Council plans street party for Celtic; Sectarian fears pushed aside

Sunday Herald, The, Apr 27, 2003 by Liam McDougall, Jenifer Johnstonand Iain S Bruce

GLASGOW is set to throw off the shackles of sectarianism by staging a massive street party for Celtic Football Club if the team return to Scotland with the Uefa Cup - the first time such an event will have been held for an Old Firm team The plan being considered by Glasgow City Council, which could involve the team touring the streets in an open-topped bus with the trophy, is the first public indication that the city is moving beyond the Old Firm bigotry and violence that has blighted its past.

Speaking ahead of today's crucial Old Firm league match, a council source said: "If Celtic do win then the new council would not only have a civic reception but would also be likely to consider a major city-wide event. We are talking bunting and buses. There would not be worries over sectarianism - we are celebrating a sporting achievement, not anything to do with religion or backgrounds. Sectarianism would not be a fear in celebrating Celtic's possible win."

The idea of a public street party to welcome the team home has been met with widespread support from senior commentators. They say it must be allowed to happen if the city is to demonstrate that the age of Glasgow being divided by sectarianism is over.

Donald Gorrie, LibDem list candidate for Central Scotland, who has proposed legal measures to end sectarian behaviour, said: "It would be a terrible confession of weakness if the council and the police decided not to go ahead if they won because there was the risk of a punch-up. It would be pathetic not to celebrate if Celtic win."

Glasgow's Lord Provost Alex Mosson also welcomed the plan. He said: "I'm sure there will be something organised and I for one will be pushing for it. It's a great achievement for Celtic to get to the final. If Celtic won, I'm sure that a huge celebration would be something that everyone would want to join in. It's a Glasgow team in the final, that's the important thing."

Former provost Pat Lally, said that Glasgow had to "stop pandering to sectarianism". "You have to do what's right, full stop," he said.

However, despite wide support for the first-ever organised public celebrations in Glasgow, the decision on whether such an event will go-ahead lies ultimately with Strathclyde Police.

Louis Munn, divisional commander of 'A' Division, which is responsible for policing the centre of Glasgow, said: "I have no idea what Glasgow City Council is proposing and until I do I couldn't comment on whether or not it would be appropriate.

"The bottom line is that it would be up to the police to say whether they have any public safety fears or not. It could be that if there were concerns about safety then the police would have to look at whether an event could go ahead."

Other Strathclyde Police sources have voiced concerns about whether the city could deliver a trouble-free traditional home- coming party, seen most recently in England after Liverpool and Manchester United returned with European silverware. In 2001, more than 500,000 fans turned Liverpool's streets into a sea of red to salute the Uefa Cup-winning team, who toured the city in an open- topped bus. The celebrations encouraged rival Everton fans to also turn out and give their support.

In 1999, when Alex Ferguson brought the European Cup back to Manchester, his team was besieged by hundreds of thousands of jubilant fans as they paraded through the city.

More than 100,000 people poured onto the streets of Aberdeen after their team's Cup Winner's Cup win in 1983 and there have been similar celebrations staged by other Scottish clubs after domestic success. But fears over sectarian trouble has meant that Glasgow has never allowed itself to organise a public street celebration.

Neither in 1967, when Celtic became the first British team to win a European trophy, nor in 1972, after Rangers lifted the Cup Winner's Cup, did Glasgow organise a public celebration.

While Rangers fans were quick to congratulate Celtic on their success in reaching the Uefa Cup final in Seville, fears that a street party would bring trouble remain.

John Macmillan, general secretary of the Rangers Supporters' Association, said: "If Celtic won it would be a big boost to Scottish football."

But he added: "I don't think that a street celebration for Celtic would necessarily be a good thing. I'm not just saying that to be disrespectful or out of sour grapes, but I always think that it could attract the wrong type of people or lead to something else. Maybe I will be proved wrong - I hope so, but I have my reservations.

"I would feel uneasy about having a street party and I would say that if Rangers were in the same position as Celtic."

Frank McGinney, a life-long Celtic fan, said: "There is a tiny minority on both sides of the fence who would use a public party as an excuse to start trouble. Although it would be nice to get a festival atmosphere going throughout the city, giving these bampots any chance to spoil the occasion is not worth the risk."