Frustrating news today from the Green Brigade concerning their planned Green Wall returning at the Jock Stein Stand, traditionally known as The Celtic End for the two upcoming SWPL1 matches where title chasing Celtic FC Women take on Hearts then Hibs in the next few months.
Earlier this week North Curve Celtic announced that they would be returning to the women’s matches at Celtic Park and I cannot think of anyone involved with the Celtic FC Women set-up who would have been anything less than thrilled by that news.
Indeed you can say without any exaggeration whatsoever that the return of The Green Wall could help lift the Celtic FC Women team to a first ever SWPL1 trophy. So it is important.
After that exciting news, today we got brought back to earth with an almighty thump as the Ultras Group released a statement on their social media channels stating that this Green Wall would now NOT be happening and they laid the finger of blame at the doors of two senior Celtic executives.
“Despite our best intentions and efforts, the club has refused to facilitate The Celtic End for the upcoming Celtic FC Women matches at Celtic Park,” the Green Brigade’s statement reads.
“This is in stark contrast to similar matches last May where fan reps worked constructively with the club to promote the matches and draw record crowds.”
This is absolutely correct and anyone in the two record breaking crowds would be able to tell you just how spectacular a performance the fans in that Celtic End put on to drive the team to victory on both occasions, without any bother at all. So far so good.
Things now start to a little get messy with both Celtic Directors Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay coming in for severe criticism. Again from The North Curve’s statement:
“This decision has been taken by Michael Nicholson, CEO, and Chris McKay, CFO. It is vindictive against the concept of The Celtic End, the fan groups behind the idea and the thousands of fans who want to see some level of consideration given to a goal-end standing section to rejuvenate a stale Celtic Park.”
North Curve Celtic continue: “Shamefully, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay would prefer for Celtic FC Women to be detrimented than have another positive advert for The Celtic End. Ironically, this decision contradicts the club statement following the cancellation of away tickets at the recent SWPL Glasgow Derby which decried others undermining the promotion and progress of the women’s game.
“At a critical time in both the men’s and women’s seasons, we have no desire to engage in a public spat which may distract positive support for both teams. For this reason, as well as for unreasonable obstacles, it is regrettable that we will not attend the upcoming Celtic FC Women matches at Celtic Park.”
So, as things stand, the Green Brigade will NOT be attending the two women’s game and there will be no Green Wall. That is likely to have the negative impact that they themselves fear will happen.
ON THE NEXT PAGE – THE CELTIC STAR SPEAKS TO CELTIC ABOUT THIS SITUATION…
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