Celtic Supporters Thread (contains GB chat)

I won't be at the games the Green Brigade aren't at * the board.

 

Thought long & hard on this. Thru this thread there’s subtle & not so subtle references to the ‘true fan’ or ‘level of fan’. TBH I get uncomfortable on this topic, never felt I’ve the right to judge another Celt. I work with a lad with a Celtic crest tattoo who’s never been to Celtic Park for example, how does he measure to me? I’ve no tattoo but my first game in Celtic Park was 1995? Dangerous territory & it’s kind of the one-upmanship those orange * love. I am NOT saying anyone here is comparable to one of them!! I just don’t like those discussions as they are unnecessarily divisive.


In a few of my other posts I’ve mentioned my kids. Last December I got them to Paradise for their first game. Initially to them it was just a weekend away with Mam & Dad, the football was just a bonus. But inside the stadium we had a clear view downwards on the GB. The boys loved it, transfixed with the atmosphere they created. The 5 year old going so far to say he wanted to be in that section next time I bring them.
I brought them to the Rovers match two weeks ago. Loved it. The youngest watched the full game back with me the next day. And both sat thru the first leg Linfield with me. The youngest made me promise I’d wake him up & give him the result of the second leg when he was going to bed & it hadn’t finished.
What they did that day in December, towards helping my boys understand my love of the club & make them supporters is incalculable. That’s what they can bring and achieve, they’ve pushed my two little lads onto the beginning of their own Celtic journey. The GB are needed, I firmly believe this, but they are not beyond reproach.


I still cannot fathom the logic in the banner other than a * you to the Ulster unionist mob. Or is there an agenda? Genuine question, we’re they trying to provoke the board and draw a ban? These guys aren’t stupid, too much care, time & thought goes into the visuals. We’re they attempting to bring things to a head so to speak?


I myself took no offence to the banner, I suppose why would I, but felt it was wrong to display it. The songs I have never had an issue with, growing up that was part of the sound of Celtic, but visually the struggle never was the visual side of it for me, the football was. If that makes sense? Not sure I’m getting this across clearly.


On fan ownership, I am not sure. I’m open to be convinced. But sometimes an emotionless board is better for the business side. Closing the section is pre-empt to offset a ban from UEFA, while at the same time slapping the GB down, win-win for the board. I’m very uncomfortable with it, but understand it. Things could get messy when they come back. I hope not.



Apologies for the length of post...........

 

Is this not exactly what the board has done though ?

 

Christ Sutton nails it in the Daily Rag.
The Green Brigade can’t say they were not warned and now they can’t complain at Peter Lawell taking such swift and strong action.

Maybe now the penny will drop. True supporters are not hellbent on hurting their club yet that is exactly what the Green Brigade have been doing over and over again.

Celtic have had enough. Lawwell has to be commended for the decision.

It couldn’t go on because the idiot element is in real danger of pushing UEFA once too often and suffering more serious consequences down the line.

In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if this course of action was taken to show the authorities the club can police itself to prevent them from having to step in.

Shutting the entire section might look harsh to some but what option was left? We’re talking about jeopardising safety and causing offence.

The Green Brigade will feel hard done by but surely they can see it’s the club that is suffering?


Going back to my time at the club, Celtic Park was our fortress. We might not have been so hot away in Europe but at our place we fancied our chances against anyone with the backing we received.

It’s the same these days but the current side is going to have to go into a massive qualifier with
Rosenborg without the support of the noisiest section of the ground.

No one wins here but Celtic were left with no other option.

Everyone knows flares are dangerous and there is no place in any football stadium around the world for paramilitary banners.

A football stadium is a sanctuary where supporters young and old should be able to shout, cheer and support their team on the pitch.

Of course you can celebrate history – but paramilitary organisations play no part in Celtic’s history.

People are entitled to their own private and personal views but what example does this set to young children attending the match?

Why should a parent have to explain what an illicit banner is to a young child?

Goodness knows where you would start as I had to have them explained to me.

There’s a lot about this I can’t get my head around.

I mean, everything should be positive at Celtic right now. They have a top-quality manager and a very good side on the pitch.

It’s been nothing but good news in the last 12 months and all this nonsense just seems so unnecessary...

 

Will be getting belted out in Newcastle this time next week mate. I can guarantee that

 

I think it if it had been left at the Brendan one none of this would have come up. It's the GB skull one that was too obvious.
The GB are incredible but should not have made it so blatant.
The songs can be misheard not noticed but the image of the GB skull was so blatant. It's all been down to that.
It also put Rodgers in an awkward situation and had him forced to lie which is a riddy.

 

What else could they do though? Expect the rest of the GB to name and shame the ones that made the banner?

 

Great post Mick. Agree 100%.

 

The bits in bold.

We're talking about causing offence.

 

Sutton can * off anaw!

 

Wits happening in the toon next week ?

 

Our train will be getting into Newcastle to change for the connection to Sunderland.

 

Right you gettin the metro over ?

 

That's bollocks mate...

And you're doing us, the fans a disservice..

Have a look at the Celtic Trust website, I can't understand why any Celtic fan would be against it..

We could still hire brilliant people to help run the club but would be able to shape our own destiny.

I wish people would think before dismissing it as a long-term option.

@Bunk Moreland

 

We're a * embarrassmen no other club in the world would do the * this board tries.

Imagine if Barcelona kicked out the Catalan nationalist fans or Rangers kicked out their loyalist fans. We're a joke.

Most of the fans thinking this * is justified probably haven't attended many games in their life and/or didn't give a * about us when were pish.

 

Was brendan happy with how he was represented in the banner, or is he a * to?.

 

It's a stupid pipe dream, romantic? sure. Intelligent? Is it *.

 

It would take time.. sure..

Pipe dream? Is it *!

 

It is, football is a business. Like it or not the club needs to be run like a business. Just look what happened when a Hun with a big ego ignored that fact