Thoughts on being a Celtic fan

One of the things I've always been proud of as a Celtic fan is, despite a long history of success on the field, the culture surrounding the club is one of romance rather than one of winning. A lot of sports fans have deep emotional bonds with their teams but with Celtic it seems to run that bit deeper because it's based on something more solid and tangible than a game won here, or a cup won there.

Against Arsenal today, even at 3-0 down, you could only hear Celtic fans singing.

And just think of the songs we sing - yes, there are a fair few celebrating past glories, and fair enough, but think of the iconic ones.

You'll never walk alone.

We don't care if we win, lose or draw.

Last season was * horrible but I don't think it was a lack of winning that hurt us, but seeing a spineless team, full of (with honourable exceptions) mercenaries who didn't care about the team. If there's a crime that's unforgivable to us, it's one of our own not understanding what they belong to, or what they're playing for.

There's a * of a lot of negativity on this forum, a lot of it directed towards the board, and some of it even directed towards new signings or the manager.

How can we blame a player for not understanding the Celtic tradition if we don't give them the full support we promise?

If you were, say, Samaras, would the words You'll never walk alone stir ANYTHING inside of you, when you know that the next time you take a poor touch the whole ground will be tutting and shaking their heads? Especially when other players - such as Keane or McCourt - get the backing of the fans even on a bad day?

I'm using the last of the money in my bank to get myself to Parkhead on Wednesday. I really hope I'm surrounded by fans who're there to support the team, WIN LOSE OR DRAW, and show the new boys that they'll have our full support as long as they give everything for the shirt.

If you just want to go and moan about Samaras or Mulgrew or Lennys defensive tactics, please - give your ticket to someone who cares and and go have a moan down the pub.

And if you're at the game, let's turn Paradise into a fortress once again.


"Football without the fans is nothing" - Jock Stein

 

well said mate, starting from wednesday!!

 

Negativity is your define, but genuine fans who want Celtic to get better, maybe this will happen this season but if everybody agreed with everything said on here it would be * boring, we have been absolute decline even when WGS won the last league title and knew all we needed was 2 or 3 qualitiy players and maybe he would have stayed, so we are in this position because of the way other people are in charge, they are the ones who appoint managers and give the for budget to buy or not to buy players, or am I missing something here ????

 

Fans are entitled to moan if players are not up to scratch.

You dont have the rite to tell fans to go to the pub and moan.
These fans care just as much and maybe more than you or me.

 

* post and a half mate. thats the thing about celtic, everywhere youu go you'll always get at least one random person shouting mon the hoops if your sporting a celtic top. sometimes its a horrible thing tbh, sitting chewing your nails off but thats what celtic's all about and why i * love them ! MON THE HOOPS1

 

i would say this start from when o'neil was at the club and then it was going south after that WGS got lucky cause the huns had * all money and then paul le guen then walter came back and a good man manger and the cry was 10 defenders they won the leauge back,

we just need to hope we hammer the filth this season, i hope so and that lennon will see some of the faults in his side ie scott brown, needs to go.... lets sing like the way parkhead used to be and carry the team forward.... we can only hope we win the leauge this season and stop the huns.......

 

It is still there all the siging and praise, I just get so passionate and angry when I see players just not upto it, we all are passionate about Celtic maybe just our dreams and standards are different from them the so called positive fans

 

If you're not doing your job properly then you'll get criticism. Doesn't mean that the people criticising are less of a supporter.

 

im sure he's not making people go to the pub, i can see what hes saying, we dont want the negativity for a game like this , we need to back the team 100% , not sit there and shout at players , who already know if they're playing well or not, singing and creating and atmosphere thrives the players not shouting and moaning , so i know what he means , he doesnt have the right , but he is right

 

He is not making fans go to the pub,he is telling them to go to the pub and accussing them of not caring.

 

Mate can you show me where I said that people who moan don't care?

I realise people get frustrated - so do I. But my point is that frustrations alright, constructive criticism is alright and honest analysis of the team and individual players is alright - but constant negativity for the sake of having a moan is bringing down the atmosphere around the club.

All I'm saying is that I hope that anybody who goes to the game goes with the intention of getting behind the team for 90 minutes. If they play * then I'll be the first one down the pub to moan about it

 

yeah i agree , people who moan arent less of a fan atall, but its just something that doesnt help anything , im probably bein hyprocritical, cause i do moan myself but i know it doesnt help anything

 

That bit there.

 

Fair enough.

 

really gotta hand it to our supporters today. couldn't hear the * supporters but heard our boys all day long. well done lhads. made us proud as always

 

One of the things we should be most proud of as Celtic people is that we are inclusive; I honestly think that, because of our history, and who we are, we are special. The club was formed for a reason, and although much of it's been swallowed up by the necessities of running a football club as a business, there is still a remnant of what the club is meant to be all about. If I see someone, a supporter, in a Celtic shirt, I feel a link to that person, and generally speaking I can guess at a number of aspects of their background:

1. They're probably of Irish catholic extraction.
2. Because of this, because of their name, they would commonly have experienced discrimination in the past. Maybe not in this generation, but well within living memory.
3. Their family would have experienced poverty and hardship in the past, and it would take a number of generations to leave this poverty behind.
4. Because of this, we have a strong sense of social justice, and an affinity for oppressed peoples everywhere.

Celtic's a great football club, but more than that it's a potent symbol of a people. Some people love us for it; some hate us. That's why it's important we stick together, and why it's important we should always remember who we are, and what we stand for.

 

Had an emotional uplifting song on as I ready this thread. Got me all proud!

 

Not sure I can agree with much of that. Celtic's support has a strong Irish contingent, but also has fans worldwide from many nations/races/religions. I have a Scottish history, with no history of discrimination, does that make me any less of a Celtic supporter? Celtic and it's supporters ARE special, but not for the reasons you've posted.

 

absolutely brilliant post mate thats what us celtic fans are all about , know matter what the score,opposition or venue the celtic fans are always the loudest about and thats why were so famous so lets put on a show for this braga side to remember !!!!

 

Thoughts on being a Celtic fan?:

Wouldn't change being a Celtic man for all the money in the world. It is one of my lifes true pleasures being able to follow such an amazing football dynasty. I have cheered when the won, i have cheered when they havent won. I have cheered when the chips are down. I have cried at times after losing. I have been down when getting beat by the huns, i have experienced euphoria when beating them. Being part of the Celtic family is like no other experience in football...and that is why our club is envied and liked as well as we are.

So..my thoughts on being a Celtic Fan?... I was born Celtic, I have lived Celtic and i will die Celtic!