Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer

Green Brigade celebrates as anniversary approaches

The Green Brigade have released their review of the season.

From a full stadium tifo at the first home game to their march to Hampden for the Scottish Cup Final, the ultra group have plenty to celebrate.

Covering all of Celtic Park with individual flags to co-ordinate a display is no easy matter, and it’s not cheap either.

But the Green Brigade signalled their intent for a busy season with yet another full stadium tifo to celebrate another league title.

Some of the most impressive displays came on Champions League nights. The “Last Night As I Lay Dreaming” and “I Still Pray to God We Go On Another Run” banners being particularly impressive.

The well produced video shows these displays in all their glory.

Green Brigade

Thankfully, there were no stadium bans for the group last season despite their continued visual and vocal support for the besieged Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank.

But while the Celtic PLC board may have held their fire last season, another one of the Green Brigades foes stepped into the void.

Police Scotland decided to kettle a large number of fans leaving the Celtic Social Club on London Road for the rangers game on 16 March.

There was general outrage among the Celtic support at the deliberate targeting of the group in this manner. But it wasn’t just the Green Brigade that was kettled that day, any fan who happened to be leaving the social club at the same time was caught up.

In a later statement the Ultras group laid bare the conditions fans were subjected to.

In order to leave the police kettle, the following was expected of all individuals,  including young children:

  • Submit to police detention, being held by two officers by the arms, taken from the kettle and into a further police cordon
  • Submit to a full body search (including a refusal to privacy for females)
  • Give full personal details
  • Show ID to verify personal details
  • Have hats, sunglasses, scarves and snoods confiscated
  • Have all the above actions filmed, including ID documents and clothing

And the clubs response to some of the most ardent, dedicated and committed fans being treated in this manner and prevented from attending the match?

A third party consultation.

That we have yet to hear from.

More worrying in the wake of the events of 16 March, the Club released a statement vowing to consult with Celtic supporters groups over safety issues at the stadium.

There appears to be little or no evidence of that consultation. Indeed it is believed the club have not met with the Green Brigade since late 2023.

The actions of Police Scotland were a worrying throwback to the dark days of the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act when the Green Brigade appeared to be permanently targeted in order to destroy the group.

The Ultras showed their resilience back then and have subsequently gone from strength to strength, while the Offensive Behaviour legislation lies disgraced and discarded.

We can only hope that the use of the Section 60 powers against Celtic fans is not a flavour of what is to come. But if it is, it is incumbent on the club to speak up for the hundreds of fans kettled that day and the thousands more who found their usual route to Celtic Park blocked by Police Scotland’s actions.

Always a great watch, the latest Green Brigade video shows the groups outstanding contribution to another successful season.

Next season marks the 20th anniversary of the Green Brigade.

The celebrations are sure to be loud and colourful – definitely not to be missed.

RELATED READING

Show CommentsClose Comments

Leave a comment