I went to Celtic park yesterday with the usual feeling of hope and joy that always always accompanies me on the first home game of a new season. The grass was green the sun was shining the game wasn't too bad but I came away from paradise feeling depressed.
At One point during the game the atmosphere was so bad that I could actually hear a toilet flushing and memories of our season at Hampden came flooding back. For the past few seasons if I hold my hand on my heart I would have to say that apart from champions league games and the odd other game,paradise has been very peaceful indeed and to be honest its been boring. the atmosphere against Rangers was very low key indeed and today I am truthfully sad.
Supporting Celtic for me is not about what players we have or how good our tactics are or even how well we do in competitions. For me its always been about the supporters, the people who make you proud and the distinguished history of a great club that we the support advertise to the world.
Celtic park and the atmosphere is just not the same as it was even 10 years ago and its getting worse. We all know that people leave early and that some of the more rousing songs have been dropped and that corporate seating makes sections of the crowd go quiet but its not just that, the games against spl clubs are always a dour defense against a one way attack and to be honest just not value for money.
So what can WE do about it. The Celtic singing section has died a death and the Junglebhoys have split in two after a bitter fued last season. The junglebhoys will continue this season and like them or loathe them we should offer them our support for at least making the effort to introduce some noise and colour back to paradise. The effort that went into card displays last season was very good indeed and the people who were too "cool" to hold their cards up are a disgrace to the name of Celtic.
Recently a new group of Celtic "fans" has emerged calling themselves the Green Brigade who are also trying to bring colour to Celtic games under the banner of being Celtic Ultras. The naming of this group and the unfortunate wording of its mission statement and the use of the worldwide ultras skull and crossbones flag has caused concern and will no doubt cause the club to take action aganst the group. The Green Brigade would have a VERY good chance of being able to bring the excitement and colour back to Celtic had they worded their statements more carefully and dropped their claims to be "a predominatly left-wing,pro-Irish republican anti-fascist group" which makes them non inclusive.
We fervently hope that these groups and any others which may start can bring back the atmosphere to Celtic park, an atmosphere of joy and celebration and not one of fear and intimidation. Any group of Celtic fans who try to do this deserves our support and both these groups are still in the process of evolution and their ideas and in some cases there politics are influenced by the fans. The main aim of these groups is to bring atmosphere back to Celtic park and done correctly it can only be for the good of the game.
Oh and as for the skull and crossbones in Celtic park? We Know a song about that dont we?
Those evil eyes,they have no place in paradise
At One point during the game the atmosphere was so bad that I could actually hear a toilet flushing and memories of our season at Hampden came flooding back. For the past few seasons if I hold my hand on my heart I would have to say that apart from champions league games and the odd other game,paradise has been very peaceful indeed and to be honest its been boring. the atmosphere against Rangers was very low key indeed and today I am truthfully sad.
Supporting Celtic for me is not about what players we have or how good our tactics are or even how well we do in competitions. For me its always been about the supporters, the people who make you proud and the distinguished history of a great club that we the support advertise to the world.
Celtic park and the atmosphere is just not the same as it was even 10 years ago and its getting worse. We all know that people leave early and that some of the more rousing songs have been dropped and that corporate seating makes sections of the crowd go quiet but its not just that, the games against spl clubs are always a dour defense against a one way attack and to be honest just not value for money.
So what can WE do about it. The Celtic singing section has died a death and the Junglebhoys have split in two after a bitter fued last season. The junglebhoys will continue this season and like them or loathe them we should offer them our support for at least making the effort to introduce some noise and colour back to paradise. The effort that went into card displays last season was very good indeed and the people who were too "cool" to hold their cards up are a disgrace to the name of Celtic.
Recently a new group of Celtic "fans" has emerged calling themselves the Green Brigade who are also trying to bring colour to Celtic games under the banner of being Celtic Ultras. The naming of this group and the unfortunate wording of its mission statement and the use of the worldwide ultras skull and crossbones flag has caused concern and will no doubt cause the club to take action aganst the group. The Green Brigade would have a VERY good chance of being able to bring the excitement and colour back to Celtic had they worded their statements more carefully and dropped their claims to be "a predominatly left-wing,pro-Irish republican anti-fascist group" which makes them non inclusive.
We fervently hope that these groups and any others which may start can bring back the atmosphere to Celtic park, an atmosphere of joy and celebration and not one of fear and intimidation. Any group of Celtic fans who try to do this deserves our support and both these groups are still in the process of evolution and their ideas and in some cases there politics are influenced by the fans. The main aim of these groups is to bring atmosphere back to Celtic park and done correctly it can only be for the good of the game.
Oh and as for the skull and crossbones in Celtic park? We Know a song about that dont we?
Those evil eyes,they have no place in paradise