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WHY I DID IT!
(Celtic View 1972)
Jock Stein explains that foray into the crowd at the Stirling game
‘The Wreckers are chanting about things that have nothing to do with football’
I don’t like criticising Celtic fans. But I have to take odds with at least a section of them. What I did on Saturday was something I’ve felt like doing for quite a while.
It’s my sincere wish that it will have a lasting effect, as I’m sure that the vast majority of our fans do. Celtic supporters have enjoyed a lot of good times during the past few years and all of it was due to hard work – by the players, the backroom boys and the directors.
The fans too have played a major role and we don’t want to see it all ruined now by the bad element who have recently emerged. Nor do we want to see the fans of long standing who followed us through the lean years discouraged from watching us play.
This bad element – or the wreckers as the View called them last week – are singing and chanting about things which have nothing to do with football.
Surely there are enough Celtic songs without introducing religion or politics or anything else.
OFFERS
These offensive songs and chants could damage Celtic’s hard-won reputation built up by good football and sportsmanship.
Offers to play all over the world keep arriving at Celtic Park.
Last year we took part in the Bobby Moore testimonial. Next month we play in Bobby Charlton’s benefit match.
This is an indication of our high standing in world football.
The club don’t want to lose all this. Neither, I’m sure do any of our real supporters.
The Scotsman, Monday, August 14, 1972
Now, the Old Firm need wholehearted support
John Rafferty reporting
For the first time since football was organised in Scotland almost a hundred years ago, the menace of hooliganism was tackled on Saturday with courage. Indeed, for the first time in Britain, it was tickled courageously. Willie Waddell and Jock Stein went out in the open and told the hooligans to their faces how they must behave if they were to continue as supporters of their clubs.
Crowd hooliganism at sporting events is no new problem. The Byzantine Empire was brought almost to collapse because of rioting at the chariot racing. In one terracing battle which spread to the streets in Alexandria, 3000 were killed.
The Scottish Football Association was formed in 1873 but before it was ten years old there were warnings that the newly organised game of football would not last because of the unruly behaviour of some of the spectators. The warnings have been repeated regularly over the years but never directly to those concerned.
Always articles have been written in club papers and programmes, and supporters club rallies have been addressed by club presidents and managers, but always the words have been addressed to the converted. On Saturday at Ibrox and at Annfield Park, Stirling, the guilty were told to their faces and, if such a thing were possible, they would be shamed by the enthusiasm with which the many thousands of decent supporters cheered the managers for their brave work.
One always knew that there would be such enthusiasm, for the ordinary people who go to football are completely sick of the hooliganism which spoils games and adds unwanted risk to standing on a terracing or even walking in the vicinity of a ground.
YOUNG PARTICIPANTS
Willie Waddell’s directive was unequivocal: “Rangers want no part of you who cause destruction to public property, throw bottles and fight and spread viciousness with party songs and foul and obscene language.”
Willie Waddell’s tones and attitude made it clear that this is his doctrine which will be persisted with, and indeed Rangers have declared war.
The cause of Jock Stein’s anger at Stirling was the sight of an Irish tricolour and the chanting, with handclapping, of “IRA.” The Ulster situation is beginning to show in football with one side chanting “UDA” and the other replying with “IRA.” Sadly, those involved are very young.
Stein bounded in among them on Saturday and shattered them with his stern words. There was no repeat of the chanting or of the bad language. One would imagine that he has still some stern words to address them.
One could say that it has taken a long time for Celtic and Rangers to get around to cleaning up their grounds. But it is not the time for snide talk but rather for wholehearted support for these managers who have at last got to the heart of the matter.
A disturbing aspect has been the imitating of Glasgow attitudes. This has been apparent in Edinburgh and again Ulster has intruded on the scene. Again, those concerned are very young, and they also must be spoken to.
Hearts supporters were in trouble at Dumbarton. A pocket of about a hundred youngsters started by chanting “If you hate Pat Stanton clap your hands.” How anybody could hate Pat Stanton is the first mystery and then the next is over what Pat Stanton had to do with Hearts playing League Cup-tie at Dumbarton
More disturbing, however was the chanting of “UDA” and this bringing of the troubles of Ulster into the Scottish football scene must be stopped. The influence is small at the moment and involves ill-guided young ones, but Hearts must move to stamp this out and tell those foolish ones to shut up or stay away.
The hooliganism in Scotland is as nothing to the troubles in England. There was fighting and rioting at many matches on Saturday and much of the trouble was serious. But that is no concern of ours. Let them fight like mad in England, but make sure we do not descend to their level either in spectator behaviour or in the viciousness of their football.
We may have our own troubles, and they must be settled, and now. Willie Waddell and Jock Stein have led the way and now it is up to everybody concerned with the game to back them. As I have written before, let us have no holier than thou attitudes. Everybody is in this one.
