone could even try to make a link. It makes you think is it really worth doing these interviews if this is where it gets you?"
Speaking last night on UTV Healy added: "I am usually one who brushes a few things off and am pretty cool about things, but I am very angry."
In recent months Healy was also at the centre of a storm when, in a warm-up game against Celtic, he pretended to play the flute. He subsequently apologised.
He says he hopes fans will understand and that he meant nothing sinister by the comments made after the international game.
"Hopefully that is the end of it," he said. "I don't want to be lifting papers and reading things people are saying about me.
"I was asked an honest question and I answered honestly. That is where I am at this moment."
The threats followed comments he made last week after the World Cup qualifying win over San Marino, when he said he was glad his "goal famine" was over.
This was interpreted as being sectarian by people posting messages on internet site YouTube.
It is understood the remarks were being seen as a reference to a Rangers fans' sectarian chant to Celtic fans at Old Firm matches, titled 'The famine is over, why don't you go home?'.
In the interview Healy said: "I am pleased the famine or the drought or whatever people would call it is over. I am pleased with the score sheet and pleased that we won."
At the time of the interview, Healy was getting back on track after three games without a goal.
In the build-up to the international game he had been taken to task in the media about a perceived lack of goals in World Cup qualifiers.
His remarks also follow on from former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland John Reid, a Celtic fan, saying the song sung by Rangers fans was racist and sectarian.
Rangers subsequently told their fans not to sing it.
But it appears one of the fans posted it on the internet claiming it was some sort of support from Healy.
In a statement issued yesterday, Healy said he was "shocked and angry" at the entire affair.
"I was asked the question if I was pleased we had scored and we had won.
"I made reference to famine and people have maliciously represented those comments. I am hugely disappointed in this. I am very angry.
"I am shocked and angry that my post-match comments have been twisted and misquoted in this way. They have been taken so completely out of context it would be laughable if it wasn't so offensive. I have asked my agent to request that UTV have their footage removed from YouTube, as the comments posted on this site are attempting to maliciously link me to this vile and offensive song.
"I am the innocent party. Any real football fan will see that there is absolutely no connection between my football-related comments and this song.
"Really I am hugely disappointed that anyone could even try to make a link. It makes you think is it really worth doing these interviews if this is where it gets you?"
Speaking last night on UTV Healy added: "I am usually one who brushes a few things off and am pretty cool about things, but I am very angry."
In recent months Healy was also at the centre of a storm when, in a warm-up game against Celtic, he pretended to play the flute. He subsequently apologised.
He says he hopes fans will understand and that he meant nothing sinister by the comments made after the international game.
"Hopefully that is the end of it," he said. "I don't want to be lifting papers and reading things people are saying about me.
"I was asked an honest question and I answered honestly. That is where I am at this moment."
Celtic fans threaten life of Fulham player
HATE is a dangerous emotion.
It leads to division and conflict.
All over the globe there are daily examples of hatred spilling over into violence.
In the Middle East, there is hatred between Israel and Palestine, in India we have seen Christians murdered because of hatred of their beliefs.
Our own country is far from immune.
Here hatred between rival football fans and Catholics and Protestants is growing to alarming proportions.
Northern Ireland striker David Healy has received death threats because, in a post-match interview, he said he had ended his “goal famine”.
Writers on message boards accusing him of endorsing Rangers fans’ Famine Song because he had used the word.
Things have clearly gone way too far.
Football message boards for Celtic are filled with hate and bile directed at their rivals.
Sadly, we are now witnessing these words spilling over into acts of violence and vandalism against the staff of both clubs.
The hate is peddled on a daily basis but a blind eye is turned to it.
What was once considered to be the rantings of a misguided few is now becoming increasingly mainstream.
As the hate flows, the mob mentality takes over.
So much energy is wasted in pointless tirades.
The moderators of these message boards could go a long way to solving the problem by actively removing the offending posts.
Rivalry is healthy and a necessary part of sport.
Hatred has no place in sport or a civilised society.
Celtic fans sectarian shame
A Celtic fan was arrested on the night of the Uefa Cup final for wearing a T-shirt that predicted Zenit St Petersburg's win over Rangers, a court heard yesterday.
Michael Devlin was spotted wearing the top, which had the words "dirty horrible huns" scrawled across the back, just minutes after the game in Manchester.
The top also had "Zenit St Petersburg, Champions Uefa Cup Final 2008" printed on the front. The 20-year-old was walking along Glasgow's Hillington Road South with friends when two police officers noticed the T-shirt and stopped him.
Sheriff Iain Peebles told Devlin: "This was an act of gross crassness and stupidity taking into account the timing and the place you were when wearing the T-shirt."
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Devlin, of Gleddoch Road, Glasgow, was convicted of committing a religiously aggravated breach of the peace on May 14 this year.
The court heard that Devlin had been watching the game in a house with friends when the group decided to go out and get a takeaway at the end of the match.
Constable Andrew Gunn told the court he and his colleague were out on another call when they spotted the Celtic fan with a crowd of youths at around 10.10pm.
Mr Gunn said: "I informed him that the T-shirt was offensive and told him to take it off. He had a Celtic top on underneath. There were members of the public there and Rangers fans were walking along Paisley Road West nearby.
"There were no other difficulties, just that he was wearing that T-shirt."
Defence lawyer Bob Mackinnon told the court that the top was just a bit of "Glasgow banter".
He said: "From school to university to working life, almost everyone in Glasgow is affected by this divide and will get on the case of their friends and colleagues."
However, Sheriff Peebles told the court his decision was based purely on law. He deferred sentencing on Devlin until October next year for him to be of good behaviour.
Michael Devlin was spotted wearing the top, which had the words "dirty horrible huns" scrawled across the back, just minutes after the game in Manchester.
The top also had "Zenit St Petersburg, Champions Uefa Cup Final 2008" printed on the front. The 20-year-old was walking along Glasgow's Hillington Road South with friends when two police officers noticed the T-shirt and stopped him.
Sheriff Iain Peebles told Devlin: "This was an act of gross crassness and stupidity taking into account the timing and the place you were when wearing the T-shirt."
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, Devlin, of Gleddoch Road, Glasgow, was convicted of committing a religiously aggravated breach of the peace on May 14 this year.
The court heard that Devlin had been watching the game in a house with friends when the group decided to go out and get a takeaway at the end of the match.
Constable Andrew Gunn told the court he and his colleague were out on another call when they spotted the Celtic fan with a crowd of youths at around 10.10pm.
Mr Gunn said: "I informed him that the T-shirt was offensive and told him to take it off. He had a Celtic top on underneath. There were members of the public there and Rangers fans were walking along Paisley Road West nearby.
"There were no other difficulties, just that he was wearing that T-shirt."
Defence lawyer Bob Mackinnon told the court that the top was just a bit of "Glasgow banter".
He said: "From school to university to working life, almost everyone in Glasgow is affected by this divide and will get on the case of their friends and colleagues."
However, Sheriff Peebles told the court his decision was based purely on law. He deferred sentencing on Devlin until October next year for him to be of good behaviour.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Celtic player in sectarian shame
from Ted McMinn autobiography
"out of the corner of my eye I saw Willie coming at me like a raging bull. There was no way he was going to stop. As his two feet left the ground I saw a gap between his legs as wide as the Clyde and poked the ball through it.
Willie clattered into me, scissoring my legs with his own and I was thrown into the air like a rodeo rider. I landed in a heap on the other side and immediately clutched my leg. As I lay there in the mud, Willie added insult to injury by putting his face next to mine and calling me a dirty orange bastard"
For the record Willie McStay is still employed by Celtic today
"out of the corner of my eye I saw Willie coming at me like a raging bull. There was no way he was going to stop. As his two feet left the ground I saw a gap between his legs as wide as the Clyde and poked the ball through it.
Willie clattered into me, scissoring my legs with his own and I was thrown into the air like a rodeo rider. I landed in a heap on the other side and immediately clutched my leg. As I lay there in the mud, Willie added insult to injury by putting his face next to mine and calling me a dirty orange bastard"
For the record Willie McStay is still employed by Celtic today
8 Celtic fans arrested in Manchester
http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/index.asp?Sessionx=IpqiNwTiNwIrJWU6IHqjNwB6IA
"Very disappointing to see 6 arrests made out of the very small number of Celtic fans. In fact, I believe that this signifies a larger proportion of arrests per total fans than was the case for the so-called Rangers "riot". Police had to seperate Man U and Celtic fans, and we again had the distasteful episode of Celtic fans singing songs in support of the IRA in the 83rd minute of the match. Very disappointing indeed. Also rather surprised by the Match Commander praising Celtic fans " ... braved the night in a windy and wet Manchester ..." Was he there? Doesn't speak much of the GMP when they don't know if it's raining or not. And that they don't care if visiting fans sing pro-IRA songs in a city where people were killed by their bombs.”
"Very disappointing to see 6 arrests made out of the very small number of Celtic fans. In fact, I believe that this signifies a larger proportion of arrests per total fans than was the case for the so-called Rangers "riot". Police had to seperate Man U and Celtic fans, and we again had the distasteful episode of Celtic fans singing songs in support of the IRA in the 83rd minute of the match. Very disappointing indeed. Also rather surprised by the Match Commander praising Celtic fans " ... braved the night in a windy and wet Manchester ..." Was he there? Doesn't speak much of the GMP when they don't know if it's raining or not. And that they don't care if visiting fans sing pro-IRA songs in a city where people were killed by their bombs.”
Celtic fans arrested for racism after Manchester United match
http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Football-fans-arrested-at-Preston.4621004.jp
Published Date: 23 October 2008
Two Celtic football fans were arrested at Preston Railway Station on suspicion of assaulting and racially abusing another passenger, the day after their club's defeat at Manchester United.
The British Transport Police arrested the two Celtic FC supporters, at Preston Railway Station at 9.40pm on Wednesday, after the pair had travelled from Blackpool.
One man believed to be around the age of 30 has been released on bail and the second - also in his 30s - remains in custody.
Celtic lost 3-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Published Date: 23 October 2008
Two Celtic football fans were arrested at Preston Railway Station on suspicion of assaulting and racially abusing another passenger, the day after their club's defeat at Manchester United.
The British Transport Police arrested the two Celtic FC supporters, at Preston Railway Station at 9.40pm on Wednesday, after the pair had travelled from Blackpool.
One man believed to be around the age of 30 has been released on bail and the second - also in his 30s - remains in custody.
Celtic lost 3-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Celtic photographer admits indecency
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3505864.stm
A photographer with Celtic Football Club has admitted a charge of indecency against boys aged as young as 10.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that pictures taken of young boys were hidden in a store room at Celtic Park for nearly 20 years by John Cullen.
The photographs were found by cleaners who reported the discovery to their bosses - who then called the police.
Cullen, 49, pleaded guilty to a charge of lewd and libidinous behaviour. He will be sentenced next month.
Black bag
The court heard on Friday that in May 2002, cleaners were clearing out a store room at the club where Cullen kept his camera equipment.
They found a black bag and opened it to check if it was rubbish.
But the staff found bundles of black and white pictures of young boys who were either nude or semi-nude.
They reported the find to management and the police were called in.
Cullen, of Shawbridge Street, Pollokshaws, Glasgow, was questioned about the 250 pictures.
He admitted inviting the children to a house in Glasgow between January and December 1982 before getting them to pose for the camera.
Official magazine
The pictures were then locked away in his Celtic Park store room for years.
Cullen first appeared in court last October, but the case was repeatedly adjourned to try and identify the youths.
Despite the help of Scotland Yard's special paedophile unit, their identities were never discovered.
Liz Ramsey, prosecuting, said it was agreed the boys who were photographed were aged between 10 and 13.
Cullen, who worked for the official club magazine Celtic View, was dismissed from Celtic Park in June 2002 after nearly 30 years.
A photographer with Celtic Football Club has admitted a charge of indecency against boys aged as young as 10.
Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that pictures taken of young boys were hidden in a store room at Celtic Park for nearly 20 years by John Cullen.
The photographs were found by cleaners who reported the discovery to their bosses - who then called the police.
Cullen, 49, pleaded guilty to a charge of lewd and libidinous behaviour. He will be sentenced next month.
Black bag
The court heard on Friday that in May 2002, cleaners were clearing out a store room at the club where Cullen kept his camera equipment.
They found a black bag and opened it to check if it was rubbish.
But the staff found bundles of black and white pictures of young boys who were either nude or semi-nude.
They reported the find to management and the police were called in.
Cullen, of Shawbridge Street, Pollokshaws, Glasgow, was questioned about the 250 pictures.
He admitted inviting the children to a house in Glasgow between January and December 1982 before getting them to pose for the camera.
Official magazine
The pictures were then locked away in his Celtic Park store room for years.
Cullen first appeared in court last October, but the case was repeatedly adjourned to try and identify the youths.
Despite the help of Scotland Yard's special paedophile unit, their identities were never discovered.
Liz Ramsey, prosecuting, said it was agreed the boys who were photographed were aged between 10 and 13.
Cullen, who worked for the official club magazine Celtic View, was dismissed from Celtic Park in June 2002 after nearly 30 years.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
THICK BIGOTED CELTIC FANS TRASH PLAYERS CAR
By GERRY DUFFY and NICK SHARPE
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article1775333.ece
BIGOTED yobs who trashed the cars of Rangers ace Allan McGregor and his fiancée were branded “moronic idiots” by the star’s pals last night — after they MISSPELLED their taunts.
The vandals tried to scratch ‘Holy Goalie’, nickname of McGregor’s Celtic rival Artur Boruc, into the bonnet of the keeper’s Bentley — but ended up with “HOLLY GOALY”.
The illiterate neds attacked two cars parked outside the home McGregor shares with wife-to-be Leah Shevlin in Glasgow’s posh West End.
They keyed ‘IRA’ into the paintwork on Leah’s deluxe Range Rover Sport — bought for her by McGregor under two months ago.
And they covered McGregor’s 200mph Bentley with MORE illegible ramblings — causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to both cars.
But last night a pal of the Rangers ace said: “The people responsible are morons. It’s a sad sign of the times that playing for the Old Firm means that your property is at risk like this.
“But the fact these idiots couldn’t even spell the word ‘Holy’ says it all really.”
It is the THIRD time vandals have targeted keeper McGregor’s super-car, which he only bought in February this year.
Last night cops and Rangers bosses were probing the latest incident. Ibrox security supremo Kenny Scott said: “It’s an act of vandalism and we reported the matter to the police.”
Forensic teams studied the damage on the two cars and dusted for fingerprints. And uniformed officers were carrying out door to door enquires in the leafy Kelvingrove neighbourhood in a bid to catch the vandals. Cops also quizzed the playboy Gers keeper at his apartment.
The cars were hit after McGregor appeared in his side’s shock 1-0 defeat away to St Mirren on Sunday. The attack came just hours after it was reported McGregor and Leah were at war with their neighbours over her wild partying and an alleged unpaid £3,000 garden bill.
It follows another attack on the keeper’s Bentley in March — when yobs poured BRAKE FLUID on it and wrecked the paintwork. The louts also spray-painted DUFC — short for Dundee United Football Club — across the bonnet.
It is thought the car was hit DURING the CIS Cup Final at Hampden while McGregor was inside the national stadium helping his side to a penalty shoot-out victory over the Tangerines.
Then last month the motor was attacked again, with flour bombs, as McGregor made his way to a game at Ibrox.
McGregor bought the 4x4 for Leah in August. Last night a spokeswoman for anti-sectarian organisation Nil by Mouth said the group could not comment because of the ongoing police investigation.
A Strathclyde Police spokesman confirmed: “We have received a report of vandalism to both cars and enquiries are continuing.”
McGregor is not the only Old Firm star to have been targeted in recent times. Gers’ Spanish ace Nacho Novo, 29, had to call in extra protection last month after yobs put his home address on a Celtic fans’ website. A wild west ‘Wanted’ poster was also circulated on the net.
In 2004, Novo’s BMW convertible had its tyres slashed.
Earlier that year, ex-Ibrox ace Mikel Arteta’s £85,000 Porsche was badly damaged when three neds launched a Basil Fawlty-style attack with a tree sapling.
In February 2002, Gers striker Tore Andre Flo’s BMW was attacked and scratched with the words “Celtic FC Number One” the day after an Old Firm game. In 2003 cars belonging to Rangers stars, first team coach Jan Wouters and doctor Gert Jan Goudeswaard were pelted with ROCKS in Cambuslang, Glasgow.
In February this year, serial thief James Hughes was jailed for four years and four months after going on an Old-Firm themed rampage, netting goods worth £75,000.
In March Hoops boss Gordon Strachan’s luxury home in Bothwell, Lanarkshire was burgled — while he and his wife slept.
McGregor was unavailable for comment last night.
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article1775333.ece
BIGOTED yobs who trashed the cars of Rangers ace Allan McGregor and his fiancée were branded “moronic idiots” by the star’s pals last night — after they MISSPELLED their taunts.
The vandals tried to scratch ‘Holy Goalie’, nickname of McGregor’s Celtic rival Artur Boruc, into the bonnet of the keeper’s Bentley — but ended up with “HOLLY GOALY”.
The illiterate neds attacked two cars parked outside the home McGregor shares with wife-to-be Leah Shevlin in Glasgow’s posh West End.
They keyed ‘IRA’ into the paintwork on Leah’s deluxe Range Rover Sport — bought for her by McGregor under two months ago.
And they covered McGregor’s 200mph Bentley with MORE illegible ramblings — causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to both cars.
But last night a pal of the Rangers ace said: “The people responsible are morons. It’s a sad sign of the times that playing for the Old Firm means that your property is at risk like this.
“But the fact these idiots couldn’t even spell the word ‘Holy’ says it all really.”
It is the THIRD time vandals have targeted keeper McGregor’s super-car, which he only bought in February this year.
Last night cops and Rangers bosses were probing the latest incident. Ibrox security supremo Kenny Scott said: “It’s an act of vandalism and we reported the matter to the police.”
Forensic teams studied the damage on the two cars and dusted for fingerprints. And uniformed officers were carrying out door to door enquires in the leafy Kelvingrove neighbourhood in a bid to catch the vandals. Cops also quizzed the playboy Gers keeper at his apartment.
The cars were hit after McGregor appeared in his side’s shock 1-0 defeat away to St Mirren on Sunday. The attack came just hours after it was reported McGregor and Leah were at war with their neighbours over her wild partying and an alleged unpaid £3,000 garden bill.
It follows another attack on the keeper’s Bentley in March — when yobs poured BRAKE FLUID on it and wrecked the paintwork. The louts also spray-painted DUFC — short for Dundee United Football Club — across the bonnet.
It is thought the car was hit DURING the CIS Cup Final at Hampden while McGregor was inside the national stadium helping his side to a penalty shoot-out victory over the Tangerines.
Then last month the motor was attacked again, with flour bombs, as McGregor made his way to a game at Ibrox.
McGregor bought the 4x4 for Leah in August. Last night a spokeswoman for anti-sectarian organisation Nil by Mouth said the group could not comment because of the ongoing police investigation.
A Strathclyde Police spokesman confirmed: “We have received a report of vandalism to both cars and enquiries are continuing.”
McGregor is not the only Old Firm star to have been targeted in recent times. Gers’ Spanish ace Nacho Novo, 29, had to call in extra protection last month after yobs put his home address on a Celtic fans’ website. A wild west ‘Wanted’ poster was also circulated on the net.
In 2004, Novo’s BMW convertible had its tyres slashed.
Earlier that year, ex-Ibrox ace Mikel Arteta’s £85,000 Porsche was badly damaged when three neds launched a Basil Fawlty-style attack with a tree sapling.
In February 2002, Gers striker Tore Andre Flo’s BMW was attacked and scratched with the words “Celtic FC Number One” the day after an Old Firm game. In 2003 cars belonging to Rangers stars, first team coach Jan Wouters and doctor Gert Jan Goudeswaard were pelted with ROCKS in Cambuslang, Glasgow.
In February this year, serial thief James Hughes was jailed for four years and four months after going on an Old-Firm themed rampage, netting goods worth £75,000.
In March Hoops boss Gordon Strachan’s luxury home in Bothwell, Lanarkshire was burgled — while he and his wife slept.
McGregor was unavailable for comment last night.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Sweeping Since 1888
Please visit http://sweepingsince1888.blogspot.com/ for more on Scotland's shame
Evil Celtic fans send Spaniard death threats
Nacho Novo has revealed how life as a Rangers hero in the most hateful world of Old Firm football means he now regularly suffers vile death threats, as well as vandalism and intimidation from Celtic supporters.
The Ibrox striker said that before and during every meeting between the two clubs, he is the subject of sick mail and has his property and car damaged by fanatics.
The revelation from Novo comes in the wake of a police investigation that was launched after the Spaniard's home address was posted menacingly on a Celtic fans' website shortly after he helped Rangers win the first Glasgow derby of the season 4-2 at Parkhead.
There was controversy following the match, when Celtic first team coach Neil Lennon was assaulted in Glasgow's west end hours after the final whistle.
Abuse of footballers has been a hot topic after the racist taunts dished out to England's Emile Heskey in Croatia last month and, this week, Portsmouth made an official complaint about the conduct of Spurs fans who mercilessly baited Sol Campbell last Sunday at Fratton Park.
But in Novo's case - and that of Lennon, who was also the subject of abuse in his playing days - extremists on both sides of the Glasgow divide have depressingly been able to take local hostilities too far into the private lives of stars away from the field of play.
When speaking about life as a Rangers player amid a religious rivalry, Novo said 'Things have changed because players from other countries keep coming to the Old Firm and bringing completely different cultures with them'.
'But rivalry between the two teams remains something more than sporting'.
'I have even recieved death threats this year. I have seen on YouTube there is a video with a guy singing with his guitar that he hoped that I die. That kind of thing has an impact on you'.
'In the four years i've been here, I have been through everything. Every time I face Celtic, the tyres in my car are punctured, the windows in my house are broken and I have been sent threatening letters. It is a pretty disagreeable situation'.
Despite working under these conditions, Novo - who has signing talks with Celtic before opting to join Alex McLeish's Rangers in 2004 - admits he loves playing football in such an intense and demanding environment. And, unlike his strike partner Kenny Miller, he insisted he would never end up playing on the opposite side of the city at any stage in his career.
'Rangers have treated me so well, the fans have become like a family to me', said Novo, speaking in a Spanish football magazine interview. 'No matter how much money was put in front of me, I would never sign for Celtic'.
'You can't understand unless you are here to live and see it. The rivalry and intensity is something I have never seen in my life and I think it's the greatest thing any football can be a part of. It's my opinion that of all the derby matches in the world, this is the best by a long way'.
'When you are on the pitch, the noise of the two supports screaming so loudly means that, when a player next to you speaks, you cannot hear him and it is totally impossible to hear the coach's instructions'.
'The atmosphere in the city for a week before the game transmits directly into the dressing room such that you have to play, you are desperate to be chosen and you can't wait until kick-off'
Novo, whose side head for Love Street this afternoon hoping that victory over St Mirren will keep them in front of Celtic in the title race, believes he will have the last laugh over his Celtic tormentors.
He said 'Pedro Mendes has hugely improved our play and it's great to have Steven Davis back. I think we have a title-winning squad. Losing against Kaunas was hard to take but now we are using it as a spur to win the Treble'.
The Ibrox striker said that before and during every meeting between the two clubs, he is the subject of sick mail and has his property and car damaged by fanatics.
The revelation from Novo comes in the wake of a police investigation that was launched after the Spaniard's home address was posted menacingly on a Celtic fans' website shortly after he helped Rangers win the first Glasgow derby of the season 4-2 at Parkhead.
There was controversy following the match, when Celtic first team coach Neil Lennon was assaulted in Glasgow's west end hours after the final whistle.
Abuse of footballers has been a hot topic after the racist taunts dished out to England's Emile Heskey in Croatia last month and, this week, Portsmouth made an official complaint about the conduct of Spurs fans who mercilessly baited Sol Campbell last Sunday at Fratton Park.
But in Novo's case - and that of Lennon, who was also the subject of abuse in his playing days - extremists on both sides of the Glasgow divide have depressingly been able to take local hostilities too far into the private lives of stars away from the field of play.
When speaking about life as a Rangers player amid a religious rivalry, Novo said 'Things have changed because players from other countries keep coming to the Old Firm and bringing completely different cultures with them'.
'But rivalry between the two teams remains something more than sporting'.
'I have even recieved death threats this year. I have seen on YouTube there is a video with a guy singing with his guitar that he hoped that I die. That kind of thing has an impact on you'.
'In the four years i've been here, I have been through everything. Every time I face Celtic, the tyres in my car are punctured, the windows in my house are broken and I have been sent threatening letters. It is a pretty disagreeable situation'.
Despite working under these conditions, Novo - who has signing talks with Celtic before opting to join Alex McLeish's Rangers in 2004 - admits he loves playing football in such an intense and demanding environment. And, unlike his strike partner Kenny Miller, he insisted he would never end up playing on the opposite side of the city at any stage in his career.
'Rangers have treated me so well, the fans have become like a family to me', said Novo, speaking in a Spanish football magazine interview. 'No matter how much money was put in front of me, I would never sign for Celtic'.
'You can't understand unless you are here to live and see it. The rivalry and intensity is something I have never seen in my life and I think it's the greatest thing any football can be a part of. It's my opinion that of all the derby matches in the world, this is the best by a long way'.
'When you are on the pitch, the noise of the two supports screaming so loudly means that, when a player next to you speaks, you cannot hear him and it is totally impossible to hear the coach's instructions'.
'The atmosphere in the city for a week before the game transmits directly into the dressing room such that you have to play, you are desperate to be chosen and you can't wait until kick-off'
Novo, whose side head for Love Street this afternoon hoping that victory over St Mirren will keep them in front of Celtic in the title race, believes he will have the last laugh over his Celtic tormentors.
He said 'Pedro Mendes has hugely improved our play and it's great to have Steven Davis back. I think we have a title-winning squad. Losing against Kaunas was hard to take but now we are using it as a spur to win the Treble'.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Another Lie from Celtic fans
Celtic fans have claimed to be making a protest against ticket prices - well as many people know it's a lie to his the fact that they have a poor traveling support and heres the proof
credit to baileysforme & Orangepeel1872 for the details
Rangers attendances at away SPL fixtures (excluding games at Parkhead v Celtic) season 07/08
7711 v Inverness
11544 v Kilmarnock
15948 v Hearts
10009 v Motherwell
12129 v Dundee Utd
6627 v Falkirk
17798 v Aberdeen
16217 v Hibs
6137 v Gretna
7753 v Inverness
10546 v Kilmarnock
16173 v Hearts
11214 v Dundee Utd
16872 v Hibs
10445 v Motherwell
7439 v St Mirren
17509 v Aberdeen
Total: 195131
Celtic attendances at away SPL fixtures (excluding games at Ibrox v Rangers) season 07/08
6329 v Falkirk
16232 v Aberdeen
7840 v St Mirren
16125 v Hibs
6011 v Gretna
8260 v Kilmarnock
16454 v Hearts
7004 v Inverness
12357 v Dundee Utd
6803 v Falkirk
14651 v Aberdeen
7213 v St Mirren
15735 v Hibs
3561 v Gretna
9771 v Motherwell
9158 v Motherwell
13613 v Dundee Utd
Total: 177117
For me it’s all about support. Sustained support. Not peaks and troughs, dips and rises depending on success rate at a given time, I’m talking about the big picture, the overall scenario.
Allow me to put forward comparisons on support for both clubs, based on that old enemy of the Yahoo – FACTS. Where better to start than with a comparison of attendances at both clubs pre-season friendlies over the last fortnight.
Saturday 16th July 2005 Rangers take 11,000 fans to Belfast v. Linfield (Source: Belfast Telegraph). Celtic take 4,000 to Fulham (Source: The Sun).
Tuesday 19th July 2005 Rangers take 6500 to Ipswich (Source: Daily Record).
Thursday 21st July 2005 Celtic at home to Sporting Lisbon. Crowd 30,000 (Source: Daily Record) for a game that was FREE to season ticket holders.
Saturday 23rd July 2005 Rangers at home to Borussia Monchengladbach crowd 30, 700 (Source: Sunday Herald). Tickets £17.00
Sunday 24th July 2005 Celtic at home to Leeds United crowd 13,000 (Source:The Sun). Tickets £16.00.
TGFITW? Don’t make me laugh.
Talking of pre-season friendlies brings me nicely to Peter Lawell’s ridiculous assertion when interviewed at Glasgow Airport last summer that “Sellick have a million fans in North America”. That was the same Sellick who played Chelsea a few days later at the 70,000 capacity Seattle Seahawks Stadium in front of 30,504 “bemused locals” and who subsequently played Liverpool in front of a crowd of 24,271 at Rentschler Field (capacity 40,000). The same Sellick who chose NOT to go to North America this summer. Their million fans must have been so disappointed.
Lawell is another in a long line of Yahoos who is happy to perpetuate the myth than anyone who has ever stood on a four-leaf-clover is a dyed in the wool Sellick fan, whilst conveniently forgetting that the majority of so-called “Irish Americans” are in fact Protestants of Ulster-Scots descent (Source: USA National Opinion Research Center).
Then there’s their “massive” support in the Irish Republic. In the summer of 2002, they played two friendlies in the ROI. 7400 was the total attendance for BOTH matches, including fans of the home teams. A week later Manchester United played to a full house and Rangers played Linfield at Windsor Park, again to a full house. Oops, Timmy’s been caught out again!
It could also be mentioned that over 8,000 Rangers fans turned up at Murray Park for a training day 4th August 2004 (Source: Daily Record).
What about the on the domestic front? Yep, The Theatre Of Shame has had bigger average crowds than at Ibrox in recent seasons. In fact the figure is around 9,000 more. By strange coincidence their stadium holds around 9,000 more! No surprise there then eh? (Talking of stadiums, will they EVER attain the UEFA five-star status the vastly superior Ibrox has held for years now?)
Has that always been the case? Not at all. Let’s look again at Timmy’s enemy. FACTS. Now I could go on all day printing these but I’ll just give a few examples taken from season where they out-performed us to prove my point:
Season 1983/84: Celtic (2nd in league) average 18,390. Rangers (4th in league) average 21,995. (Source: SFA)
Season 85/86: Our worst season in 80 odd years, 5th in the League and knocked out of both Cups. Meanwhile, Celtic won the League on the last day of the season. However, we still averaged 25419 to their 24012. (Source: Evening Times May 1986). Take away Old Firm matches and the difference would be even greater as they had a far bigger ground capacity than us at that time.
Season 87/88: Celtic won the league. Rangers were third. Their average home league attendance was 33,199. Ours was 38,568. (Source SFA).
Want to go a little further back? Bob Crampsey (former season ticket holder at The Glitter Stadium) said this in the Evening Times of 14th March 2001 “I confirm that the list of attendances you submit for Celtic Park in the period 1958-64 (too numerous to reproduce here) are accurate and, indeed, crowds at Parkhead hovered around the 7000 mark for run-of-the-mill matches." In other words, 7,000 was their usual attendance.
Indeed throughout history The Rangers have ALWAYS had a larger following than Celtic. Lest we forget season 1993/94 when their average crowd was a paltry 22,759 (Rangers averaged 43358). Does anyone have any idea where the additional 36,000 “faithful” followers have come from? And where were they in 1994?
Which again brings me conveniently to another Yahoo myth. I doubt if there's any of us who haven't been subjected to the lie "Yeez only hud two fousand furra gemme against Partick Fistle...."
The game in question was played on Wednesday 23rd May 1979, a rescheduled match which had been cancelled due to snow at New Year. Why was the crowd so low you may ask? Well, two days earlier on the Monday night we had been beaten 4-2 by Nonce FC in the game that clinched the league for them. Whilst not making excuses, the Thistle game was totally meaningless.
Here's the crux of the matter. The attendance at the game was actually 6,087. This figure is recorded in official Scottish League records. The 2,000 figure came from a Daily Record estimate (it would seem even in those days the Record was prepared to tell lies about our club). Willie Waddell, was moved to issue a statement that rubbished the quoted attendance, and declared the number to have been "nearer 10,000 than 2,000." Incidentally, Rangers won 1-0 thanks to a Derek Johnstone goal. (Source: Scotsman Saturday 21st August 2004). It should also be noted that Ibrox was undergoing massive redevelopment at the time.
By comparison 4,956 turned out for a Nonce FC home match against Dundee on 24 April 1984 (Scottish League Records). So the next time the yahoo in your life starts spouting his lies, be sure to quote him the FACTS and watch him squirm.
And now for the Greatest Yahoo Lie Of Them All. “We had 80,000 in Seville”. Isn’t it amazing how this figure, plucked from the air, has become accepted by the underclass and their press apologists? I even heard Alan Brazil tell us live on Talk Radio that there were 120,000 reptiles in Seville! That bhoy has obviously had an experience that’s damaged him psychologically. Back to Timmy’s Achilles heal. FACTS. The Chief of police in Seville estimated the figure at 45-55,000. The official UEFA figure was given as 58,000. Ach well, let’s add on a wee bit just to make it sound good. Why let 20-odd thousand get in the way of another good Yahoo lie? Their need to be loved shows them for the inadequate’s they undoubtedly are. They are not normal people.
credit to baileysforme & Orangepeel1872 for the details
Rangers attendances at away SPL fixtures (excluding games at Parkhead v Celtic) season 07/08
7711 v Inverness
11544 v Kilmarnock
15948 v Hearts
10009 v Motherwell
12129 v Dundee Utd
6627 v Falkirk
17798 v Aberdeen
16217 v Hibs
6137 v Gretna
7753 v Inverness
10546 v Kilmarnock
16173 v Hearts
11214 v Dundee Utd
16872 v Hibs
10445 v Motherwell
7439 v St Mirren
17509 v Aberdeen
Total: 195131
Celtic attendances at away SPL fixtures (excluding games at Ibrox v Rangers) season 07/08
6329 v Falkirk
16232 v Aberdeen
7840 v St Mirren
16125 v Hibs
6011 v Gretna
8260 v Kilmarnock
16454 v Hearts
7004 v Inverness
12357 v Dundee Utd
6803 v Falkirk
14651 v Aberdeen
7213 v St Mirren
15735 v Hibs
3561 v Gretna
9771 v Motherwell
9158 v Motherwell
13613 v Dundee Utd
Total: 177117
For me it’s all about support. Sustained support. Not peaks and troughs, dips and rises depending on success rate at a given time, I’m talking about the big picture, the overall scenario.
Allow me to put forward comparisons on support for both clubs, based on that old enemy of the Yahoo – FACTS. Where better to start than with a comparison of attendances at both clubs pre-season friendlies over the last fortnight.
Saturday 16th July 2005 Rangers take 11,000 fans to Belfast v. Linfield (Source: Belfast Telegraph). Celtic take 4,000 to Fulham (Source: The Sun).
Tuesday 19th July 2005 Rangers take 6500 to Ipswich (Source: Daily Record).
Thursday 21st July 2005 Celtic at home to Sporting Lisbon. Crowd 30,000 (Source: Daily Record) for a game that was FREE to season ticket holders.
Saturday 23rd July 2005 Rangers at home to Borussia Monchengladbach crowd 30, 700 (Source: Sunday Herald). Tickets £17.00
Sunday 24th July 2005 Celtic at home to Leeds United crowd 13,000 (Source:The Sun). Tickets £16.00.
TGFITW? Don’t make me laugh.
Talking of pre-season friendlies brings me nicely to Peter Lawell’s ridiculous assertion when interviewed at Glasgow Airport last summer that “Sellick have a million fans in North America”. That was the same Sellick who played Chelsea a few days later at the 70,000 capacity Seattle Seahawks Stadium in front of 30,504 “bemused locals” and who subsequently played Liverpool in front of a crowd of 24,271 at Rentschler Field (capacity 40,000). The same Sellick who chose NOT to go to North America this summer. Their million fans must have been so disappointed.
Lawell is another in a long line of Yahoos who is happy to perpetuate the myth than anyone who has ever stood on a four-leaf-clover is a dyed in the wool Sellick fan, whilst conveniently forgetting that the majority of so-called “Irish Americans” are in fact Protestants of Ulster-Scots descent (Source: USA National Opinion Research Center).
Then there’s their “massive” support in the Irish Republic. In the summer of 2002, they played two friendlies in the ROI. 7400 was the total attendance for BOTH matches, including fans of the home teams. A week later Manchester United played to a full house and Rangers played Linfield at Windsor Park, again to a full house. Oops, Timmy’s been caught out again!
It could also be mentioned that over 8,000 Rangers fans turned up at Murray Park for a training day 4th August 2004 (Source: Daily Record).
What about the on the domestic front? Yep, The Theatre Of Shame has had bigger average crowds than at Ibrox in recent seasons. In fact the figure is around 9,000 more. By strange coincidence their stadium holds around 9,000 more! No surprise there then eh? (Talking of stadiums, will they EVER attain the UEFA five-star status the vastly superior Ibrox has held for years now?)
Has that always been the case? Not at all. Let’s look again at Timmy’s enemy. FACTS. Now I could go on all day printing these but I’ll just give a few examples taken from season where they out-performed us to prove my point:
Season 1983/84: Celtic (2nd in league) average 18,390. Rangers (4th in league) average 21,995. (Source: SFA)
Season 85/86: Our worst season in 80 odd years, 5th in the League and knocked out of both Cups. Meanwhile, Celtic won the League on the last day of the season. However, we still averaged 25419 to their 24012. (Source: Evening Times May 1986). Take away Old Firm matches and the difference would be even greater as they had a far bigger ground capacity than us at that time.
Season 87/88: Celtic won the league. Rangers were third. Their average home league attendance was 33,199. Ours was 38,568. (Source SFA).
Want to go a little further back? Bob Crampsey (former season ticket holder at The Glitter Stadium) said this in the Evening Times of 14th March 2001 “I confirm that the list of attendances you submit for Celtic Park in the period 1958-64 (too numerous to reproduce here) are accurate and, indeed, crowds at Parkhead hovered around the 7000 mark for run-of-the-mill matches." In other words, 7,000 was their usual attendance.
Indeed throughout history The Rangers have ALWAYS had a larger following than Celtic. Lest we forget season 1993/94 when their average crowd was a paltry 22,759 (Rangers averaged 43358). Does anyone have any idea where the additional 36,000 “faithful” followers have come from? And where were they in 1994?
Which again brings me conveniently to another Yahoo myth. I doubt if there's any of us who haven't been subjected to the lie "Yeez only hud two fousand furra gemme against Partick Fistle...."
The game in question was played on Wednesday 23rd May 1979, a rescheduled match which had been cancelled due to snow at New Year. Why was the crowd so low you may ask? Well, two days earlier on the Monday night we had been beaten 4-2 by Nonce FC in the game that clinched the league for them. Whilst not making excuses, the Thistle game was totally meaningless.
Here's the crux of the matter. The attendance at the game was actually 6,087. This figure is recorded in official Scottish League records. The 2,000 figure came from a Daily Record estimate (it would seem even in those days the Record was prepared to tell lies about our club). Willie Waddell, was moved to issue a statement that rubbished the quoted attendance, and declared the number to have been "nearer 10,000 than 2,000." Incidentally, Rangers won 1-0 thanks to a Derek Johnstone goal. (Source: Scotsman Saturday 21st August 2004). It should also be noted that Ibrox was undergoing massive redevelopment at the time.
By comparison 4,956 turned out for a Nonce FC home match against Dundee on 24 April 1984 (Scottish League Records). So the next time the yahoo in your life starts spouting his lies, be sure to quote him the FACTS and watch him squirm.
And now for the Greatest Yahoo Lie Of Them All. “We had 80,000 in Seville”. Isn’t it amazing how this figure, plucked from the air, has become accepted by the underclass and their press apologists? I even heard Alan Brazil tell us live on Talk Radio that there were 120,000 reptiles in Seville! That bhoy has obviously had an experience that’s damaged him psychologically. Back to Timmy’s Achilles heal. FACTS. The Chief of police in Seville estimated the figure at 45-55,000. The official UEFA figure was given as 58,000. Ach well, let’s add on a wee bit just to make it sound good. Why let 20-odd thousand get in the way of another good Yahoo lie? Their need to be loved shows them for the inadequate’s they undoubtedly are. They are not normal people.
More sicko Celtic fans
By Jerry Lawton
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/53090/Sick-fans-set-up-Gazza-death-site-/
SOCCER sickos are running an internet sweep on when troubled Paul Gascoigne will die.
Celtic fans have blitzed a website with bets on how and when the ex-Rangers star will pass away.
The Gazza Death Sweepstake was launched after the England soccer legend – who is battling booze addiction and depression – was pictured hammering on a pub door desperate for an early morning drink.
He was arrested after brawling with a photographer and cautioned for criminal damage after smashing a fan’s mobile phone.
Hours later sick bloggers opened an internet book on Celtic fans’ forum The Huddleboard on how long the 41-year-old former Spurs, Newcastle and Everton star will last.
One member Benedicts11 – who has made over 5,000 postings – sneered: “I’ll give him three months.’’ Another called Marty Bhoy added: “I’ll go for nine months.’’
While Stevo1888 said: “Two hours.’’ One twisted punter – who uses the name Ayrshire CSC – wrote: “On the Queen’s birthday. They can both go. What a day!”
Another, calling himself Linkboy, said: “Is it too much to ask for Thatcher on the same day?’’
Last night a pal of Gazza’s said: “It’s just unbelievable people would do this.
He has been through a really difficult time as everyone knows and this is like kicking him when he’s down.
“Paul needs support right now – not sick b*****ds trying to drive him to an early grave. They should all rot in hell.’’
Yesterday we revealed how a sick Dutch-based website was urging net surfers to predict when cancer-stricken Jade Goody will die.
The 27-year-old Big Brother star is recovering from major surgery and facing 12 months of chemotherapy after contracting cervical cancer.
The winner of the vile website’s contest is promised an Apple iPhone worth up to £500. Last night internet watchdogs were probing the Gazza death site.
A source said: “Complaints have been received regarding the website and moves made to investigate the content of certain posts.
“However it is extremely difficult as the site appears to be a ‘closed shop’ only available to members.
“It seems it is currently closed to new registrations so anyone attempting to sign up and read what is being said finds themselves unable to do so.’
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/53090/Sick-fans-set-up-Gazza-death-site-/
SOCCER sickos are running an internet sweep on when troubled Paul Gascoigne will die.
Celtic fans have blitzed a website with bets on how and when the ex-Rangers star will pass away.
The Gazza Death Sweepstake was launched after the England soccer legend – who is battling booze addiction and depression – was pictured hammering on a pub door desperate for an early morning drink.
He was arrested after brawling with a photographer and cautioned for criminal damage after smashing a fan’s mobile phone.
Hours later sick bloggers opened an internet book on Celtic fans’ forum The Huddleboard on how long the 41-year-old former Spurs, Newcastle and Everton star will last.
One member Benedicts11 – who has made over 5,000 postings – sneered: “I’ll give him three months.’’ Another called Marty Bhoy added: “I’ll go for nine months.’’
While Stevo1888 said: “Two hours.’’ One twisted punter – who uses the name Ayrshire CSC – wrote: “On the Queen’s birthday. They can both go. What a day!”
Another, calling himself Linkboy, said: “Is it too much to ask for Thatcher on the same day?’’
Last night a pal of Gazza’s said: “It’s just unbelievable people would do this.
He has been through a really difficult time as everyone knows and this is like kicking him when he’s down.
“Paul needs support right now – not sick b*****ds trying to drive him to an early grave. They should all rot in hell.’’
Yesterday we revealed how a sick Dutch-based website was urging net surfers to predict when cancer-stricken Jade Goody will die.
The 27-year-old Big Brother star is recovering from major surgery and facing 12 months of chemotherapy after contracting cervical cancer.
The winner of the vile website’s contest is promised an Apple iPhone worth up to £500. Last night internet watchdogs were probing the Gazza death site.
A source said: “Complaints have been received regarding the website and moves made to investigate the content of certain posts.
“However it is extremely difficult as the site appears to be a ‘closed shop’ only available to members.
“It seems it is currently closed to new registrations so anyone attempting to sign up and read what is being said finds themselves unable to do so.’
Friday, September 19, 2008
MP snubs Celtic invites because of sectarian singing
By GERRY DUFFY The Sun
Published: 19/8/08
A FRESH sectarian singing row flared last night after the Ulster sports minister hinted he may snub an invite to Celtic Park in protest at IRA tunes sung by their fans.
Gregory Campbell, a DUP MP, has written to Hoops chairman and former Northern Ireland secretary John Reid condemning IRA chants from Celtic fans at Motherwell last week.
Mr Campbell was asked to be a guest at the home of the SPL champions after claiming he and his wife suffered sectarian abuse by fans on a ferry.
But, speaking in his role as East Londonderry MP, he said: “The recent songs about the IRA would suggest an awful lot more work needs to be done.
“It would call into question attendance at the ground.”
But he praised Celtic and Rangers for trying to tackle the problem of bigots at games.
A Celtic spokesman vowed to consider his letter and added: “We are pleased Mr Campbell recognises the great work which Celtic has carried out in tackling sectarianism.”
Published: 19/8/08
A FRESH sectarian singing row flared last night after the Ulster sports minister hinted he may snub an invite to Celtic Park in protest at IRA tunes sung by their fans.
Gregory Campbell, a DUP MP, has written to Hoops chairman and former Northern Ireland secretary John Reid condemning IRA chants from Celtic fans at Motherwell last week.
Mr Campbell was asked to be a guest at the home of the SPL champions after claiming he and his wife suffered sectarian abuse by fans on a ferry.
But, speaking in his role as East Londonderry MP, he said: “The recent songs about the IRA would suggest an awful lot more work needs to be done.
“It would call into question attendance at the ground.”
But he praised Celtic and Rangers for trying to tackle the problem of bigots at games.
A Celtic spokesman vowed to consider his letter and added: “We are pleased Mr Campbell recognises the great work which Celtic has carried out in tackling sectarianism.”
Celtic fans and their fascist views - where do they come from?
Hopefully these links will help to educate people why Celtic fans love the IRA and are prone to making Nazi salutes when faced with Israeli opposition.
http://www.providence.edu/polisci/students/IRA/Nazi.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1359872/IRA-plotted-with-Nazis-to-invade-Northern-Ireland.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97GxY8zHb88
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080805222743AAp0poW
http://www.victims.org.uk/nazi.html
http://leejohnbarnes.blogspot.com/2008/03/red-ken-and-nazis-2.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article411647.ece
http://www.ww2f.com/battle-europe/13283-operation-kathleen-ira-nazis.html
https://israel.indymedia.org/mod/comments/display/3308/index.php
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/priest-in-nazi-row-briefed-on-ira-criminality-473507.html
http://www.thehistorychannel.co.za/site/tv_guide/full_details/Conflict/programme_3496.php
http://www.providence.edu/polisci/students/IRA/Nazi.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1359872/IRA-plotted-with-Nazis-to-invade-Northern-Ireland.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97GxY8zHb88
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080805222743AAp0poW
http://www.victims.org.uk/nazi.html
http://leejohnbarnes.blogspot.com/2008/03/red-ken-and-nazis-2.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article411647.ece
http://www.ww2f.com/battle-europe/13283-operation-kathleen-ira-nazis.html
https://israel.indymedia.org/mod/comments/display/3308/index.php
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/priest-in-nazi-row-briefed-on-ira-criminality-473507.html
http://www.thehistorychannel.co.za/site/tv_guide/full_details/Conflict/programme_3496.php
Bigoted Celtic Fans shame themselves, Ireland & Scotland again
Sectarian Celtic supporters have again shrouded the club in Sectarian & Pro IRA/fascist shame. They took a line from an IRA (we're on the road again) song often sung by their fans and made a banner from it.full song lyrics:
here we go again we're on the road again
we're on the road again we're on the way to paradise
we love the jungle deep. that's where the lion sleeps
for then those evil eyes they have no place in paradise
graffiti on the wall just as the sun was going down
i see graffiti on the wall - of the celts! of the celts!
graffiti on the wall it says we're magic we're magic
graffiti on the wall.............................
it says oh ah up the ra, say ooh ah up the ra
it says oh ah up the ra, say ooh ah up the ra
it says oh ah up the ra, say ooh ah up the ra
it says oh ah up the ra, say ooh ah up the ra
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Rev's car is trashed by 'bigots'
By JOE O’BRIEN, The Sun, 18/8/09
“BIGOTED” schoolboy thugs trashed a minister’s £18,000 car outside a church as she led mourners at a funeral service.
Two yobs hurled bricks and stones at Rev Agnes Moore’s Vauxhall Vectra at Bellshill West Church in Lanarkshire.
Fear ... Reverend Moore
A church officer who witnessed the attack said the teenage vandals hurled sectarian abuse as they caused £5,000 of damage to the motor.
The thugs — believed to be from the town’s Cardinal Newman High School — smashed the front and back windows and dented every panel of the vehicle’s bodywork.
A distraught Rev Moore, 56, said last night: “When I saw the damage I burst into tears. I am broken hearted. I got very little help from the school or the police.
“My church officer has been left quite badly shaken by this. He got a bit of a fright as they were hurling all sorts of sectarian abuse at him and throwing bricks.”
Cardinal Newman head teacher Isobel Boyd rejected claims the school hadn’t done enough in trying to track down the culprits. Police said they are investigating.
“BIGOTED” schoolboy thugs trashed a minister’s £18,000 car outside a church as she led mourners at a funeral service.
Two yobs hurled bricks and stones at Rev Agnes Moore’s Vauxhall Vectra at Bellshill West Church in Lanarkshire.
Fear ... Reverend Moore
A church officer who witnessed the attack said the teenage vandals hurled sectarian abuse as they caused £5,000 of damage to the motor.
The thugs — believed to be from the town’s Cardinal Newman High School — smashed the front and back windows and dented every panel of the vehicle’s bodywork.
A distraught Rev Moore, 56, said last night: “When I saw the damage I burst into tears. I am broken hearted. I got very little help from the school or the police.
“My church officer has been left quite badly shaken by this. He got a bit of a fright as they were hurling all sorts of sectarian abuse at him and throwing bricks.”
Cardinal Newman head teacher Isobel Boyd rejected claims the school hadn’t done enough in trying to track down the culprits. Police said they are investigating.
Spanish government intervene in Celtic fans death threats
By ALAN CARSON, The Sun 18/9/08
SPAIN has become the latest country to be caught up in an Old Firm storm — this time over death threats to Rangers star Nacho Novo.
Diplomats with the Spanish Consul General in Edinburgh last night confirmed they have launched their own probe into the sick stunt by internet bigots.
Last night Spanish consular spokesman Federico Palomera said: “We have made it known to the relevant authorities.”
They are acting on complaints they received against yobs who posted Spaniard Novo’s home address on a Hoops supporters’ website.
The posting on the popular Huddleboard followed suggestions on some internet chatrooms that Rangers players should be seen as targets for attack.
Furious Ibrox security chiefs contacted Strathclyde Police bosses, demanding an investigation into the Novo web threat.
They also ordered security staff to patrol outside the 29-year-old’s Glasgow home amid fears for the footballer and his family.
Yesterday a source revealed: “It appears the Consul General was contacted after they felt the authorities were failing to act on the Novo situation.
“Not only did Novo have his address posted on a website, rival fans also sing a song which features lyrics praying he will be murdered in his sleep.”
The Ibrox ace has been targeted by opposing fans since turning down a move to Celtic to join Rangers from Dundee in 2004.
Months later, he complained to cops after thugs sprayed “Novo RIP” near his home after an Old Firm victory against the Hoops.
Last night, the Rangers Supporters Trust welcomed the Novo probe.
Spokesman Stephen Smith said: “This move is a logical response to a dishonest campaign motivated by sectarian bile and a sick desire to score points regardless of the truth.”
Rangers declined to comment on the matter.
SPAIN has become the latest country to be caught up in an Old Firm storm — this time over death threats to Rangers star Nacho Novo.
Diplomats with the Spanish Consul General in Edinburgh last night confirmed they have launched their own probe into the sick stunt by internet bigots.
Last night Spanish consular spokesman Federico Palomera said: “We have made it known to the relevant authorities.”
They are acting on complaints they received against yobs who posted Spaniard Novo’s home address on a Hoops supporters’ website.
The posting on the popular Huddleboard followed suggestions on some internet chatrooms that Rangers players should be seen as targets for attack.
Furious Ibrox security chiefs contacted Strathclyde Police bosses, demanding an investigation into the Novo web threat.
They also ordered security staff to patrol outside the 29-year-old’s Glasgow home amid fears for the footballer and his family.
Yesterday a source revealed: “It appears the Consul General was contacted after they felt the authorities were failing to act on the Novo situation.
“Not only did Novo have his address posted on a website, rival fans also sing a song which features lyrics praying he will be murdered in his sleep.”
The Ibrox ace has been targeted by opposing fans since turning down a move to Celtic to join Rangers from Dundee in 2004.
Months later, he complained to cops after thugs sprayed “Novo RIP” near his home after an Old Firm victory against the Hoops.
Last night, the Rangers Supporters Trust welcomed the Novo probe.
Spokesman Stephen Smith said: “This move is a logical response to a dishonest campaign motivated by sectarian bile and a sick desire to score points regardless of the truth.”
Rangers declined to comment on the matter.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Celtic supporters sectarian shame
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article1693207.ece
By GERRY DUFFY, THE SUN
TWISTED yobs painted sickening sectarian graffiti on a pub linked to Rangers legend Andy Goram.
The vandals struck just days after we told how Goram, 44, left, and a pal planned to turn the Stonefield Tavern in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, into a Gers-themed bar.
Vile slogans including “IRA” and Irish Republican warcry “Tiocfaidharla” — our day will come — were plastered over walls.
The vandals also left personal insults to Goram and the initials “CFC” in green paint.
Anti-sectarian group Nil By Mouth said: “It is the latest example of unacceptable behaviour in Scottish life.”
By GERRY DUFFY, THE SUN
TWISTED yobs painted sickening sectarian graffiti on a pub linked to Rangers legend Andy Goram.
The vandals struck just days after we told how Goram, 44, left, and a pal planned to turn the Stonefield Tavern in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, into a Gers-themed bar.
Vile slogans including “IRA” and Irish Republican warcry “Tiocfaidharla” — our day will come — were plastered over walls.
The vandals also left personal insults to Goram and the initials “CFC” in green paint.
Anti-sectarian group Nil By Mouth said: “It is the latest example of unacceptable behaviour in Scottish life.”
Celtic Fans vandalise pub with IRA + Celtic graffiti
Celtic Fans vandalise pub with IRA + Celtic graffiti at the pub owned by former Rangers player Andy Goram.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Sectarianism rife amongst Celtic fans
Celtic fans singing in the South stand upper of Fir park v Motherwell. 13/9/08
Celtic fans attack boy of 12 in sectarian attack
The mother of a 12-year-old boy who was attacked by a gang in Londonderry on Saturday has said he is now afraid to go into the city centre on his own.
Una McFarland said her son, Caelin, was attacked by up to 12 males on London Street at about 1630 BST on Saturday.
She said it was the first time her son had gone into the city centre alone.
"They grabbed him by the necklace and they punched him about the head and neck and he fell to the ground," his mother said.
"He got up pretty quickly because he knew to stay on his feet and then he tried to walk away.
"They kept saying to him, 'Who do you support, who do you support'?"
"I know I wouldn't like him going up the town now," she said.
In a separate incident on Saturday, a 14-year-old boy was assaulted by a gang of youths in Irish Street. Two 15-year-olds have been arrested.
And in the Triangle area of the Waterside a man was attacked by three men wearing Celtic football jerseys.
The PSNI have said the attacks may have been sectarian.
DUP MLA William Hay said sectarianism was "a cancer in society".
"These attacks are ongoing and it could take a generation before we get this cancer out of our society, and this is the tragedy.
"There are people out there who still believe that the only way they can deal with some of the issues they feel so strongly about is to attack another community," he said.
Una McFarland said her son, Caelin, was attacked by up to 12 males on London Street at about 1630 BST on Saturday.
She said it was the first time her son had gone into the city centre alone.
"They grabbed him by the necklace and they punched him about the head and neck and he fell to the ground," his mother said.
"He got up pretty quickly because he knew to stay on his feet and then he tried to walk away.
"They kept saying to him, 'Who do you support, who do you support'?"
"I know I wouldn't like him going up the town now," she said.
In a separate incident on Saturday, a 14-year-old boy was assaulted by a gang of youths in Irish Street. Two 15-year-olds have been arrested.
And in the Triangle area of the Waterside a man was attacked by three men wearing Celtic football jerseys.
The PSNI have said the attacks may have been sectarian.
DUP MLA William Hay said sectarianism was "a cancer in society".
"These attacks are ongoing and it could take a generation before we get this cancer out of our society, and this is the tragedy.
"There are people out there who still believe that the only way they can deal with some of the issues they feel so strongly about is to attack another community," he said.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
CELTIC FAN THREATENS RADIO HOST
This is not the first Celtic fan to threaten the host of Real Radio phone. Other Celtic fans have previously posted his home address on one of their fan forums and posted where his CHILDREN go to school.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Ex Celtic manager slams Neil Lennon
http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article1639430.ece
"After such a heavy Old Firm defeat the sensible thing to do would have been to stay indoors.
I know you can’t stop people going out and having fun, but there is a time and place for everything — and Sunday night was not the time for Lenny to go out.
When I was playing with Celtic me and the lads used this bar/restaurant on St Vincent Street.
We’d go out together as a team and all our wives would be with us.
We knew we’d be out of harm’s way and we could relax and enjoy our evening.
Times have changed for sure. But when I look back to my playing days I can honestly say I never really wanted to hit the town after any defeat, let alone a defeat to Rangers.
Look at big Stephen McManus. Do you think that the Celtic captain fancied a few beers with his mates on Sunday night? Not likely.
He’d know exactly how the Celtic fans were feeling and he would have headed home, drawn the curtains and crawled straight into bed.
Lennon’s timing could not have been WORSE.
He’s been in Glasgow long enough now to know these terrible things can happen, especially after an Old Firm game.
It’s not right but this is the shocking reality for Celtic and Rangers stars.
But remember, Lennon is no longer a player, he is a now a coach and that carries extra responsibility.
He really should have known better in my opinion.
Yet I know he will be regretting leaving the house on Sunday night. He will have apologised to everyone at the club, not least manager Gordon Strachan."
"After such a heavy Old Firm defeat the sensible thing to do would have been to stay indoors.
I know you can’t stop people going out and having fun, but there is a time and place for everything — and Sunday night was not the time for Lenny to go out.
When I was playing with Celtic me and the lads used this bar/restaurant on St Vincent Street.
We’d go out together as a team and all our wives would be with us.
We knew we’d be out of harm’s way and we could relax and enjoy our evening.
Times have changed for sure. But when I look back to my playing days I can honestly say I never really wanted to hit the town after any defeat, let alone a defeat to Rangers.
Look at big Stephen McManus. Do you think that the Celtic captain fancied a few beers with his mates on Sunday night? Not likely.
He’d know exactly how the Celtic fans were feeling and he would have headed home, drawn the curtains and crawled straight into bed.
Lennon’s timing could not have been WORSE.
He’s been in Glasgow long enough now to know these terrible things can happen, especially after an Old Firm game.
It’s not right but this is the shocking reality for Celtic and Rangers stars.
But remember, Lennon is no longer a player, he is a now a coach and that carries extra responsibility.
He really should have known better in my opinion.
Yet I know he will be regretting leaving the house on Sunday night. He will have apologised to everyone at the club, not least manager Gordon Strachan."
Star Nacho Novo under guard after threats from Celtic bigots
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/09/03/exclusive-rangers-star-nacho-novo-under-guard-after-threats-from-internet-bigots-86908-20721863/
Sep 3 2008 By Keith Jackson
RANGERS star Nacho Novo was last night under guard at his home after bigots posted his address on the web.
Police were called in by the club after someone revealed the name of his street on a website. A distraught Novo said yesterday: "This is my home, my family stay here and no one will mess with my family."
The web posting came after suggestions in internet chatrooms that Rangers players should be regarded as targets for attack.
The views came amid a backlash to the assault on Celtic coach Neil Lennon, which sparked a large debate on whether Old Firm stars should feel free to socialise in Glasgow after Old Firm games. After Rangers striker Novo's street name was published, furious Rangers security supremo Ken Scott phoned Chief Superintendent Robin Howe, of Strathclyde Police, demanding an investigation.
He also ordered security guards to patrol outside Novo's Glasgow home.
An Ibrox insider said: "Posting someone's address takes the matter into a new dimension."
A police spokeswoman said last night: "We have received a complaint in relation to posts made on the internet. Our inquiries are continuing."
Sep 3 2008 By Keith Jackson
RANGERS star Nacho Novo was last night under guard at his home after bigots posted his address on the web.
Police were called in by the club after someone revealed the name of his street on a website. A distraught Novo said yesterday: "This is my home, my family stay here and no one will mess with my family."
The web posting came after suggestions in internet chatrooms that Rangers players should be regarded as targets for attack.
The views came amid a backlash to the assault on Celtic coach Neil Lennon, which sparked a large debate on whether Old Firm stars should feel free to socialise in Glasgow after Old Firm games. After Rangers striker Novo's street name was published, furious Rangers security supremo Ken Scott phoned Chief Superintendent Robin Howe, of Strathclyde Police, demanding an investigation.
He also ordered security guards to patrol outside Novo's Glasgow home.
An Ibrox insider said: "Posting someone's address takes the matter into a new dimension."
A police spokeswoman said last night: "We have received a complaint in relation to posts made on the internet. Our inquiries are continuing."
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Group of Celtic fans beat up rival fan
CELTIC fans were today urged to help police trace thugs who viciously attacked a man in a Glasgow train station.
The 29-year-old victim was left with a fractured jaw after four men rounded on him at Singer station.
He tried to escape by getting on a train, but the gang followed him and continued the assault until the train arrived at Dalmuir.
The incident happened at 6.50pm on Sunday after the first Old Firm derby of the new season.
The group - described as being in their late teens to early 20s and wearing green and white or white and yellow football tops - were captured on CCTV.
Detective Inspector John Harrington of British Transport Police said: "This was a particularly nasty attack.
"I am anxious to speak with anyone who was in the vicinity of Singer station around the time of the attack and who may have any information regarding the identity of those involved."
The victim of the attack, from Westerton, is recovering from head and facial injuries in the Western Infirmary.
Anyone with information on the incident should call BTP on 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
The 29-year-old victim was left with a fractured jaw after four men rounded on him at Singer station.
He tried to escape by getting on a train, but the gang followed him and continued the assault until the train arrived at Dalmuir.
The incident happened at 6.50pm on Sunday after the first Old Firm derby of the new season.
The group - described as being in their late teens to early 20s and wearing green and white or white and yellow football tops - were captured on CCTV.
Detective Inspector John Harrington of British Transport Police said: "This was a particularly nasty attack.
"I am anxious to speak with anyone who was in the vicinity of Singer station around the time of the attack and who may have any information regarding the identity of those involved."
The victim of the attack, from Westerton, is recovering from head and facial injuries in the Western Infirmary.
Anyone with information on the incident should call BTP on 0800 405040 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Manchester United fans fear about visit of Celtic fans
source: http://www.redcafe.net/f6/celtic-away-215886/
by heightmassive
"I'm not a fan of Celtic, in my experience in testimonials and Europe from 86 to 08 it's been IRA songs, anti English songs, pissing on the street and munich aeroplanes.
The last time we played them in Europe was dreadful, it'll be the same this year, aggresive drunken balloons."
by Utd heap
"As long as they don't attempt to take over the Stretty like last time.
Kicked off in K stand and tier 2.
Scuffles etc, nothing big.
Loads got in at Celtic without tickets, meaning people with tickets were turned away...
More events will happen again."
by ralphie88
"with the exception of Keane's (which I wasn't at), all those were before the IRA bombed Manchester city centre. That incident unfortunately soured relations.
And I'm afraid I have seen Celtic fans (even those who also support United) singing pro-IRA songs in Manchester pubs"
by heightmassive
"I'm not a fan of Celtic, in my experience in testimonials and Europe from 86 to 08 it's been IRA songs, anti English songs, pissing on the street and munich aeroplanes.
The last time we played them in Europe was dreadful, it'll be the same this year, aggresive drunken balloons."
by Utd heap
"As long as they don't attempt to take over the Stretty like last time.
Kicked off in K stand and tier 2.
Scuffles etc, nothing big.
Loads got in at Celtic without tickets, meaning people with tickets were turned away...
More events will happen again."
by ralphie88
"with the exception of Keane's (which I wasn't at), all those were before the IRA bombed Manchester city centre. That incident unfortunately soured relations.
And I'm afraid I have seen Celtic fans (even those who also support United) singing pro-IRA songs in Manchester pubs"
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Celtic; Rotten to the core from day one
We conclude the second part of our look at the Origins of Hibernian Football Club today, reaching 1888 and the formation of a football club that was intended by some at least to be a mirror image of Hibernian. In the event things did not work our quite in that manner, and it was to spark a major crisis for Hibernian....
Birth of Celtic Football Club
Brother Walfrid was doing a great deal of good work in Glasgow’s East End, through his Poor Children’s Dinner Table charity. He had called upon the good grace of his friends in Edinburgh many times, and did so again in 1887, asking Canon Hannan if Hibernian might play in a charity match against Renton in Glasgow. Canon Hannan of course immediately agreed, and the game took place on Clyde’s Barrowland ground. An astonishing 12,000 people turned out to watch the Scottish Cup holders draw 1-1. The money raised from this one game was beyond the dreams of anything Brother Walfrid had managed to raise in the past, and it is believed that this was the moment when he made up his mind that Glasgow should have their very own version of Hibernian Football Club.
The Irish Catholic community in Glasgow at this time numbered around 250,000, and Brother Walfrid knew that if Canon Hannan could raise so much from the Little Ireland community of Edinburgh that was a mere tenth of that number, then surely a similar side in Glasgow could do much more. It should not be thought that he in any way wished to harm Hibernian, far from it, he appreciated very much the help that he had received from Canon Hannan and the St Patrick’s CYMS. His reasoning was that he could not continue to expect Hibernian to help his community when they had so much work to do in their own. He endeavoured then to copy the lead of Canon Hannan, knowing that the Edinburgh priest would do all he could to aid him in his task.
Over the coming months several meetings were arranged in Glasgow to drum up support for the idea of a new ‘Hibernian’ in Glasgow. Some Irish Catholic leaders however could see some of the danger signs, as it was becoming apparent in these meetings that some of the men coming to the fore where business-minded with hints that personal gain rather than charitable aims were uppermost in their thoughts. Brother Walfrid however appeared oblivious to this as he pressed forward with his plans, taking everyone at face value.
By November Brother Walfrid was ready along with his supporters from St Mary’s Parish, and they revealed that a new football club would be formed. While most wanted the new club to be named Glasgow Hibernian, Brother Walfrid opposed this on the grounds that it would cause confusion. He got his way, and Glasgow Celtic was born. The real men behind this move however proved to be the businessmen, a builder from Donegal named John Glass and Pat Welsh, a tailor who had left Ireland under furtive circumstances 20 years previously. These men had seen the earning potential of a professional football club, and their subsequent methods of achieving their aims was to prove catastrophic for Hibernian Football Club.
Misguided Delight
Hibernian though were delighted on hearing the news of the formation of Celtic Football Club, and typical of Hibs they made an immediate donation towards the expenses of forming the new club, letting it be known at the same time that anything they could do to help would be done. Hibernian continued blissfully unaware that the founding of Celtic might cause them even the slightest problem, after all did every Irish Catholic not see football as they did, as a means of doing some good for their communities? More important at this time for Hibernian was their first ever tour of Ireland; at last the men of Little Ireland were to visit the homeland of the fathers.
Michael Whelahan was joined by a large party of officials and players for the trip, including John and Philip Farmer who would play a major part in the future of the club. Hibs first game came on Monday 2nd April 1888 against Belfast Distillery, with Hibernian running out winners by three goals to one before a very large crowd. Twenty four hours later and Hibs defeated a United Belfast side 4-1, Hibernian this time earning a standing ovation from appreciative Irish fans.
One month later, Hibernian travelled to Glasgow to fulfil a promise Canon Hannan had made to Brother Walfrid, Hibernian would formally open Celtic Park with a game against Cowlairs. The match ended in a 0-0 draw but was a highly entertaining one for all that, the new Glasgow club benefiting greatly from gate receipts with Hibernian paying their own expenses. On 28th May, Celtic played their own first game, against Rangers, but as they still did not have a full team they leaned heavily on their friends from Edinburgh and seven of the players in their side that day had connections with Hibs – Celtic won the game 5-2.
On Borrowed Time
In the following weeks Celtic played several games and each time used players borrowed from Hibernian. There were rumours doing the rounds of course about the intentions of the new Glasgow club, but these were dismissed by the Hibernian committee who simply would not believe that their close friends would mean them any harm. It’s a great pity that the Hibs men were so trusting, as John Glass and his partners were already making their own plans and these included financial inducements being offered to the best players in the Hibernian side that they might join Glasgow Celtic for the following season.
By August 1888, the Hibernian committee men had learned that the rumours where in fact true, and the cream of the best football side in Scotland would not be turning out for Hibernian, but rather had defected to Celtic and the riches being promised. Just as shocked as the Hibernian men were most of the Celtic committee as well, who had not been aware what John Glass and his supporters were doing. Even if Hibs had wished to take Celtic on like for like, they could not do so, the very being of Hibernian was that every penny earned went to charitable causes, Celtic had undertaking no such principles.
John Glass had recognised the massive financial rewards that would ensue from professional football. The game had gone professional in England sometime before, and Scotland was about to follow, all the same the way he set about using the loyalties of the Irish immigrant population left a sour taste in many a mouth. Celtic were seeking to have the best of both worlds, they would sign any players they wished while still retaining an appeal to the Irish community. Business had, not for the first time, trampled over idealism, money had spoken and it was not the first time in the history of Hibernian Football Club that they would suffer for their own ideals.
Pic: Brother Walfrid
This concludes 'The Origins of Hibernian'. Look out for more articles following the history of Hibernian football club to be published on this site soon. For a detailed history of Hibernian, you can purchase the three volumes 'The Making of Hibernian' by Alan Lugton, available via the Club store.
Stuart Crowther
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