The Old Firm Thread

[davidmphill]

Originally Posted by alexmac

Mate, I ken that it is part of the clubs. But I just don't think it is the sort of thing we want to be getting involved in here...

Well I think you're very naive if you ever thought an 'Old Firm' thread would pass by without the mention of religion. Its the defining factor in whom you support, mind I do know a Protestant guy who supports Celtic!
You'll never lose the religious hatred that exists between the 2 sets of 'fans', its set in stone and no amount of campaigns will drive it away for me.

[alexmac]

Yeah, of course it is/was going to come up.

But judging by the reaction to what has previosuly been said/posted it is just opening a can of worms... I was just trying to ensure that nothing gets posted that is out of hand etc.

[davidmphill]

Originally Posted by alexmac

But judging by the reaction to what has previosuly been said/posted it is just opening a can of worms... I was just trying to ensure that nothing gets posted that is out of hand etc.

Good luck in that!!

[alexmac]

You can only try I guess!!!

[alexmac]

[AJ]

Originally Posted by davidmphill

Well I think you're very naive if you ever thought an 'Old Firm' thread would pass by without the mention of religion. Its the defining factor in whom you support, mind I do know a Protestant guy who supports Celtic!
You'll never lose the religious hatred that exists between the 2 sets of 'fans', its set in stone and no amount of campaigns will drive it away for me.

I know lots of those, it's actually not that an uncommon thing. Never met a single catholic rangers fan though..........

[QuietLife]

AJ - in all the times i went to ibrox, it was always about the football. my mother would skelp me if she heard any of those songs.

the old firm matches have retreated in importance to the european campaigns, or at least i hope they have. what annoyed me was people slagging Rangers run in the UEFA cup. when we had a great team (1972) - that team simply did'nt give away goals. biggest score was the final itself. textbook european play, i thought. we have been patient. lets stick to the football and to what dreams are made of...

[AJ]

I actually used to work at Ibrox, twice. (Second time isn't important, I did some IT consultancy for the club, get me pissed and I'll tell you about their payroll systems), but when I was a student in the early 90s I was a steward, mostly working in the copeland road.

Even in those days, the religious things were fading, amongst the Scottish fans that is. I heard all manner of appaling crap at Ibrox deliverd by Rangers fans with Ulster accents. I think there was a couple of thousand that travelled over for the matches each week.

I haven't attended a match at Ibrox in five years, Is it still the same ?

[QuietLife]

better than me, last time i was at ibrox was late nineties. you used to see a lot of sectarian propaganda being thrown around - so called pastor Jack Glass and his disciples would be in the bars before the match, or posting flyers on lamp posts.

[MartyMcG_1967]

Originally Posted by alexmac

Oh dear. Looks like we are heading for down the religious route.

I'll throw in my tuppence worth...

I think steveadam hits the nail pretty much on the head with this statement:



The problem is NOWHERE near as bad as it was, even when I was at school in Glasgow 8 years ago. In the last year, I have myself witnessed individuals being ejected and subsequently banned from Ibrox for sectarianism. This was unheard of even 5 years ago, when songs like The Sash, No 1 Platoon etc were regularly heard. I can only talk for Rangers, but I know for a fact that they are addressing the problem. They, however, will NEVER be able to eradicate it - simple as that.

Why? Well, the entire reason that there is a sectarianism problem in the West of Scotland is because of the school system. At 4 years of age, a Catholic child will be enrolled in a Catholic primary school - and vice versa. These children will not properly 'mix' with people of their own age, of different religions until they have left school. Deny it if you wish, but that is a fact.

Personally, I am obviously a Rangers fan, and a protestant. However, if anyone even suggested to me that I was a bigot I would knock them out. I will not go into the reasons why this would happen, but lets just say I have directly seen the hurt that sectarian thugs can cause...

Please, and I will keep repeating myself till I am blue in the face (no pun intended), lets not open up the religion debate here...

Alex i agree with you that religion isn't a big factor in the rivalry nowadays, Celtic is not an exclusive club and never has been with a lot of Protestant fans.

However, I think it would be wrong to say that Catholic schools are to blame for any sectarian problems in society, I went to a Catholic school and never at any point was there anything said or taught against another religion, tolerance for other faiths was always preached. Its an easy way to blame narrow minded individuals on schools which as I said promoted nothing but tolerance to others beliefs.

[alexmac]

I did not say I blamed Catholic schools. If you re-read the post it states that:

At 4 years of age, a Catholic child will be enrolled in a Catholic primary school - and vice versa

I am not stupid, I know that Catholic Schools are not 'anti' any other religion. But it is the principle that children are polarised from other children of differing religions that leads to animosity.

[MartyMcG_1967]

Originally Posted by alexmac

I did not say I blamed Catholic schools. If you re-read the post it states that:



I am not stupid, I know that Catholic Schools are not 'anti' any other religion. But it is the principle that children are polarised from other children of differing religions that leads to animosity.

You said

"Why? Well, the entire reason that there is a sectarianism problem in the West of Scotland is because of the school system"

You blamed the school system which I disagreed with, also there was a large amount of Muslims and Sikh's in my school.

Isn't it Koreans rather than Japanese people who eat dogs?

[alexmac]

You said

"Why? Well, the entire reason that there is a sectarianism problem in the West of Scotland is because of the school system"

You blamed the school system which I disagreed with, also there was a large amount of Muslims and Sikh's in my school.

Isn't it Koreans rather than Japanese people who eat dogs?

Actually, both Koreans and the Japanese eat dogs - although it is the Koreans who usually get the 'bad' press for it. I should know, having been to Japan twice. Anyway, it is fcuking BANTER Don't tell me you are going to get on your high horse about that aswell.

I blamed the school system, yes. Not Catholic schools. I went to a prod school, with plenty of Sikhs, Muslims, and even Catholics. But the fact of the matter is, and it is a fact, that when you have faith schools, you are AUTOMATICALLY polarising MOST of the pupils. Again, I should know as I now TEACH in a faith school, neither a Catholic nor Prod school I should add as I am in England and the term 'faith school' is used very loosely indeed.

[MartyMcG_1967]

Originally Posted by alexmac

Actually, both Koreans and the Japanese eat dogs - although it is the Koreans who usually get the 'bad' press for it. I should know, having been to Japan twice. Anyway, it is fcuking BANTER Don't tell me you are going to get on your high horse about that aswell.

I blamed the school system, yes. Not Catholic schools. I went to a prod school, with plenty of Sikhs, Muslims, and even Catholics. But the fact of the matter is, and it is a fact, that when you have faith schools, you are AUTOMATICALLY polarising MOST of the pupils. Again, I should know as I now TEACH in a faith school, neither a Catholic nor Prod school I should add as I am in England and the term 'faith school' is used very loosely indeed.

No I'm not going to get on my 'high horse' about it, there is a big difference between that and the previous 'joke' you made.

We'll agree to disagree on the schools.

[alexmac]

That 'joke' which has long been retracted...

I honestly think that you are just looking for an argument for arguments sake, it is ridiculous.

Funny how none of this happened when you were the most successful team in Scotland, I wonder why...?

[MartyMcG_1967]

Originally Posted by alexmac

That 'joke' which has long been retracted...

I honestly think that you are just looking for an argument for arguments sake, it is ridiculous.

Funny how none of this happened when you were the most successful team in Scotland, I wonder why...?

I didn't post here when we were on top so thats probably why!

Thats not the case anyway so we may aswell end this.

[alexmac]

OMG - end it...!? Like I have been trying to do for about a week, only for you to keep coming back with some snide comment or other either on the open forum or by PM

Ahhhhhh! You do my head in

Lets move on...

I want Stachan to get sacked, as I actually quite like him . Find him pretty funny, and I would like to laugh along with his jokes... Lets hope he moves to Fulham or somewhere eh?

[MartyMcG_1967]

Originally Posted by alexmac

OMG - end it...!? Like I have been trying to do for about a week, only for you to keep coming back with some snide comment or other either on the open forum or by PM

Ahhhhhh! You do my head in

Lets move on...

I want Stachan to get sacked, as I actually quite like him . Find him pretty funny, and I would like to laugh along with his jokes... Lets hope he moves to Fulham or somewhere eh?

Yes end it! You sent me the first PM!! I'd only ever replied to you in PM's!

You do my head in aswell, there you go again throwing in another insult.

Yes lets move on.

[alexmac]

Christ, you cannot even take a light hearted insult (with a smiley!!!!)

[MartyMcG_1967]

Originally Posted by alexmac

Christ, you cannot even take a light hearted insult (with a smiley!!!!)