The Other View

Issue No. 6 Autumn  2001

'Bloody Bigots'!

By Finlay Cameron

This was the response I received when I told Jackie of my passion for following the fortunes of my beloved Glasgow Rangers, in fairness Jackie was as equally as scathing of that other mob that encamps on the East Side of Glasgow.
'Both sets of supporters are only interested in chanting sectarian slogans and hurling abuse and obscenities at each other' Jackie protested sternly.
Jackie and I, along with others, were taking part in a Cross-Community weekend residential at Lustybeg Island, County Fermanagh. The initiative under the stewardship of Brian Lennon was a chance, the first for many including myself, to not only listen to others and promote our own points of view, but also to debate matters in a constructive way albeit in a raucous manner at times!

Being a Loyalist, I found the very idea of being in the same room as Republicans being repulsive, certainly during the period of the 'Troubles' it would have been a no-go situation! During the periods of group debating at Lustybeg, I found Jackie to be very caustic and unsympathetic to any view-point other than his own, to tell you the truth his dialogue made my hackles stand on end, I imagine he felt the same about me too.'

We're gonna have to sit with the Provo's' was my companion's hesitant suggestion, in complete reluctance I agreed. Dinner wasn't too bad, both sides of the table engaged in 'sussing' each other out further, after we got bored talking politics the chat turned to football, Jackie confessed that whilst he was a Manchester United fan he had only ever been to see them once, he claimed that the expense coupled with the long travel did not compensate for ninety minutes of football. It was then he gave me his chapter and verse on the bigots of Rangers and Celtic.

Earlier I had learned that Jackie had previously been sentenced to sixteen years in jail for the attempted murder of his fellow Belfast citizen simply because he was a policeman, and now I was was being lectured on bigotry and sectarianism. However, rather than entering a slagging match, I went on to tell Jackie that I made the trip to Ibrox at least a dozen times a season when usually I would go to see an Old Firm game once in that season. I further explained that it takes a little bit more than blind bigotry to motivate you to cross the 'sheugh' in mid-winter to watch a match against the likes of Dunfermline etc, even more so as when Rangers played as badly as they did last season!

I won't for one minute try and tell you that sectarianism doesn't exist at Ibrox or Parkhead, only a fool would suggest different, some would even argue that it is this dimension that makes it the greatest Derby in football. Certainly, the atmosphere created by both sets of fans verges on the hysteria at these games and yes you can almost touch the hatred within the stadium, (hatred also exists between Manchester United- Leeds/Liverpool/etc, Hearts – Hibs, Roma – Lazio etc, etc).
On 'Old Firm' day the stadium takes on the air of a Coliseum with the players taking on the role of Gladiators, there are over fifty thousand Emperors sitting poised in anticipation of giving the thumbs down to their rivals!

To be on the winning side at an 'Old Firm' game is heaven - to lose is hell. Coming home on the boat after losing feels like you are on your way to visit a dying relative. The crossing (no pun intended, honest!) seems to take three times as long and only Comrade Smirnoff can ease our woe. After a win you could row the HSS home, you spend the whole trip going over match events, re-living the magical moments and of course our old friend Comrade Smirnoff loosens the old vocal chords, and at times even persuades some of us that we can dance as well! During the games, fingernails are chewed to the quick, and to be honest, unless your team has a comfortable lead, you seldom really say that you have enjoyed the game. You will find that once you are sitting there like a bag of nerves, you are aware that neither team will concede defeat until the final whistle sounds.

For the average punter it is virtually impossible to get a ticket to an 'Old Firm' game, my own Supporters Club in Carrickfergus is streamed as category 'A' by the Ibrox Ticket Office. To sustain the 'A' status the club needs to apply for it's full allocation of tickets per home game, i.e., if a club has fifty members it applies for fifty tickets per game.

Being an 'A' club we can expect to receive an allocation of two tickets for a Celtic game, added to our season tickets we have around seventeen members at Ibrox for a Celtic game. To be in contention for a ticket, members' trips to the games in that season are tallied up - the more games you have been to the better the chance you have. Only the genuine supporter merits a ticket in our club, this I would imagine is the case for the majority of supporters' clubs for both teams.

You still only get three points for a win - should that be against Celtic or Dundee, and at the end of the day it is the side that¹s in possession of the silverware that matters - beating the 'Bhoys' is an added bonus. Jackie concluded that maybe there was more to following both Rangers and Celtic than just bigotry and hatred. Certainly his viewpoint had mellowed somewhat and I believe that with a bit more time I could have had Jackie singing the Gers' anthem 'Every other Saturday' - well almost!
 

Whilst shaking hands, Jackie remarked 'Maybe someday I¹ll come down to Carrick and watch an 'Old Firm' game with you' 'Aye, maybe someday'I replied with some mirth, I just don't think my club in Carrickfergus would be ready for a visit from Jackie just yet!

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