The Holy Poet sends us his thoughts…
Once you asked and some stood up, responding to your call
And a corner of this massive ground stood proud and very tall
You asked for them and what you got was magical at times
Magicians, who are merely fans belting out their rhymes,
Celtic had so many options but that final choice was made:
It was close down Section 111 and move The Green Brigade.
By doing this you’ve split the fans when it’s unity we need
It’s time to stand united and for Celtic to take heed
Of what we think as Celtic fans and where they’ll put these Ghirls and Bhoys
Oh! How silent Paradise will be, no atmosphere, no noise.
Who will lead our choir off, Come On You Bhoys In Green
The loudest chorus worldwide, the best ever heard or seen
The proudest and most passionate, to millions this was Heaven
Now it’s just a gaping hole, that’s Section One Eleven.
The flags, the banners, Tif os, call them what you will
Some abused, some made us laugh but all gave us a thrill
And what of European nights when the twelfth man helped win games
You praised them final whistles but now you name and shame.
The Green Brigade breathed life into a ground that lost its breath
But kick them out and this atmosphere, will surely die a death
Ban the flares, ban the thugs, make them see some sense
But don’t deprive the Bhoys and Ghirls by sitting on the fence
A compromise is needed, in fact it’s paramount
Fans turn up to hear them so take this into account
No one’s bigger than the Club and I’m not saying they are
Without them it was so quiet here and with them come so far
Listen to your fans out there, they’ve petitions going round
It’s guidance that these young fans need, not displaced in the ground
If you think they’re too big for their boots then cut them down to size
But let sense prevail and settle this for the sake of Paradise.
The Holy Poet.
The atmosphere on European nights has always been special even before the GB and it will continue now even after they are gone
Your right Daniel, I had a season ticket before the GB and the atmos was great then and we had the greatest fans in the world back then until the GB nearly turned us into Scotland’s shame
This is spot on. We need the atmosphere at Celtic Park which the GB provides. A compromise can surely be found. Do people want to go to a match when all you can hear is sweetie papers rustling. I’m 61 and have seen it and done it. I stood in the Jungle where the support for the team was great. However, other parts of the ground also gave great vocal support and there were some magical times at the ground. Players respond to the fans, we all remember what big Jock said. Players from European opposition have commented on the atmosphere at the ground, the best on the planet. We need colour and noise at football, the Jungle never needed a drummer though.
Nice wee peom, but lets get real here. The GB are good for the displays and for creating a good atmosphere.However some of the antics are beyond a joke. We have the reputation as the best fans in the world, if the GB are allowed to carry on, that will soon be a thing of the past. Another thing rightly or wrongly the GB are already starting to tarnish a great support, with all this bickering and trying to prove they are bigger than the club. The club have a reputation to uphold, but more importantly they have the SFA(or whatever they call themselves now) and also UEFA watching closely. If you guys think for one minute our proud club and support would not be made an example of you are very much mistaken.UEFA are all about money, that is the reason we s Champions have to play three qualifiers to get in to the knock out stages. We are classed as small fry and thats who will be made an example of the first chance they get. So please for the sake of our great club and our loyal support, (which you guys are a small part of) Please Please get over yourself. Arrange a meeting with the club and do the right thing by us all.Understand the clubs position and make the necessary compromises
Hail hail, keep the faith,always in Celtic
I hope a compromise can be found as the GB add great colour and atmosphere. If no compromise is found I lay the blame at GB door. I will miss the creativity of GB but not embarrassing antics such as fireworks, poppy banner and republican singing. Rangers are dead and we have a chance to separate ourselves from OF tag and show we are better than the deceased club and right now we are squandering that chance.
I totally agree with you Christifart. I wrote this after hearing my mates talking about what they would and wouldn’t like. I’m not a member of the GB but love the atmosphere they bring (without the drum or flares) and like tam the tim, I stood in the jungle in the 60s and 70s so know exactly what he means. What I don’t like about them is how they think they can hold the Club to ransom when no-one or organisation is bigger than Celtic FC. European nights were always great but the GB bring that extra sparkle. I’d like to see them reach a compromise.
I was in the jungle during the 80’s and it was the first place I would head for given the option, the GB bring back the pride, the thunder, the atmosphere, but no one is bigger than the club, we are all ambassadors for this unique club, and nothing should be allowed to tarnish our good name. The GB must take heed of what is considered safe, abide by the clubs position, there is a place for the GB, but the clubs agenda must be first and foremost.
No “compromise” is necessary. All that’s required is for the GB to obey the same rules as every other Celtic fan. It *IS* really that simple
Firstly, lose the “we are self-appointed martys” attitude, and the “ëveryone who doesn’t 100% support us is a prawn sandwich muncher” bleating.
Then get rid of the questionable songs and the lateral movement, as well as all fireworks and smoke bombs.
And MOST importantly, get rid of the political agenda. If you want to protest politics, you’re in the wrong place! Fitba’ matches are for supporting your team, NOT for banging on about your political beliefs. So save your political protests for political rallies — not fitba’ games.
If the guy who let off the fireworks at the European match could ask his father what the score was when the Tic had to play a closed doors match, he might have had another wee think about it.
After a creditable draw v the thugs of Madrid(judas scored in a fighting draw) we played the return in an empty Celtic Park and went down 2-0.
In one banger we could go from twelve men to ten.
The GB are a great asset to have but seem unable to police themselves.
After the LNS verdict left Scottish football laid bare for what it is, a corrupt and odious pantomime the only thing that kept me interested in and proud to be supporting Celtic was the colour and energy of The Green Brigade. Now that is gone, where does that leave us? A board who’s silence speaks volumes in their willingness to play second fiddle to the zombies….uncle Tims the lot of them. So now we have a game akin to wrestling, yeah sure we get to enjoy winning shit for the next few years til the 5th coming of the Hun is allowed to take its rightful place at the top of the pile….and we go back to being the also rans, dodgy refereeing decisions, SFA bending rules and everyone moaning about how its no fair….we had the chance to bury the past But we didnt have the balls for it, and worse than that, we now pillory the people who have. I for one no longer have the stomach for this. I love Celtic but what it has become is not what i loved. The game is over. Enjoy the silence!!