[The Exiled Heretic]

Maurice Johnston has had to pull out of the forthcoming Old Frim, actually they are calling it the "auld firm", charity match due to a section of Celtic fans threatening to pull out. First off I'll say in Celtic's defence that I have read no figures on how many supporters were going to bhoycott the game and it certainly looks no where near the majority.

It's really going down to another level this one though. The money raised from this game will go to charities supported by two old firm legends. The two players gave their respective fans great joy over the years and now are being kicked in the teeth. It would appear that a switching of clubs two decades ago is more important than raising money for worthwhile legends in support of two footballing legends. While these supporters carry on their bhoycott Jimmy Johnstone's motor neurone research foundation and Davie Cooper's centre for children with special needs lose it. It is disgraceful in my opinion.

As well as Rangers fans and neutral fans condemning this I have also heard alot of Celtic fans condemning it too to be fair. It really is a sad state of affairs and just strengthens any views other people already have of the Old Firm which is a shame.

Mo Johnstone had been due to play a half for Celtic and a half for Rangers which in itself goes a tiny way to building bridges but that now will not happen. An opportunity has been missed here. I doubt anyone would go along with this but I would be all for the captains of both sides swapping over at half time on the night or at the very least getting the players to swap shirts at full time. To me the whole episode is all wrong but what annoys me more is no one is doing anything about it other than rolling over.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

That's what really gets me too. The fact that people can't put their footballing differences aside for a charity match. It really is beyond a joke. What I don't understand is why they all don't get together and say stay away then. I'm sure it would still be a sell out as it's a minority of the small minded brigade.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

It's a football-related matter - end of story.

Behave yourself, it's a charity event aimed at raising money for two good causes. Both causes carry the names of old firm legends who were fantastic servants to their respective clubs. As much as there is alot of bitterness between Rangers and Celtic fans people like Jimmy Johnston and Davie Cooper among the elite few get respect from both sides of the fence.

Are you telling me that a fan's bitterness from nearly two decades ago is more important than raising money for motor neurone research or building a centre for children with special needs? I await you compassionate response to that question and hope that your overlooking of purpose of this event means you have don't know of anyone in either of these positions who's funding this will help.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

I'm amazed at that ViscaBarcaInter. While I respect everyone's point of view I find it hard to accept that Mo Jo playing in a charity match creates this kind of reaction. The money being raised for special causes for me is the most important thing. Aside from that all the adverse publicity towards the bitterness dividing the old firm could have had a helping hand here by him playing a half for both sides.

There is an opportunity here to do something good as well as raise money. Pity Alfie Conn could have been there to swap with Mo at half time. This to me is exactly the reason why the ugliness that surrounds the old firm is never going to go away.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

Me too- a massive Rangers fan that is. As I said above everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I just find it disappointing. Even Caesar was on Real Radio last night backing the boycotting fans. I expected more from a man I have alot of respect for.

My last idea on the thing. At full time the players swap shirts. Each shirt is then signed by the player who was wearing the shirt and the player receiving the shirt then auctioned off. The must have made shirt for Mo so get them signed by the man himself and the corresponsing teams to auction off too. Just a thought.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

To some degree I can understand that even after two decades there are Celtic fans who cannot put this to one side even though it's raising money for on of Celtic's true legends who is dying of motor neurone disease. As a Rangers fan I don't know how that kind of betrayal feels but would hope after two decades I'd have moved on. There are fans though, as kh hinted at in his post, who didn't experience it at the time so I can't see why it is such a big issue for them. I don't know what age you are yourself but from the tone of your post I'd imagine you are old enough to remember it happening clearly so still bare the scars.

On the swapping of shirts I'd still like to see it happen. They don't have to wear them, just swap them. Surely that would be possible? The fans I think would be less likely to swap scarves than the the players would shirts. Maybe an alternative would be a comemaritive scarf which all proceeds going to the charties. A scarf split in the middle by Rangers and Celtic colours. The Celtic half having a pic of Jinky and the Rangers half having a pic of Coop. Some sort of gesture in the middle like a shaking of hands or even a friendly finger gesture. Just something that both sets of fans can share in for one night without the bitter divide.

For me I would never want to see Rangers and Celtic fans sitting side by side having a laugh on matchday- even if that were possible. Rivalry is good and this is one of the oldest in the business. I'd never want that to change but I would like to see the bitterness taken out of it. A fierce rivalry could still exist without all the baggage the tie is still carrying to this day.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

As i said, fans of any club around the world would have hated Johnstone for his actions. It's a football-related issue to Celtic fans, and it always will be.

I agree with you there but would fans of any club around the world still be holding a grudge two decades later? Would they put that grudge before raising money for a former playing legend who is dying and asking for help? Is that grudge more important than Jinky's plea for help?

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

Let's not forget that football is only a sport too, some might say "just a game".

If that is the case, why did Rangers fans burn their season tickets in front of TV cameras outside Ibrox when Johnston signed? Why have some Rangers fans never been back since he signed?

Don't take the moral high ground over this.

That was the case with a minority and by all accounts they've never been back to Ibrox, good ridance I say. To be honest I don't think those people would have been going to this game anyway because they are so bitter that they refused to go and see Rangers again. I think that is why there is an emphasis on the minority of Celtic supporters taking this stance as they were going to be going to the game originally.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

It's nothing to do with a dislike for Mo or not. It's about being big enough to put those opinions to one side for a charity event. He signed for Rangers in 1989, how long before people let it go and move on?

Neil Simpson is a different kettle of fish. He didn't swap clubs, he almost ended someone's career because he spat the dummy. If it was an Aberdeen v Rangers game why would he want to where a Rangers shirt? Different circumstances completely. That said though if there was a charity event and his appearance in a Rangers shirt meant raising money for researching a cure a former player at this point in time was dying of, raised money for a centre providing facilities for children with speacial needs or any other cause I thought was worthwhile and could make a difference then I can put my hand on heart and say I'd accept it because I'm bigger than that.

As for Figo, who can say? We'll have to wait more than a decade to see how the Barcelona fans feel about that and if one of their former players in dying and asking for help via a charity event which would figure Figo then I hope by then they would be big enough to help.

Why would the club be humiliated? That would be self persecusion because no one else would bother theit arse. It would be Celtic thinking everyone else was talking about them or thinking something bad about them which is a bit...well, let's not go there. Mo Jo for his part is living in exile in the USA. It's no skin off his nose whether he plays or not but he was willing to give his time to it. Instead all the old bitterness has surfaced instead.

Last night, or the night before, I heard Keith Jackson say on Real Radio that this did have a form of bigotry about it. We all have our own opinions but from my own view I can't see why that was said. It's a rivalry thing for me and nothing to do with religion. The example given of Figo is no different a situation as is Sol Campbell, Alan Smith or Wayne Rooney so I don't go along with the media types who are bringing religion into the equation.

I wish now he hadn't been asked because as I said right at the start all this does is show the Old Firm up in a bad light and confirm what people outsude of the old firm are already thinking. The fact that it did happen though I'll still admit I'm disappointed at the reaction. In my first post I said that it was a minority of Celtic fans that felt this way but since then I've come to learn that it is not a minority at all, alot more than I suspected verging on the majority.

The sad thing is this. We'll all bare grudges until it's too late. I was lucky enough to see Davie Cooper in action. He was a real Ibrox legend. In life though he didn't get the full credit he deserved for sticking with the club even through a very bad period in their history. Like all Old Firm legends when he died their were scarves from both sides of the divide as a mark of respect.

My uncle who was a Celtic supporter made me watch the Jinky story when i was younger. It ws a fight to get me to watch it but eventually I did and I'm glad I did. I have a great respect for Jinky despite the team he played for. He was way before my time but after watching his story I felt I knew what he was all about.

For anyone who doesn't know Motor neurone disease affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord along which the brain sends instructions in the form of electrical impulses to the muscles. Its cause is not known. Degeneration of the nerve cells leads to weakness and wasting of muscles. This generally occurs in arms or legs but can affect muscles in the face and throat, causing problems with speech. There is currently no cure, and most people with MND die from it within a few years. However, research is underway to understand the causes, and develop a cure.

This is what a Celtic legend has and is living with. This is why he is asking for help. This is why he is so desperate for a cure. This guy is a Lisbon Lion. He's held up high among the Celtic support like a god and rightly so. Every Celtic fan loves Jinky and a few Rangers fans too. This is why I find it so hard to take that there are some who see this not as important in their priority list as Mo Johnston pulling on a Celtic jersey to raise money.

Sadly Coop is no longer with us but Jinky is so support him now.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

Charity gig. As a number of callers from both sides of the fence have said on the radio and the papers this week- were Celtic not formed on charity? Put yourself or a family member in Jinky's boots and see how much of a footballing decision it would be. If it's still the number one priority then I am worried to be perfectly honest.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

Rangers fans are outselling Celtic fans by a ratio of 8 to one according to Frank McaAvennie. This was backed up by the organiser too on Real Radio last night. Good to see Rangers fans are putting their hands in their pockets to help out not only Rangers legend Davie Cooper but Celtic idol Jinky Johnstone.

Anyone going to the game? Can't go myself because I have to work tomorrow night. Looking at the players involved we should cuff them. Here are the Rangers stars involved:

Management: John Crieg / Mark Hateley

• 1. Andy Goram
• 2. Dave Macpherson
• 3. David Robertson
• 4. Richard Gough
• 5. Nigel Spackman
• 6. Stuart Mccall
• 7. Mark Walters
• 8. Brian Landrup
• 9. Paul Gascoinge
• 10. Robert Prizz
• 11. Athur Neman
• 12. Ally Mccoist
• 13. Peter Huestra
• 14. Gordon Durie
• 15. Claudia Caniggia
• 16. Graham Roberts
• 17. Bert Konterman
• 18. Fraser wishart
• 19. John Brown

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

Judging by several of your posts it seems you have some obsession with blood. What are you, a vampire?

:dielaugh: :thumbsup:

Keep reading some more and you'll find mythology is one of his favourite subjects.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

That is a real shame. I heard there wasn't expected to be a big turnout but I never thought at low as that. What a fiasco though with the tickets.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

It wasn't the best time to have it as you say. Should have had the game prior to kick off at Ibrox for the next Old Firm game and taken donations on the way in.

 

[The Exiled Heretic]

I didn't even know it was at Hampden. I thought it was going to be in some indoor arena.

Judging by the turnout that would have been a better option than 10,000 people rattling around Hampden.