Blues brothers - Rangers link

[Benches]

I know this is a contentious issue so sensible replies only please, but would like to hear honest opinions of CFC on the Rangers link up.

Personally I've got family in Edinburgh who are all Hibs and have been Easter Rd a few times to watch them when Rangers in town, all this "Billy's Boy" and "up to our knees in fenian blood stuff" is way ott to me. Football is all about football and dont see the need to bring politics, religion and the like into it. I dont personally see how Chelsea Football Club benefits from any sort of association from this sort of nonsense especially when you consider that we have had very good servants like Pat Nevin and Steve Clarke who grew up on the opposite side of it. I'm neither pro or anti Rangers or Celtic (have a soft spot for Hibs) but again think that CFC should be seen as a club for all, not based on religion, race, nationality etc.

At the end of the day life is way too short for all that bollocks imo, my old man is a Jock catholic whose followed CFC since late 60s my mum is Church of England English but at the end of the day if you are Chelsea thats all that should matter.

honest, sensible replies please.

ps. lets do the manc's tomoroww.

[stevo]

Im am not, and never have been into politics/religion, however members in both clubs are. If they wish to do so that's upto them. I have alot of friends who support Celtic and have no problem with their religion.

Edited May 7, 2011 by stevo

[Fast Eddie]

I know this is a contentious issue so sensible replies only please, but would like to hear honest opinions of CFC on the Rangers link up.

Personally I've got family in Edinburgh who are all Hibs and have been Easter Rd a few times to watch them when Rangers in town, all this "Billy's Boy" and "up to our knees in fenian blood stuff" is way ott to me. Football is all about football and dont see the need to bring politics, religion and the like into it. I dont personally see how Chelsea Football Club benefits from any sort of association from this sort of nonsense especially when you consider that we have had very good servants like Pat Nevin and Steve Clarke who grew up on the opposite side of it. I'm neither pro or anti Rangers or Celtic (have a soft spot for Hibs) but again think that CFC should be seen as a club for all, not based on religion, race, nationality etc.

At the end of the day life is way too short for all that bollocks imo, my old man is a Jock catholic whose followed CFC since late 60s my mum is Church of England English but at the end of the day if you are Chelsea thats all that should matter.

honest, sensible replies please.

ps. lets do the manc's tomoroww.

I didn't know there was a problem. Most people in England are protestant so stands to reason many CFC fans will be. My Dad is a Glasgow protestant but me being a CFC is all about where I used to live (NW London) and who my mates supported. I quite like the link thou even if it is pure fluke personally... And not really bothered in the politics as majority of English aren't.

[Benches]

I didn't know there was a problem. Most people in England are protestant so stands to reason many CFC fans will be. My Dad is a Glasgow protestant but me being a CFC is all about where I used to live (NW London) and who my mates supported. I quite like the link thou even if it is pure fluke personally... And not really bothered in the politics as majority of English aren't.

The problem imo is that having "links" with other clubs is muggy. Its the sort of thing that Liverpool do.

We are Chelsea, we have our own history, our own culture and our own songs. We don't need to be nor should be a pale imitation of another club.

Edited May 7, 2011 by Benches

[Castiel]

I wasn't aware we had anything to do with Rangers aside from the strip colours and the lion.

[Hutch]

The problem imo is that having "links" with other clubs is muggy. Its the sort of thing that Liverpool do.

We are Chelsea, we have our own history, our own culture and our own songs. We don't need to be nor should be a pale imitation of another club.

But we're not. We have our own history, our own culture, just as they have theirs. There is a relationship, an affinity even, between Chelsea fans and Rangers fans.

Not so long ago someone posted an in-depth explanation of the relationship between the two sets of supporters. I suggest you search for that post before you dismiss this relationship as a "pale imitation". A description which is quite frankly, bollocks. In what way do we or have we ever imitated the culture of Glasgow Rangers FC?

There are undeniably sectarian elements in Glasgow, on the Rangers and Celtic side. These elements have no relevance whatsoever to the relationship between Chelsea and Rangers fans. If the sectarian aspect is the basis of your dislike or disapproval of the relationship between Chelsea and Rangers fans, then I'm sorry but you're barking up the wrong tree.

[coco]

But we're not. We have our own history, our own culture, just as they have theirs. There is a relationship, an affinity even, between Chelsea fans and Rangers fans.

Not so long ago someone posted an in-depth explanation of the relationship between the two sets of supporters. I suggest you search for that post before you dismiss this relationship as a "pale imitation". A description which is quite frankly, bollocks. In what way do we or have we ever imitated the culture of Glasgow Rangers FC?

There are undeniably sectarian elements in Glasgow, on the Rangers and Celtic side. These elements have no relevance whatsoever to the relationship between Chelsea and Rangers fans. If the sectarian aspect is the basis of your dislike or disapproval of the relationship between Chelsea and Rangers fans, then I'm sorry but you're barking up the wrong tree.

[Benches]

I wasn't aware we had anything to do with Rangers aside from the strip colours and the lion.

More of a 70s/80s thing admittedly.........although when Chelsea played Rangers at Ron Harris testimonial (1971 I think, old man was there) major aggro between both sets of fans.

Linfield was considered a part of it too.

Mid 8os bradford fire friendly may have cemented the relationship too.

[Fast Eddie]

The problem imo is that having "links" with other clubs is muggy. Its the sort of thing that Liverpool do.

We are Chelsea, we have our own history, our own culture and our own songs. We don't need to be nor should be a pale imitation of another club.

??? Yeah OK, you asked the question.

Anyway...

I read a while ago that the friendship between the teams began, when rangers fans travelled to london for a match between the sides to raise money for the bradford fire appeal. After the match the police fearing there might be trouble escorted the rangers fans from the ground, only to find that the chelsea fans who were present at the game, stood and aplauded the glasgow rangers fans for traveling to the game as it was for charityand that the fans got on well singing how they hated each others rivals.

So we may find that the link will be multi-faceted...

[Benches]

thanks for the link coco.

Yeah what its basically saying is that Celtic were synonomous with Irish republicanism so those who hated the IRA were naturally predisposed to support Rangers.

I'm neither pro IRA or Rangers, imo you can find two opposing forces equally dislikeable.

[Benches]

??? Yeah OK, you asked the question.

Anyway...

I read a while ago that the friendship between the teams began, when rangers fans travelled to london for a match between the sides to raise money for the bradford fire appeal. After the match the police fearing there might be trouble escorted the rangers fans from the ground, only to find that the chelsea fans who were present at the game, stood and aplauded the glasgow rangers fans for traveling to the game as it was for charityand that the fans got on well singing how they hated each others rivals.

So we may find that the link will be multi-faceted...

Fair doos mate!

As long as people dont try and impose their political or religious beliefs on others through football is all im saying.

To each their own and live and let live!

Now lets hope we can beat those bastartds in red on their own dungheap for the second year in a row.

hopefully slur alex will be slagging the ref after 90 mins.

[murph89]

Alot of my family are Scottish and support Celtic so i would say that they would be my second team if i had one.

I do find it strange how alot of our fans always look out for Rangers results but then again

a) Im not old enough to understand the affilations between the clubs

and

B) I couldn't care less (even though some of them frown upon the fact I support Chelsea!)

[Hutch]

thanks for the link coco.

Yeah what its basically saying is that Celtic were synonomous with Irish republicanism so those who hated the IRA were naturally predisposed to support Rangers.

I'm neither pro IRA or Rangers, imo you can find two opposing forces equally dislikeable.

So what are you saying: that you consider the IRA and Rangers to be opposing forces, and/or that you find the IRA and Rangers equally dislikable?

[Zola]

In Scotland things are maybe different, although i'm positive the biggotry remains on some level.

In Belfast if you see someone walking down the street with a rangers or celtic top on a large chunk of the population will see that person as a thug, biggot, or just brainwashed. Its mostly just colours over here, ridiculous.

I've no idea what the connection with Linfield is - another bucket team, only they are from Belfast. Linfield are never out of the press over here for the fans acting like morons and rioting at the weekend.

I dont see why we should care what rangers or linfield are up to, we support chelsea.

Edited May 8, 2011 by Zola

[coco]

I dont see why we should care what rangers or linfield are up to, we support chelsea.

I dont see anyone saying we should care what they are up to.

[bjd]

I dont see why we should care what rangers or linfield are up to, we support chelsea.

Indeed we do - but i also care very much what Rangers are up to thank you very much. Ive grown up that way and so have many others.

No point in taking it any further really, if you dont follow Rangers as a Chelsea fan then dont! But dont proclaim to Chelsea fans that they shouldnt follow Rangers!

Its not the law or a prerequisite to follow RFC as a CFC fan - its just a choice.

Edited May 8, 2011 by bjd

[BlueBeard]

I know this is a contentious issue so sensible replies only please, but would like to hear honest opinions of CFC on the Rangers link up.

Personally I've got family in Edinburgh who are all Hibs and have been Easter Rd a few times to watch them when Rangers in town, all this "Billy's Boy" and "up to our knees in fenian blood stuff" is way ott to me. Football is all about football and dont see the need to bring politics, religion and the like into it. I dont personally see how Chelsea Football Club benefits from any sort of association from this sort of nonsense especially when you consider that we have had very good servants like Pat Nevin and Steve Clarke who grew up on the opposite side of it. I'm neither pro or anti Rangers or Celtic (have a soft spot for Hibs) but again think that CFC should be seen as a club for all, not based on religion, race, nationality etc.

At the end of the day life is way too short for all that bollocks imo, my old man is a Jock catholic whose followed CFC since late 60s my mum is Church of England English but at the end of the day if you are Chelsea thats all that should matter.

honest, sensible replies please.

ps. lets do the manc's tomoroww.

Strange how you claim to be against all the bigotry, yet admit to having a soft spot for a club who flew the Irish tricolour at the ground for many years, and whose fans sang Irish rebel songs - maybe they still do, I honestly don't know.

I've followed Rangers almost as long as I've followed Chelsea, since the mid 60's. As I was only about 8 or 9 at the time, and living in London, I had no idea about the religious side of things, and the sight of British troops in Ulster on the news was a few years away. I followed Rangers as my second club because my uncle gave me a load of football programmes, some of them Rangers, and I liked the fact they played in blue like Chelsea. Like I said, I was about 8 or 9! :D

I've never gone in for any of the sectarian stuff, personally, yet I hate Celtic with a vengeance, just as I hate Tottenham - nothing to do with religion or politics; I have little or no respect for organised religions of any kind, and I wouldn't trust any politician to sit the right way round on a toliet seat.

As for the 'link' between Chelsea and Rangers...in my experience it started in the early 70's when the Shed would sometimes echo with alternating chants of 'Rangers' or 'Celtic' (yes, I know, disgraceful!), as most people had a favourite Scottish side. Also, a lot of the more fanatical Chelsea fans had been in the forces, and seen service in Ulster, possibly being swayed by the incidents they saw over there. The IRA bombing campaign in the 70's certainly didn't help, and the fact that Celtic fans sang Irish rebel songs, waved IRA flags, and sported IRA tattoos didn't exactly endear them to the Londoners who were seeing their city under attack. Chelsea fans support of Rangers probably stemmed from some or all of these things, though I may be wrong.

[clubhappy]

Strange how you claim to be against all the bigotry, yet admit to having a soft spot for a club who flew the Irish tricolour at the ground for many years, and whose fans sang Irish rebel songs - maybe they still do, I honestly don't know.

I've followed Rangers almost as long as I've followed Chelsea, since the mid 60's. As I was only about 8 or 9 at the time, and living in London, I had no idea about the religious side of things, and the sight of British troops in Ulster on the news was a few years away. I followed Rangers as my second club because my uncle gave me a load of football programmes, some of them Rangers, and I liked the fact they played in blue like Chelsea. Like I said, I was about 8 or 9! :D

I've never gone in for any of the sectarian stuff, personally, yet I hate Celtic with a vengeance, just as I hate Tottenham - nothing to do with religion or politics; I have little or no respect for organised religions of any kind, and I wouldn't trust any politician to sit the right way round on a toliet seat.

As for the 'link' between Chelsea and Rangers...in my experience it started in the early 70's when the Shed would sometimes echo with alternating chants of 'Rangers' or 'Celtic' (yes, I know, disgraceful!), as most people had a favourite Scottish side. Also, a lot of the more fanatical Chelsea fans had been in the forces, and seen service in Ulster, possibly being swayed by the incidents they saw over there. The IRA bombing campaign in the 70's certainly didn't help, and the fact that Celtic fans sang Irish rebel songs, waved IRA flags, and sported IRA tattoos didn't exactly endear them to the Londoners who were seeing their city under attack. Chelsea fans support of Rangers probably stemmed from some or all of these things, though I may be wrong.

Spot on Bluebeard , my dad was from Glasgow , a catholic , supported Clydebank , most of my relations are Celtic fans and couldnt understand why i became a Chelsea fan but for me it was either Chelsea or Leeds when growing up . Visiting Scotland over the years i got to know and became friends with many Rangers fans , not through football , just through casual meetings and introductions and they have spent time here through the years . The bigitory between both sets of fans begins at home , its handed down through generations and will continue to do so although its not the way with every Celtic or Rangers fan . Im also still confused why any football fan in Scotland would feel the need to have sympathy for any terrorist organisation based in Ireland .

The vist of the Queen to Ireland in a few weeks should be interesting , watch as a small minority gets kicks out of shouting abuse and threatening to kill an old woman .

[WHFBlue]

Spot on Bluebeard , my dad was from Glasgow , a catholic , supported Clydebank , most of my relations are Celtic fans and couldnt understand why i became a Chelsea fan but for me it was either Chelsea or Leeds when growing up . Visiting Scotland over the years i got to know and became friends with many Rangers fans , not through football , just through casual meetings and introductions and they have spent time here through the years . The bigitory between both sets of fans begins at home , its handed down through generations and will continue to do so although its not the way with every Celtic or Rangers fan . Im also still confused why any football fan in Scotland would feel the need to have sympathy for any terrorist organisation based in Ireland .

The vist of the Queen to Ireland in a few weeks should be interesting , watch as a small minority gets kicks out of shouting abuse and threatening to kill an old woman .

Who says its Rangers / Chelsea as the Blues Brothers .... check out my avatar tat

Edited May 10, 2011 by WHFBlue

[The Brit]

Indeed we do - but i also care very much what Rangers are up to thank you very much. Ive grown up that way and so have many others.

No point in taking it any further really, if you dont follow Rangers as a Chelsea fan then dont! But dont proclaim to Chelsea fans that they shouldnt follow Rangers!

Its not the law or a prerequisite to follow RFC as a CFC fan - its just a choice.

[kennypaul]

Indeed we do - but i also care very much what Rangers are up to thank you very much. Ive grown up that way and so have many others.

No point in taking it any further really, if you dont follow Rangers as a Chelsea fan then dont! But dont proclaim to Chelsea fans that they shouldnt follow Rangers!

Its not the law or a prerequisite to follow RFC as a CFC fan - its just a choice.

I agree,so long as chelsea fans dont have a problem with chelsea fans not supporting rangers,and i know some chelsea supporters who find it perplexing that i have no time for rangers,never have.a question if i may,if chelsea were to somehow meet rangers in the cl,would your loyalty be split,see i wouldnt know because ive never cared very much for another team.

[Benches]

good post kenny, as far as split loyalties go ive wondered how the chelsea side blues brothers reacted to when judas durie signed for the gers.

personally i would never want to see that bar steward do well in the manner in which he left chelsea by lying about wanting to return to scotland as his wife was pregnant at the time and then joining tottscum. must have been hard to celebrate goals scored by someone who backstabbed chelsea.

as far as hatred of celtic goes, to me theyve never really been on our radar, imo our rivals are:

1. Numero uno tottenscum

then in no particular order:

west ham, arse, leeds, united, liverpool.

then theres other, smaller clubs we have history with like millwall, cardiff, portsmouth, boro thats more to do with off field incidents.

but celtic? not even far enough up the totem poll to even get bothered about, same as QPR really.

[Benches]

Strange how you claim to be against all the bigotry, yet admit to having a soft spot for a club who flew the Irish tricolour at the ground for many years, and whose fans sang Irish rebel songs - maybe they still do, I honestly don't know.

I've followed Rangers almost as long as I've followed Chelsea, since the mid 60's. As I was only about 8 or 9 at the time, and living in London, I had no idea about the religious side of things, and the sight of British troops in Ulster on the news was a few years away. I followed Rangers as my second club because my uncle gave me a load of football programmes, some of them Rangers, and I liked the fact they played in blue like Chelsea. Like I said, I was about 8 or 9! :D

I've never gone in for any of the sectarian stuff, personally, yet I hate Celtic with a vengeance, just as I hate Tottenham - nothing to do with religion or politics; I have little or no respect for organised religions of any kind, and I wouldn't trust any politician to sit the right way round on a toliet seat.

As for the 'link' between Chelsea and Rangers...in my experience it started in the early 70's when the Shed would sometimes echo with alternating chants of 'Rangers' or 'Celtic' (yes, I know, disgraceful!), as most people had a favourite Scottish side. Also, a lot of the more fanatical Chelsea fans had been in the forces, and seen service in Ulster, possibly being swayed by the incidents they saw over there. The IRA bombing campaign in the 70's certainly didn't help, and the fact that Celtic fans sang Irish rebel songs, waved IRA flags, and sported IRA tattoos didn't exactly endear them to the Londoners who were seeing their city under attack. Chelsea fans support of Rangers probably stemmed from some or all of these things, though I may be wrong.

my soft spot for hibs is cos my old man and family hail from granton, a hibs area of north edinburgh (like battersea is to chelsea) and most of the fam are hibbys.

as an aside my old mans cousins nephew (a local lad from the area) plays for hibs so you can see the family links are deep.

as far as hibs flying a tricolour that is not true, hibs have never flown a tricolour from any of their stands or in any capacity at all. it was a bone of contention from celtic that then hibs chairman harry swan supported the sfa's directive to remove the tricolour from parkhead back in the early 50s. rebel songs? ive visited easter road as i said in the op v rangers and never heard any rebel songs, heard a few rule brittania pisstakes from hibs but no pro ira sh*te.

and mate im not knocking individual chelsea fans from following rangers, to each their own.

[BlueBeard]

my soft spot for hibs is cos my old man and family hail from granton, a hibs area of north edinburgh (like battersea is to chelsea) and most of the fam are hibbys.

as an aside my old mans cousins nephew (a local lad from the area) plays for hibs so you can see the family links are deep.

as far as hibs flying a tricolour that is not true, hibs have never flown a tricolour from any of their stands or in any capacity at all. it was a bone of contention from celtic that then hibs chairman harry swan supported the sfa's directive to remove the tricolour from parkhead back in the early 50s. rebel songs? ive visited easter road as i said in the op v rangers and never heard any rebel songs, heard a few rule brittania pisstakes from hibs but no pro ira sh*te.

and mate im not knocking individual chelsea fans from following rangers, to each their own.

So far as I remember, Hibs used to fly the tricolour at Easter Road, it was fairly well known, and they've flown other Irish flags too. I haven't got a particular problem with that, as Hibernian were formed as an Irish club, like Celtic. However, I remember Irish rebel songs being sung at Easter Road by Hibs fans, and also at some of their away games. I'm not saying they still do this, but they certainly did in the past. I'm not putting Hibs down for this, as Rangers fans are clearly no angels when it comes to singing sectarian songs or flying flags that wind up certain opposition fans.

Would I be correct in assuming you're CFCabbage? :D

[Star]

All I can say is there is a great deal of respect and combined hatred of Celtic and Tottenham

between Chelsea/Rangers fans of late and as far as I am concerned going back to the early 80's

no connection between religion.

When I was young most English sides supporters took Celtic or Rangers it terms of a woolie hat stiched

half and half in your your club and theirs, much like the split scarves found at big European Games these

days.

The Kop and Stretford End always had split Celtic, but for me it could have been for their Irish links rather

than religion.

Chelsea always had Rangers always!

A lot was said in the early days when Rangers were more successful than ourselves in Europe, apparently

hard core hooligans from Chelsea caused trouble abroad travelling alongside their Rangers counterparts.

Recently this season, I witnessed a coachload of Rangers fans at our away game at Blackburn, they sang

like Chelsea fans and were treated as heroes by many a Chelsea fan when the unearthed the flag

at half time.

At the end of last season in a pub opposite Earls Court station, the night we won the double, that pub

is the Blackbird, it was packed with Chelsea and Rangers fans singing into the late hours.

I can vouch there was more brotherley emotion in that pub than ANY pub in Chelsea/Fulham that night.

Every other pubs in and around the ground were nowhere near as full.

Also when Chelsea went up there for that friendly the other year - anyone could see the respect.

It goes back years, especially to those who supported us through the bad old days , it is ridiculous

to mention religion in the same breath as Chelsea and Rangers.

We ARE the blues brothers!

Edited May 11, 2011 by Star