Celtic\'\'s away support

1

Ahead of the match away to Falkirk tomorrow there’s a bit of controversy among Celtic fans about the songs sung by our away support. Rangers are in trouble over sectarian singing last week and now Celtic are afraid they’ll get in trouble too.

For that reason a group of various online Celtic message boards met today and came up with the following:

Today, a meeting was held to discuss the issue of contentious songs by several Celtic forums and websites, including Celtic Minded, Celtic Quick News, Jungle Bhoys, MoreThan90Minutes, Kerrydale Street and Keep the Faith.

None of the people involved consider ourselves to be the voice of the Celtic support, however, we believe we have the best interests of Celtic Football Club at heart.

Between us, we decided that the best short term solution is for Celtic supporters in attendance at tomorrows game and the coming away games to explode into a rendition of “Hail Hail” at the first signs of any ‘contentious’ songs.

We are fully aware the issue of songs can provoke emotional arguments and heated debate. This is not a definitive resolution to the outstanding issues on this subject but it is most certainly designed to deter the footballing authorities from initiating proceedings against our club, and for many the excellent reputation of our fanbase. In the coming weeks there will be no doubt further additions to this perpetual debate but we implore the support tomorrow not to sate the wishes of those in the press and many others within Scottish society who are salivating at the thought of having justification in applying the adage that ‘they are as bad as one another’.

This issue will be discussed by many and is ongoing but with the support being under microscopic scrutiny tomorrow, perhaps like never before then the responsibility lies to prove we are different, we are unique and it is Celtic first, Celtic last and Celtic overall.

HAIL HAIL

EDIT: Contentious - I think everyone already knows what the songs are that are covered by this. Soldier’s Song, Let The People Sing and The Fields Of Athenry are perfectly accpetable, we equally all know that.

A couple of points to note from this:

  1. The Huddleboard did not take part. They’d be seen as a little more republican and a little less slavish to the views of the Board of the club so really you’re talking about the self-proclaimed good guys policing themselves

  2. Nor were the Green Brigade invited who are a group of ultras/supporters who have done loads to try and generate support at home and away matches. The Jungle Bhoys have the backing of the Board and are watered-down cheerleaders to a certain extent.

  3. I don’t want to see Celtic having points deducted but really picking and choosing songs is semantics. Boys of the Old Brigade seems to be forbidden. It’s about the IRA (in 1916) but it’s not really any different to the Soldier’s Song or The Fields of Athenry in hailing a rebellion. It just gets tarnished because it has the words “IRA” in it instead of a more generic term like “rebellion.”

  4. I’d hate to see a song like Aiden McAnespie get drowned out by a chorus of Hail Hail. Not sure where this stands on the new “approved” list but it’s a cracking tune and more importantly it’s a passionate and important remembrance of someone murdered in the six counties. Though it has no proclamations of rebellion or mention of revenge it does have a reference to Gibralter which I think is probably enough for it to get disapproved.

  5. In summary I think this is a load of nonsense. By all means eradicate sectarianism and bigotry but barring rebel songs is not progress - it’s hiding from deeper problems.

The only song we might want to cut out is “Roamin in the Gloamin” which is pro-Catholic more than anti anything else but it’s not really relevant and shouldn’t be sung.

Just my opinion but our away support is usually superb and I hope they are again tomorrow.

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I pretty much agree with that word for word. The very existence of Celtic is directly related to Irish history, the famine, rebellion and so on. That’s why songs like TBOTOB are very relevant to Celtic supporters and are sung at Celtic games. Some people think there’s no place for such songs at sporting events but they don’t grasp Celtic’s history. I actually love the fact the songs we sing are meaningful and relevant to who we are and where we come from as a people, a team and a cause rather than something pathetic like ‘Take Me Home Old Trafford Road’ or ‘The Fields of Anfield Road’.

In that sense I hope to hear Aiden McAnespie echoing out around the ground tomorrow morning. Barring rebel songs makes absolutely no sense.

Post edited by: Bandage, at: 2007/08/11 00:13

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While you’re here rocko and to save me checking myself! Is the game on Setanta Ireland as well as Setanta Sports 1 tomorrow?

I expect all the pubs to be packed ahead for Roy Keane’s Sunderland vs Spurs so I need to be in a Celtic firendly pub if I can’t watch it at home.

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Looks like it’s just Setanta Sports 1.

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I’ll probably shoot into Frazer’s to watch tmrw’s game then as previously I could watch Celtic games on Setanta Ireland in my local pub as that’s on the ntl package and EPL is on a separate on the Sky platform. But Setanta Sports 1 and Sky are on the same platform for some reason so town it is. Obviously I don’t expect you to join me rocko but that’s where I’ll be should you wish to devour some of my tactical knowledge.

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I’m going to Croker afterwards and have to meet people to get the ticket so I’m probably just watching first half at home and recording second half and heading into town then. Was going to try and go in earlier and just watch the match in Frazers and head along to the ground afterwards but not possible.

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Oh father why are you so sad,
On this bright Easter morn,
When Irish men are proud and glad,
Of the land where they were born…

8

It seems we were very good bhoys and ghirls at Falkirk:

From the Celtic site

Gregor Kyle

THE CELTIC supporters have earned the praise of both the Scottish Premier League and the club after their behaviour at todays league match against Falkirk.

Coming in the immediate wake of new guidelines about unacceptable conduct at football stadiums, the supporters behaviour at this match was impeccable, with Celtic Chief Executive Peter Lawwell praising their efforts at the final whistle.

With this game coming in the same week that the club were asked to observe the new rules on unacceptable conduct we are delighted with the magnificent support and response that we got from our supporters at the Falkirk Stadium, said Lawwell.

It was a tremendous performance from both them and the team this afternoon.

We will now look forward to this weeks Champions League qualifier and next weekends trip up to Aberdeen, where we are sure they will provide a similar backing.

With their behaviour today, the supporters have done themselves and the club proud.

The SPL match observer at the Falkirk Stadium also reported that the authorities were entirely satisfied with the behaviour and conduct of the Celtic supporters.