Glasgow Rangers

[Lord Braykewynde]

First of all commiserations to Rangers, sadly the best team won though.

After watching the match I do have a question, hoping some Scottish members of the forum can enlighten this Sassenach.

After watching the national news at 6 and also the match I was surprised at the abundance of Union Jacks followed by the club flag. I only spotted two Scottish flags which seemed strange especially after the upsurge in Scottish nationalism and their wish for independance.

If Salmond was watching this he must have been spitting feathers.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Why the use of Union Jacks in preference to the Scottish flag?

 

[Dexter1]

Can of worms here. Stems back to religious set up in Glasgow where Rangers traditionally represent the Loyalist (Unionist) protestants and Celtic the Republican Roman catholic group.

Therefore Rangers adopt the Union Jack - strange I know and the reason why all other Scottish supporters were pleased to see them lose last night.

Gordon

 

[colin(bridgend)]

The way the minority Rangers supporters behaved last night after the match I am ashamed to think that I am British on times. From what has been reported on the TV they behaved like lunatics, or would that be insulting to a lunatic?. The police should have turned high pressure water hoses on the idiots and to hell with the consequences. Apparantly over 50 Rangers supporters arrested and not one Russian supporter, although one Russian chap was stabbed by a Rangers "fan". If this is how British sport supporters behave God help us when the Olympics comes to this country?

 

[Icemaker]

unfortunately i was working last night driving trains in to and out of manchester, my depot is manchester victoria which is less than 100 yards from one of the fan zones set up with a big screen tv.

I did one trip to blackpool and back and my train was packed with rangers suporters and the trip went without incident so i was reasonably happy.

Where it went sour was when i was asked to go to piccadilly station on the other side of town to remove a vandalised unit and take it to the depot, all the trams had been cancelled due to safety concerns in town and taxis where refusing to go in to town so i said i would walk which normally takes 15 minuits.

I had hardley stepped out of victoria when i was confronted by the first rangers fan demanding that i get him a taxi to the city of manchester stadium as the trams where not running, unfortunately me bing in uniform made me a target and it took me over 1 hour and countless confrontations some quite threatening against me before i could get to picadilly station.

I witnessed some disgracefull behaviour which has been kept from the press and the city absolutely stunk of urine and was in a filthy state newspapers had been torn to shreds and thrown all over the gardens and streets broken beer bottles where strewn every where thousands and thousands of empty beer cans on the pavements and in my short walk 7 individual cases of unconsious drunks receiving medical attention, at 9.30 pm the ambulance service refused to enter the city without a police escort after crews where attacked.

All in all concidering the amount of rangers fans in the city i supose it was a minority that caused the problems shown on tv but it was each and every one of them that made our city such a disgrace, they blamed the failure of the big screen in picadilly gardens for the problems but nobody has reported the fact that the engineer who tried to fix it only gave up becouse he was under attack from fans throwing beer bottles at him as he tried to rectify the fault so they spoilt it for themselves with mindless violence.

Even today we have witnessed the odd bits of violance as the so called fans continue with drinking as much as they can before returning home.

Shame on them, they blame manchester for letting them down but they let everybody down, all of our bylaws regarding drinking where relaxed and they abused it.

 

[Carl-GreyhoundsrUs]

The way the minority Rangers supporters behaved last night after the match I am ashamed to think that I am British on times. From what has been reported on the TV they behaved like lunatics, or would that be insulting to a lunatic?. The police should have turned high pressure water hoses on the idiots and to hell with the consequences. Apparantly over 50 Rangers supporters arrested and not one Russian supporter, although one Russian chap was stabbed by a Rangers "fan". If this is how British sport supporters behave God help us when the Olympics comes to this country?

Not sure if you should use the all encompasing term of sport supporter, this kind of incident only appears to be related to one particular sport.

 

[GingerPete]

hi all, remember the home internations when the tartan army came to london every 2 years, manchester got a taste or that last night , that's why the fa's cancelled them & didn't want them this year when both teams did'nt get to the euro 2008 finals .....can't rember the english fans invading scotland when they played each other ....pete

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

unfortunately i was working last night driving trains in to and out of manchester, my depot is manchester victoria which is less than 100 yards from one of the fan zones set up with a big screen tv.

I did one trip to blackpool and back and my train was packed with rangers suporters and the trip went without incident so i was reasonably happy.

Where it went sour was when i was asked to go to piccadilly station on the other side of town to remove a vandalised unit and take it to the depot, all the trams had been cancelled due to safety concerns in town and taxis where refusing to go in to town so i said i would walk which normally takes 15 minuits.

I had hardley stepped out of victoria when i was confronted by the first rangers fan demanding that i get him a taxi to the city of manchester stadium as the trams where not running, unfortunately me bing in uniform made me a target and it took me over 1 hour and countless confrontations some quite threatening against me before i could get to picadilly station.

I witnessed some disgracefull behaviour which has been kept from the press and the city absolutely stunk of urine and was in a filthy state newspapers had been torn to shreds and thrown all over the gardens and streets broken beer bottles where strewn every where thousands and thousands of empty beer cans on the pavements and in my short walk 7 individual cases of unconsious drunks receiving medical attention, at 9.30 pm the ambulance service refused to enter the city without a police escort after crews where attacked.

All in all concidering the amount of rangers fans in the city i supose it was a minority that caused the problems shown on tv but it was each and every one of them that made our city such a disgrace, they blamed the failure of the big screen in picadilly gardens for the problems but nobody has reported the fact that the engineer who tried to fix it only gave up becouse he was under attack from fans throwing beer bottles at him as he tried to rectify the fault so they spoilt it for themselves with mindless violence.

Even today we have witnessed the odd bits of violance as the so called fans continue with drinking as much as they can before returning home.

Shame on them, they blame manchester for letting them down but they let everybody down, all of our bylaws regarding drinking where relaxed and they abused it.

TRhe female reporter on the main BBC news mentioned that the place stunk of urine.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I remember the time they broke the goal posts and dug up the turf. After that it was the centre of Londons turn and they brought the Underground to a full stop because they were running along the tunnels. The authorities had to turn the power off to save anyone getting fried. The home internationals had to stop after that, it was ludicrous when people couldn't go about their normal business, like shopping, without being mugged/assaulted.

 

[Guest]

Firstly, I am as appalled as everyone else at the scenes that appear to have happened in Manchester. But without insinuating any condonence I put forward the following comments as they strike me as curious.

Firstly, evidently 200000 'fans' arrived in Manchester. I know they all evidently wore Rangers shirts but that does not mean they are actual supporters. I also doubt if there are 200000 fans in Glasgow so do wonder if any other 'supporters' joined in. Once the perpetrators are hauled in front of a Court then no doubt all will be revealed.

I also feel that the adverse comments being made against the'Tartan Army' are not justified. The fans of the national team have made a well known record of concordant and good behaviour wherever they have been in the world. Again, there are usually no more than 20000 of them so the hordes in Manchester were definitely not the norm. For the English to suggest they have a brilliant track record in fan behaviour is definitely the 'pot calling the kettle black'. I also recall the match referrred to by LB in which the Scots, who won the match agsinst the odds, decided to take more than the usual T shirt home as souvenirs. If they wish the 'pitch' back it still adorns many a mantleplace north of the border, although the green colour has long gone. Putting it all together again may just be a wee bit difficult methinks. Beating the English team on that day was very special to us and a cause for vigorous celebration. and they were going to re turf it anyway.

All I am trying to say is that this was very much out of character of the genuine Scottish supporters, although Rangers do have more than their fair share of hotheads. I also feel Maggie Broon's comments that this might adversely affect England's chance of hosting the World Cup, as spurious in the least. He must be really getting desperate. If the governing body decides that Scots supporters will decide England's chances then things have got way out of line, but it is a good excuse to hide backyard failings I suppose.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Scotch Lad - what you have posted is a generally fair comment - unfortunately it is the minority who spoil it for the majority. I have friends - husband and wife - both in the mid sixties who are ardent Cardiff City supporters and have followed them righously at home and away for many years - they are at the Cup Final tomorrow. They have said time and again that all clubs have a rowdy trouble making sect who are out there not as supporters but as pure idiots and cause animosity where ever they go. Unfortunately the true Scottish fan has been tarred with the same brush by the media as these morons. They should have turned the hoses on the rioting mob and possibly taught them a lesson.

 

[Danny_5134221]

If you look closely at many football matches around the world, europe and elsewhere, you will see the Union Jack on display.

I'm sorry to say but the Union Jack is a symbol of the football hooligan, or a banner to display the small group of fans behind the flag are ready for action.

 

[RobRoy]

Union "Flag" please - not Union "Jack".

Rob S.

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

I was in Manchester Wednesday pm mixing with the supporters.

Yes there was a lot of heavy drinking & several people sleeping off the affects of alcohol.

The attmosphere was very good & friendly & the police said that at 1730 (5:30) there had been no arrests.

As to them all coming from Glasgow no way. I was talking to a family from Aberdeen with no tickets just wanting to soak up the atmosphere.

Getting on to the religious side, there were a large number from N. Ireland complete with whistle & drum band.

Whilst I cannot condone the mindless violance, as usual it was caused by a relativly small minority who have spoiled it for the large majority of well behaved if not a little boistrous fans.

I had to smile when I saw 7 Asion lads with broad Scotish accents & wearing kilts )

We just have to wait & see what happens in Moscow next week

 

[ShadySadie]

I expect nothing else than trouble with thousands on the street boozing all day long.

May be I sould be in charge of Policing :

 

[Martyn_374341486]

strange how when they behave they are Scottish but when they misbehave they are British!

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

What's been bugging me for the last couple of days is the insistence of Rob Roy in using the word "flag" in preference to "jack".

Not wanting to stir up religious differences and maybe warring factions going on the rampage over some person in France who claims to be the righteous heir to the Scottish throne I was loathe to ask why "flag" and not "jack".

Tonight I thought I'd Google it and it seems that any can be used unless Rob knows different. If so could he please tell me before I go to bed else I wont sleep thinking about it.

Wikipedia is edited by the users so isn't automatically correct. Tell me why please Rob, just out of interest :O)

 

[Guest]

Pleading probably a lot of ignorance, I alweays thought the term 'Union Jack' referred to the naval version where it was flown from the jackstaff. The actual flag of all our nations is the Union Flag. Of course each nation within the United Kingdom is entitled to display its own national flag anytime it likes.

I personally deplore the use of flags for religious purposes. To my mind it indicates a cowardly approach by hiding under another banner.

I also have to admit that subsequent interviews have indicated a number of those involved had good strong Glaswegian accents. I am sure that thes 'bampots' will feel the wrath of their kinsfolk when they are unmasked in Court. We neither need, nor desire them. They managed to undo years of hard work in a matter of hours.