Last week I was in Belfast for the first time in 20 years. The city centre was flooded with tourists, adding a cosmopolitan flavour. It’s clean and without litter or graffiti. I also didn’t see a single football top on the street in two days, which has to be exceptional for any European city. It was a proper tourist destination.
The whole city is small and just a few minutes’ walk from the centre are demarcation zones where normal rules of law and order, or even planning permission, do not apply. There are places where inappropriate bravado would be punished without appropriate limit.
Many people live in besieged areas. Bombay St is pretty and well-kept, but the residents, are not even protected by a roof-high peace line (below). Their gardens are now completely caged in, a necessary step to protect life and property.
One phrase you will have heard all your life about Belfast in July is “tensions run high”. Communities spend months preparing enormous bonfires, while ancient observances are carried out.
It is not possible for Celtic to play against Linfield under normal conditions without jeopardising the welfare of our travelling support. Too many people would be vulnerable in too many places. We should decline tickets for the away game and politely inform Linfield they should do likewise – don’t think for a second it would be only Linfield fans who would pitch up at Celtic Park for the return game. Their presence would be a beacon for all that we don’t want to see or listen to for 90 minutes.
Belfast has so much to teach Glasgow, from tourism, to reconciliation, but conflict remains part of its infrastructure. This is a tie to get out of the way without cost to life or limb.
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DEKO on 19TH JUNE 2017 5:46 PM
Does anyone know the release date for the new away top please
I think it’s 1st July
the green man. the days of cowering to them are over hail hail.
Looking for one ticket in the away end, Linfield. Thanks.
TAL … I have gone to Alberts or the Jerk for years, but have never gotten around to trying Randy’s … I hear the food is great… will need to try it soon.
Deko …going from the email I receveid from Celtic,I think the release date is July 1 (UK only) , if you buy it through Celtic…. otherwise, it seems to be a week or so later…
Gearoid 1998.
Yes, I would have thought that, especially with the bonfires and the 12th being a public holiday. That’s the date the clubs appear to be agreed on though.
You can just imagine, lots of last minute changes to the effigies at the top of the bonfires.
Hail Hail
G 67 thanks
Another blazing hot day, ole Rutherglonians in danger of sunstroke between cloudy patches, an afternoon of porkpie and good swishing n slurping tea, prerequisites for a splendid day out.
Yep
Plenty of Celtic tops will adorn their pyres. Hopefully it’s the new one so we can get a turn out of it.
HH
M in T thanks
Deko- how you doing?
Deko
May have given you a bum steer …. just checked the email that I received this morning … it is for the training gear, which is on pre-order, and has the delivery dates I mentioned … when I clicked on the away strip, it also showed it as being on pre-order, but didn’t specify a release date, and I couldnt see it on the website so, I am not sure ….
sorry about that.
The pre-order is from 01/07 for the new away top. If you order one up it gives you that info.
No way will Linfield want the tie swapped or relocated.
This is a potential 1/2 million payday for them and will nicely supplement the existing subsidies they receive from the NIFL for hosting NI games.
A thrashing in a first leg at CP would dampen their gate and revenue.
With “cultural festivities” in full swing and crimpolene clad tourists flooding the city, Windsor Park will be assured of a full house and a fan fest of bigotry.
Seemingly,PSNI are wanting dates changed, according to Inside The SPFL.
Hail Hail
Bada Bing doing fine mate, hope your well. Off to Santa Ponsa tomorrow :)
One Malloy,
Condolences on your sad loss. Thoughts and prayers for your family.
coming up for the marching season reminds me of the day the celtic met the huns on the first midday game between them.i had to work that day so after work went down to the cutty sark dumbarton to meet my mates who were at the game. the pub door was open and i heard a band,is that a walk?yes they passed this morning. their is not many of them and they have a band from govan to help them out. we went outside to watch them. there is a bar door and a lounge door and between them was a model of the cutty sark.to old men were standing at the lounge door and as the band came near the drummer came out the ranks and pinned the old men against the wall. i am afraid i lost it, and all i could think of was to put my foot through the big drum. i ran at him and at the last minute he turned to the side and went back into the ranks. i went after him, he had a pony tail and i wraped my hand round it. i lifted my hand up as far as i could and came down with all my weight.his screams penetrated the night sky,you would have heard them in govan .i kept a pump action going with my right hand. now i knew the ones in the walk from dumbarton and more important they knew me.a guy came at me with a pike and i said you come any nearer wullie and you will know where that pike will end. that was eneough for him. he carried on walking.i came out the ranks and they carried on up the street, the flutes kept playing , but not the drummer he could not stop crying.i stood outside the bar with half his pony tail in my hand. what a night we had in the cutty that night. i never bought a drink.their was one policeman with the walk and he was at the front in a panda car. john m who drunk in the bar.
onemalloy
Condolence for your loss
Thoughts and prayers for your aunt Mary – may she rest in peace
20 years ago today, the dead club signed Marco Negri for a fee of around £3.75million, bringing their transfer spend to £14million.
97/98 season Celtic stopped their bid for 10.
Know how much they spent the following season?
£35.9million!!!!
Old Mitty certainly assisted in their eventual financial ruin of the dope fiends.
The Celtic board must have been sitting there counting down the days, and thinking – where’s all this money coming from?
HH.
The Linfield monkey club will only be interested in making as much money as possible from the two games, same as their genuine 5-10 thousand fans.
They have “won” 52 league titles – and unfortunately with all the money they are set to get, they soon could well become the most successful club in the world.
Yip – even more successful than Real Madrid!
HH.
Scaniel, glad to see you are keeping up the Efes quotient! Didn’t see your daughter at the Hoot on Saturday. Enjoy your holiday.
HH
I really hope S.P. La Fiorita win but I would not be too hopeful-
2012–13 UEFA Europa League
1Q Liepājas Metalurgs
0–2 0–4 0–6
2013–14 UEFA Europa League
1Q Valletta
0–3 0–1 0–4
2014–15 UEFA Champions League
1Q Levadia Tallinn
0–1 0–7 0–8
2015–16 UEFA Europa League
1Q FC Vaduz
0–5 1–5 1–10
2016–17 UEFA Europa League
1Q Debrecen
0–5 0–2 0–7
Goals: 1 For 35 Against
One Malloy
Sorry to hear about your aunt passing
May she rest in peace
Good evening friends.
A most interesting read back on the pros and cons of the likely opponents.
Was the Europa draw today too and,if so, can anyone tell me if the Scottish clubs got favourable draws?
Oh and pass the Rioja over here..
I’llbeyourbabytonightCSC
OneMalloy: Sincerest condolences.
I GG- Crimpoline….made me laugh there…
MIT
Randy’s is on the SE corner of Eglinton and Oakwood. Great Chicken Patty’s., but you can buy anything from DVD’s to trousers from the guys hanging around inside the bakery :-)
I like Alberts too.
Bit of chat about Twalfth related bonfires.
Just how do they get all the pallets they burn each year.?
Belfast city council store the Timmy mallets for them allegedly
FOR A PEOPLE AND A CAUSE on 19TH JUNE 2017 8:15 PM
Belfast city council store the Timmy mallets for them allegedly
Surely not the same Belfast Council that removed the Fleg.
Any Celtic fans stupid enough to go to this game deserve all they get – they are going for other than football reasons.
Stay away – it has big trouble written all over it – could even affect our European participation.
This is a big call for the club – let’s hope they refuse to handle any tickets.
quonno possibly honestly cant remember buddy ill go with you hail hail.
I cant see our tie against linghuns being played at Celtic park as it is looking like a beach at the moment I can see it being moved to ?
BIG PACKY on 19TH JUNE 2017 8:26 PM
quonno possibly honestly cant remember buddy ill go with you hail hail.
I failed to mention that friendly was against Cliftonville.
SFTB’s
Not often I disagree with you so not going to now.
We know how to behave when visiting someone’s else’s home city.
Is Bankier still in post? Really?
MATS NILLOC on 19TH JUNE 2017 8:24 PM
Any Celtic fans stupid enough to go to this game deserve all they get – they are going for other than football reasons.
Stay away – it has big trouble written all over it – could even affect our European participation.
This is a big call for the club – let’s hope they refuse to handle any tickets.
A very wise call.
quonno that rings a bell.
Evening Celts
Bit of censorship going on i see.
You can all try…but you wont prevent Celtic supporters watching their team.
Moan all you want.
But i think we can decide for ourselves.
Although im touched by the sudden concern for the safety of Celtic supporters, is this a new PLC policy?
HH