Old Firm

One of the fiercest rivalries in world football

The name Old Firm (sometimes called the Auld Firm) is a collective term for the Glaswegian football clubs, Rangers and Celtic. Its modern usage is generally as a neutral shorthand for the two clubs, for example when describing their derby matches. Its origin, however, is as a pejorative term to imply that the two clubs are running the scene, together, against the wishes of the other clubs in Scotland. The term is derived from the lucrative nature of contests between the two, and the suspicion that the clubs have colluded to ensure their profitability, at the expense of other teams.

The two clubs are easily the most successful in Scotland, having won between them 63 Scottish Cups and 91 League championships (as of 2006). Interruptions to their ascendancy have occurred infrequently, most recently with the challenge of the New Firm of Aberdeen and Dundee United in the first half of the 1980s. Starting with the 1995-96 season, the Old Firm clubs finished in the top two places in every season until 2005-06, when Hearts finished second behind Celtic. The clubs' large supports, which are far greater than those of other Scottish clubs, means that the Scottish Premier League - which has always been dominated by the Old Firm - has become even less competitive.

The result of the combination of the two clubs' dominance of Scottish football, and their significance in social, cultural and political terms, is that both Celtic and Rangers are prominent institutions in Scottish life to a degree beyond what would be expected for large football clubs elsewhere in Britain.

As of December 17 2006, the two teams had played each other 373 times, with Rangers winning 147 matches, Celtic 134 matches and 92 draws.

Rivalry

Main article: Sectarianism in Glasgow

The competition between the two clubs has its roots in more than just a simple sporting rivalry. It is infused with a series of complex disputes, sometimes centred on religion (Catholic and Protestant) and Northern Ireland politics. The result has been an enduring enmity between fans that has extended beyond the kind of intra-city footballing rivalry that might be expected in situations where two clubs dominate a country's footballing scene. This has been manifested in a history laden with sectarian violence, sometimes leading to deaths.

Increasingly in recent years, both clubs have frequently participated in initiatives and campaigns along with religious organisations and the Scottish Executive directed at removing the sectarian undercurrent, including supporting pressure group Nil by Mouth. However, disagreements about what constitutes sectarian behaviour have undermined progress in these matters, and consensus over what types of songs and flags are acceptable remains difficult to achieve.

The two clubs normally compete four times a year in the SPL and are regularly drawn against each other in the two Scottish cup competitions.

The ferocity of rivalry makes it a rarity for a player to represent both teams during their career. Players who have played for both sides of the Old Firm include Alfie Conn, Jr., Maurice Johnston and Kenny Miller. Rangers' signing of Johnston caused particular controversy, as Johnston was the first openly Catholic player to sign for Rangers since World War I.

Scotland and the Old Firm

In Scotland, supporters of Celtic and Rangers outweigh supporters of all other Scottish clubs put together. Even in cities such as Edinburgh and Dundee, there is a large Old Firm fanbase as well as that of the cities' own clubs (Hearts & Hibs, and Dundee & Dundee United respectively). Due to this, the other clubs in Scottish football have traditionally had far fewer football successes (except for spells in the 1890s, 1950s and 1980s), supporters and money than the Old Firm. This has led to some acrimony between these teams and the Old Firm. However it has been said that the presence of Rangers and Celtic itself is worth £120 million to the Scottish economy, and if the two clubs left the Scottish league system (see below), that the clubs and Scotland as a whole would lose out.

Old Firm hopes of joining the FA Premier League

Both Celtic and Rangers have expressed a desire to leave the Scottish league system and become part of the FA Premier League. Both clubs currently receive less in television revenue than many English clubs with significantly smaller fan bases. A move to the Premiership would give both Old Firm clubs a significant financial boost. This, however, is not the wish of most clubs in the Premiership: the smaller clubs fear their displacement and consequent loss of revenue; the larger clubs fear a reduced potential for qualification for European competitions. Some clubs in the Football League Championship have also argued against this move on the grounds that it would reduce their chances of promotion to the Premiership.

Regardless of the level of support from English clubs, a remaining stumbling block is that both national football associations, (the Scottish Football Association & The Football Association), and Europe's governing body (UEFA), have to agree to the switch. In this light, it is unlikely that either Rangers or Celtic will be playing in the Premiership in the foreseeable future.

See also

• New Firm (Scotland)
• Major football rivalries
• Local derby
• Sectarianism in Glasgow
• Culture in Glasgow
• Timeline of Glasgow history
• Ethnicity and football
• Football (soccer) culture
• Sport in Scotland

Further reading

• Bradley, Joseph M. (2002). "The Patriot Game: Football's Famous `Tartan Army'". International Review for the Sociology of Sport. 37 (2). International Sociology of Sport Association and SAGE Publications: 177–197. doi:10.1177/1012690202037002004. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Burdsey, Daniel (2001). "'And If You Know Your History '. An Examination of the Formation of Football Clubs in Scotland and their Role in the Construction of Social Identity" (PDF). The Sports Historian. 21 (1): 94–106. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• McMenemy, David (May, 2005). "An Identity of Two Halves? Glasgow Celtic Supporters, Identity, and Scottish Society". Irish Studies Review. 13 (2). Routledge: 139–150. doi:10.1080/09670880500060749. Retrieved 2006-11-20. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Murray, William J. (1984). The Old Firm : sectarianism, sport, and society in Scotland. Edinburgh: J. Donald Publishers ; Atlantic Highlands, N.J. ISBN 0-85976-121-5. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Murray, William J. (1988). Glasgow's giants : 100 years of the Old Firm. Edinburgh: Mainstream. ISBN 1-85158-111-1. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Murray, William J. (1998). The Old Firm in the new age : Celtic and Rangers since the Souness revolution. Edinburgh: Mainstream. ISBN 1-85158-984-8. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Murray, William J. (2003). Bhoys, bears and bigotry : the Old Firm in the new age. Edinburgh: Mainstream. ISBN 1-84018-810-3. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• The Old Firm, The Scotsman
• "possibility of a religious blessing being treated as a criminal offence", Sunday Herald, 27 August, 2006