Celtic Supporters Thread (contains GB chat)

Very good post. Also very true.

 

Image removed by staff. 24hr ban issued.

http://www.talkceltic.net/forums/threads/ban-on-gifs-images-and-spamming.130623/

 

"A club like no other....ummmm unless we're getting fined for being that....then it's 'No UEFA we are just like every other club......we stand for nothing'" - the board



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

 

The weirdest thing about this whole matter is our board installs politicians on the board itself (Lord Reid) who profit from being a director of G4S which is known for its deplorable activities in Isreal, yet the board insists our club cannot operate in a political manner. So those at the top can be all partisan but the minions at the bottom diplaying banners/singing songs cannot be so overtly political?

As you say lads @freitassen @packybhoy @StPauli1916 its basically a complete load of bollocks. The Hun display Brit flags and Loyalist propaganda all the time but because it comes in the form of a Union jack thats all apparently nice and subtle isn't it? Even though the British Empire killed more people than the IRA ever did. I've also never seen the Hun's board or ANY Loyalist or Orange Order affiliated/supporting organization apologize for their displays of even the most reactionary aspects of their 'cultural identity'.

This to me seems to be the main problem with the Republican movement and/or people willingly/unwillingly related/associated or even supportive of it. They cant get past this one huge oxymoron in their mentality. They are too apologetic about their history/struggles/culture if they support Irish Republicanism or conversely way too keen to bend over backwards to disassociate themselves from anything to do with it.

Also TIME AFTER TIME I have seen apologetic idiots with their ignorance of the most basic tenants of British Imperialism and Irish History on Celtic's Facebook page, reel off the line that football and politics do NOT mix. What absolute nonsense. If Brother Walfrid felt Catholicism, Poverty and Football could mix and form a football club.........why cant politics and football? Corporatism is basically responsible for historical revisionism in many many areas from politics to sport, speaking as someone who is studying History at University. It never serves your average joe well. Which is exactly why it is extremely dissapointing to see Celtic fans who should know better show distaste towards Republican's who stood up for their right to freedom, existence and expression of their common culture.

About our supporters. They need educating in some cases, or basically show greater consideration before spouting some of the * they've been coming out with in support of the club today. It seems to me like some of our fans perversely want a completely sanitized one size fits all model of a fanbase. By doing that we would lose our individuality and identity as a club and as a fanbase. Do you see Rayo Vallecano or St Pauli or Athletic Bilbao apologizing about supporting Socialist projects/politics or the campaign for Basque separatism? In a word, no. Those clubs respect their supporters rights to freedom of association and political allegiance or interpretation of history. They also give CLEAR evidence when injuries have been incurred through pyrotechnics or the police have been called because of apparently secterian banners/singing.

Therefore I still maintain one of the best things about our club and our supporters is we have our OWN IDENTITY and sometimes we are not afraid about evoking it and all the historical representations of it. Whether that be (first and foremost) legendary players/managers and victories from days gone by OR the plight of the Irish Diaspora and the activities of the Republican movement standing up for them throughout history.

People need to have a think about this. Its basically UEFA going against individuals/collective societies right to FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION and the club shooting itself in the foot for a very important game vs Rosenborg. Returning to what I said earlier... if Brother Walfrid felt religion mixed with football, why doesn't politics?

The reason it DOES mix and there is nothing wrong about displaying/expressing our identity as a fan base through is as @freitassen quite rightly said, we support the club together but we have always struggled together as fans let alone as a club. Our identity and shared cause and purpose keeps that solidarity between us as we cheer the team on. it keeps up tight. It makes us different.

 

Disappointed all round at this situation, totally stinks.

Given the situation, I feel these banners were actually quite mild. We all know the 'Rodgers at work' is a nod to another sign, but for me that doesn't make it wrong. It was a good banner, witty in typical GB style with an air of controversy, a pro-Celtic banner.

The other banner is also clear as day, but there's no reference to anything that makes it 'illicit'. Again, we all know what it is, but I feel as if it needs more to be defined as anything other than a GB skull/logo dressed in camouflage with an Easter Lilly. Is it the Camo that makes it illicit? The Easter Lilly, a symbol of remembrance like the poppy? Both combined? Due to being in the presence of folk from the o6? Because last time I checked there is nothing illegal about someone wearing a camouflage jacket and displaying an Easter Lilly, despite by what it might be perceived as subjectively.

Huns parade soldiers in full regalia, shoot cannons and all sorts every year without fail. Pure heavy Illicit behaviour.

I'm usually one who backs the club to the hilt, not this time. Disappointed that they have chosen to punish the GB in this way, at this time. I have no problems with the board setting boundaries, for the record. If the club are that concerned about the GB putting the club in a bad light, they should be vetting these banners on arrival. Everycunt and their dug knew the connotations attached to this match, ffs they even banned our fans from the away leg, surely those brains in the blazers had a fair idea as to where and what they should be on the lookout for, before it's displayed on mass around the world, in Europes premier football tournament.

If they're that concerned, stuff it out before it gets to this stage * sake!

Secondly, I'm as disappointed with the talk of boycotts as I am with the rash actions of the board. We don't support the board or the GB, we support that crest. "Faithful through and through", not "Faithful when the board are giving it our way". Abandoning our club for it's, arguably, biggest games of the season is totally counterproductive. Those players out there gave us an incredible, unforgettable season and they deserve our collective backing. We are now already without the main voice in the stands, last thing we need is to have a couple thousand/hundred less. It may make no difference at all, but If it were to go pear shaped, it would be a misfortune coincidence.

All for backing the GB, just not in the form of a boycott. Protest outside CP after the match, let the board hear you're feelings at the match, whatever, there are other ways.

 

Cheers. Most definitely pal.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

Unless its for Lord Reid.......

 

This is the reason why I have always been a bit neutral to negative on the whole 'ultra' stuff. Because in many cases what is going on in the game becomes secondary and it becomes far more about drawing attention to the group rather than focussing on supporting the team. It is maybe just a modern fashion that I feel too old for, but the ultra tradition is a relatively new, European thing. Our grandparents and great grandparents who supported celtic didnt wear balaclavas and light fireworks. It has never ever been part of footballing tradition at celtic or anywhere else in the UK so to me losing it may hurt the atmosphere but you certainly arent losing anything from celtics history or tradition.

Singing songs about the IRA is a different discussion for the reasons you highlight. You might argue that these songs have always been part of supporting the team and therefore why change. Or you might argue that they are not longer appropriate. But they have undoubtedly been part of the culture of many celtic fans for decades unlike the ultra stuff. If rebel songs disappeared from celtic that is rightly or wrongly a change from the past.

 

I'm proud of the Celtic republican support, and why not. Ive never shirked from an argument with fans of other clubs about it (as it's a relevantly easy debate to tie them in knots with), & when you come down to the nitty gritty we were supporting a resistance cause.
I'll never allow anyone to make me feel ashamed of that.
The rebelliousness within the GB is the very rebelliousness that the majority Celtic supporters have within their very DNA.
The club itself has been entwined within politics throughout its history. From the tricolour debacle to the fight for the clubs very survival. I rember the Irish Taoiseach coming over for games.
To expect the GB who are very, very politically aware not to show their true colours when they are questioned or to be ashamed of our supporters association with a freedom fighting cause is naive by the club.

As RATM say "* you, I won't do what you tell me . . . * . . "

 

I stood in the jungle, I sang rebel songs with great gusto, I still do
They are not illegal, you can buy them in HMV, so they may offend people but they are not illegal.
When I was a young man I thought I was the reincarnation of Wolfe Tone and a foot soldier for republicanism. I was set straight one day whilst I was in the middle of a rant by a gentleman from the occupied six counties. He said enough to shut me up and make me think about my next actions.
To this day as a grown man I have very very strong political opinions regards Ireland, Palestine, the behaviour of western governments creating an unstable world etc etc. I care, I blog, I attend meetings, I contribute to causes and charities like any decent human being would do. I am not a brain dead sloth who believes what the New World Order media throw out at me on screen and in print.
I believe all of the above is a part of being a Celtic fan. I also believe that if people want to rock up to the stadium and sit on their hands and just watch the game then that is their right.
If no one man is bigger than the jersey then equally no one fan is better than the other. We all want to see Celtic win. We all want to enjoy being at the game. We all want the players to feel at ease and give their all. We all enjoy when the stadium is rocking.
Now and again the most witty and best intentioned banner or display goes wrong or it is misinterpreted. Now and again we know fine well when a line has been crossed. No point shouting in defence or in condemnation. It causes division for no reason. We are not stupid and we all know that deep down we have to say "oops", we should move on (to coin a favourite media phrase) and not dig our heals in because that just drives a wedge between fans of the same cause - Celtic.
We are there to support Celtic. Celtic are not solely the sporting wing of republicanism. We represent Many things and I do believe that a strong republican view is one of them. Equally we welcome all colours and creeds. Part of that means we need to be appreciative that some folks just don't get the more imaginative and creative republican connotations.
The bottom line is that if we cause the club to be disciplined and fined we need to step back and and ask why and realise that there are other ways to fight our battles against oppressive officialdom.
We criticise others and demand they are reprimanded for bad behaviour whilst giving our many detractors a stick to beat us with.
This is a time in our history when karma has come to roost. We are the dominant force after years of being cheated. The new version of the cheats are in complete disarray and stumble from one PR disaster to another. They are now of no consequence other than our constant amusement. The EBTs are all now illegal not just the DOS and five they admitted were illegal.
This is our time to sit back and enjoy the revenge for all the years of their superiority and cheating. We should be having a laugh riot, not self imploding.

Cool heads required, no more Sevco like "whataboutery". Support the team.

The best thing about Wednesday other than cuffing that shower of *? When they piped up with WATP and after a slight pause of stunned - are they actually singing that? - we all burst out laughing at them. A brilliant moment that concisely sums up where we are and where they are.

Let's go to the game and enjoy Celtic, we have waited generations for this.

 

And you can guarantee there will be no stadium closer and biting your banger is hardly going to help the situation,Celtic's heart has been beating long before the GB came along and will beat long after there gone,wee boys trying to be hard

 

This

 

To be honest the * have got worse since he moved on, atleast he had his back of the bus moment to the SFA.

 

Seems someone has bit your banger after all

 

Surely warning letter should have been sent out to the 900 or so supporters before a 2 game ban was implemented. I get that we have to be seen to be making an example but surely a warning would have been sufficient to start with

 

In all honesty folks both sides have to accept blame .
The board need to grow a pair of balls and stand up for he players and fans for the constant abuse they receive . The GB need to reign in their actions as they are a fantastic asset to the club for the atmosphere they bring to the ground .
Hopefully both sides learn from the latest event and we all move forward stronger and united

 

Really good article on this tbh.

http://readceltic.com/2017/07/21/a-two-game-ban-so-simple-in-its-style/

 

The green brigade would be a big loss to celtic park but they have also been backed by the board with a standing section.
I love a reb as much as then next guy personally I found no problem with the banners and songs but cant say the same for UEFA. The green brigade need to pick and choose what battles to fight like the Palestine flags which got us world wide acclaim.
We live in a british dictatorship where anything against the grain is condemned.
Aye the huns and linfield do worse than us but the fact is the * loyalists are in downing street.
We shouldnt roll over and die and let them surpress our views but we dont necessarily need to do it in a UEFA competition when we know are going to get hammered.
A stadium closure could cost us a place in the champions league which could result in the loss of a possible £30 million, our manager, our top players.
The GB, the board, the rest of Celtic park and beyond are all die hard Celtic fans and we should put Celtic first before all.

 

Dunno if this has been mentioned...

What's the difference between the Rodgers at work banner and the banner the mutants had "hello hello .....it's good to be back". You need to put 2 and 2 together to make the jump from the Rodgers banner to an IRA sniper one, in the same sense we all know that hello hello is the start to a song about being up to your knees.

And aye, it's clutching at straws. But that makes my point - this whole thing is massively clutching at straws like *.

Was anyone hurt? Naw.

What's worse - a daft banner or throwing objects at players and attempted pitch invasions?

I think the board had to do something to appease UEFA, but it's a load of old bollocks