Is that what the boys from OWM told you. And why was this so? So that the Guards could have an easy day? Every newspaper had it that the game was moved because of 'the threat of sectarian violence from Protestant Rangers supporters travelling south from Northern Ireland.' Apologies, but if you don't mind, this time I'll take their word for it. After the incident with the Scum two years previously, I guess no one was taking a chance. Money doesn't come into it unless you also take in the fact that the lack of sales could not, under any circumstance, be transferred to away supporters. And I don't for a minute believe that Shelbourne could not have filled their ground at twelve with supporters for a game with Rangers unless they were worried that these would be top heavy with supporters of other EL clubs with an unhealthy interest in the SPL.Whether they moved the kick-off to twelve or moved it to Liverpool, this 'threat of violence' was the major factor.
When has any visit to the 26C by Rangers gone off peacefully in the past thirty years. Even Linfield have managed this feat. You do sometimes live in a parallel universe. The question here is, why have these games always had trouble? I mean Bohs (Twice), Dundalk, Shelbourne: They're not Celtic. Why has there been no corresponding trouble with Celtic when they visit England? OK, there was that trouble at Sunderland v Celtic a few years back when a bloke got his face slashed and that massive riot at Villa Park in the seventies. Hold on! Wasn't that Rangers? 'Bad as each other': Hate to see what Rangers have to do to make them the worst old firm supporters in your eyes.
As for Edinburgh being a better place, I remember my last visit to Murrayfield in 1993 with Conchita and this bloke passed her side with his girlfriend as we were walking back into town, and every second word was 'Fenian'. No, these people aren't obsessive. Junior's right: Sectarianism (anti Irishness to be succinct) runs right through Scottish society. It is its (not so) secret shame, and isn't just confined to Rangers fans or those of Irish Unionist descent as the apologists love to spin.
Are you quoting from a proper dictionary or making things up? Collins has it as 1. Member of several Asiatic nomadic peoples speaking Mongoloid or Turkic languages... 2. A derogatory name for German 3. A vandal. No mention of George I, 2 or 3 or sectarianism. Mind you, this dictionary is four years old which is nearly as old as Mark Walters getting a banana thrown at him.
You've also forgotten Motherwell and the gone and forgotten Airdrieonians.
Bookmarks