Celtic And Rangers

Football fans all over the world can be passionate to say the least, but the old rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is notorious and still provokes extreme reactions by a lot of their supporters.

The old firm is the common collective name for the association of football clubs Celtic and Rangers belong to. Both clubs are also based in Glasgow. The two clubs are the most successful in Scotland, having won between them ninety-six League Championships, sixty-seven Scottish Cups and forty-one Scottish League cups.

They have rarely been seriously challenged in their supremacy in the country’s football. The most recent period where it has happened was posed by the New Firm of Aberdeen and Dundee United in the first half of the 1980s. The other two periods in their history when they faced major challenges was in the 1890s and in the 1950s.

Throughout their history they have mostly come first and second. They have played against each other three hundred and ninety six times. Rangers have won one hundred and fifty-eight of those games. Rangers have won a hundred and forty three. The remaining games have ended up in draws.

The two clubs have huge support bases around Glasgow, but they also have supporter’s clubs in most Scottish towns and in many cities around the world. They are both together estimated to be worth one hundred and twenty million to the Scottish economy.

The competition between the clubs has more than just a sporting rivalry root. It is also centred on religion – Catholic and Protestant and Northern Ireland-related politics. The other aspect of the rivalry stems from the fact that Rangers supporters are historically native Scots whereas Celtic supporters are historically Irish Scots.

In recent years the level of violence associated with their matches has decreased, but the intensity still remains. If you would like to experience it, you will be well-advised to go with a local who knows the history and etiquette associated with both sets of supporters. Hotel breaks Scotland will be able to help you, if you are looking for a place to stay. In fact for any short break Scotland has to offer, contact them to see if they have good package deals with the hotel.