At matches both sets of supporters sing political songs relating to the Irish conflict, the Rangers favourite is 'Billy Boys' which includes the line 'We're up to our knees in fenians blood'. Clearly this is highly offensive and yet Rangers fans reserve their right to sing it, many claiming that it is just traditional and not heartfelt. There have been complaints but no serious move to stop this song being sung. In contrast to this the Celtic fans often sing 'The Fields of Athenry' as Bradley points out in his article 'We Shall not be Moved' Mere sport, mere songs? the lyrics are less offensive indeed the most offensive line is 'Against the Famine and the Crown'. However there was a campaign in 1994 led by a 'significant sports media' commentator to prevent Celtic fans from singing 'The Fields of Athenry' (2). It is possible to read too much into these things but it does remind us that the for the most part the Catholics are on the receiving end of abuse and consequently so are Glasgow Celtic.
The songs sung at football matches are often traditional and it is undoubtedly true that many fans sing them without giving much thought to the words. Fans of the Old Firm are capable of singing at matches and supporting their team and still not considering sectarian issues a part of their lives, you can take it or leave it and it is becoming increasingly easier to leave it. However there are a section of the fans who want to take it a step further and see those supporting their rivals as viable targets for violent attacks.
An article on page six of the Scotland on Sunday on February the 4th 2001 had the headline 'Stop Glasgow's Killing Fields' . The article concentrated on the anti-sectarian group – Nil By Mouth, which is run by Cara Henderson a young woman who experienced the senseless violence associated with Old Firm matches when her friend was murdered because he was wearing a Rangers strip. She pointed out that there is violence after every Old Firm match and the police agreed when after the November match 'nobody was murdered within hours of the final whistle, a state of affairs provoking suprise among the Glasgow constabulary, which has grown wearily accustomed to weeding out killers from both communities – but especially the Protestant sector – who exist uneasily together.....until offered a regular opportunity to fling obscenities from behind a wall of anonymity provided by the smokescreen of football'. The 'Nil By Mouth' campaign has recently been awarded a Millenium Commission Award of £402,000, it is supported by both Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic. This campaign has been congratulated by the government, along with the 'Bhoys Against Bigotry' campaign at Celtic Park, yet it has done little beyond raising awareness.
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