“The Away Club shall have the right to claim admission for its supporters of up to 20% of the spectator capacity of the Registered Ground at which the Match is to be played.” That, with a small caveat for the Safety at Sports Ground Act, 1975, is the simple rule which governs away ticket allocation at Scottish Cup matches.
It is uncontroversial and has stood the test of time for decades. At Celtic Park, which is the largest ground in the country, it means we are obliged to offer more tickets to away fans than anyone else. Fair enough.
Offering token ticket numbers for Premiership games breaches the time tested safe routes to and from grounds. At Ibrox, for example, 700 Celtic fans were expected to park alongside Newco fans, then walk through them to the top of Broomloan Road – the designated car parking area for Celtic fans was not sufficient to accommodate even a third of that number.
When I was there for such an occasion, we were fortunate that most of the other lot made an early exit from the game, other outcomes are possible. While inside the stadium, glass bottles rained down from the stands towering above Celtic fans.
Where was the Safety at Sports Ground Act, 1975, when this arrangement got the green light, you are entitled to wonder? The same scenario will hold at other grounds if a few hundred away fans are isolated among hostile opposition supporters.
You either make football safe, which Scottish Cup games are and having no away fans are, or you accept there will be actual harm to visiting fans.
Newco are boxed into a corner. They designated part of the stadium for their ultras group where Celtic fans were traditionally accommodated. This meant the ultras had to move for Celtic fans, which they really didn’t like and complained about for years.
With weak leadership, Newco relented, cut Celtic’s allocation and forever damaged the sport. Unwinding this would mean moving their ultras, which is no more possible than Celtic moving 8,000 fans in the Jock Stein Stand, many of whom have been there for 20 years, to relocate their ultras.
When I got home from Ibrox after our win in April last year, I was disturbed that the police were asleep at the wheel in permitting such a dangerous scenario. Event organisers are not the arbiters of what is and is not safe. Newco, Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council have all looked the other way while Celtic acted on what was hard evidence of risk to life and limb.
This is why we have a board of professionals, not weak grifters.
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When Bodo Glimt raced into a 2-goal lead at Celtic Park, Greg Taylor was absolutely destroyed in the build-up to both goals. It was obvious that the opposition knew we were weak in the left side of defence and they wasted no time in exploiting that weakness.
I like Taylor but he is a bombscare in Europe.
SAINT STIVS on 28TH JULY 2023 4:06 PM
The Scottish game is not in decline. In spite of Celtic winning everything , every other team, except 1 is enjoying highest attendances in 70 years.
*I would seriously put that down to Covid s in you never miss the water until the well runs dry.
TOM MCLAUGHLIN on 28TH JULY 2023 4:41 PM
The first goal came from an attack down our right
https://youtu.be/1sq1iNADKtw
We didnt lose to B/G because of Greg Taylor
He didn’t even play in the return leg
Celtic40me..
Are you Greg Taylor ?
:)
HH
BURNLEY78 on 28TH JULY 2023 12:59 PM
Great post! I like how you see how much is in the glass, not how little is missing!
T
I too think it is the Life after Covid revival, like the huge crowds after the war.
are people going out more now ?
i do find it interesting, if a club lives within its means, sets expectations accordingly, lived through the no rangers thing, didnt need their support, and can reduce allocations now because their own fans turn up in numbers, then maybe there will be a 3rd force emerging, hertz or aberdeen (i do feel robson will do something there).
Saint Mirren withtheir very small stadium, but filled most home games as an example.
I complain all the time, when our away supporter dont get allowed in all the empty seats (kille for example). but maybe there is an argument it is just too costly to police and open,
I was looking at average attendances, quite unbelivable for me, but 67 our average league crowd was only 31000.
The league as a whole was only 9,300 average.
BIG WAVY on 28TH JULY 2023 5:01 PM
I like any Celtic player who gives his all and wins.
I think he deserves fair treatment from the fans
SS,
Imo, the Scottish game has been declining for years- in quality. Few teams even try and play football, as we do. The emphasis is on the “getrightintothum” nonsense. The MIBs condone the hammer throwers (at least when they play us). Our players need to be playing footballers on a regular basis before we can expect to improve our performances in Europe.
SS,
It was a common joke that in the Whites and Kellys days what they would put out as the attendance. You can bet it was at least another 10,000 than what they claimed.
Looking at those highlights still can’t believe we never signed Solbeck
CELTIC40ME on 28TH JULY 2023 5:06 PM
BIG WAVY on 28TH JULY 2023 5:01 PM
I like any Celtic player who gives his all and wins.
I think he deserves fair treatment from the fans
——-
I too can appreciate a guy playing to the best of his ability.
BUT
I’m not giving any of them a blank cheque on the playing front as that’s the least they should do as highly paid professionals.
AND
I’d still feel that and upgrade the position (as I would with others in the team if the chance arose).
Only Celtic matters. Best for the club. The players? Definitely less so.
HH
i do agree with that, the product itself the game is often crap, full of hammer throwers, i watched hibs yesterday afternoon, i thought it was really poor football, and in fact the ladies game yesterday morning had better football.
it is a puzzle that supporters will go watch that level of player,
i would like for some other scottish team to perform in a european group.
maybe tha suaids could buy up our league and invest here. do what they did with the golf.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 28TH JULY 2023 5:09 PM
SS,
It was a common joke that in the Whites and Kellys days what they would put out as the attendance. You can bet it was at least another 10,000 than what they claimed.
—————-
aye the gold old 23,000 v hibs or hearts.
but even so, i also recall games with only 14,000 , the infamous fire raisers game v dundee when everybody huddled round a bon fire in the celtic end.
them were the days.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 28TH JULY 2023 5:06 PM
So true. I watched that eijit Lee Johnson last night after that defeat in Andorra and it was David Brent-esque.
Why do clubs continue to hire these limited managers year after year?
HH
SS,
A club like Celtic must be able to compete in Europe and domestically.
When we have experienced record breaking domestic success we have drastically underachieved in Europe.
Unfortunately most of the domestic games that I remember the most are victories against the huns, whereas in Europe there are many memorable games againsta variety of teams. Eg I still remember with great joy when we ” beat” Man City 3-3.
I don’t think domestic football success can be measured by attendance.
There are many reasons for increased attendance eg. All seated stadia encouraging less trouble and more families.
HH.
David Brent-esque.
I feel the same about Jim Goodwin, he spouts absolute guff with every defeat.
Then again, Beale is a master class in barrow boy borrocks
yeah paul67, compare that to the reaction to ‘lateral movement’.
BIG WAVY on 28TH JULY 2023 5:12 PM
“I’m not giving any of them a blank cheque on the playing front as that’s the least they should do as highly paid professionals.”
Nobody is suggesting a blank cheque, only fairness. I don’t think blaming him for losses in games he dud by even play in qualifies as fair ;)
“ Only Celtic matters. Best for the club.”
Agreed. I don’t think unfair criticism of any player is what’s best for the club. It doesn’t help the player and by extension the team.
I came off the CL campaign thinking we’d benefit most from an upgrade at center forward. Kyogo’s form since and the potential change in playing style has changed my mind a bit but still think we’d see a better return from investing in forwards who can finish better than defenders who are decent enough.
23rd dec 1978.
Celtic 18 7 5 6 26 21 +5 19
we were 6th in the table, but incredibly United at the top with 23 points, and the huns only had a point more than us, then the big freeze, …………
My goodness. Some of you bhoys would argue Green was blue. Carry on!!!! 😂
BRRB,
There’s no argument, just a friendly discussion.
Hope and trust your swally is going well.
HH to all
CELTIC40ME @ 11:24 AM
Did you read what Brendan said about our business model a couple of days ago? I don’t think you and him are thinking along similar lines
Yes, apologies for not replying to your comment, I started but was waylaid.
It’s often inferred I have an agenda, it was Ange the other day, however, there is no attachment to any particular personality for me.
As it happens my thoughts are Brendan has been impressive in his pressers and interviews since his return – he made a lot of sense in that piece.
Hail Hail
Juventus kicked out of European competition for breach of ffp.
BURNLEY78 @ 12:59 PM,
Agree with most of that, though still think we need three quality, experienced, first team players in, that’s crucial.
Of course, unlike you I don’t go to the matches, though I do have Celtic TV and watch most games, even if it’s delayed live.
Saw very little of Iwata playing in midfield, so will have to bow to your superior perspective in that regard – it seemed to me that Ange/BR was playing him in utility roles.
With AJ, CCV, coming back from surgery, not knowing when they will be back or their condition or form when they do come back, we may see Iwata helping out in some defensive roles.
Hail Hail
So that’s one less team to worry about
CELTIC40ME on 28TH JULY 2023 5:43 PM
“Nobody is suggesting a blank cheque, only fairness. I don’t think blaming him for losses in games he dud by even play in qualifies as fair ;)”
– Hold yer hollyhocks there. Only you ran with that narrative. Nobody else. Remembered you got very excited with yourself when you remembered he didn’t play the 2nd league.
“Agreed. I don’t think unfair criticism of any player is what’s best for the club. It doesn’t help the player and by extension the team”.
– Don’t think any of its unfair. Good SPFL level (which doesn’t test his defending) and not enough quality for Europe (where he is not alone). Love his work ethic and the inverted role brings out the best in him domestically (ex-middy).
I just don’t get attached to these guys (too old for that). It’s not personal. They’re living the dream, we’re making them millionaires and it’s, at worst, a view on a blog. I think he’ll survive that.
Enjoyed the craic. Hope we get to see some new faces tomorrow (although I do hear Rocky is injured !!!)
HH
SFtBs @ 3:53 PM,
Yes, at the end of the day, it’s a judgement call and all about opinions.
We could see some of the prospects really making the grade and surprising us.
The manager and staff are among the best in the business at making those judgement calls and developing and preparing players who are capable of stepping up to Celtic’s first team.
Though I don’t agree that as it stands, we will be much better than a year ago.
Hail Hail
TOM MCLAUGHLIN @ 4:41 PM,
CELTIC40ME @ 4:52 PM,
You are correct TMcL, Greg Taylor had a poor game against a team that were prepared to come and attack at Celtic Park.
If that link is supposed to be in defence then he needs a better Brief:))
Culpable at the first two goals and “he goes by Taylor too easily…” according to Chris Sutton
Our right back makes a great assist as Juranovic crosses for a sublime Meada header for our consolation goal, quite a contrast.
He was up against bigger, stronger, faster, more technically astute players and it showed.
This has become a downer on GT and it should actually be more to do with Bernabei, we do need two left backs in the squad.
Hail Hail
GENE @ 6:37 PM,
Wow, UEFA practising what they preach.
Got To be good news
Hail Hail
BIGRAILROADBLUES @ 5:54 PM
My goodness. Some of you bhoys would argue Green was blue. Carry on!!!! 😂
Thank you
Just Did;)
Hail Hail
St Stivs 5.05
You can add at least 10k to every home league gate in 66-67.
I was at most home games 66-72 and remember thinking some weeks that the crowd was about two thirds of the previous Wednesdays European full house. It was a standing joke that the official attendance was given as 28000. As a matter of interest the huns were at it too in 68 (robbing hmrc in small doses that it)…80k against Leeds but only 35k for a potential league winning match v Aberdeen (which they lost). Hmmm.
Chairbhoy
Think juventus is a slam dunk case but meanwhile Man citeh, Barcelona, Real Madrid etc go on their merry way
On another topic Man citeh planning to increase capacity to 60k – cost £300m or an afternoon’s oil profits
GREENPINATA @ 3:19 PM,
Excellent post, that’s the whole point isn’t it?
Hail Hail
GENE @ 7:28 PM,
Well yes, don’t know too much about it but if the Italian Authorities are taking action against Juventus. UEFA can’t be seen as twiddling their thumbs.
If they let the others off or give them slapped wrists it becomes a joke again.
Hail Hail
Greenpinata
Chairbhoy
😆👍🍻
Today’s roll of honour. The bhoys of the old brigade.
Leggy, the Lurking Tim, BRRB, Brian M, Magua.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/gAKPWTVUd5A2F4EdA
Ffs a white background. Scary. 😳