The initial response from the Fitba Fourth estate to Channel 4 News’ ground breaking piece on the Ibrox klan was depressingly predictable.
Some hacks were saying on twitter that if 32 journalists had been threatened then they would know about it.
This was in response to the Paul Holleran’s assertion on the Channel 4 report that he had been contacted by that number of union members since December complaining that they had been threatened.
I know Paul Holleran and I am also aware of that growing list of journalists in Scotland threatened by the Ibrox klan.
That this figure was being questioned by members of the Scottish hack pack was very dispiriting.
Subsequently, huge thanks must go to Graham Spiers for writing a brave piece today on what he has endured for over a decade.
Whatever criticisms people may have of Graham’s views on the game we all love, no one should doubt his basic decency.
As a committed Christian he called out the Rangers support for their bigoted anti-Catholic chanting when it wasn’t fashionable to do so.
He was the first mainstream journalist in Scotland to use the verboten term “anti-Irish racism” on radio when discussing the Rangers mob.
Moreover, he also pointed out that the guy on the throne of the Murray empire had no clothes when such an observation was definitely bad for your professional health as a sports writer.
Yet he persisted.
Today he came to the defence of Alex Thomson and Channel 4 News.
The ITN folks stand accused of telling the truth about the Edmiston Drive chaps.
Graham shared his own experiences for the first time on the subject of being intimidated by Rangers fans.
They echo the experiences of Garry Allan QC.
Equipped with a “faux protestant culture” the Ibrox klan is a serious social problem that modern Scotland needs to deal with.
They have a sense of entitlement that leads them to believe that they can bully and intimidate anyone who irks them or their tragically fragile belief system.
Until these fine fellows feel the full force of the state upon them then they will continue to toddle along believing that they truly are “The People”.
What they believe informs how they behave.
Their sense of entitlement propels their actions.
The recent victory over the Sun serialisation of Downfall has only exacerbated the situation.
In the following week after the Sun caved into them the klan came very close to forcing the main book retailers to cancel orders for the book.
It would have been a huge victory for a racist mob and a serious wound would have been inflicted on Scottish society.
Initially my publisher shielded me from just how close it came to being sold only on Amazon.
For those of you who have bought the book in Scotland in the old fashioned way out of a shop, well that almost never happened…
This is an authoritarian mob who considers freedom of thought is thinking only as they do.
They tell Orwellian lies about people through the anonymity of social media and target the families of those they consider to be their enemies.
Yet they continue to do so in Scotland with relative impunity.
When I spoke at the “ChangeIn” Scotland conference in Ullapool last year on the subject of being Second Generation Irish in modern Scotland I asked my audience, a mixed bunch of Scottish nationalists , Labour people and politically non-aligned, “what kind of Scotland do you want?”
How the criminality of the Ibrox klan is dealt with in the coming months will go a long way to answering that question.
I hope it is a Scotland where people like Turnbull Hutton and Graham Spiers are among the authoritative voices in the national game rather than the online underclass klan who would wish to silence them.
On Rangers message boards Graham is smeared as “the discredited journalist”.
Perhaps in the eyes of that “rogue angry underclass” he is.
However, the good folk in Scotland will view that he has undoubtedly done the state some service.
They know’t.
No more of that.
George Collins
Moving off topic, on the subject of poppies, the Poppy was brought out at a time when people were sent to war; they didn’t want to fight.
The red stands for the blood of “our” soldiers, not for anything else; one of the reasons for the promotion of this symbol was to legitimise war.
(Interestingly, the top American political scientists and social commentators constantly bemoan the militarisation of sporting occasions, where the crowd is supposed to rally round the troops – sounds very familiar.)
In the thirties, the Peace Pledge Union brought out the White Poppy as a symbol of the fallen on every side – whether soldier or civilian.
The White Poppy’s message was for an end to all wars;
this could not be tolerated.
The propaganda went into overdrive.
Why has hardly anyone heard of the White Poppy do you think?
The institutions that make war have no desire to call a halt to it – or else how would they get all that lovely lolly?
I emailed Celtic a while back and asked them to consider switching poppies; they didn’t get back to me.
Of course, the decision to further promote this wholly disgusting symbol has nothing to do with Dermot Desmond’s pals-act with John Reid and Gordon Brown. Anything for a good return, eh Dermot?
November 5, 2012 at 1:58 pm
corcaighbhoy
I remember learning at school in Ireland how many irish where conscripted into the. British army in w w1 to fight for a foreign king and never returned .at the same time my family members faught them in the g p o in Dublin bombed by brit ships in the liffey we all know what happened next then the irish don’t get to wear poppys for years although none of my family would wear one I felt sorry for the familys of the irish who died for the brit king after being conned into Thinking they would get a free country if they faught for them. poppys. no Thanks .
November 2, 2012 at 6:15 pm
jomac
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed within their workplace that poppies are being used for another agenda.
Personally I buy a poppy every year,my dad was in the army as was my grandads who were both in the eighth army.
My mum god rest her spoke of how both her grandas died from gas in the lungs in ww1.
My point being the rangers fans have hijacked rememberance day to attain some form of high ground.
Many fell on both sides of the fence but unlike somes our forefathers had nowhere to hide and picked up a gun not a govan wage packet.hail hail
November 2, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Blogiston
The ones that demand to walk the Queen’s highways over here that didn’t dive into reserved occupations (like shipbuilding) – and I mean reserved for Unionists lol, they headed South to relatives and second homes…ironic that. That’s not what they would have you believe though.
November 2, 2012 at 4:57 pm
PaulMc
This has been one of the saddest things I’ve witnessed over the last few years. Before it was wearing a poppy in remembrance, now it’s “Wear your poppy with pride”.
This jingoistic tripe disgusts me, along with The Rangers using it like some extension of unionism and their flag. As long as they continue to distort the true meaning of the poppy (ie. solemn remembrance of thousands of sacrificed lives) I will never wear one again.
November 3, 2012 at 1:03 am
Frankier
There was talk not so long ago about terminating poppy day altogether but that idea was binned to use poppy day as a means of justifying their ongoing, unlawful, unwinnable and uncalled for wars. That’s what you call brainwashing the gullible, jingoistis public. If you asked Cameron the names of the two british soldiers who died this week he wouldn’t have a clue and neither would the majority of poppy wearers. Now we have the sevco fans starting up again, using the poppies as a sectarian stick to beat the Celtic fans with. You have to admire this mob though for their brass necks. They still haven’t paid the bill for the last two years’ supply of poppies. As soon as December starts not one of them will remember the war dead while I include them every day in my prayers. That is my way but I don’t demand that anyone should do the same, just as I don’t wish anyone to infer that I am some sort of a bigot because I don’t wear one.
I am not prepared to remember bigots who tortured political prisoners either in or out of prison. Anyway, the only people I see wearing poppies are the ones on television who seem to get them handed to them at the door as they enter and half of whom couldn’t even tell you what it was all about. I did see an old lady at church (Catholic) on All Saints Day and that is about it. I still haven’t spotted any attached to oversized, bell-tent type blue jerseys so why all the fuss about Celtic fans not wearing them? They used to be a means of boosting the funds for the British Legion but since they are now mass produced in the sweat shops of China the Legion is losing out now too. I wonder when we will have a “poppy” day for all the innocent children who were never allowed to see the light of day just because of a cleft palate or minor disability or even because it would have hindered their mothers pursuing their “careers”.
November 2, 2012 at 2:55 pm
hokeypokey
Sounds like you’re pushing your own agenda here!
Go sup with the Cardinal and the pro-life zealots!
November 2, 2012 at 7:15 pm
SamBrowneBelt
Spot on, Proinsias.
November 2, 2012 at 11:17 pm
PaulMc
Hey hokeypokey, you are a disgusting excuse for a human being.
November 3, 2012 at 1:07 am
hokeypokey
In your opinion, Paul.
You know next to nothing about me.
I don’t visit this site to be fed propaganda about removing removing a woman’s right to choose!
As a lifelong Celtic supporter and lapsed Catholic, I will always support the fight against bigotry and discrimination.
However, I hope Phil would not encourage posters like Frankier to hijack his website with his reactionary views on abortion.
This stuff belongs on Zombie blogs!
November 3, 2012 at 8:49 am
PaulMc
Where do you read “propaganda about removing a woman’s right to choose” on this site?
By all means support pro choice or any of the other movements as you see fit, but referring to Cardinal O’Brien and pro lifers that way is ill advised at best.
People need to start treating one another with more respect. Cardinal O’Brien could learn that point too.
November 4, 2012 at 10:53 pm
hokeypokey
So tell me Paul, how do you read the last sentence of Frankier’s post?
November 4, 2012 at 11:39 pm
PaulMc
I read it as his democratically entitled opinion, a very strongly worded one, and while I may not agree I fully support his right to voice it.
It would be propaganda if he was copying and pasting articles or links on the same subject.
November 5, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Donny Bhoy
Frankier it’s this kind of right-wing misogynist tosh which accelerated my exit from the Catholic Church when I was a teenager. 40 years later I am saddened that this kind of repressive attitude still has roots in 21st century Scotland anywhere other than on a Klan web site.
Sad.
November 5, 2012 at 11:29 pm
hokeypokey
Well said Donny!
Paul, I also agree that Frankier has the right to voice his/her opinion. My parents taught me that even if I disagree with someone I should fight with my last breath for a society that allows that individual to express his/her opinion. I have raised my children in the same way.
I strongly disagree with Frankier’s final comments.
I believe you do too Paul.
However, whilst you seem to think Frankier has a right to controversial topic on this site, I strongly disagree.
I apologise if my original comments caused offence but we need to keep the discussion focused and avoid introducing divisive, irrelevant debates.
Hail hail!
November 6, 2012 at 1:51 am
PaulMc
Thanks for your last comment there. You didn’t need to apologise either, if anyone should it would be me. I initially made a ridiculous statement without even thinking properly.
Hail Hail!
November 6, 2012 at 11:01 pm
hokeypokey
Cheers Paul.
Just watched the breathtaking, GB orchestrated celebration of 125th anniversary and so proud that you and I belong to the Greatest family in the world.
HH.
November 7, 2012 at 7:54 pm
gav
Mr Spiers,
Its your attitude that is all wrong. Don’t you know you bring it all on yourself. Your not doing yourself any favours. Next you’ll think its ok to go out for a drink. It’ll be your own fault if you decide to turn down the collar of your old M&S jacket and someone takes offence at the St Michael label.
p.s. Graham, the next time you see the apologist Mr English from the Scotsman can you ask him if he has any or does he just talk balls
November 2, 2012 at 8:53 am
SamBrowneBelt
Ben, I agree but only up to a point. Would we even have a Celtic Park if it were not for politics/nationalism/religion?/sectarianism/racism/discrimination?
I think some of us are too quick to forget where we came from.
If a section within our support wants to demonstrate its support for (what they see as) resistance against imperialism or institutionalised racism then they should have every right to do so.
They should also have the right to protest against an annual poppyfest that has changed from being a sombre memorial to ALL of the fallen in the World Wars, to a jingoistic, WASPish, pro-British forces (in Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, Falklands etc – none of which I would support) jamboree of xenophobia – you only need to look at the actions of the now-dead-club that tried to hijack the military to remind us that we were still classed as the outsiders (no matter how many of “us” were in the forces).
We should not even begin to talk about our supporters in the same breath as those of the new club, who are defined by their hatred of us and all that we represent.
The good guys are winning, let’s keep it that way.
Being Irish, it’s my abiding sense of tragedy that’s sustaining me through these temporary periods of joy.
November 2, 2012 at 1:45 am
Ben mcginlay
I don’t disagree with the protests entirely. But I just think it gives the others the ammunition to say we are just as bad as them. But we all know different. Wait till next Remembrance Day. Newco will parade their hand picked armed forces. And Celtic will hope that the protest from last year will not be repeated. The MSM jump on the chance to demonise our support. They really make a big thing of it. I agree with you that the history of the club should not be forgotten and there was a sizeable contingent of supporters and families who fought for our Country, but that is never mentioned.
November 2, 2012 at 9:35 am
william wood
many congratulations to Mr Speirs for telling the truth-he is one of the view among Scotlands churnalists who will do so relative to a particular Glasgow football club’s support.
To Mr Spiers-your article re your father is a gem, having only just read the same.
He taught you well-you are a credit to your parents.
Willie W
November 1, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Been there...
What shocks me about this whole situation is how two groups of people can see exactly the same situation in two completely different ways.
If you have the stomach for it after the carry-on with Downfall, I think there’s a book in looking at how a huge group of people were so easy to manipulate. Take a quick squint at the Rangers Media site (and a quick look is all that my brain can take) and you would think we were talking about two totally different subjects. The hate and vitriol on show when words such as Irish, catholic, Celtic or Whyte crop up is quite something to behold.
November 1, 2012 at 4:48 pm
Ben mcginlay
Had a quick look( against better judgement I may add) and the contents are unbelievable. The Sun is getting it in the neck. One poor guy asked for reasonable thinking and was shot down in flames. So much hatred. But deep down they know the truth. Terry Butcher got it for saying that technically they were a new Club…so much for being an ex hero…people can be so fickle..
November 1, 2012 at 8:43 pm
corcaighbhoy
And bowling clubs puggy most of them are orange halls in disguise
November 1, 2012 at 4:16 pm
puggy
I’d only take Spiers to task on one issue – the use of the word ‘underclass.’ It’s convenient for a liberal elite to place sectarianism as a poverty issue, but in my experience the middle classes of Glasgow and their hang-outs especiall golf clubs are rife with anti-Irisna nd anti-catholic sentiment.
http://iainmacwhirter2.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/sectarianism-it-starts-in-home-and-is.html
November 1, 2012 at 2:45 pm
k
Yeah pussy riot tshirts two fur qa pound
November 3, 2012 at 1:29 am
George Collins
Hopefully this’ll put Graham in a good light again; some of the stuff aimed at him over the last 8 months or so has been unfair.
Sure he got loads wrong about the unfolding drama at Ibrox – but then, how many didn’t?
Don’t forget he was one of the few probing Rangers, under Advocaat’s reign, when they were £80 million in debt.
And let’s not forget that we should be keeping onside as many journos-with-a-conscience as possible in this country; there’s no need to alienate them all.
Nice bit about his decency never being in doubt.
November 1, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Blogiston
From the Daily Record, “After five hours of intricate legal argument in the court in Edinburgh, Lord Hodge said: “It does seem to me that the administrators have made out a case for bringing the administration to an end and proceeding to the winding up of RFC 2012 plc.””
Why RFC 2012 plc?
Also, what took five hours to sort out? The kids and the house?
November 1, 2012 at 1:06 pm
hokeypokey
Haven’t seen any footage from Zombieland yet so can anyone confirm that Fat Sally celebrated Hallowe’en by dressing up as a football manager?
October 31, 2012 at 10:45 pm
cass
DOOKIN FOR APPLES WHEN RANGERS DIE.
October 31, 2012 at 10:31 pm
blogiston
SupercaleygoballisticSevcoAreAtrocious
Rofl
October 31, 2012 at 9:26 pm
corcaighbhoy
What’s gonna happen when sevco newco or whatever they call themselves when it suits them do when liquidation comes again I hear that they are in debt to the tune of 4 million quid already . Happy Halloween
October 31, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Brendan
Hi Phil
The msm are truly clutching at straws to placate the entitled….
I had the misfortune to pick up a copy of the Daily Rancid today only too read about the return of Walter, signposed Stature / History / Respect, in other words confirming untruths to the hordes… that a 3rd division club with no history was not borne out of the liquidation of another club…
On the same page they had a story about Boruc swearing at some Southampton fans (this is the same mob who defend the indefensible where sectarianism is concerned).. and..just to reinforce this they refer to his crime of crossing himself.. and carrying a Pope flag….
So they take a mild misdemeanor (swearing and at football match – surely not) and link it to crossing yourself and recognising your Spiritual Leader…
Placating the Entitled every time…..Conifming their own dark, hate filled hypothesis
They are truly bereft
Brendan
October 31, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Ben mcginlay
Agree 100%
October 31, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Neil
For the record, the Record are responsible for supporting the this sub culture and have openly displayed bias toward the deceased club and the new club.
They are responsible for the promotion of anti Irish racism and none more so than when depicting NL as the man hated more at Ipox than Hector.
Well we got our day! and the Records time is almost up as well, no credibility, just connoisseur’s of the succulent lamb variety. we will print it but won’t ask any difficult questions.
October 31, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Bob Cordial
Well done Phil and a particular well done to GS for a brave if somewhat belated article. This is not the first time he has put his head above the parapet in condemnation of the “Peepel” and is due credit for that. Compare this with the cowardly behaviour of hacks such as Keevins and Traynor who ironically were educated on the other side of the great divide. Seems to be that if you are a journalist (sic) in the Scottish MSM who attended a school who’s name started with St you are by inclination an apologist for the reptilean behaviour of the Klan. The “ones as bad as the other” mantra is an example of the cowardice endemic in the reporting of those who don’t have the cajones to call it as it is, and has been for nearly a century. TAL
October 31, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Neil
Liquidation! now there’s a word!!
on Halloween as well, coudnae make it up
October 31, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Sean Brady
No civillised society can submit to the rule of the mob. It takes brave people to expose these bullies and cowards for what they are. Well done Mr Spiers, scores of journalists lack your courage and should be ashamed to use the name ‘Journalist.’
October 31, 2012 at 11:14 am
Been there...
And STILL the MSM continue to call the hate and bigotry and Old Firm problem, with constant pleas of “they are both as bad as each other” (I’m looking at you especially, Mr Keevins…).
In order to tackle a problem you have to first admit that you have one. This Rangers “problem” is nowhere near to being addressed. If anything it’s getting worse. At a rough guess most of them are at least one stage further into it than they were at this time last year (average fan is now a staunch bluenose, staunch bluenose is now an angry bluenose, angry bluenose is now a raging bluenose and bluenose bigot is now a raging, seething, hate filled bluenose bigot…).
No progress is being made here at all. We have a LONG way to go. And if BDO decide that Charlie boy has underpaid (which he most surely has) and void the sale – BOOM! The anger will be “off the radar” and civil unrest a certainty.
October 31, 2012 at 11:02 am
droid
Graham Spiers is a credit to his craft and creed. His Father, God rest him, must be a very proud man to have raised a Son with such a clear sense of what is just and ethical.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/my-dad-remembering-a-father-lost.2012064144
The gulf in skill, intellect and the transposing of this into printed form is ever evident when Graham’s articles are set amongst those of the mainstream stenographers.
October 31, 2012 at 9:38 am
brendan
Droid
This is a truly lovely piece, thank you for sharing it, I must have missed it… Inspiring in memories of my late father and inspiration for the father I would hope to be for my eleven year old bhoy….
Don’t always agree with Graham Spiers but I don’t always agree with anyone… He is without doubt though one of the most eloquent and courageous of the home based journalistic community… and I have no doubt, a supremely fair minded man
It’s a joy to read where he got it from….
Brendan
November 1, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Paddybhoy
Good stuff Phil, and credit to Graham Speirs for speaking out, even if Alex Thompson had to ‘out’ them first on TV…I do feel tonight On SSB on Clyde 1 radio that Speirs does seem intimidated by them…to the point of sticking up for Charles Green etc…he grudgingly accepted that Zombie F.C. were a new club when pressed by a Celtic fan…but it sounded that it really stuck in his throat…he sounds more an apologist for them and is becoming more the predictable MSM these days…He’s for the watching is that one!
Keep Digging Away Phil!
October 30, 2012 at 11:46 pm
Dan The Man
No respect for Mr Spiers his admissions come too late and on the back of some really brave reporting by true journalists. He was still defending the MSM tonight. He is the best of a bad bunch but that is not a complement. He is still an ‘Old FIrm’ defender , minority of The Rangers Supporters are to blame, both clubs have fringe elements etc etc. Do some real journalism Graeme, get honest and expose the truth and earn journalistic respect.
October 30, 2012 at 11:33 pm
corcaighbhoy
I don’t believe anyone who has been to Celtic park in the last 50 years hasn’t Atleast once sang or joined in one of these. so Called embarrassing irish songs being from cork myself but living in Glasgow at the minute my grandfather told me of his days with Dan breen fighting the tans then being over for a Celtic game and hearing such songs. being sung days and times change its all very pc now to shout down people who sing these songs but not to long ago Celtic let the Wolfe tones. film a video of the Celtic symphony and they allowed street sellers around parkhead to sell pro ira stuff both clubs made money from the troubles .now its shut up they wernt embarrassing when they made money from them but times change . let the people sing ps top job Phil .
October 30, 2012 at 11:27 pm
Blogiston
Read the comments under the Spiers article in the Herald, denial and whataboutery in abundance. The automatic gainsay from the klan’s scribes to any form of criticism.
October 30, 2012 at 11:14 pm
Gerry
I agree we get the culture in Scotland we deserve.
Politicians were over eager to enter the fray after the ‘shame game’ bringing into question celtics reputation as well as the perpetrators of shame Rangers.
It was expedient to do so given the potential backlash in votes against the SNP yet predictably as the natives didn’t get everything their own way a backlash has resulted anyway.
We saw legislation introduced when sufficient powers were already on hand and a political system striving at every turn to equalise blame.
In this instance blame is easily apportioned but unfortunately to towards the largest demographic.
Now we see complete inactivity of response from the government even though the threats & intimidation strike to the heart of freedom of the press.
So without action to discourage these louts, even to recognise the problem exists, we are back to the fundamental assertion, we get the society we deserve.
One Scotland many cultures, yeah right!
October 30, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Ben mcginlay
There is always an assumption that one side is as bad as the other. This is what drags us down with them. It also creates a parity which is not there. Through the press, the ordinary people in Scotland and probably the rest of Britain think we are two warring tribes. One side Catholic and the other Protestant. This is what is causing nothing to be done of any note. People who could make the difference are frightened to do so in case there is a backlash from colleagues or worse, the idiots who take it to the extreme in threats of violence.
October 31, 2012 at 6:35 am
Martin
It was also interesting to see when the Charles Green story broke- of him having been threatened by the lunatic fringe- it was front page news for The Scottish Sun.
The Daily Record thought it only deserved an small area on page 13 next to some Cheryl Cole article.
The apology Green had to make to these same individuals was carried in a small section next to the junior football.
Speaks volumes of the succulent lamb brigade
October 30, 2012 at 9:55 pm
Nobody Knows
Another great article Phil. Well done to you, Alex and Graham Spiers for highlighting the problems you have by simply doing your jobs. And to Gary Allan QC, a very humble intelligent man who did not deserve any of that stress and worry.
Rangers fans see themselves as defenders of their traditions and faith but who are they defending against? It is a phony war, it simply does not exist. It is all in their mind. They believe they are superior but others know different, those that are in scottish society who are wide-eyed and tolerant.
The percentage of rangers fans that practice their Protestant faith and attend church is in the minority yet the majority use threatening behaviour, insults, violence, racism, sectarianism and bigotry to defend it. This is not Christian behaviour.
Their existence is based on the hatred and intolerance of others. What a waste of human life. Anybody who challenges or reports their wrongdoings are subjected to slur and threats.
October 30, 2012 at 9:49 pm
Ben mcginlay
Could the floodgates of truth open. I personally don’t think so. The worrying thing is nearly all the Sevco fans I know think nothing has changed. They all repeat what is written in the tabloids. The sickening part for me is Chick Green boasting about how healthy their finances are. When over £100M in unpaid taxes and a list of creditors never received a penny. There is no journalist pressing this guy. All positive spin IMO. To me the silence tells a worrying story.
October 30, 2012 at 8:38 pm
Mouldy67
Whatever happened to freedom of speech
Fair play to Graeme, Alex, Turnbull,Gary and Phil
Telling the truth and reporting facts
October 30, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Gerry
The hate has been hard wired into this underclass from the cradle for centuries. How do you change that?
October 30, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
“Centuries”?
No, this sub culture was nurtured in the 20th century.
Hopefully it will not outlive the 21st century.
October 30, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Joseph
Why oh why has it taken so long to get the truth out there,if they were not so fearful of the truth and had believed your posts maybe just maybe they could have saved their club
As it is,they buried their head in the sand thinking it would be fine after all they are the establishment club
As for your book Phil,maybe they should buy a copy and see where it really all went wrong.
I know I couldn’t put it down
October 30, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Antonious F
Bravo Mr Spiers.
i am sure you will be added to the hate list (upgraded to BOLD and CAPITALS) up Govan way. You will be tarnished with the title of liar, anti-rangers, and anything else they can think of. and for what?, daring to tell the truth.
maybe that threat of intimidation is why Jabba and co continue to tow the party line, or maybe they just love lamb and a good red.
and the truth will out
October 30, 2012 at 6:15 pm
hang 'em high
well done MR SPIERS , at last someone in SCOTLAND who is not frightened to tell it the way it should be told, there’s a stench emanating from IBROX and Scotland/Norn Ireland that must be eradicated
October 30, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Gerry
Phill,
I have been a Celtic fan for almost 40 years and follow your blogs with great interest and admire your bravery and honesty. However do you honestly believe we are any better than the fans of Rangers – in terms of some of the songs we sing? I could not care less what supporters of other clubs sing but I am continually embarrassed by some of the chants of our own support, particularly IRA chants. To say this no longer happens is untrue. As recently as Saturday there were IRA songs sung at Celtic park. I am also increasingly frustrated at the perception that the Green Brigade ‘are’ the a celtic support and speak for us all. Personally I find them an embarrassment to our club.
Keep up the good work
October 30, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Ben mcginlay
Gerry, I am a season ticket holder and love the atmosphere and colour the GB add to the game. I know there is a small minority who still sing the old stuff and I don’t like it either. I disagree with your notion that people think they ARE the support. There have been a few incidents that I was not comfortable with. But 99% of the time they do more good than bad. Their Tifo’s and displays before and during major games are creative, colourful and at times very humorous. I think they have something special planned for the Barca game next Wednesday. I can’t wait to see it. Would you agree that a more sizeable support of Newco fans join in with Sectarian hate songs. ?
October 30, 2012 at 10:08 pm
Blogiston
A couple of times I got a Celtic club bus to the match rather than take the car. I was annoyed when the first thing this mindless intellectual did when he came on the bus was stick a tape of disgusting pro-IRA songs on – he then put his own Ipod music on in his own head-set. The songs were really dire about killing British soldiers and such – all the more annoying since my other son is a Cadet, and loves everything about the army. Since then we’ve taken the car. I have no need to be indoctrinated by arseholes who are living in the last century and havent sensed the zeitgeist. I think ours is a much smaller problem but we cannot become smug about our more open culture. [meant a Celtic supporters bus btw]
October 30, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Ben mcginlay
I agree Blogiston, complacency will only let the old stuff back in. That is the difference, I think our fans have been quite vocal in their condemnation of singing( not always) pro IRA and anti British songs. There is no place for politics in football. As I have stated in the past, Celtic park is a better place for it.
October 31, 2012 at 6:27 am
DJ
i’ve always liked Spiers, he says it as he sees it. i love it when hes on ssb with keevins.
keevins on a previous show without spiers will launch a verbal attack on certain callers for their opinion, but when Spiers later expresses that same opinion when there on together shug will sit there quiet as a mouse. it realy is pathetic. KTF Phil………..
October 30, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Steven brennan
Why has it taken Graham so long to reveal this stuff?
I read his articles and they are usually pretty fair opinions, has he had any threats from Celtic supporters?
His christian upringing,( son of the manse) will be considered to much of a betrayal for the narrow
Minded fools who spout hatred of anything remotely in favour of catholics .
I hope some of the Msm sprout a backbone and follow his lead.
Well done
October 30, 2012 at 5:44 pm
PaulMc
They haven’t done so before. Can you see them changing now, especially with circulations dwindling and the ever present threat of more threats or a boycott from the usual suspects?
The longer this behaviour from the lunatic fringe of The Rangers fans continues, the more I see the problem with those in power at the club and the fans who remain silent. It took a lot of effort at Celtic from fans and board for the supporters to enjoy the reputation they now do, and I know we are still not perfect as supports go.
The Rangers must sort this out, or are they afraid of the challenge?
October 30, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Moi
Hi Phil,
Good piece as usual, well done again for telling it like it is.
However, I have a hunch that the GS article may be the waypoint that we are all looking or waiting for, there is no way back now for Graham and I fervently hope that some of his colleagues now break ranks and follow suit.
I understand that this is a big ask….but it has to happen sometime….if not then it will be time to turn the lights out awaiting the nuclear winter.
October 30, 2012 at 5:40 pm
k
Hi Phil, nice work as usual but i am struggling with “underclass” Possibly an easy target, not all of the underclass are rangers or football supporters. I think orginisation is key here, and would suggest that the underclass are activly discouraged, manipulated and subverted to prevent them from orginising. I spent years working in the construction industry and found that the middle management(not all) where more bigoted and dangerous than the guys on the coal face and the unemployed underclasses. I wont say that people from the underclass are not involved in these actions, but is it not better to look to the puppet masters and not the puppets?
October 30, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
A sociological term used by Graham and Alex Thomson.
October 30, 2012 at 5:48 pm
k
Hi phil, this article explains much better than i can
http://rowans-blog.blogspot.co.uk/
Always liked Mr Spiers work, all you guys have great courage to do what yous do.
November 5, 2012 at 12:46 pm
Sean South of the dead
Fair play to Mr.Spiers
I know Phil has done magnificent work but the neutrals (sic) will always take the easy way out and dismiss him as biased.
In order to achieve real change in this country we need brave souls like GS to step up and finally tell the truth.
Some might say that he has already ostracised himself from the klan, but let’s not forget that RFC is in his blood and he may bring some fair minded, albeit misguided, to his enlightened position.
October 30, 2012 at 5:21 pm
NumbNuts
Ally expressed ‘regret’ at his call for naming the tribunal members leading to threats against them and their families. Regret? If I said something that put someone else’s life or physical well-being in jeopardy, I would curl up and die of shame.
You knew and I knew the impact of his words. That threat is real and proven. Its what Speirs is calling out. Call it what it is, call it by its name, face it and treat it as fact. Maybe one day we’ll all be posting with our real names.
October 30, 2012 at 4:32 pm
pete smith
a fascist smell eminating out of ibrox,national front new members recruted outside and they all dance to the belfast drum.
October 30, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Lubo
well said , we need more of this , guys like traynor,keevins,young,delahunt etc etc are puppets , they are liars , out of fear , i doubt it , they shouldnt be allowed to spout deflection or lies , its too big for that , we dont want these trailer trash views buried in modern scotland , the should be exposed and dealt with , too many cops in scotland think the way they do unfortunately , joining in in some cases.
October 30, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Bigpaul
Good piece Phil, brave guys like yourself and Graham Spiers should be commended for being forthright, honest a defiant in the face if the ” Klan’s” intimidation!
There needs to be more willing to speak out, but with cowardly pro zombie hacks unwilling to admit the truth, through to lickspittle soup takers afraid to rock the boat, I think we will see a closing of the ranks, rather than the truth getting reported.
October 30, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Lisbonlion72
Good piece,thinking back to the refereeing scandal at tannidice last year,when I still listened to a podcast of SSB,mr Speirs commented on radio that all the nonsense wouldn’t have started hadn’t Neil Lennon stormed into the refs changing room seeking explanations or was it demanding answers!It took a certain Mr Keevins to say (this is why I find it hard to dislike Shug),Neil Lennon is more than entitled to go in there after that display!shot him down in flames as far as I’m concerned,I felt Spiers was adding fuel to the fire on all things Neil Lennon!Wee Shug got it spot on that day!HH
October 30, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Dan The Man
I cannot fully suss GS he appears to give a balanced view in certain instances but still gives the impression he cannot escape his upbringing in others.
October 31, 2012 at 12:01 am
Gerry
And not for the first time, Chapeau sir.
And well done Graham Spiers. We can only hope that others find your courage and expose this despicable klan as the media can but I will not hold my breath.
October 30, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Seumas
Its Scotlands Shame that this is only emerging now after decades of their intimidation which led to the likes of our manager being attacked on the trackside and having bombs and bullets posted. Many young lives have been lost in the past due to the nasty and vile intimidation of the Klan.
October 30, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Delthetim
In the late 60s and 70s my late father called them a facist football club and was degraded for it. Oh how he would smile now because that’s exactly what they are. He was another great man of Dublin 4
October 30, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Scotus=Irish
Good acknowledgement Phil. I used to enjoy Graham’s writing in the Scotland on Sunday and The Herald and was actually gladdened to be able to read something that alluded to the poison that was beginning to engulf Rangers. He also used to write on the other fitba’ sub-culture of Scottish junior game particularly in Ayshire which was hilarious with a serious undertone to the outrageous behaviour and the lack of purpose in it actually being there. His article explains his absence from the scene for a wee while and I eventually discovered he was working for The Times having endured the ‘treatment’
October 30, 2012 at 3:19 pm
Cammy
I have recently introduced my English friends to their way
their pathetic name calling
their pathetic threatening behaviour
their pathetic thinking
they are truly demonstrating their underclass credentials and modern Britain neither wants them or needs them
bye bye rangers, soon to be forever if her majesty’s loyal subjects have anything to do with it.
October 30, 2012 at 3:15 pm
erskine
The 21st Century is quickly catching up with the traditionalist Rangers supporter – but it’ll get a whole lot worse before it gets better – they won’t go quietly, unfortunately.
October 30, 2012 at 3:06 pm
RobinBhoy
Drip, drip, drip, slowly but surely the world will get to know these “people” for what they are.
White underclass just about sums them up.
October 30, 2012 at 3:05 pm
JackGlasgow
NIce article Phil and good to see you come out in support of Graham Speirs. I don’t always agree with GS but I applaud his courage to take a stand in what he believes.
WHat we now need are the other 30 Journalists to show solidarity with Graham and tell their story.
Maybe then Strathclyde Police will wake up and take some action and attempt to rid us all of this blight on society that is the RFC underclass.
October 30, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Joe
Perhaps the other journalists did report the threats to the Police, who subsequently decided that it was not in the publics interest to make them aware. (I believe this was the case on one occasion when NL and the others were sent mailbombs). One can only imagine the excitable chaos amongst the Scottish MSM if it had been Celtic fans accused of this.
October 30, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Vandalgrease
Instead of being roundly condemned by the Scottish Sports hacks, there instead seems to be an effort to undermine and question Alex Thompsons information, most of which was apparently provided by the NUJ itself.
I find that incredible.
The Glasgow sports journos have clearly been somewhat irked by Mr Thompson highlighting there obvious failings and sycophantic handling of Rangers.
October 30, 2012 at 3:05 pm
Kevin Gallagher
Bravo Mr Spiers.
October 30, 2012 at 2:56 pm