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Details
Reference to: The Supporters
Derivations: TGFITW
Started: 1990’s
Definition
This long winded tag has been one that many supporters would like to adapt to their support, but few amongst the larger clubs potentially have as strong a case as Celtic.
From the wondrous travelling support in Lisbon in 1967 through to the record numbers in Seville, Celtic fans have been incredible in following their club through and through. With a great reputation with little to mar the reputation of the support, the club has been repeatedly invited to testimonials across the UK for both the numbers we bring but also the friendly atmosphere. There has probably never been a club as invited as our own. It is quite humbling.
We have probably the greatest and most eager travelling support both at home & abroad, who do follow the club wherever and whenever. Many have latched on and have followed the club throughout Europe. This writer has met Germans, Swiss, Dutch and Spanish people who have become Celtic supporters and travel to follow the club when possible.
The greatest reward was post-Seville in 2003 . Despite the heartache of the defeat, the support never went amok. Even when a big screen went on the blink in the mains square that was showing the game, the general support behaved well.
As recognition of the support’s record in Seville, Celtic were awarded the FIFA Fair Play award. Not the first Scottish support to win this (Dundee Utd deservedly won this same award in the eighties), but it is the least the Celtic support deserved, and provided some evidence to the tag.
It’s not just following the club, it’s also the incredible charity work undertaken by the club supporters and organisations. The level is unprecedented in football. It all harks back to the charitable origins of the club, and this tradition should be maintained, and has been carried on by the youngsters in the Green Brigade which is very commendable.
However there is one difficulty. There is no denying the club’s ethos and what the club achieves, but this has been used with free license by a minority of muppets who go abroad on Celtic trips and just do as they want. Usually this just translates into embarrassing behaviour (drunkenness and untidy behaviour when abroad), but this is still unacceptable. The tag is only meaningful if the support practises as it preaches, and there is a section of idiots in our support who are too often tolerated. Any support is a cross section of society so there will be those who will misbehave, but we should always try to educate in some ways the standards expected. Otherwise the tag is hyperbole.
The Celtic support is superb, and we should be proud. We have been spoken of wonderfully by many of the elite in world football but more importantly by so many terracing supporters across the globe whose opinions we value far more than anyone else’s. It gives credence to the beloved title but as said we must all act to give it the credence it deserves. As history has shown, the support will do so and this is something to be proud of.