Rooney doesnt have a problem with anticatholic chants sung by rangers fans either. Sectarianism at rangers or celtic affects us all and. Im sure most of you know him as a fan of the east end lot, but hes been getting some stick on his efforts for the no campaign. Apr 19, 2005 the two clubs have ploughed more than. Why is rangers and celtic game called the old firm answers. Despite the ageold on field rivalry, the tension between celtic and ranger supporters runs much deeper than what takes place on the soccer field. We got out of there in a hurry, not wanting to experience that particular part of the old firm rivalry. Create your citations, reference lists and bibliographies automatically using the apa, mla, chicago, or harvard referencing styles. Children as young as ten years old taught about old firm. Sep 16, 2011 watching the londonbased media and how it reports on sectarian flareups involving the old firm rangers and celtic, youd think it was rife throughout the country and we should all be. Celtic and rangers fans taunt each other during an old firm match in april 2002. Moorhouse argued that, following the decline of sectarianism in many other aspects of life in glasgow including in the labour market, football is now one of the main vehicles of the ethnic.
But when celtic and rangers meet its not just about football. Scotlands claim to football fame since the founding of the scottish football league in 1890, only two of the original eleven teams have avoided relegation from the top division. The celtic football club is a scottish professional football club based in glasgow, which plays. In the event, he could hardly have chosen a worse old firm. To ask other readers questions about the old firm, please sign up. Sectarianism, sport and society in scotland by bill murray isbn. The word sectarianism comes from the root sect, from which also comes the word section. From only two articles on the subject in 1992 and 1993, in the latter part of the 1990s there were around 40 articles each year on the old firm and sectarianism. To inform the general public about, and promote through education and awareness of, the problems of sectarianism and bigotry within scottish society. The general concept of sectarianism will be examined and defined briefly and then the general history of the social movement within scotland will be looked at, before finally the more specific nature of the movement within football rivalries and the glaswegian old firm mentality will be studied. Murray claims that the term was a derogatory reference to the overprofessionalism of the game as it was seen. Sectarianism other bibliographies cite this for me. The old firm rivalry actually predates league football, with the first meeting occurring on the 28th may 1888 when the newly formed celtic defeated rangers 52 at their new parkhead ground.
In the early 1970s the author, novelist and broadcaster cliff hanley stated in a germancommissioned documentary about the old firm that while the tendency was to present rangers as a protestant. In the history of the old firm there has been lots of violence, injuries and even deaths. Since then, at the time of writing, they have met 4 times, with rangers holding a narrow lead of 159 wins to celtics 155 with 99 draws. But this rather splendid new book sets out to explain the ancient and bitter rivalry between celtic and.
So i see those two gentlemen and wonder which ones a rangers fan protestant and. It is often impossible when reading about the old firm, to find a book which is not biased towards either rangers or celtic, however bill murray writes a fantastic balanced history of the two sides. Yet, rangers operated an openly sectarian signing policy that the. Two coordinators will work with children in 140 schools across glasgow. In 1995 mark scott, who was wearing a celtic tshirt, was stabbed walking past a pub full of rangers fans. One study showed that 74% of celtic supporters identify themselves as catholic, whereas only 10% identify as protestant. It cut straight to the core and potrayed the rivalay and hatred without glossing over the issues.
Sectarianism at old firm games was simply not a political or significant pubic debating point mentioned in the scottish broadsheets before this time. This book depicts the hatres, bigotries and misconceptions portrayed by both clubs. He also spoke supportively about us in 2012 during administration. Rangers, celtic and the old firm in the new age of globalised sport by w. Sep 23, 2017 five arrested on old firm day on alleged booze, weapon, and sectarian abuse raps the men were detained in and around glasgow as the first old firm match of the season took place. To be sectarian is to possess a limited range of interest, purpose, or scope, or to be devoted to a particularly narrow tradition or belief system.
This text is an account of the interaction of sport, politics and society fro. Bill murrays the old firm sectarianism, sport and society in scotland 1984. Sectarianism and scottish football edinburgh research explorer. The book delves deep into the history of the rivalry, and due to the brilliant research. However the old firm clash has another, particularly ugly element sectarianism. Football and sectarianism in glasgow during the 1920s and. Underpinned by ferocious passion, century old mistrust and sectarian conflict, the sound and fury of the old firm derby between glasgow rivals celtic and rangers is unique in modern football.
Mccarra is a fine journalist and a knowledgeable celtic fan but his book is frustrating. Rangers, celtic and the old firm in the new age of globalised sport by murray, w. Rangers are currently in administration, following a long debt binge. The views of non old firm fans are then explored through the platform of a popular football discussion website. Six arrests at old firm clash as plan to tackle football. Community, history, and violence in nineteenthcentury ottoman lebanon ussama makdisi university of california press, jul 19, 2000 history 274 pages. Sectarianism in glasgow wikimili, the best wikipedia reader.
It is reinforced by the fierce rivalry between celtic f. With the football allegiance came a cultural one, too. Its also in glasgow a reference to glasgow rangers and celtic, with all the history of sectarianism and religious conflict that suggests. Sectarianism, sport and society in scotland, william j. A multidisciplinary analysis of sectarianism and bigotry in scottish football sectarianism.
Five years later his friends set up an organisation nil by mouth which campaigns against sectarianism. Sectarianism in glasgow takes the form of religious and political sectarian rivalry between roman catholics and protestants. The old firm have a lot of history, possibly dating back to around 1888, celtics first match, which was against rangers, when a newspaper report stated that both sets of players got on so well that you would believe that they were old firm friends. Sectarianism, sport and society in scotland and glasgows giants. They learnt about the old firm rivalry between celtic and rangers, and the history of the irish tricolour flag and the red hand of ulster campaigners hope a new generation can grow up to turn the tide on sectarianism, which has prompted renewed concern after a. Murray also shows us how each club has parlayed their sectarian beliefs into a multimillion dollar business, not just in scotland but throughout the world. While the majority of celtic fans are catholic, some of the key figures in the clubs history jock. We have been looking at different topics like sectarianism, asylum seekers and glasgow. Sectarianism, sport and society in scotland edinburgh, john donald, 1984, pp.
The old firm rivalry lives on, even as the backdrop to it transforms. Murray states that the term comes from the commercial benefits of the two clubs rivalry, which were viewed with distaste in. And through it all both clubs deep down realize that each one could not exist without the other. Those two powerhouse sides are celtic and rangers, two of the most successful and decorated teams in the history of worldwide club football. Six arrests at old firm clash as plan to tackle football hooliganism rubbished 37 comments police scotland made six arrests during the old firm match, including three for sectarian breach of the. Tom campbells book investigating the alleged phenomenon and entitled celtics. The old firm itself no longer exists in the eyes of some celtic fans who seek to disassociate themselves from a tag that had its origins in a bond over business interests. By some quirk of history, scotlands two largest and most successful football clubs have a cultural identity closely bound to northern irish politics. Sectarianism, sport and society in scotland william j. Founded in 2006, historum is a history forum dedicated to history discussions and historical events. As bill murray noted in his pioneering history of the old firm, the celtic football club. Sectarianism, sport and society in scotland paperback april 1, 2001 by bill murray author. The legacy of sectarianism is still poisoning the air of scotland.
Old firm fans are becoming the whipping boys for a new breed of intolerance masquerading as anti sectarianism and this new law is the epitome of this new illiberalism. William james murray first published in 1984, this book rapidly established itself as one of the classics of scottish sports writing and the key work on the two giants of scottish football. The old firm by megan and shannon eye of newt and toe of frog. History, cultural studies and religion ahkr university of bergen spring 2010.
Sectarianism, sport and society in scotland even described the pair as like two old, firm friends hence the derbys moniker. Sectarian worries as scotlands old firm renews its. Sport scottish school children learning about old firm rivalry in bid to stamp out sectarianism scots school children as young as ten are being taught about old firm rivalry in a bid to crack down. The old firm is the collective name for the scottish football clubs celtic and rangers, which are both based in glasgow. In 1995 channel 4 screened a documentary called football, faith and flutes. In a fine example of chinese whispers, a report that claimed 11 old firmrelated murders in 18 years was inflated by a spokesman for the antisectarian campaigning organisation nil by. Starting off when the teams were founded this book takes you not just through a hitory of the old firm but a history of scotland as a society. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. The sectarian roots of everton and liverpool football clubs.
But all that changed in 1912 when belfast shipbuilders harland and wolff made the move to glasgow and brought with them hundreds of ulster protestant workers who subsequently adopted their. With the help of others, henderson launched her anti sectarianism campaign with the following objectives. I heard on radio scotland that he had written a book call. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Five arrested on old firm day on alleged booze, weapon, and sectarian abuse raps the men were detained in and around glasgow as the first old firm match of the season took place. Flint and kelly, 20, for further histories and debates. Sectarianism, sport, and society in scotland murray, w. Celtic have played in green and white for the entirety of its history, adopting hoops in 1903, those being used ever since. Our community welcomes everyone from around the world to discuss world history, historical periods, and themes in history military history, archaeology, arts and culture, and history in books and movies. But the last week has seen scottish football dragged back in time with sectarianism rearing its ugly head after incidents involving kris boyd and steve clarke. There was serious fan disorder during an old firm match played in may 1999 at celtic park. Sectarianism sport and society in scotland, edinburgh.
Wee kenny could play a bit, obviously, and dreamed that his beloved gers would sign him up. Sashes and rosaries scottish sectarianism and the old firm. Children as young as ten years old at an inverclyde primary school have been taught about the old firm rivalry in a bid to crack down on bigotry. The religious hatred that often scars the relationship between celtic and rangers has its roots in resentment of the irish immigrant influx in the. Sectarian worries as scotlands old firm renews its soccer rivalry.
Both were victims of sectarian chanting aimed at them based on their affiliation real or otherwise with one half of the old firm. I highly recommend this book not only to fanatics of football but to history, economic. This book takes us through a journey or over 100 years from the men who built both these teams to fans who could break them. Bill murrays previous publications include glasgows giants 100 years of the old firm, the old firm sectarianism, sport and society in scotland, a history of the world game and the worlds game a history of soccer. The old firm is two football clubs, celtic and rangers. Richard wilson tells his story by visiting one game in january 2010. Oct 07, 2014 recently in english we have been reading the book, divided city by theresa breslin. The riots and troubles in which the clubs have been involved over the years are set within the context of the. The views of nonold firm fans are then explored through the platform of a popular football discussion website. The conflict between the fans has erupted into violence on many occasions, with games between the two clubs ending in some of the worst riots and greatest tragedies in sporting history. Five arrested on old firm day on alleged booze, weapon, and.
The origins of two clubs, rangers and celtic, scotlands most famous football teams, are traced. Bbc news uk scotland old firm takes on sectarianism. Scottish school children learning about old firm rivalry. Old firm simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Celtic and rangers agree measures to reduce old firm violence. Sectarianism, sport and society in scotland murray, bill on. Glasgow glasgow scotland history rangers soccer team. Sectarian worries as scotlands old firm renews its soccer. Sectarianism in glasgow is visible in the rivalry between the supporters of glasgows two main football clubs, celtic and rangers, together known as the old firm. Football in glasgow is a curious social phenomenon that reveals some uncomfortable truths about scotland. Bbc news 20a unrest at celtic v rangers u17s glasgow cup final. The two clubs are by far the most successful and popular in scotland, and the rivalry between them has become deeply embedded in scottish culture. The old firm derby between celtic and rangers remains the most bitter event in british sport.
Schoolkids taught about old firm rivalry in crack down on. The ferocious passion generated when the teams clash in the old firm derby makes global headlines but behind it is a hatred whose roots can be found in scotlands history of religion and. Why is rangers vs celtic called the old firm derby. Bill murray has scored big time depicting the history of two football rivals in scotland and how they mirror the attitudes of society as a whole. The pilot project aims to educate youngsters and the wider community about the ills of sectarianism through a series of football courses. Five arrested on old firm day on alleged booze, weapon.
Apr 24, 2015 the old firm by bill murray published by john donald 1984. Aug 30, 2011 old firm fans are becoming the whipping boys for a new breed of intolerance masquerading as antisectarianism and this new law is the epitome of this new illiberalism. Broader evidence for sectarianism is then examined which suggests that the publics perception or indeed, fear of sectarian conflict far outruns their actual experience of it. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.