Last night on Channel 4 News there was a piece of television reporting that should be a wakeup call for everyone in Scotland.
For it was either seven minutes and fifty one seconds of an intricately choreographed libel against the reputation of a fine bunch of Corinthian chaps in Govan or it was the shameful truth.
If it was the former then the conspiracy involved an award winning TV news channel based in London, their highly decorated war correspondent, a QC, the NUJ’s fulltime organiser in Scotland, Raith Rovers’ big cheese Turnbull Hutton, respected social commentator Gerry Hassan and my book editor Angela Haggerty.
As conspiracies go you have to admit that’s fairly impressive!
For the conspiracy theory to hold water then all of these people would be motivated to besmirch the reputation of such a dignified bunch of supporters.
Presumably there was even some skulduggery in the supporter’s audio that was broadcast.
Of course there is one other explanation for the Channel 4 piece last night and that it was entirely factual.
The reality is that there is simply no need for any black propaganda to be used against the crazy end of the Ibrox support.
They do all of that themselves.
Actually they are very good at it.
They lash out in anger at a new social order where they are not “The People” instead they see an appalling vista where they are consigned to the hellish ignominy of equality.
As the zeitgeist in Scotland changes they see their world slipping away.
The structures and societal arrangements that affirmed and reinforced their sense of cultural superiority are decomposing in front of their eyes.
A new Scotland based on decency and fairness where the world view of good folk like Turnbull Hutton is the moral compass rather than those who would seek to have a book suppressed.
Of course those, who in recent weeks, abused bookshop staff in Glasgow for working in a place that stocked Downfall will now, be proudly wearing the Royal British legion Poppy.
These fine fellows will proudly state that they do so to remember those who died for our freedom.
I would wager that they have a rather different concept of liberty than most of us.
Their idea of freedom is when they get to decide what books can be sold and what stories newspapers can publish.
That is why we cannot allow them to win.
Lest we forget.
royster
As far as i am aware, nobody in the MSM has even commented on friday nights channel 4 news item. I wonder why?. Be certain that they all watched the programme though.
October 30, 2012 at 3:03 pm
hang 'em high
cooper49 you said that you “read it somewhere”, maybe that somewhere was in the BEANO OR THE DANDY cooper 54 A.W.
October 30, 2012 at 1:30 pm
Paul T
Re the nazi chanting, Parkhead WAS closed down because of it. What also is indisputable is the fact CFC proudly fly the flag of a country whose premier signed the book of condolence in the German embassy when one of the worst tyrants ever to besmirch the earth perished in his bunker. Moving on, will the blogger here, being the champion of equality that he is,be lobbying Glasgow City Council as to why there hasn’t been a Protestant Lord Provost for 30 years??? The fact that successive censuses state the majority of the city are protestant, albiet narrowing, suggests some kind of unwritten policy-protestants are not fit for the office of Lord Provost of Glasgow. Suggesting otherwise is a nonsense and ignorant of the facts. Protestants are discriminated against in the biggest city in Scotland and have been for 30 years. Let us know your feedback from the Equalities Commission……..
October 30, 2012 at 10:22 am
Bob Cordial
First post for me although have been following Phil for months. More power to your Pen big man.
Just wanted to say. Are there many posters like Paul T ??
Must be embarrassing for literate OLDCO supporters to think this imbec!le is one of them.
October 30, 2012 at 2:32 pm
PaulMc
Wow, another Paul! Views differ slightly.
I fervently hope people like you will be in charge again as I’d forgotten that I really belong at the back of the bus. How presumptuous of me, with your permission I shall of course tug my forelock and slink away out of site of my Protestant betters.
October 30, 2012 at 6:17 pm
joe burt
Phil,
Any news on when BDO will formally take control rfc 2012 or whatever the name is this week.Also when does Lord Hodge make his statement regards Duff&Phelps.
October 30, 2012 at 8:44 am
jomac
Cooper 49.
While serving an apprenticeship in barr& strouds in the early eighties I came up against the all seing eye on several occasions.36 apprentices 4 catholics,fair rattio?
I’m still working in engineering in Glasgow and it saddens me that I’m still well in the minority when it should be equal.
You’ve led sheltered life.hh
October 29, 2012 at 11:30 pm
FrancieBhoy
Jomac, I also worked in engineering around this time and freemasonry was the chosen society for instant promotion. Guys who couldn’t put a nut in a monkeys mouth were promoted with the funny handshake and this is still happening today, although to a lesser degree. It is a cancer to the detriment of a society and the sooner that shower dies then the better it will be for all. During a Scotland game around the late 70s, Danny McGrain and Kenny Dalglish were jeered by their own so called supporters because of whom they played for, which was rather ironic since none were of the Catholic faith. This incident appalled and surprised me and I have never been to another Scotland game since. As I have stated, it’s a cancer which needs cut out and destroyed.
October 30, 2012 at 6:46 am
gazthechef
Alex Thompson deserves serious respect.Realistically,the charade is over.the book is out there,the recent Channel 4 doc will free the way for the succulent bam brigade to follow suit.Phil said it and he was victimized,but now that a celebrated journalist has said it,its ok and now the hack pack are dying to jump on the bandwagon.Charles Green,Ally McCoist,David Murray,Craig Whyte,John Brown,Gordon Smyth,Donald Findlay,Campbell Ogilvy,Walter Smith,James Traynor, Chick Young, Hugh Keevins,Gordon Ramsay,Frank Lampard,Kyle Lafferty,Kirk Broadfoot,Steven Davis,Terry Hurlock,Terry Butcher,Greame Souness,Dick Advocaat,Paul Gascgoine…CAN YOU HEAR ME?? YOUR BOYS TOOK ONE HELL OF A BEATING!
October 29, 2012 at 9:56 pm
John Surgeon
Of course Scotland cannot afford to let the bigots and secret societies continue their dominance. But they may very well do so for the foreseeable and long-term future, for one cannot underestimate the influence of those in ‘high professions’ and politics, nor the tribal call to arms which has been attempted on several occasions, as reported in the media, in the past six months.
October 29, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Mick
TC, do you mean the Zombie Manor House link? Otherwise your comment makes no sense.
October 29, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Frankier
Celtic fans won two trophys for being The Best Fans in The World and they were in constant demand for friendly games all over the UK. The old dodo’s fans were hated all over Europe for their drinking, rioting, looting, terrorising of old women and children, urinating and sh!ting on the streets and generally causing the type of mayhem that you would associate with cowards and yet we still get the old “one lot is as bad as the other” sh!te being spouted. If the roles were reversed we would soon find out who were the bad guys and who were the good ones. Leckie, Traynor, Keegins, Waddell and Young would be in raptures about them. If they want us all to go to the same schools as this lot they must be wishing for a really evil society.
October 29, 2012 at 7:34 pm
Frankier
Cooper12thJuly – If you wish to give me a number then make it 1916 please. I don’t care what your selective memoried thistle friend thinks he remembers, there was NEVER EVER,
(repeat, NEVER EVER) any nazi chants at Parkhead at any time in its history. End of! Anyway, if you, and your thistle supporting friend, think nazi salutes are so repulsive why do you keep giving them on an almost fortnightly basis at the decrepit stadium that you visit to spew your bile? Your friend is maybe getting mixed up with the time the bigoted George Graham of the SFA, aided and abetted in the background by his bosom friend george (corky) young, demanded the closure of Celtic Park because they were flying the flag of a friendly country above the stadium. Bob Kelly soon put them in their place though. He knew he was dealing with professional cowards.
October 29, 2012 at 7:11 pm
hokeypokey
If Sevco share issue con trick fails Chuckie could set up a new franchise at the Big Hoose;
http://wish.co.uk/zombie-manor-house/
I’d buy a season ticket.
October 29, 2012 at 6:03 pm
jimCB
Hi Ian,While rival fans often display anger towards one another that couldn’t be described as anything other than ‘hatred’ we both know the difference in relation to the Old Firm or maybe we should call it the New Firm. I had my first brush with sectarianism at 4 years old and I didnt understand what was happening. Older boys of seven attacked me and a pal who ‘s and I had to ask my father what it all meant.This stuff gets handed down. You know it does. Its evil.
October 29, 2012 at 5:38 pm
jimCB
Hi Ian, you’re lucky you’ve never came into contact with outright sectarianism/racism. For most of us who comment here it has been a sad fact of life ever since we can remember.I don’t live in Scotland now and although I miss my country and family members I don’t miss the ongoing hatred that passes for passion surrounding football matches. I could tell thousands of stories that would probably shock you but I’ll leave you with a ditty that I experienced at an Old Firm derby at Ibrox. We parked our car discreetly in an area that was ‘neutral’ and on the way passed two other supporters who were not wearing colours. I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation. These guys were smartly dressed,probably well educated and they probably thought that we too supported their team. They were discussing which direction and streets to take to get to the ground ‘No don’t go that way we don’t want to meet any of the dog shit!’ That comment shocked me because I realised that it was a casual remark made by guys who seemed ‘cool’ west end,the kind of supporters that were buying into the Murray ‘dream’ to create a European super power.
Muhammad Ali once said he preferred the ‘out and out racists ‘ because at least they were ‘visible’. The silent,respectable sneaky ones were the ones you had to watch.
This story is not particularly significant apart from the fact that neither I not my friends would ever dehumanize a race of people like that. You’ll have to accept that I can’t prove it. I just know that its dangerous and evil. When that kind of way of thinking passes for ‘normal’ then we’re all in trouble.
There’s a big light shining on the blue support at the moment. Will they try and sort themselves out or will it go underground?
October 29, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Ian
Hi Jim,
Is that really an example of bigotry or racism? I have often heard both sides of the old firm (and other teams fans) refer to rival fans as “scum”. I’m not ashamed to say that I too have used that term when describing the football opposition – no real offense is meant.
Referring to the opposition fans as “dog shit” doesn’t sound particularly pleasant but it seems to me that it was directed at Celtic fans in general. Not Irish fans or catholic fans. I am sure that there are many Celtic fans who will refer to Rangers fans in a similar fashion.
Are you possibly treating this particular incident more seriously than it merits?
October 29, 2012 at 4:34 pm
thomas mccarthy
Your book was excellent,on it;s way to my brother U.S.A.thank you
October 29, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Ian
People should be careful about their use of terms such as “bigotry” and “anti-Irish racism”.
Has anyone read the excellent Steve Bruce article from an edition of The Guardian last year:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/apr/24/scotland-sectarianism-research-data
The most powerful quote for me was “Scotland’s disgrace is not religious bigotry. It is the unthinking way in which sectarianism is assumed”.
I know that many on this board will disagree with the article as anything that contradicts that deep rooted victim mentality will always be unpopular with some.
I don’t know how accurate the article is but it makes sense to me given my own experience. I have witnessed the “winding up” that exists between Rangers/Celtic fans many times, but I have genuinely witnessed no (although I know it does happen) genuine examples of bigotry or racism from either side.
October 29, 2012 at 1:16 pm
PaulMc
You shoot down your own argument when you use the phrase “victim mentality”. I only ever hear that from the worst elements among The Rangers support and others who hold similar prejudices.
That article completely ignored anti Irish racism, focusing solely on the religious aspect.
October 29, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Carntyne
You won’t have heard of the Famine Song then?
October 29, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Ian
Paul, I’m not sure how I shoot down my argument. I am not part of the “worst element” among the Rangers Support, whatever that means anyway. There are many among the Celtic fan base (and some too among the Rangers fans) who like to perpetuate the belief that sectarianism is rampant in Glasgow. The Steve Bruce article sums up my own belief that it’s almost entirely all in people’s heads.
Carntyne, You obviously didn’t bother reading the article.
October 29, 2012 at 2:24 pm
PaulMc
Well Ian, it’s quite simple, when you use that phrase you are echoing the type of language employed by the most bigoted, vile members of The Rangers support. If you are trying to get people to take your viewpoint as attempting to strike a balance, it was an unfortunate choice of words.
Sectarianism is a lot less pronounced in Glasgow than in decades gone by. It does, however, still exist and The Rangers is a rather large rallying point for the minority who still hold extremist views.
October 29, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Frankier
Ben – Cooper1690 still hasn’t produced the proof to back up his mischievous lies about the Celtic fans chanting Nazi slogans and giving the Nazi salutes during the war. We would hardly have been giving these type of salutes while our sons brothers and in-laws were away fighting the Nazis. On the other hand, I can understand the dodos’ fans carrying on like this even to the present day since all their menfolk (apologies to men) were in reserved occupations and the only one of their team who went, as a token gesture, into their King’s army was thornton and he spent the war years stationed at Maryhill Barracks. They probably think the poppy is a dried orange lily.
October 29, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Thomas Cochrane
read the article,its full of (witabootery.to an extent)I think the guy is an apologist for the brothers,With a bit angled to appease us.The scotia nostra,meeja eejit,fawning scribes are alive and well in Bonnie bigotland
October 29, 2012 at 6:03 pm
tambutnotbam
Craig Whyte is also quickly emerging as a star.
Craigs tapes have been brilliant in exposing what looks like absolute corruption in the handling of the Rangers Administration processes by Duff and Phelps.
The BBC made the first allegations against Duff and Phelps back in May whereupon Duff and Phelps threatened to sue the Beeb.
5 months later they still have not carried through with that threat and one is inclined to ask ……. why not ?
Then Craigs secret tape recordings started filtering out !
Ooops !!
October 29, 2012 at 7:18 am
tambutnotbam
I could hardly believe my ears when listening to Channel 4 News and Alex`s reports.
Not because he wasn`t spot on or that he wasn`t speaking the truth but because he was telling it like it really is.
It is a breath of fresh air blowing through Scottish Football whenever Alex speaks.
The laptoployal and exRangers fans now Sevcovians will recognise the truth being told but wont admit to it being the truth about their club, a club that is still corrupt under its new identity to its brand new core.
The Daily Record,Scottish Sun,Scottish Express the Herald the Scotsman and all other laptoployals have been brilliantly exposed as being part of the cover up that has been going on in favour of OldRangers for perhaps 70 or 80 years.
Scottish Football and the SPL in particular is benefitting greatly after Sevco were banished to compete in SFL 3 and very fortunate they were in being allowed to compete in Scotlands 4th tier of football.
Terrific , honest reporting Alex.
October 29, 2012 at 7:12 am
Stevebhoy
Another succinct piece Phil, please keep up the good work. I echo an earlier request for an e version of the book. I wonder how long before it becomes required reading in our schools. The times they are a changing.
October 29, 2012 at 4:47 am
Stevie Reid
Cooper, ha ha ! You churn out some spin ! Chuckie green would love you, you really should apply for a p.a. role with him. Or maybe ‘the succulent bambs’ are looking for another colleague. You would fit right in on the sportsdesks.
October 29, 2012 at 12:46 am
k
Hi Phil, who loves ya baby, enjoy, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_naIQOVUaM&feature=player_detailpage
October 28, 2012 at 11:36 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Nice track.
New one on me…
October 29, 2012 at 1:27 am
Mick
I blame other people.
October 28, 2012 at 9:40 pm
weefergus
I dont blame sevco fans and neither should any decent minded person
I blame the schools
October 28, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Ben mcginlay
I blame the parents…
October 28, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Mick
Two words for any doubters out there: Crimewatch Special.
October 28, 2012 at 7:50 pm
andy murray
Cooper, does anyone still support rangers fc? I thought they had all jumped ship to sevco? Or are you like euan mclean of the sunday mail? Living in denial?
October 28, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Buddy Morrisey
Phil
It would be helpful to attach some sort of statistical analysis to the nature and type of the sizeable minority. We shouldn’t be involved in hyping up racists and fascists. The EDL and BNP are very small in number and the danger is they can grow on the back of discontent given austere times.
Lets start with Nazis – the BNP and EDL/SDL active sympathisers probably number about 100.
You may know numbers of loyalists coming over from Northern Ireland. Would that number reach 1000?
Over a quarter of Scots think its OK to be prejudice. The social attitudes survey 2010 identified levels of prejudice. http://www.natcen.ac.uk/study/scottish-social-attitudes-2010#Title1
“In 2010, only a minority of people in Scotland (28%) felt there was sometimes good reason to be prejudiced, while two-thirds felt Scotland should do everything it can to get rid of all kinds of prejudice.
Some sections of society – particularly those with lower levels of educational attainment and older people – were more likely than others to feel prejudice was sometimes acceptable, and to express discriminatory views about particular groups.”
That is likely to be higher amongst the Rangers support. Lets be generous and say about a third of Rangers fans hold prejudice views against Irish and/or Catholics. Going by an attendance of 40,000 we have 13,000 bigots including a thousand loyalists and a hundred Nazis.
Is this about right?
Shouldn’t Rangers and the police join together with two thirds of Scots who think we should be doing everything to get rid of all kinds of prejudice!
October 28, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
An SPL match delegate told me two years ago that RFC had sectarian problems with “half their season ticket holders”.
October 28, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Mouldy67
When you look at the facts
It is remarkably scary how screwed up scotland had become
Freedom of speech ?
People only doing their jobs to represent justice
All threatened with violence
Just unbelievable
October 28, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Ben mcginlay
Tell me about. It’s all our fault because we don’t know our place.
October 28, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Dal
Cooper
You like to go on tangents and won’t respond to relevant questions.
Why do the BNP/SDL/EDL only operate at Ibrox?
It’s really a basic question.
October 28, 2012 at 11:56 am
Bill
Magnificent 7
Those 7 minutes and 50 seconds have been a long time coming. We all know the programme could have lasted hours. As I read “Downfall” I realise this is a book I never want to finish. Just like the actor Tom Conti in the film Reuben Reuben when he says something similar about reciting poetry. I know I will eventually finish the book and that it will be a bitter sweet moment.Great achievement; congratulations.
October 28, 2012 at 10:00 am
Sea_Warrior
Alex Thompson’s report on intimidation by fans of Rangers appears to imply that this type of behaviour is somehow an anomaly in a hitherto immpeccably behaved small minority of fans of that club. The report proffers the recent financial crisis at Ibrox as a reason for this aberration and even goes on to suggest that paramilitaries from Northern Ireland may be behind the intimidation.
Nothing of course could be further from the truth and in any event would be no excuse for such behaviour. This bigoted attitude by many Rangers fans (although by no means the majority) has subsisted for as long as I can remember.
Bigoted attitudes of this type do not, as far as I’m aware, occur naturally in children; it is a learned behaviour. It exists in every society and the green half of Glasgow is no exception, however, it is generally the exclusive position adopted by a select few on the extremes of society; not in the huge numbers who display this attitude at Ibrox.
The only change I can see is the spotlight now being shone on the Ranger’s support by the mainstream media which has come about by the so called internet bampots first highlighting and tackling it head on. We also could do with the decent Ranger’s fans (of which there are many and are in fact the majority) finding their voice and making it known that they find this attitude unacceptable. As it is, this silent majority are also victims as they continue to be tarred with the same brush as the bigots within their midst.
It is only by continuing to challenge these attitudes as unacceptable will we be able to lessen the degree which it is passed down through the generations.
It is this failure by the mainstream media (Jim Traynor in the Record deserves special mention in this regard as someone who in my opinion has deliberately exacerbated the problem for whatever reason) to do so which has so far prevented this process from taking place in any meaningful way.
October 28, 2012 at 9:00 am
JOHN BURNS
Phil states “That’s why we cannot allow them to win” – let’s all keep this in the forefront of our minds.
Although we are accused of being obsessed by the Rangers brand fiasco, we cannot, and must not, be deflected in the pursuance of a just outcome.
The “Rangers have been punished enough” brigade have powerful friends in the MSM and they will keep repeating their mantra, ad infinitum.
Without the “internet bampots” this whole farce would have been ‘swept under the carpet’ by the Scottish MSM, using the excuse that the Scottish game would die without the participation of the Rangers brand at the top level.
We have seen the doings of the ‘moronic mob’ that forms a significant section of the the Ibrox support and wonder at the lack of recognition of this by the management at Ibrox and, of course the ‘succulent’ MSM.
Celtic Football Club must manage their affairs over the next four years in a way that will put them ‘out of sight’ of a returning Rangers brand and, Celtic supporters must also use this time to eradicate any small practices in their behaviour that could draw even the slightest comparison to the Ibrox mob. The ‘anti-Celtic’ media cabal within Scotland will continually look to highlight any ‘chink in our armour’ in order to justify their unwavering support for The Rangers.
On a day that Celtic have lost at home to Kilmarnock, I do not think that we should be too downhearted. We were told by all and sundry that the league would be ‘over and done with’ by Christmas – well it won’t be and that is a good thing.
Teams will be closer to Celtic because they will not ‘automatically’ lose twelve points per season to Rangers and therefore the winning margin, I suspect, will be around eight or ten points, maximum.
All the top teams in Scotland must let the Sevconians know that we don’t need them and that we could not care less if they returned to the SPL, or not.
But most of all, let us keep up our interest and pressure on all the organisations looking into the disgraceful history of the Ibrox club – whatever they are now called.
October 28, 2012 at 5:29 am
FrancieBhoy
The mantra from the knuckle draggers is as predictable as their belief that their club survived. When I am confronted with bjk, I kindly refer them to Kilcora boys home. It doesn’t sit we’ll with them but it soon shuts them up and has them running for the nearest google search engine. Think ‘Downfall’ is on my Christmas list Phil, so I will contain myself until then and I salute you for your persistence in highlighting the goings on to which the Scottish media struggle to tell. From a roasting hot day in sunny Australia, I wish the Celtic family well.
October 28, 2012 at 3:41 am
Jim Wood
Great run of articles again Phil.
It is a pity that the first minister did not take a strong stance against these stRangers FC fans and their intimidation when the opportunity arose. It would have made the abhorrence we all feel more clear had he spoken up for the people attacked rather than the attackers. Oh well ” the best wee small country” Aye right!
Keep at them Phil.
October 27, 2012 at 11:28 pm
corcaighbhoy
Well said damian . great job Phil just new to you but love the bloggs keep up the Good work .
October 27, 2012 at 9:39 pm
Joe
I agree with most of what has ben said.
But I think one thing has to be highlighted. Alex Thomson talks about a “minority” of Rangers fans. Clearly, Alex has not lived in Glasow.
I believe he even attended an old firm game – his hearing must have deserted him.
It is not a minority. And I speak as a veteran or over 50 years of this madness. A majority of RFangers fans buy into the WATP. They genuinely believe the y are better than anyone else.
Mr Thomson reallly needs to address that point.
October 27, 2012 at 10:43 pm
damian g
Keep that spotlight shining bright on them Phil, they’re running out of ideas and hiding places. I just finished reading your book and it hammers home the injustice even more convincingly when reading the timeline with the turn of a page instead of reading through it as it unfolded at the time.
Given the recent court cases involving abusive behaviour on Twitter, I would hope Strathclyde’s finest take appropriate action against the internet radio commentator for inciting threatening behaviour towards Angela Haggerty who is simply doing her job.
This is without doubt, the darkest and most sinister period in Scottish football’s history and the guilty parties should all be brought to justice regardless of how long it takes if sporting integrity still has a place in our game.
October 27, 2012 at 7:49 pm
brian mclaughlin
In fact if it didnae rain sa much I´d probably be ower in Ireland.
Luv the place.
October 27, 2012 at 6:29 pm
brian mclaughlin
To be honest Phill if I were you I wouldn´t bring ” Downfall” out in ebook form.It will be freely available to everyone in no time at all.
I have bought & paid for it & thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
I left Glasgow in 1976 because of the bigotry & sectarianism & it was the best thing I ever done in my life.
My 2 sons born in Glasgow don´t know anything about it & for that I am very glad.
Been in Spain for 10 years now & loving it & not missing Glasgow & “thems ” in any way shape or form Whatsoever.
October 27, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Been there...
Another belter Phil. The part about the poppy and freedom sums the situation up as well as anything I’ve read over the last two years or so. You can have your freedom but only if it’s the freedom we want, because we are the peepel. Utter, utter hypocrisy from the people with an outlook that was out of date 60 years ago.
People died protecting the freedom of the citizens of this country. The freedom to live as we choose as long as we stay within the law, with every person being considered equal.
These are the freedoms that we should take for granted in an open and civilised modern country.
However they cannot stand to be considered equal. They want to be considered special. Separate. A class apart. They don’t want to live within the same rules as everyone else.
Now that they are being forced to live within the same framework as the rest of society they are appalled. The special treatments that they have enjoyed for decades are having a spotlight shone on them like never before by the ‘internet bampots’ like your good self. Now things can’t be swept under the carpet like they used to. Their behavior is there for everyone to see and by God it’s not a pretty sight.
Once again Phil, wonderful stuff. Thank you.
October 27, 2012 at 4:55 pm
hokeypokey
I know I should not be surprised but I have not heard any BBC/SSB reference to AT’s report at all.
Surely they must have some opinion on these issues, even if only to dismiss them as “attention-seeking”.
We must encourage and support AT to out these thugs.
How many of us over the years have warned our kids to be careful not to display the hoops for fear of violence from the knuckledraggers?
Even this was not enough to keep young Mark Scott safe in the “greatest wee country in the world”.
No more. Like Rosa Parks, we need to draw a line in the sand and fight this oppression.
October 27, 2012 at 4:20 pm
hang 'em high
as usual PHIL excellent article of truth and light. I doubt if anything truthful will appeal to our BUNNISH SPECIES at the bigotdome as they appear to be in a state of PERSONAL AND NEVERENDING D E N I A L
October 27, 2012 at 3:45 pm
The Wallace
When I saw the genuine fear and upset on Ms. Haggerty’s I felt very angry, for supposed grown men to behave in such a fashion really unacceptable. And I hope the police have a word with that clown who was broadcasting instructions inciting this behaviour.
Let’s see Cooper 54 and Mason Walker explain this bullying without invoking the age old mantra there are knuckle draggers on both sides, for over the past few months the Newco knuckle draggers are hurting their club badly and it is no longer the issue that there may be a few tubes that follow any club including Celtic. If what is left of decent supporters (I am beginning to wonder if there are enough or even any) of Newco don’t start publicly distancing themselves, openly and vociferously attacking such exhibitions of mindless and reasonless hate, then the thugs have won and the club will lurch from incident to incident and it is only a matter of time that their club will face censure, which they can well do without. It is only to be hoped that those that run Castle Dracula will speak out and condemn this anti-social behaviour, but I won’t hold my breath. I’m sure if a section of the Celtic support were up to this then Peter Lawell and Lenny would be hounded to make a statement of condemnation.
On a different topic aren’t Hearts ‘living in interesting times?’
October 27, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Philip Leathem
Tried to buy a copy of your book in Easons Dublin Airport 24th Sept, on way to Austrailia,they didn’t have it mo chara.Get it when i get back.
October 27, 2012 at 3:08 pm
SonOfPatrick
Indeed, Phil. The reality of living in a real democracy would seem distinctly oppressive to many of that ilk.
On a previous note I may have been wrong – certainly no back-pedalling from Succulent Jim – in fact “Whyte, not Grier, was the man who trashed Rangers’ cherished history – but Grier and one or two others should also be questioned”. Has Big Jim
jumped the dyke? This is certainly not the party line.
PS – really enjoyed your book. The way things are panning out it could be the first of many.
October 27, 2012 at 2:58 pm
tony montague
ive already bought the book but will probably stick the ebook on my tablet for references
October 27, 2012 at 2:49 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Cheers.
I know that the publisher is working on making all of the titles into E-book versions.
October 27, 2012 at 2:57 pm
James
I’m in Canada Phil, look forward to an e-book version of Downfall. I would guess that an online version would sell more than the hardback these days
October 27, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
My publisher is doing this with all of their titles in the new year.
October 27, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Ipswich Bhoy
Freedom to agree or disagree is fundemental to a functioning democracy. Debate should be held in reasonably respectful terms although a case passionately put is fine. I agree with most of what you’ve written above, especially your ability to see that this sickness is manifest in the ‘Crazy end of the Ibrox support’ and not every single Rangers fan. Talk of those who died for our freedom to disagree strikes me as odd coming from you Phil as you have a reputation for blocking anyone who diagrees with you? Is that me blocked now?
October 27, 2012 at 2:16 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
No you will not be blocked for being crass.
Only for being abusive.
October 27, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
I have always stated that it was a specific sub-culture around the Ibrox club.
However, they have become the dominant voice in that support in recent years.
October 27, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Brendan
Powerful stuff Phil and entirely accurate in my view, these are people who are lost and who having no sound arguement of any kind resort to what they know, then deny it… pathetic and cowardly by any measure….
Mid way through the book now Phil – kind of joyous, a brilliant commentary of the last days of the rainjurs!! Stay well Phil
Brendan
October 27, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Thanks Brendan.
Enjoy the rest of the book.
October 27, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Adeste Fideles
any chance of an e-book version of downfall?
October 27, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
The publisher is examining that.
October 27, 2012 at 2:30 pm
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Do you accept Paul Holleran’s analysis that the “moronic” element is far greater at Ibrox than at other clubs?
October 27, 2012 at 5:16 pm
Ben mcginlay
Coops what does it feel like to be right all the time and putting us tims in our place. You really are a special person. I have respect for you now that you have a new string to your bow. Didn’t take you for a pugilist. And your use of he word personified really put me in my place. You can be so hurtful, I’m sorry I ever questioned you or your values. Here was me thinking you were a malcontent with very low intelligence.silly me. I’m away to sit at the back at the bus. I know my place now.
October 27, 2012 at 7:13 pm
Ben mcginlay
I have told you before ya cretin. I have never called you a nazi. I couldn’t care less what pictures adorn your hall walls. I’m not interested in anything you have to say. We will never agree. In fact you spend most of your time trying to correct people. It’s so good to have a Sevconian keep us all right. Now get back to colouring in book zombie boy..
October 28, 2012 at 5:20 pm
P J Fox
It’s a commonly held view that Rangers have a bigger problem with nutters in their support than any other club on the island of Britain. The fact that many of these nutters are loyalists from the North of Ireland only makes the problem worse.
Time for someone within the Rangers klan to stand up and be counted and claim the moral high ground. There’s a void waiting to be filled C. Since your club’s dignitaries have all but deserted the metamorphosised cloned embryo you now pledge your allegiance to perhaps it’s about time the decent Rangers fans take charge?
Inaction breeds condonement.
October 28, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Ben mcginlay
There you go again, claiming I want to demonise everyone in a Ranjurs jersey. Assumption !! You have still to prove to me that I referred to you as a nazi and a racist. And to other posters of some claims you have made on Celtics past. You still pick excerpts from people’s posts and answer them whilst evading the real issues. That is why I believe you are a fraud. And your comments are there to wind up. Even your identity Cooper54 is a wind up. You say you want to talk ‘Planet Fitba’, but very few of your posts have actually been about Fitba. You are trying to tarnish the good name of Celtics UNBROKEN 125 year old history by writing about isolated incidents from the past, one of which I sort of agreed with you. You didn’t even register that, you took something else from my post and turned it round. You are the one who started the condescending retorts, that is why I repeat you are a fraud. Oh by the way, I have sat in the Copeland road at an Oldco Celtic game on New Year’s Day with some friends, if I was a real bigot, would I have done that,Charlie Nicholas scored the winning goal. I have probably been to Ibrox more than most people I know who claim to be fans of the home club.
October 29, 2012 at 9:24 am
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Presumably you demand to.know his identity…
October 29, 2012 at 11:40 am
Ben mcginlay
I definitely called you a bigot. I’ll accept your apology…
October 29, 2012 at 6:32 pm