I am an Irish Chelsea supporter since I was  4 in 1976. Going to games home and away every season since the early 90's. Being Irish you have to listen to the usual clichéd rubbish usually from Spurs fans I know, that Chelsea are anti Irish blah blah blah. I have never experienced anything in all my times travelling to Chelsea games. Seen a few stalls outside selling "No Surrender t shirts". But I get that! Don't know what relevance it has to football, but I get it!  There is a permanent  Dundalk Irish (my hometown) supporters club flag in residence in the East stand at every home game. So would Chelsea fans think there is an anti Irish sentiment or is it merely propaganda from a very small narrow minded  element of Northern Irish fans?

Welcome Niall. I predate you by about a decade!

cheers emerald. Ah I am on and off this site for years.

 

I am from Northern Ireland.Supporting Chelsea since 1969. You seem to be implying that if there's an anti Irish element it comes solely from narrow minded people from my neck of the woods. I am a Protestant by the way and have nothing against anyone (colour or creed) supporting  the Blues. 

Edited September 1, 20178 yr by Little Boy Blue

LBB I didn't bring religion into any debate, I am merely asking a question as I am sick of listening to Chels being anti Irish when I have heard nothing like it myself. And anyone that has a dislike for people based on their colour creed or location is narrow minded no matter where they hail from.

 

There isnt really a cliche anymore, we had the discussion on here when contemplating a draw against Celtic.

This whole thing is pushed in Chelsea by a small element of rangers fans who want to band us together, there was a time in the 80's after the bombings in London that there was an anti Irish sentiment, that's long ago and you'd be hard pressed to find any anti Irish on here. 

Politics and foootball have thankfully, for the most part, been disconnected.  

Niall I know you didn't mention religion, but you and I know if there was an anti Irish element from  " narrow minded northern Irish fans"  they'd be Protestant. So I was defending my position.  To answer your question. I have never heard any anti Irish behaviour in all my time attending matches at the Bridge. I admit I have heard anti IRA/ pro British songs, and it most definitely wasn't coming from any N. IRELAND based supporters. 

5 minutes ago, Little Boy Blue said:

Niall I know you didn't mention religion, but you and I know if there was an anti Irish element from  " narrow minded northern Irish fans"  they'd be Protestant. So I was defending my position.  To answer your question. I have never heard any anti Irish behaviour in all my time attending matches at the Bridge. I admit I have heard anti IRA/ pro British songs, and it most definitely wasn't coming from any N. IRELAND based supporters. 

That would be rangers cross over fans 

Yeah donantonio beat me to it by mentioning the rangers fan element, any fan I've come across that even brings it up is usually a rangers fan firstly or opposing fan like spurs or a Liverpool/man u fan trying to drill in the sentiment of them being Irish clubs first due to their history and I've even got the argument that it's because  of Irish players from the past(which is diffuse enough).

This is all good and well but let's not act like Andy Townsend didn't accept the poty award by making a speech with his thick West of Ireland brogue 

Remember Paddy Mulligan lads! His wonder goal always brings a smile to my face.

20 hours ago, DonAntonio said:

That would be rangers cross over fans 

That's the simplistic view. My experiences at the Bridge tell me different.  I also have to say that I don't condemn anyone for being anti I RA.  I've seen there actions first hand.

The idea that Chelsea are anti-Irish comes from a minority of Rangers and Northern Irish fans who insist on bringing up political issues in football that have no place there. Ironically I would argue that across the whole Chelsea fanbase there is actually more pro-Irish support than anti-Irish sentiment. 

 

Where is this accusation against fans from N.Ireland being anti Irish coming from?? I repeat, I've being going to the Bridge for years and haven't witnessed any anti Irish crap from anyone. Does no one remember Rep.Ireland v England match a few years ago. Don't think N.I. fans were there that night. I have heard on many occasions anti IRA songs coming from  supporters with English accents. I'm not knocking them for that, it's understandable as far as I'm concerned. The original post accused  N.I  fans of being anti Irish.  I don't get the point of this thread or why he  felt the need to start it..

9 hours ago, Little Boy Blue said:

That's the simplistic view. My experiences at the Bridge tell me different.  I also have to say that I don't condemn anyone for being anti I RA.  I've seen there actions first hand.

Well of course no one supports the actions of terror but, and it' a big but and I don't want to go off topic, look what the British army have done in their country, terrorist are usually an extreme response to injustice so can you blame an Irish man or any of the other victims of the British army being anti imperialist? And btw my mums side of the family are scottish protestants and I have personal experience with this as my great great uncles beat my great grandfather half to death on account of him being catholic and ran him out, but I believe in having a fair view not a tribalistic one. So to sum up I'm glad chelsea has a global following and it irks the f**k out of me when chelsea fans, usually scottish or dried up old Combat 18 try and push this stupidity on us, politics and football are no longer synonymous if they were I wouldn't support chelsea. 

I think this thread should go in the politics forum, if we had one.

As we have not, and i think everyone has had their say and covered the subject.

Céad míle fáilte to all our fellow Irish Chelsea supporters.