Flower Power

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

It’s amazing what a small flower can do. 2 in particular in recent times have crystallised the serious divisions within Scottish Society. I’m talking about the poppy and the potato plant. Let us deal with the latter first.

The Famine Song, sung initially by the Rangers support, and then supporters of other clubs, was deemed offensive by many within the Celtic support. I’m reliably informed that Graham Spiers went apoplectic in the Ibrox press box when he first heard it being sung. (We shall return to Mr Spiers later in this post, and expose courtesy of his own lips, what a vile hypocritical cretin this individual is).

Celtic chairman Dr John Reid vented his fury declaring the song racist by nature, declaring it a breach of the race relations act. He also added the following comments :-

"We should condemn racism and sectarianism without fear or favour wherever they arise. That is an essential part of Celtic Football Club's ethos."

Reid added:

"In condemning the actions of others, Celtic must always be vigilant with regard to our own conduct and reputation.

Strathclyde Police issued a statement "Where any songs are perceived to be offensive, in a racist or sectarian manner, appropriate action would be taken."

Politicians became involved with the Irish Consul General Cliona Manahan raising the issue with Holyrood. Northern Irish MP Gregory Campbell declined an invitation to Parkhead due to the Pro-IRA chants from elements within the Celtic support.

Fast forward to 2010 and the simple poppy has rekindled the war of the flowers amongst the old firm support. The decision by Celtic FC to adorn a poppy to their shirts has infuriated many within their support. This has manifested itself into offensive chanting at MacDiarmid Park last week which angered the St Johnstone support and culminated in the unfurling of a banner last Saturday at Parkhead, the summary of which stated “no bloodstained poppies on our hoops”

The aforementioned banner was allowed to be displayed within Parkhead, and those bearing same were not ordered to remove it, which makes you wonder about what happened to Dr Reid’s promise to be vigilant.

Of course press reports on the banner incident suggest it was a tiny minority of mindless individuals. Let us bookmark that comment – tiny minority and mindless individuals.

Let us rewind to Reid for a moment. Reid’s very appointment was not without criticism from within the Celtic minded. One of the most vociferous was Jeanette Finlay, chairperson of the Celtic Supporters Trust who agreed to discuss her views with Nicky Cambell on BBC radio in 2007. During this interview Finlay shocked many by declaring her support for IRA songs at Parkhead stating such chanting was “"songs from a war of independence". When later offered the opportunity to apologise or retract her comments she refused to do so.

Finlay is still to this day, chairperson of the Celtic Suporters Trust.She is a research fellow and economics lecturer at Glasgow University and co-director of Glasgow University Football Research Centre, where she has been involved in setting up a post-graduate course in sport and public policy.

Hardly either a tiny minority nor mindless.

Remarkably Graham Spiers, a self styled sectarian crusader, and often critic of the Rangers support wrote of Finlay at the time..

Ironically, I am of a mind to defend Dr Jeanette Findlay, the head of the Celtic Supporters Trust, whose comments about Reid and about political chants among the Celtic support suddenly cast her into infamy last week. While I disagree with Dr Findlay on both issues, it seems to me she is infinitely more capable than some of her plankton-brained critics who have tried to impale her since her ill-fated dialogue with Nicky Campbell on the BBC on Tuesday.

Dr Findlay has done impressive work at Glasgow University. She has specialised in studies on housing, urban renewal, gender issues and, amid it all, the economics of football. Laughably, one tabloid football columnist last week tried to lampoon Dr Findlay, whereas in fact, she would swat him around the ears and be done with him in five seconds flat if the two were ever allowed to go head-to-head in debate over bigotry or the ethnic make-up of Celtic.

So let me get this right Mr Spiers... its inappropriate for those of lesser intelligence to criticise Finlay for supporting a terrorist organisation, and the singing of songs about them because they are not so as well educated as her ?

Sectarianism by virtue of intellectual snobbery. What a complete charlatan Spiers is.

One wonders if the recent despicable behaviour by the Celtic support will reach the corridors of political power or invoke a statement from Strathclyde Police ?

Whether it does or not should be of no concern to the Rangers support. We must not allow ourselves to be provoked into some form of reaction however provocative such banners and chanting may be. Let their vile conduct condemn them and watch with interest the press response, the politician’s comments and the articles of the social commentators.

Instead we will concentrate on what is important. As not just Rangers football club, but a world community of people, remembering with eternal gratitude the ultimate sacrifice made by so many others to ensure our freedom.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

[TravelingWilBEARy 4,319]

Graham Spiers is completely unimportant. I will never, ever understand the obsession of some of our support seem to have for him. If it wasn't for us then his views would dissapear into the atmosphere completely unnoticed - yet, we continue to react to everything he says.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

As disgusting as their banner was - it was neither racist nor sectarian in nature (and as such that will give 'The great unwashed' a get out clause and also the SFA/Police etc.)

The ween brigade made absolute cnuts of themselves and there club but the best we can hope for is that the social and football commentators pick up on this and despise it for what it is. What it will also do, I suspect, is make it more difficult for 'others' to try to take any sort of moral high ground when discussing 'us' - time will tell.

I suspect Dr 'Death' Reid will remain quite on this. (and yr' man Spiers) But Reid has to be squirming like fk - now if he resigned on that issue that would send a real message

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Graham Spiers is completely unimportant. I will never, ever understand the obsession of some of our support seem to have for him. If it wasn't for us then his views would dissapear into the atmosphere completely unnoticed - yet, we continue to react to everything he says.

I disagree - though his influence is considerably less these days with his demise in term of his career.

He writes for broadsheets - which have greater credibility than the tabloids. The many lies he has told about our club have greater affect given his more credible platform.

He remains the journalist who has written more lies or damaging articles about our club and support than any other - for obsession read disdain.

[blueben_d 40]

Great article once again

[TravelingWilBEARy 4,319]

I disagree - though his influence is considerably less these days with his demise in term of his career.

He writes for broadsheets - which have greater credibility than the tabloids. The many lies he has told about our club have greater affect given his more credible platform.

He remains the journalist who has written more lies or damaging articles about our club and support than any other - for obsession read disdain.

He writes for the Scottish edition of The Times - which has a readership circulation of about 12 people.

Far more credible Sports writers in far more influental publications have written lies about our club but get no-where near the amount of attention from us as we give Speirs.

Just let his career die quietly - He knows the reaction his stuff gets from messageboards and that is why he still has a voice, of sorts.

[Pete_Rangers 9]

Graham Spiers is completely unimportant. I will never, ever understand the obsession of some of our support seem to have for him. If it wasn't for us then his views would dissapear into the atmosphere completely unnoticed - yet, we continue to react to everything he says.

Because he's a hypocrite.

[delamonty 992]

Always like your articles D'Artagnan. This has to be one of the best. Well done. Cap is well and truly doffed.

[SirWalterSmithLegend 206]

Anyone else suprised by the first two replies? So predictable.

Nice piece D, felt we could have had a bit more too, if you so wished.

[D'Artagnan 13,319]

Anyone else suprised by the first two replies? So predictable.

Nice piece D, felt we could have had a bit more too, if you so wished.

Could have been SWSL..quite a bit more in fact.

But I tend to find people dont like reading more than 2 pages worth on messageboards.

[Allanger 625]

Thanks to the op. Thought provoking piece

[minstral 5,375]

Good article Dart but as usual the two handwringers jump in once again.

[bluemc 297]

I enjoyed reading it wouldn,t minded if it was longer the more damming truth wrote about them has to come out so more people no what they are really like

[stuart54 218]

Brilliant article D'Artagnan.

[dummiesoot 15,450]

Once again D'Art you highlight the imbalance in the reporting and the reaction of the power brokers at Celtic FC of such matters. People fail to realise that the corduroy crusader went on his merry way under the guise of being a Rangers fan. What true Rangers fan would do so and shine the light on Celtic at the same time as an example of how uphold decency and dignity.

Regardless of the inane ramblings of an ever discredited journalist, there are still people who believe him. To ignore him is futile, to make sure he is further driven to obscurity these ramblings still need to be taken to task. If we do this with Speirs, then perhaps others will think twice.

[TheNuts 552]

great read.