Celtic Supporters Thread (contains GB chat)

Very good post. Instead of just saying that, though, I thought it was better to actually comment on it .

You really do seem to have an excellent grasp of English and have a knowledge of the subject that is certainly more than just tabloid gossip and rumours.

The only part I have any issue with is, admittedly, not even an opinion of yours, but an observation:

I would tend to think that such a left-leaning fans group such as the GB would not entertain the notion of propagating themselves as "the only real supporters" just because they are an Ultra group - and an Ultra group notoriously hard to join at that. It just wouldn't be true, quite frankly. Nevertheless I think the fact you've observed it as a possibility due to the nature of other Ultra groups is important, and not altogether improbable to be quite honest. I just wouldn't agree with it, regardless of the massive effort they put in to displays and just even getting to games just now.

Another part of your post I found interesting was:

I think that is true with regards to growing repression. And becoming more evident the longer they've been in existence. I'm not, however, sure about the second line. By their own admission they are apparently considering disbanding if the treatment they receive doesn't significantly diminish. I would like to think that this particular aspect of your post is going to turn out true though; the Fans Against Criminalisation group (though not being just the GB) has already shown there is support for them and in my opinion it is a distinct possibility that they will not disband anyway and will continue to be active in letting other fans know the treatment they get.

The bolded bit is the best part of your post for me. Absolutely spot on and a way of looking at the wider context (i.e. not just the GB's individual plight) that others don't really consider as much as they should.

Well done mate, really good post

 

I'd actually agree with what yer man was saying - heard plenty of young dicks who follow the GB around thinking they are better than the rest of the support because they are on their feet like good little boys.

 

At the same time though, I'd class them as proper supporters. A lot more than a lot of the sandwich munching overpriviliged * you get in Parkhead these days.

 

That's kind of my point though mate. It doesn't make them so just because they go around with (or behind) the GB. Plus the ones you're talking about must not be actually in the GB if they are just following them around . I just couldn't see the GB deliberately propagating themselves as "the only real fans", that's all. Don't think there's anything wrong with questioning that part . As I said, it wasn't Oli's opinion, it was an observation he made on some Ultras rather than the GB specifically or saying that's what he thought.

 

That was the best post I have ever read on this forum

Well said Oli

 

Wow fantastic post Oli

 

Just because someone isnt on their feet the whole match doesnt make them *.

 

I think trying to rank fans on the basis of how much of a supporter they are is total nonsense.

What would these be based on?

who sings the loudest?
who attends the most matches?
who buys the most merchandise?
who's the most "pro-rebel"?

At the end of the day, as a Celtic fan I can recognise someone who supports the club as much as I do a mile off, and from anywhere in the world. There's absolute elation when we win a big game and heartfelt grief when we lose. There's also genuine love for the legends of the club.

I was watching the Juve game with some work colleagues who were fans, but you could tell as each goal went in that it just wasn't that important to them. 5 minutes after it was over and it was as if it had never happened. For me though it completely ruined my night and was on my mind constantly for the next few days :smiley-laughing002:

I would say that anyone who takes the time to post on a Celtic messageboard with any regularity is a genuine fan tbh.

 

Again - this is true.

 

They seemed to care a great deal when we went down there for a supposed 'friendly'.

 

Does anybody have a couple of photos of the whole green brigade protest

 

We have some common ground. They seemed to care when showing up at Peterboro a few years ago and in Norwich for the Adam Drury testimonial before that.

 

This'll be the same Chelsea headhunters that come up to Glasgow now and again to attend games at Ibrox?

 

Bunch of *. Arrived in plenty of time, got penned in by polis in a pub for the whole of the first half while these * were screaming their bile at us, then marched up the road to the ground, all the while these ugly * baying for our blood.
Fkn horror show...
And they were lucky to get a draw...

 

Terrific post Oli That's the first time I've read anything that makes sense with regard to groups like the GB and their place in football.

 

It would indeed. I wasn't there myself but I have been told at one Rangers game they even sat in the Celtic end and celebrated a McCoist goal at Celtic Park. But only did that once I believe.

 

Very good post Oli (and your English is excellent). I agree with a lot of what you have said but I have a couple of points:

I don't really believe in the "criminalisation of the football fan" argument. I am sure local authorities and police forces across Europe would quite happily spend less money policing football, but they cannot. They cannot because "we" (the football collective) have a pretty poor record of behaving ourselves. A few decades ago in Britain many clubs had a real problem with violence and some very nasty songs. Football supporter firms grabbed headlines in tabloids and turning football into a battleground. Likewise, racism, sexism, homophobia, and sectarianism was rife in a lot of football grounds. Authorities were forced to act because unlike fans of many other sports, football fans could not behave themselves (of course I am talking about fans as a huge collective but I still think the point is valid).

Today thankfully the vast majority of fans and teams have progressed to a level of civility where you do not really get widespread violence and hatred in the stands anymore. You still get idiots of course, but not to the extent that football was scarred with in the 80s. Rightly or wrongly (I think wrongly), many people view "ultra" groups in the same way as they viewed "firms" - guys who go along to puff up their chests and cause bother. We can only blame the authorities to an extent as so much of the attention given to football fans have been brought about by ourselves.

Without going over old ground, the Green Brigade split opinion because they sing songs and fly banners that some people find offensive, some find inappropriate, and some love because they see it as a positive part of the game that is being marginalised. It is simple as that really. And as you, that is exactly what you would expect from an "ultra" group. My objection however is when people come to consider this the "real" fan, as opposed to people who do not preach politics at a football game, or are "over privileged" or who eat sandwiches rather than pies at half time (!).

The Green Brigade and their defenders are well within their rights to defend their position, but likewise fans who want to support their favourite team without having to listen and see contentious songs and banners are well within their right to speak against the ultras. It is give and take and the reason we have so much discussion on threads like this. But speaking as someone who does not feel criminalised at celtic park, and someone who is content to eat a pie or a sandwich, I do think some football fans do like to pick and chose when it suits them to claim offence and oppression from the plc or the police, and when they chose to revel in things that they know others take offence at, and pick quarrels with the plc and police.

 

I am not sure how many people would view 80'sfirms as the same as the GB. I would certainly hope nobody anywhere the GB does.( And I am not a member )

I have absolutely no time for these firms but if you are talking about Racism, Bigotry, homophobia, sexism and Sectarianism then the Police forces of this time were certainly proficient in all of these.

I would suggest football fans in general have made great strides from these dark days. I am not sure those that want to criminalise football fans have kept up.

 

How can you not believe in the criminalisation of football fans? Have you heard about this new legislation they brought in called the "Offensive behaviour at the Football" bill?

Where you can be lifted for aggressively blessing yourself?

Where there is a lengthy list of failed court cases after people being lifted for holding a bed sheet or singing a song?

I couldn't really give a * about "the football collective", when was the last time the Celtic support misbehaved to warrant this level of attention?

 

Right it appears this Section 122 is a serious attempt at organising a new group for atmosphere. A forum has been created and its all over Twitter.

On the forum it does mention a meeting with Celtic (not suggesting anything, just noting it). 19th March is the meeting, should know more by then.

As it stands, the forum has 50 members.

There is a FAQs page explaining some things. If I'm permitted to relay it I will. Will ask a mod now