Portadown Loyal
10th November 2008, 02:04 AM
Shaming Scottish Football since 1888
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_news/66167/Booed-Bhoys.html
HARDCORE Celtic fans were jeered by their fellow supporters yesterday — after refusing to honour the nation’s war dead.
Around 60 anti-poppy protesters walked out of Parkhead 10 minutes into the clash with Motherwell.
But their views weren’t shared by the majority of the Celtic support — who honoured our fallen heroes with a minute’s APPLAUSE before kick-off and BOOED the protesters as they filed out.
The departing fans were joined outside by around 140 others to stage a noisy demo, singing rebel songs and waving the Irish flag.
Their movements were closely monitored by watching Strathclyde Police officers.
The angry fans were demonstrating at the club’s decision to play with a poppy sewn onto their hooped shirts. They claim the red flower is a symbol of British Army brutality in Northern Ireland.
But last night ordinary fans branded those who took part in the 45-minute demo as ignorant — and pointed out that ex-players and fans fought bravely in both world wars.
Celtic follower John Ballantyne said it was “a privilege” to wear his poppy when he attended the game with wheelchair-bound family friend Alexander Tavendale, 15.
John, 49, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, said: “For goodness sake, we’ve got former players who have won medals fighting for their country. My son is serving in the Army right now. I don’t see why there should be any protest.
“These people fight for our country. It is a privilege to wear the poppy.”
Fan websites urged supporters with Republican leanings to gather at the Cairde na h’Eireann — Gaelic for ‘Friends of Ireland’ — shop in the Gallowgate at 1pm.
Applaud
At the stadium, they handed leaflets to supporters explaining their reasons behind the walkout. It said: “In recent times many of our supporters in Ireland have suffered directly at the hands of the British Army, an army whose soldiers we are expected to applaud and commemorate today.
“This is an insult to our supporters in Ireland and to all of the many thousands with Irish heritage and ancestry that follow the club. Our protest is not aimed at individuals who wear the poppy, it is against the idea Celtic as an institution should be backing British imperialism in any way.”
Shortly before kick-off, the names of Celtic players who had died in the two wars were flashed up on giant screens.
But 10 minutes after the game started, around 60 fans were seen leaving the ground to attend the demo at Parkhead’s front door.
The fans accused Celtic chairman and ex-Defence Secretary John Reid of being a war criminal and called for him to be sacked for “betraying” the Celts’ Irish heritage.
And they belted out foul-mouthed versions of pro-IRA songs.
Protest organiser Stephen McAleese said: “We don’t mean any disrespect to those who have died in the two world wars — my grandfather was in the Army during World War II.
“But the SPL and Celtic PLC have politicised this issue by making the wearing of the poppy compulsory.
“When John Reid took office, he told us to leave our politics at the front door. He would do well to follow his own advice.”
Last night, after Celtic’s 2-0 win, ordinary fans condemned the demo.
Motherwell supporter Matthew Canning, 50, hit out: “I can’t believe people are protesting about the wearing of the poppy.”
A Royal British Legion spokeswoman said: “We asked for the support of all 12 SPL clubs and we are happy that they obliged. We have nothing to say about the boycott.”
A Celtic spokesman added: “The tribute inside the stadium was impeccably observed. The demonstration isn’t worthy of comment.”
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_news/66167/Booed-Bhoys.html
HARDCORE Celtic fans were jeered by their fellow supporters yesterday — after refusing to honour the nation’s war dead.
Around 60 anti-poppy protesters walked out of Parkhead 10 minutes into the clash with Motherwell.
But their views weren’t shared by the majority of the Celtic support — who honoured our fallen heroes with a minute’s APPLAUSE before kick-off and BOOED the protesters as they filed out.
The departing fans were joined outside by around 140 others to stage a noisy demo, singing rebel songs and waving the Irish flag.
Their movements were closely monitored by watching Strathclyde Police officers.
The angry fans were demonstrating at the club’s decision to play with a poppy sewn onto their hooped shirts. They claim the red flower is a symbol of British Army brutality in Northern Ireland.
But last night ordinary fans branded those who took part in the 45-minute demo as ignorant — and pointed out that ex-players and fans fought bravely in both world wars.
Celtic follower John Ballantyne said it was “a privilege” to wear his poppy when he attended the game with wheelchair-bound family friend Alexander Tavendale, 15.
John, 49, of Blantyre, Lanarkshire, said: “For goodness sake, we’ve got former players who have won medals fighting for their country. My son is serving in the Army right now. I don’t see why there should be any protest.
“These people fight for our country. It is a privilege to wear the poppy.”
Fan websites urged supporters with Republican leanings to gather at the Cairde na h’Eireann — Gaelic for ‘Friends of Ireland’ — shop in the Gallowgate at 1pm.
Applaud
At the stadium, they handed leaflets to supporters explaining their reasons behind the walkout. It said: “In recent times many of our supporters in Ireland have suffered directly at the hands of the British Army, an army whose soldiers we are expected to applaud and commemorate today.
“This is an insult to our supporters in Ireland and to all of the many thousands with Irish heritage and ancestry that follow the club. Our protest is not aimed at individuals who wear the poppy, it is against the idea Celtic as an institution should be backing British imperialism in any way.”
Shortly before kick-off, the names of Celtic players who had died in the two wars were flashed up on giant screens.
But 10 minutes after the game started, around 60 fans were seen leaving the ground to attend the demo at Parkhead’s front door.
The fans accused Celtic chairman and ex-Defence Secretary John Reid of being a war criminal and called for him to be sacked for “betraying” the Celts’ Irish heritage.
And they belted out foul-mouthed versions of pro-IRA songs.
Protest organiser Stephen McAleese said: “We don’t mean any disrespect to those who have died in the two world wars — my grandfather was in the Army during World War II.
“But the SPL and Celtic PLC have politicised this issue by making the wearing of the poppy compulsory.
“When John Reid took office, he told us to leave our politics at the front door. He would do well to follow his own advice.”
Last night, after Celtic’s 2-0 win, ordinary fans condemned the demo.
Motherwell supporter Matthew Canning, 50, hit out: “I can’t believe people are protesting about the wearing of the poppy.”
A Royal British Legion spokeswoman said: “We asked for the support of all 12 SPL clubs and we are happy that they obliged. We have nothing to say about the boycott.”
A Celtic spokesman added: “The tribute inside the stadium was impeccably observed. The demonstration isn’t worthy of comment.”