Dizzy the fans who support Celtic as a football club are in an absolute minority, a tiny minority. Most support Celtic because they are the Catholic, Irish club. Wearing a Celtic top is seen as some sort of badge of Irishness. My dislike of these fans isn't contained to Celtic, I have equal disdain for those that support Rangers because they are the Protestant, British establisment club. I think these sorts of fans in fact ruin it for the real fans who simply want to support their club but see others drag religion and sectarianism into it. I remember the footage of Celtic fans booing the minute's silence for Rembrance day I think it was and John Reid just shaking his head. You could tell he was disgusted not only that these 'fans' were doing it but also that they were representing a large proportion of his teams support

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 14/04/2010 14:06:03    617113

Yea and I agree with most of the points your making there but I think the people on the hoganstand forum are not these kinda people. The people u are talking about have no real interest in celtic and would never even be bothered to have any kinda debate about the club cause they don't really care. I just think that all ur anti celtic comments that u put on this page are directed at the wrong people.

dizzydub (Dublin) - Posts: 339 - 14/04/2010 14:40:44    617177

Why do so many Irish people support Celtic Dizzydub? Because of the outstanding football that they play? Because of the top class footballers that they can attract? I believe they nearly signed Messi, Cassano, Lucio and Yaya Toure in the January transfer window. Is it the quality of the league they play in. I believe it to be europes most competitive league. Nice Jersey?? Green and White Hoops?? All secret Shamrock Rovers fans?? No it's because they see it as an extension of their Irishness, and that's why you will see so many Celtic jerseys at Ireland matches. I don't like it. I don't see the connection. We should all be wearing Boston Celtics, Notre Dame or London Irish jerseys.

If we're completely honest with ourselves, the reason that so many Irish people like to support Celtic is because it gives them a "legitimate" excuse to vent their hatred of Ulster protestants, "because the Rangers supporters up North are so bigoted". They feel more fenian, and for these buffoons, the lines between Irishness, Catholicism, Republicanism and football have become so blurred that they are unable to see what their support really is. Hatred.

Damo1972 (Meath) - Posts: 784 - 14/04/2010 15:02:16    617228

Pomeroy and Dizzy, what do you think Celtic/Rangers rivalary is? Are you that naive to think football is simply about football. As far as i am aware it started with Franco and real madrid, mixing football with politics religion traditions and whatever has been around a long time. Dizzy you're a season ticket holder, i thought your education on this would be better than most about Celtic (esp in here), of course its not as documented thats the society we live in you have to be seen to be non sectarian anti bigotry etc etc. I remember the days when rfb bands played before testomonials at cp, this culture cant just disappear. All football derbys round the world have a certain amount of hatred in them, some worse than others, even the most tame Liverpool/ Evrton carry baggage of religous divide of the past. Liverpool used to sing about loyalism and still to this day a big July march in Southport is attended by a small number with Liverpool/Rangers half and half scarves. Manchester there was a divide too, historically city would be linked with Rangers, united with Celtic, i remember been at a match at Maine road where a celtic player was on loan Gerry Crainey i think, the abuse while it was a tiny minority was all about "fenian this fenian that" ended up in a blast of chicken soup for bobby sands the fenian ******.
My point is it exists in a lot of grounds around the world, but it seperates Celtic/Rangers traditions and cultures you will never change that

51longago (Mayo) - Posts: 2981 - 14/04/2010 15:13:14    617246

No I just thinks its that the Glasgow born celtic fans have always had a soft spot for the irish and anytime an irish person goes over to Glasgow they treat us like kings. Its very easy to like a club wen the fans take to u straight away. There are always some irish players playing for celtic to and that always makes people take interest in the club. I no a lot of the irish support is cause celtic fc are very good at promoting the whole irish thing. It's the same as wat happened wen Roy Keane took over at Sunderland. I don't think many would use celtic as a way to abuse Ulster protestants. U don't need to follow a football club to do that if that's wat ur interested in

Wen I think of the reasons why a person would follow celtic I don't think of Ulster protestants or anything like that, I think of the European nights and the year we got to the uefa cup final and some of the magnificent characters that have been at celtic and that iv had the pleasure of meeting like Tommy Burns, Billy McNeil,Martin O Neil and Berti Auld. I would like to think that many of the celtic fans here would be of the same opinion. Celtic are one of only a few clubs that constant abuse cause of stupid fans but everyone has these fans

dizzydub (Dublin) - Posts: 339 - 14/04/2010 15:28:26    617281

pomery my only real point is you slag celtic fans for being barstool supporters, yet your in the exact same position living over here, yet you dont see yourself as being a barstool supporter. not see the contradiction

32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4195 - 14/04/2010 15:29:46    617284

'pomery my only real point is you slag celtic fans for being barstool supporters, yet your in the exact same position living over here, yet you dont see yourself as being a barstool supporter. not see the contradiction '

I'll make this point for the last time because I'm sick of repeating it ad nauseum. If you can't grasp it then I give up. I think supporting a club for religious or political reasons is totally ridiculous. 51longago is your stereotypical Celtic fan, Dizzy seems to be against the whole sectarian side of it to give him his dues but 51longago actively embraces it. As Damo pointed out why not support London Irish, Boston Celtics as well then if 'Irishness' is why you follow a club. The Old Firm are stuck in the 19th century and their demise is a great thing for football in my eyes. It's not about the number of games you can get to, that's not why I'm critical of Old Firm fans. That last sentence you should read a couple of times as it's relevant to what you're saying

pplocal (Tyrone) - Posts: 5878 - 14/04/2010 16:09:27    617350

What is the problem here? Some people like Celtic, some people don't. Some people like Shamrock Rovers, some people don't. We all like or dislike clubs for different reasons, but Celtic seem to inspire passionate love or hatred in Ireland. Why, in particular, do so many Irish hate Celtic"

Formerlyconor (Dublin) - Posts: 6 - 14/04/2010 16:20:30    617370

well then supporting a club randomly, that you have no connection to in another country is just ridiculous. how can it mean as much to you as it does to someone born in the shadow of villa park. it simply doesnt. i remember leeds being relegated. aldults and little children in elland road crying. yet i have and uncle and 1 or 2 mates who also support leeds, who turn the tv off to see whats for dinner

32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4195 - 14/04/2010 17:53:45    617551

Pomeroy, " 51longago actively embraces it".....blah blah. I have friends who are Rangers fans, have often been in house party after old firm and sang the boys of the old brigade and they would sing the sash back at us, all a bit of banter, it is blown up by idiots like you, trying to make out its a big deal. I am glad i have met some good Tyrone folk in my time because a lot of it's posters in here are just pathetic and you my friend are a closet Celtic fan. Let it all out come on , you love the hoops, ahh the poor gasuan.

51longago (Mayo) - Posts: 2981 - 14/04/2010 18:44:14    617612

In 1987, when Scotland played Bulgaria.....with Ireland needing Scotland to win to put us through to the European championships. All the Rangers players Cried off injured in a meanigless game for Scotland, As they didn't want to help Ireland through...So scotland played most of there Celtic players and second string players, Scotland won 1-0, through Gordon McKay...... So 22 years ago they must of...but that was 22 years ago...

JFK (Wexford) - Posts: 590 - 14/04/2010 19:22:14    617662

i see now why pomeroy is always moaning if i supported villa i to would be always moaning to i hear their leasing out their trophy cabinet they dont use it

bottles (Wicklow) - Posts: 243 - 21/04/2010 19:36:29    625054

I am an Irish émigré who has lived in the U.S. for 19 years. Celtic has and will always have a certain symbolic meaning, especially for immigrants. If you live in Ireland and don't understand that then that is fine, we don't need you too. Many people in Ireland are going through a natural rejection of nationalism and its symbols -one of which is Celtic- and that is a good thing. Also, a good friend of mine in the states is Scottish - he is also catholic and a highlander. To Scots of that certain demographic, Celtic represent a symbol of defiance against the mainly Protestant, British, leadership in Scottish society. By the way I am neither Catholic nor a Celtic supporter - however, I like to see them succeed.

jaffa18 (Cork) - Posts: 177 - 21/04/2010 20:41:30    625125

14/04/2010 15:28:26
dizzydub
County: Dublin
Posts: 113

617281
No I just thinks its that the Glasgow born celtic fans have always had a soft spot for the irish and anytime an irish person goes over to Glasgow they treat us like kings



Likewise Belfast born Orange "Kick the Pope" bandsmen have a softvspot for the Jocks and treat them like kings when they visit on the twelfth.

Gary mitchell wrote an excellent play on the subject.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 21/04/2010 21:18:18    625177

jaffa18
Why is it a good thing to reject signs of nationalism? A swift kick up the backside is what some of ye want and told to mind your manners.Todays society and upcoming generation are so patronising, who on earth has the right to dictate to a nations people and in a sense make it uncool to be nationalist.

There are a section of support at Celtic trying to introduce a " were Scottish club, Mcgeady is a toss.r he should of declared for scotland" all that jazz is just a road that will not be taken as we are a bigger club than that and will never end up, the west of Scotlands equivalent to Hibs.

If all the daftys in here don't like Celtic and our traditions, good luck to ye, you are entitled to your opinions, i'm not the bigot its ye that are the bigots trying to force an issue you all so clearly do not have a notion about.

Celtic first, Celtic last and Celtic overall.

51longago (Mayo) - Posts: 2981 - 21/04/2010 21:27:03    625189

http://www.poster.net/anonymous/anonymous-celtic-fans-4900982.jpg

yes..... they dont support them whatsoever....

PRDY (Mayo) - Posts: 141 - 21/04/2010 21:43:06    625202

You say Nationalist this and that blah blah yet you support a British team, They represent Scotland in Europe, The raise Scottish European coefficients and low and behold if you are born in Scotland you get a British passport. Glasgow Celtic also pay their taxes to HRM. Which part of being Irish Celtic believe they are still boggles the mind. If all this nationalism matters why not support an Irish team, a team that flies the flag for this country, a team that pays wages, taxes and keeps the money in the economy, a team that when they take the field are representing every county, City, town and viallage on this island.

If you firmly believe in Irish emmigrants and all that malarky maybe you should be supporting HIbs, afterall they were the first team to be set up by Irish emmigrants and well they were names after this country.

scottyccfc (Cork) - Posts: 335 - 22/04/2010 08:39:16    625257

Scottyccfc
low and behold if you are born in Scotland you get a British passport

Wrong! Aidan McGeady has an irish passport!!! so has Ray Houghton, Owen Coyle, tommy coyne

Secondly, what has paying tax to ' Her majesty' got to do with it... Shay given, Roy keane, damian duff etc pay tax to HRH. Does this mean they are not Irish.?? In fact when was the last time the above mentioned paid a cent to the Irish govt??? Again, does this mean they are not Irish?

Meath_bhoy (Meath) - Posts: 590 - 22/04/2010 10:58:49    625387

pomeroy you go on like another lad from tyrone i worked with in new york .you know he thought he knew everthing about every thing aswell he was a big GAA fan and went on as if anyone who liked soccer was a sell out neddless to say everyone we worked with who by the way were mostly irish thought this guy was a real idiot .my point is you can not go around telloing people how they should think you have your opinion and thats fine .but i know your opinion is wrong .ray houghton . mcgeady .and that young fella macarty from wigan .all must support ireland that answers your silly question does celtic fans in scotland fallow ireland .now whos point just got blown out of the water.
damo dont see your point about boston celtics and notre dame they play a different sport like i am a fan of boston celtic in basketball and notre dame in collage football i fallow the new york giants in the NFL but none of that should stop me from supporting bohs or celtic i just did not get your point the rest of the post is fair enough
scotty another silly point made years ago .CELTIC ARE A MUCH BIGGER CLUB THAN HIBS SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND same way all the english league fans pick the bigger clubs to fallow

njersey (Dublin) - Posts: 171 - 22/04/2010 11:30:45    625418

Oh sweet jesus, I was trying to point out that Glasgow Celtic (Glasgow being a hint there) are a Scottish football team, not Irish, not Brazilian, not Jamaican but Scottish. They are a British football club. Thats my point, knit pick your way through my post if you wish but bottom lline is CELTIC ARE NOT IRISH! They never will be. If they were, how come we have never played them in a league or cup game???

scottyccfc (Cork) - Posts: 335 - 22/04/2010 11:46:26    625433