The Glasgow Derby has always been more than just a football match. It’s a cultural epicentre, a 90-minute maelstrom of passion, history, and tribalism. And this St Patrick’s Day weekend, with away fans set to return, the fixture will once again have the edge that only a boisterous travelling support can bring.
After a protracted and often bitter stand-off, Celtic have confirmed a deal to reintroduce away fans at both Celtic Park and Ibrox. Rangers will receive a slightly larger allocation than Celtic’s 2,200 for the upcoming derby at Celtic Park on March 16th, reflecting the larger capacity of Parkhead. However, it won’t be the full 5% of the stadium’s 60,000 capacity that many had initially speculated. Meanwhile, Celtic will take 2,200 tickets for the return fixture at Ibrox after the league split in April or May.
The Long Road Back
The origins of this row trace back to Rangers’ 2018 decision to slash the away allocation to a meagre 800 tickets. This move, widely seen as a reaction to Celtic’s dominance at Ibrox, brought an end to the sight of 7,000 jubilant Hoops fans celebrating in the Broomloan Stand. It was a painful pill for the Rangers board to swallow, and they opted to minimise Celtic’s presence to just a sliver of the stadium.
Celtic initially accepted the reduced allocation, sending 800 supporters into the hostile confines of Ibrox. But the reality on the ground quickly became untenable. Visiting fans were effectively hemmed into a small corner beneath home supporters, vulnerable to missiles and abuse. The danger was real—incidents included glass bottles being thrown, with at least one supporter requiring stitches.
It became clear Celtic could not continue to take up the allocation if they could not guarantee the safety of their fans. The decision to withdraw entirely from the away allocation was not born of pettiness or retaliation but of pragmatism. The safety of supporters had to come first.
Safety First: A Battle of Planning and Procrastination
The agreement to bring fans back was actually reached at the end of last season. However, there was a crucial caveat: safety measures needed to be implemented at both grounds to ensure fan security. Celtic moved swiftly, installing the necessary protections well ahead of the first derby of this season. But when it came to Rangers, things were not so straightforward.
By the time the first derby rolled around, Rangers had barely scratched the surface. Planning applications had not even been submitted, and Celtic, rightly, pulled the plug on ticket allocations. The concern wasn’t just bureaucratic—this was a matter of safety. The club could not, in good conscience, allocate tickets to their supporters without tangible assurances that safety measures would be in place for the return fixture.
Thankfully, Rangers eventually got their act together. Celtic are now satisfied that their supporters will be better protected with a net around the away section, reducing the risk of projectiles causing harm. It’s a pragmatic solution, but one that should make a significant difference.
A Win for Celtic: More Than Just Ticket Numbers
There’s a quiet triumph for Celtic in all this. Not only have they secured a more substantial away allocation at Ibrox for the post-split fixture, but they’ve also forced through meaningful safety measures that benefit their fans. This was not just a matter of securing tickets; it was about setting standards and refusing to compromise on the wellbeing of their support. The increase from 800 to around 2,200 fans at Ibrox is significant.
March 16th: An Atmosphere Reborn
As the teams emerge from the tunnel at Celtic Park on March 16th, the derby will have a notable edge. The away support will be a pinprick of blue in the sea of green.
This is more than just a practical win; it’s a psychological one too. Celtic fans will be back in at Ibrox, protected and making enough noise to cheer on the bhoys.
I must admit, I ended up enjoying some of the derbies without the away support. The Glasgow derby fixture in February after the pandemic season was a barnstormer and an atmosphere I will never forget. Ange’s men floored the Covid season champions with a memorable 3-0 win at Celtic Park under the lights with 60,000 Tims having a party.
We now return to having the presence of the enemy within our stadium, and if nothing else, it should make the Celtic fans even louder. You’ll Never Walk Alone, even stronger as they try to drown it out with jeers. Bring it on.
