Henry Winter on Celtic vs Rangers and why English fans 'don't understand size of the Old Firm'

Legendary sportswriter Henry Winter discusses his experiences of Scotland's fiercest derby ahead of covering the upcoming title-defining match at Celtic Park for The Herald.

[@ianbhoy1888]

It must have killed Jonny to sit and listen to Henry waxing lyrical about so many ex celtic greats . Great interview . Very interesting.

[@frankgreen1663]

Henry you're a journalist....you should know why there were no fans .. rangers couldn't stomach the celtic fans celebrating as much at their home ...so cut the allocation...it became unsafe so no tickets were taken .. we'll see if it improves

[@den264]

Celtic fans in the corner area at Ibrox were subjected to constant volleys of beer cans, half bottles of Buckfast, and plastic cups half full of piss. The Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart was also subjected to shards of broken glass inside his penalty box. In the last league game at Ibrox, a crackerjack Rangers fan tossed an empty half bottle of Buckfast at Mat O,Riley after he scored his penalty. Can you imagine this type of behavior if it happened at Anfield, Old Trafford, the Etihad stadium, or the City ground.

[@1gerard47]

​the buckie bottle was probably piss,filthy scumbags,a small percentage on both sides,surely they can be named and shamed and barred for life on both sides.

[@leilahmanson]

My first old firm game I attended was at Celtic park Tommy Burns was Celtic manager with the likes of Dicanio,van hoodink,caddette,Walter Smith was Rangers manager they had HazaGoram,Laudrup,we were trying to stop them doing 9 in a row,what an occasion,what an atmosphere,both teams missed a penalty,the outcome wasn't so good as rangers won but id never experienced anything like what happened that night,the second old firm I attended was the now infamous 6_2 game at Celtic park,what can I say,that left me breathless,Larsson's chip over Stefan kloss head from big Chris Sutton's lay off was probably the best goal I've watched live given the size of occasion,these games really are special! #hail #hail

[@kelso120]

Celtic v the new ranger's has been good since 2012. The old firm games came to a sad end in 2012. A lot of history their.

[@paulwilson2651]

This isn't the Old firm. Hearts v Hibs is the real old firm.

[@matthewedmiston6918]

💩💩💩💩💩

[@JP19-67]

Enjoyed that, well done Jonny in letting your guest speak.

[@jamesfulton8251]

Massive support, both at home and away.....

[@davedavey5]

I was lucky to see a old firm game many years ago, the scotch fans certainly know how to make noise. I have to say Rangers made a huge impression on me, the stadium, the staunchness of their fans, everything!.

[@chrisarmstrong9434]

*the stench 😂

[@happybhoy777]

There’s no old firm, and wtf is a Scotch guy? You ignorant hun

[@craigycraigywhyte624]

Can never understand sevco supporters bringing up pacific shelf and 1994. Yes we were on our arse but we moved from privately owned to a public limited company saved by wee Fergus . In summary yous died we didn’t!!!

[@goodpeopleoftheworldunite]

It's jealousy. And they miss their old club.

[@solafide6647]

The snobbery of english fans on these comments never ceases to amaze me. The so called best league in the world has died with the money.

[@seanspillane8231]

Glasgow Derby. The OF died with the previous Rangers (1872) in 2012. Try and keep up. 🍀🇮🇪

[@TheGrowler55]

Selik Pacific Shelf 595 formed in 1994 by the Govan Yank 🤣🤣🇬🇧

[@JasonGray-pb9uq]

Char!is Nicho!is,he was amazing

[@talkinghead3169]

Rangers are no longer the original club, liquidation caused them to cease to exist. I know it's not the truth that people want to hear, it is still fact. Celtic are genuinely one of the biggest clubs on the planet.

[@andyjack7948]

Talking shite more like no talkinghead

[@onceatim67]

@@andyjack7948the truth hurts eh

[@ronniemac2636]

It does and you show it by your ignorant and lying post. Good self awareness for a Terry Munro 😂😂😂​@@onceatim67

[@TheGrowler55]

@@onceatim67 Aren't Selik FC Formed in 1994, just saying Peado Bhoy 🤣🤣😊 Rule Britannia from Glasgow WATP 🇬🇧👍😁😎

[@onceatim67]

@@TheGrowler55 no argument that Sevco are a new club. Thanks for the confirmation 👍Ur not the brightest eh

[@dougmulgu6232]

Who's Joe Hare?

[@happybhoy777]

That’s why I came to the comments lol I thought I was hearing wrong

[@edhughes421]

why has he said 'Joe Hare'? also said 'George Albert'. fine if you mispronounce a german footballer from the 90s who played for Rangers but an award winning journalist who doesn't know Joe Harts name is quite sensational.

[@jamesh8672]

Glasgow Darby 🍀💚

[@johnmanuh6721]

Do you mean Joan Darby?

[@JasonGray-pb9uq]

A bit nervy it was panick stations,at Wembley

[@John-vw3lr]

Not much between the Clubs but I would say Celtic are the bigger outfit.

[@antonyware9887]

Gentrifying all seater stadiums have ruined the brand in England. That and an elite group of clubs who know each season they are going to be up there. The interest and excitement came from knowing Chelsea, Spurs, Man Utd, City could all be relegated. The excitement now truly comes from the EFL. The Championship is so competitive and amazing. The Leagues below including the National League are where’re the interest is at. The Prem League is more for a TV audience

[@frankmacfarlane6194]

There's no longer any such thing as the " old firm ", due to offences committed Glasgow Rangers had to dissolve and is now The Rangers.

[@JasonGray-pb9uq]

Well done good man ,my uncle supported Arsenal ,Then a took him to watch Rangers v Dinamo kiev, lol

[@Kaiserbill99]

As an Englishman who has attended an Ibrox Old Firm game, at the time when there were masses of Celtic fans allowed in, I can confirm that the crowd is deafening and the atmosphere hostile. Unfortunately however it has been many years since the standard of football was anything above lower end of the English Championship level.

[@callumgarylogan4939]

The two clubs have been to three European finals in the last 20 years. No team from the championship would be capable of that. I understand the rest of the teams in our league aren't great but Celtic especially is already mid table prem. Results against man utd and man city in the champions league prove that.

[@johnfitzpatrick4007]

Not another English man who thinks if it’s not English it’s inferior.

[@Kaiserbill99]

@@callumgarylogan4939 Man City won it last year and Man Utd should not have qualified above Liverpool and then there is Chelsea, both of whom have won the Champions League within the last decade or so, Spurs who made the final a few years ago or Arsenal who are past finalists. But the Champions League is a cup competition and shocks can happen. I'm old enough to have watched Walsall beat Man Utd in the FA Cup so Celtic or Rangers rising to beat a Premier league club once in a while seems to prove very little. Scotland has not had a team to seriously challenge the EPL giants probably since Rangers beat Leeds in the European Cup in 1992/3. I'm not sure any of the current Rangers or Celtic teams have a player that would interest the top half of the EPL. Postecoglou has not exactly been rushing back to cherry pick the rich talent at Celtic. And If there is then no doubt they will be travelling South in the Summer.....but probably to the championship.

[@michaelkelly9545]

If you put Celtic into the premier league right now with the money they have they would still avoid relegation easy so how can you say they are lower championship? Celtic with the budget the premier league teams have right now they are a top 10 team easy

[@Kaiserbill99]

@@michaelkelly9545 I would struggle to name a Celtic player these days. I could not see them competing with the likes of Leicester and Leeds at the top end of the Championship. And which Celtic players would remotely interest a top half of the Premier League club? I cannot see Postecoglou returning to raid his old club any time soon. Spurs have more expensive tastes.

[@theunderwatercabbagesalesman]

Can the herald not afford a microphone for this? 🤔

[@sphughes01]

Hurray, an English journalist admits what has been true since time in memorial. The Old Firm are the UK's biggest clubs. Have a glance at the records for attendances to begin with. Largest European attendance: Celtic v Leeds, European Cup semi-final, 1970, nearly 140,000 for a night match. Never be beaten. Largest European home crowd: Rangers, 118,000. Never be beaten. Rangers hold the records for some of the lower leagues too. Largest ever cup final in Europe attendance again Celtic this time against Aberdeen and again over 130,000. Never be beaten. Both clubs also have had huge supporters clubs all over the world for decades a lot longer than the English ones that have sprouted after Sky television began to cover the Premier League. The Republic of Ireland as a nation is virtually a Celtic supporters club and in the North of Ireland both teams enjoy large support. I know, I know, you are thinking sectarianism but yes that does raise its ugly head but it cannot be denied that both clubs are popular on the island of Ireland. If both clubs were ever asked to join the Premier League it would not take long for them to challenge the leaders and my God if that happened and one of them was pumped money by an outside group of billionaires they would challenge in Europe too.

[@MagnetCSC]

Old Firm died in 2012! A real journalist would know that and also know the lies of the same club myth!

[@matthewedmiston6918]

😂😂😂 Shut up ya fanny W.A.T.P.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@rabbc007]

Pacific Shelf

[@paulbrodie6085]

Correct ✅

[@Sonnie125]

Pacific shelf 595 … If you know your own history 🙄

[@johncopeland3826]

Hey Henry old stick , do you know that Jonny Mc Farlane is one of Celtic FC ' s biggest fan boy scoops ...in the whole of Scotland ? Har ,har ,har ,de ,har ,har....

[@oranbhoy67]

Ye raging mate 😂😂

[@gedsmart7109]

whit auld firm , its joost a derby noo everyone and anyone who cares to listen or think for themselves

[@user-oz7yb9np7c]

No ones disputing the amount of fans both have.But the football is terrible and no one’s takes any notice

[@DelSevenNine]

At least its not driven by money. Every game is good professionals going at it the best they can. If the money wasnt in England, the game would die there.

[@SOULBISCUITS]

Well actually that's not quite true, take a look at stats when both clubs have played English clubs in competition. Results will surprise you ya arrogant wallaper.

[@jamesfulton8251]

They would when they both come to that Premier league with bigger and better players, then you would see nothing like it.....

[@user-oz7yb9np7c]

@@jamesfulton8251 we all know that will never happen.England doesn’t need them or want them

[@jamesfulton8251]

NAW SCARED MORE LIKE, AS THAT WOULD BE AT LEAST 1 MAYBE 2 ??, CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOT GONE, THEIR AWAY SUPPORTERS WOULD JUST TAKE OVER, AND ALL THE ENGLISH TEAMS WOULD NEED TO BUILD BIGGER STADIUMS AS WOULD RANGERS AND CELTIC AS THEY WOULD HAVE STADIUMS TO HOLD 100,OOO, AND FILL THEM EVERY HOME GAME, AND BRING 15, 000, TRAVELLING FANS TO AWAY MATCHES

[@wiltswonder]

That lack of respect with the size of it is tempered by the knowledge that the standard of the game up there is utter garbage

[@monti4035]

It isn't an " old firm " game anymore

[@aroemaliuged4776]

wtf is Joe hare?

[@scottmason3820]

It’s great fans having the ability to go but safety is an issue now, plenty history from rangers throwing objects, and the so called fans embarrassing Celtic throwing things needs heavy punishment nip it in the bud.

[@jamesnapier7396]

We all know how big they are but does anybody remember the spice girls?😂

[@TheWelwyn21]

Well, of course. They were on the TV or in the papers every day for 2 years

[@jamesnapier7396]

😂

[@The_Blueyonder]

Not sure about your green drink Henry 😊

[@johnreeveswilliamson7228]

It’s not that big the Manchester and Merseyside derbies are just as big.

[@rancidbhoy]

It really isn't, no where near...

[@johnreeveswilliamson7228]

@@rancidbhoywell am confused with you Celtic fans you always say that the Old Firm derby doesn’t exist anymore but as soon as an English person talks it down yous quickly change your tune and argue back that the Old Firm is better than any English derby. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@imposs-up1hg]

You're kidding yourself on. That's funny. In fact, Man Utd versus Liverpool is a bigger match than the Manchester and Merseyside derbies.

[@rancidbhoy]

@johnreeveswilliamson7228 You mustn't be very smart then, after all Celtic and Rangers both still contest a derby whether that be the Old firm derby or it be the Glasgow derby, It's still bigger than anything that English football can give in terms of football rivalry. Hope this helps. God bless 🙌 🙏

[@wescooley34]

They cant touch the glasgow derby and if there was a big enough ground in glasgow 120000 plus fans would be there nuff said

[@ciarandeeney8967]

Old Firm is dead big man!!

[@andrewpaton2683]

Wow coco,s alive n well!😂

[@ciarandeeney8967]

just a run of the mill glasgow derby now.

[@georgemoffat797]

@@ciarandeeney8967remember 1994 well bawbag

[@ciarandeeney8967]

@@georgemoffat797 old firm dead same as your club... dead and buried bawbag

[@Celticsamuraiblue]

@@georgemoffat797Away & buy some ‘Sevco shares’. 🚀

[@Cef1981]

Rangers are going to get smashed I can feel it this celtic side played grat football against hearts

[@jimibhoy8935]

Our team is more than capable of handing out a serious skelping, however , we do our talking on the park. This will be a battle to the death, i don't think they will capitulate as lots of fans seem to think. It's wishful thinking. A nasty close run 1-0 victory will do me fine thank you very much. Be great if you are right, here's hoping 🙏🍀🍀🍀

[@paulwilson2651]

They might be the biggest but Hearts are the best.

[@Socrates99]

henry "I talk shite Winter", if that's the best journalism can do well no wonder the newspapers can't sell.

[@Nothing_Nothing485]

Who cares

[@norahdenovan8658]

Rangers went into liquidation, they no longer exist. CELTIC are the gods of Scottish football ❤️👍

[@johnpoile1451]

With the impending Scottish Independence, two small fish in a small pond is the future for your football.

[@Bonnaci-G]

Yeah, that’s why I don’t want independence, because they will end up kicking Celtic and Rangers out of the EPL.

[@johnmanuh6721]

As opposed to 4 in your sky pimped league!!!

[@Stephan74]

Big jock knew

[@derrydoire1864]

Wallace

[@user-nm9hw6sw4m]

rangers pmsl .. how big are rangers .. pish poor and so is there selling powers as a product

[@AdamMarkAteMyHamster]

We dont care. Pub league crap. Two 'big' clubs with a team full of 100k-900k signings playing hoofball. Absolute rubbish. Stop begging for us to care because we dont care.

[@TheHunsAreDugShite]

Mate... you're so full of shit!! Celtic spend £MILLIONS on each player before developing and selling for a premium! We spent £9M on Odsonne Eduoard 👈😂 £6M for Carter Vickers off Tottenham, £5.5M for Kyogo Furuhashi, £3.5M Luis Palma just to name a few... Celtic team is full of INTERNATIONAL CLASS players! Far more internationals play for Celtic than ANY championship club... FACT!! 👈😂 Paid £6M for Jota then sold to the Arabs for £25M, Tierney to Arsenal for £25M and will be selling Matt O'Reilly for £30M+ 😂