Glasgow's bigoted bampots could learn from Scotland's women's game

There are notable exceptions. There are still few grounds in the world, for instance, which can top Anfield for raw emotion and decibel levels during a big match. More often than not, though, the neutral observer can be left asking themselves a question. How can so many people can generate so little noise?

The cost of tickets to see behemoths like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Spurs is now so expensive the traditional fan down south is being priced out of attending.

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Filling seats with prawn sandwich-munching corporate hospitality fat cats and overseas tourists might rake in the cash by the bucketload. It does nothing, however, to create a febrile environment. Half-and-half Liverpool and Manchester United scarf anyone?

That is not an issue, not to anywhere near the same extent anyway, up here in Scotland. The standard of fare might be inferior to that served up by our southern neighbours. Still, at least ordinary punters can cheer on their local heroes, goad their opponents and question the parentage of the referee without needing to remortgage their homes. The Premiership benefits no end from their presence in the stands.

Nowhere is that more true than in the Old Firm game – or Glasgow derby match if you prefer.

The world-famous fixture certainly has its baggage. The odious sectarian chants and vile songs of hate which always pollute the air when the teams from the East End and Govan do battle should have been consigned to the dustbin of history an awfully long time ago. More could and should be done to tackle an issue that remains an embarrassment for this country. There is a definite touch of tokenism about the current efforts. 

Still, it is undeniable the strength of ill feeling, the sheer venom, the unbridled vitriol, which spews forth whenever the age-old adversaries clash contributes greatly to an intense and compelling spectacle which those who run far bigger and wealthier leagues across Europe can, for all their riches, only dream of.

It would be a tragedy if the vulgar commercialisation and unfortunate gentrification of the game which has taken place at the highest level in England in modern times was to creep in to professional football north of Hadrian’s Wall.

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All that said, it was eye-opening, refreshing, uplifting even, to attend the Scottish Women’s Professional League encounter between Rangers women and their Celtic counterparts at Broadwood on Monday afternoon.

The final showdown of the 2023/24 campaign between Jo Potter’s girls and Elena Sadiku’s charges was, with the two teams level on points at the top of the table and only four games remaining, billed as a title decider and a crowd of several thousand filed through the turnstiles to see the action unfold even though it was being screened live by Sky Sports.

But fans decked out in red, white and blue sat side by side with those clad in green and white without a whiff of trouble. The lack of animosity did nothing whatsoever to detract from the occasion. It was an entertaining, tense and enjoyable game for spectators even if it did finish 0-0 at the end of the 90 minutes.

Those knuckle-dragging dinosaurs who are dismissive of the women’s game should have been there. They would have witnessed two sets of technically exceptional, physically committed and tactically astute players giving their all from kick-off to the final whistle. Mia McAulay, the hosts’ versatile teenager, looks destined to become a superstar. 

It was not all sweetness and light. No sooner had your correspondent finished writing a paragraph which waxed lyrical about the welcome absence of any toxicity from proceedings in his match report, a chubby-cheeked urchin stood up, set off a green smoke canister and started screaming, “Ooh, ah, up the ‘Ra!” There’s always somebody who spoils things.

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Otherwise, though, it was a hugely positive event, one a responsible parent would have no qualms about taking their child along to. Players of both teams stayed long after it was all over to chat to the fans who had been cheering them on, sign autographs, pose for selfies and do media interviews.

There are those who feel football is not really proper football unless fans are segregated by police who are covered from head to toe in Kevlar clothing so they can maintain order and ensure there are no casualties. I would, having had the distinct good fortune to take in the SWPL match between Rangers and Celtic this week, beg to disagree.

The bigoted bampots who continue to shame both of the Glasgow giants with their actions and utterances would have learned that you do not need poison and pyrotechnics to have a brilliant day out if they had joined me.