Celtic and Rangers play on New Year’s Eve, with arguably just bragging rights at stake.
Brendan Rodgers’ side are currently eight points clear the top of the Scottish Premier League – with three games in-hand over Rangers in second. They’ve only played 14 games, but Celtic look certain to retain the title, and are yet to taste defeat.
However, games between Celtic and Rangers, or Sevco or whatever you choose to call the club based in Glasgow that wear blue, always carry significance for the respective set of fans – even if Celtic fans won’t have former Rangers’ midfielder Joey Barton around anymore to laugh at.
Celtic fans had great fun with Joey Barton's first tweet since Rangers' crushing defeat https://t.co/6ks1xf4CU2
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 22, 2016
Needless to say, “harmless banter” isn’t a phrase one would associate with the scenes at Old Firm games.
However, this proposed attempt by some Celtic fans to take the piss out of the bitter rivals at the upcoming game at Ibrox falls into that category.
For the Hoops’ first game at the Glasgow ground since March 2012, some fans are planning on wearing hardhats.
https://twitter.com/tirnaog09/status/807504712857767936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The gag refers to Rangers’ trouble with the roof at the stadium, which has showed signs of aging in the past few years.
https://twitter.com/NaCeiltighAbu/status/808039662379999232
A match against Dumbarton was delayed in 2015 because of safety concerns about the roof, and the club released a statement on the stadium’s deteriorating condition earlier this year.
“The present reality is that it will take several years to bring the facilities up to the standard that our supporters and the local community deserve – but the Board is determined to do that,” the statement read.
“We can’t only invest in the squad of players. Supporters need a stadium and environment in which to enjoy their match day experience that is consistent with the tradition and ambitions of Rangers Football Club.
“The stadium itself requires significant maintenance work, much of which will go unseen, but will include a major overhaul of the roofs of the Broomloan, Copland and Sandy Jardine stands.”
Celtic fans, never one to miss an opportunity to poke fun at their rivals, aren’t taking any chances. However, whether they’ll be allowed into the ground wearing the hardhats is unlikely.
Going to Ibrox on Hogmanay???? I am sure the roof is safe bit why does this come with the ticket pic.twitter.com/MgLFpkG0lh
— dan (@Betseyglam) October 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/DerryCraic/status/808032814927147012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
#HardHats 😂😂😂🍀🍀
— JT67🍀 (@JohnGoldenBhoy) December 11, 2016
If you're going to watch Celtic at Ibrox maybe wear a magic hat, hmmm? pic.twitter.com/ASM67gmJhu
— Eamon O'Lenin ☭ (@eamonolenin) December 10, 2016
health and safety at Ibrokes. Safety 1st. Hard hats required. 😂
— Brian (@brido67) December 11, 2016
https://twitter.com/KNJBTS7/status/807939087684472833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
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