Celtic are one of the best supported teams on the planet. The Bhoys boasts a fiercely loyal and passionate fanbase who come out in the thousands to back the side every week. Whether Celtic are playing in Scotland or abroad, there is no doubting the club will be well followed wherever they play.
With such a massive set of supporters, you may wonder if Celtic fans take an interest in any clubs south of the border in England. This article will look at the fanbase and explore whether the fandom ever goes beyond the Hoops.
Do Celtic Supporters Follow any English Teams?
Many Celtic fans will tell you their one and only football obsession is with the Bhoys but that’s not to say some Celtic followers don’t also track the fortunes of Premier League clubs. Of course, Manchester United and Liverpool are among the most popular clubs in the world and so there are football fans out there who follow Celtic and one of England’s most successful teams.
What’s more, Celtic has a strong Irish connection as the club was founded by Irishman Brother Walfrid, who chose the team’s name to reflect the combined Irish and Scottish Identity. The kit colours, green and white, are also synonymous with Ireland as is the four-leaf clover which features on the Celtic badge. Therefore, fans in Ireland will track the results of both Celtic and Man United, with the Red Devils enjoying huge support in that part of the world.
With Liverpool, there is also an affinity as the two clubs famously sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. The iconic Gerry and the Pacemakers’ hit is massively associated with the Merseyside club, though it is believed Celtic fans also started singing the song for the first time after a European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final tie against Liverpool in 1966. For fans of a certain age, they may follow the Reds because of Kenny Dalglish. The legendary figure joined Liverpool from Celtic in 1977 and is considered the greatest player in Anfield history, netting 172 goals in 515 appearances.
For some, it may be that they don’t support another side but enjoy watching the English Premier League and placing a wager on the outcome of matches. If you are keen to predict games, it’s important to compare and assess a list of bookmakers in order to find the one that matches your preferences before making your picks.
Of course, some Celtic fans may follow other big clubs like Tottenham, Aston Villa or Everton owing to family ties or simply because they enjoyed watching them during their formative years when getting into football. While for every supporter in Celtic Park, there is only one club they love, they may still follow another team in England.
How Many Football Fans Support Celtic?
Celtic play in front of 60,000 supporters every other week when they take to the field in the Scottish Premiership. That same number are there at Celtic Park for cup fixtures and European nights too, with the famous ground selling out for every match and vocal fans helping the team to victory year after year.
The club is also huge on social media boasting a massive following across a range of platforms. On Facebook, Celtic has more than two million likes and close to one million followers on X, formerly known as Twitter and Instagram. Here, supporters can track the Bhoys and stay updated on transfers, team news, results and standings. The club, based in Glasgow, is followed all over the world with supporters found in every continent on the planet and this is a way for international followers who cant regularly attend games to follow the team
Could Celtic Play in the English Premier League One Day?
For a long time, football followers in England and Scotland have debated whether Celtic could one day swap the Scottish Premiership for the English Premier League. It’s an idea that often splits opinion among Celtic fans and other football followers all having a view on a possible switch.
With Celtic one of the top teams in Scotland and winning 54 league titles in their history, some will argue the Bhoys could grow further and compete by taking on the likes of Manchester City, United, Arsenal and Liverpool every season. However, traditional fans feel the Bhoys should remain in the homeland where they have made their name and remain in Scotland’s football league system.
A move to England is unlikely though who knows if a European Super League could go ahead one day – as one of the most successful teams on the continent and a European Cup winner in 1967, Celtic would likely be part of the conversation and could be invited if the plan ever comes to fruition in the years to come.
Summing Up
Celtic are one of the biggest clubs in the world and have a massive fanbase beyond Glasgow and Scotland. For that reason, some supporters also follow other teams, including storied names in England.
As football continues to expand and social media has a greater influence, it is noticeable that some fans who may be restricted by location, opt to support more than one football team, picking sides in different leagues to avoid seeing them compete against each other. Celtic, with the iconic green and white hoops, are one of the most instantly recognisable clubs in the world and continues to inspire supporters everywhere.
