BBC
cameras
were outside Celtic Park on Monday, to film: “The Greatest Fans In
The World” queuing for season tickets for the new season. Maybe the
Celtic board, as they watch the faithful lining-up to hand them their
hard-earned dough, should sent a wee bottle of something across the
city to Ibrox.
Because,
I reckon it is the return of Rangers to the top-flight which has
brought the Parkhead faithful out in force. For a body, many of whom
spend long hours on the internet, proclaiming that: “Rangers is
deid and youse is a new club”; they come across as very obsessed by
these newcomers.
TGFITW - well, maybes naw
And
rightly so, because, if the Celtic Family comprises: TGFITW, then Ra
Peepul across the city are surely The Greatest Fans In Scotland. Why
do I make this outrageous suggestion? Simples – facts.
Last
season, Celtic, in the Premiership, attracted 803,125 fans through
the Celtic Park gates for the club's 18 home games in the
Premiership. This equates to an average attendance of 44,618, which
represents the ground being 74% full.
Rangers,
playing in the next tier down, the Championship, attracted 815,841
fans to their 18 home games, an average attendance of 45,325, which
represents the ground being 89% full.
The
Celtic crowds varied between a high of 49,009 and a low of 41,396.
Rangers' high point was 50,349 and their low point 37,182.
I
compared these attendance figures with the last occasion in which the
Old Firm was in the same division, 2011-12. Then, Celtic attracted a
total of 916,593 fans through the doors for their 18 home league
games, an average attendance of 50,922, and an 85% seat occupancy
rate. Without the two Old Firm games, the occupancy rate at Celtic
Park was 84%
Rangers,
in that same calamitous season for them, attracted 880,160 fans to
their 19 home games, an average attendance of 46,342, and a 91% seat
occupancy rate – a 90% occupancy rate without the two Old Firm
games.
Therefore,
for all Celtic's greater success in the two seasons, Rangers had the
more-loyal following.
It
would be, I feel, wrong to blame the absence of Rangers from the top
flight for Celtic's declining attendances, clearly, the “product”
was not encouraging the fans to turn out, but, the fact the faithful
are again excited about the new season, I accept - in part through
the recruitment of new boss Brendan Rodgers, however, anticipation of
the resumption of hostilities with the hated enemy across the city,
demonstrates how much the Celtic Family have missed Rangers.
THE
other
big story of this week, has been speculation about the exact position
between Mike Ashley, Sports Direct and Rangers. The more I see of
this troubled relationship, the more I am convinced - Mike Ashley
and Dave King, neither of whom comes across as a nice guy, perhaps
deserve each other.
SPEAKING
of
not very nice guys, I see Chelsea have finally reached a settlement
with their former Lady Doctor, Eva Carneiro. Given the good lady
reportedly rejected a £1 million-plus out of court settlement, I
think we may presume the Blues had to pay somewhat more.
Nice
one Jose, who failed to come up with the apology for his conduct
which Dr Carneiro was seeking. Clearly the Chosen One will do well at
Manchester United. Are United not Royalty in English football?
Royalty's golden rule: Never Apologise, Never Explain.
Apologise - Me!!
CRAIG
Brown
is pretty much football royalty in Scotland – he has been there,
done it and got the t-shirt. So, I was a wee bit disappointed to read
in today's Herald, he has not been asked to provide official input
into the latest review of why we are shite at youth development.
Dinna fash yersel Bleeper – this one will make as much difference
as the other ones – the Rinus Michels review, the Henry McLeish
one, plus a couple of others whose leader I have forgotten.
Craig Brown - what could he teach the blazers?
The
blazers don't want change, they don't want improvement – turkeys do
not vote for Christmas.
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