CELTIC: MORE THAN A CLUB, A LEGACY OF RESISTANCE AND SOLIDARITY
- Dan Lang
- 27 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Our guest contributor, Dan Lang, from The Celtic Down Under Podcast shares his thoughts about what it means to follow Celtic from afar, and how our history informs our future.
Waking up in Australia at ungodly hours to watch Celtic play isn’t just about football for me, it’s about being part of something much bigger. Since long before I was born, Celtic has stood for more than just the game; it’s a club deeply woven into a history of political activism and community struggle. The green and white aren’t just colours, they represent resilience, identity, and a voice for the oppressed.
This blog is my way of exploring that connection, from Celtic’s founding roots as a beacon for Irish immigrants seeking justice, to the present day, where fans still carry that fierce spirit of resistance. It’s about how the club’s political legacy lives on through the supporters who challenge the board’s decisions and proudly raise banners in solidarity with causes like Palestine.
Celtic: More Than Club Is Not Just a Slogan, it's Who we Are
Across time zones and continents, the heart of Celtic beats with a message that resonates beyond football, echoing in the streets of Glasgow, here in Australia, and everywhere fans dare to stand up for what’s right.
Celtic Football Club was founded in 1887, formally constituted on November 6th at St Mary’s Church Hall in Glasgow’s East End, by Brother Walfrid, born Andrew Kerins in County Sligo, Ireland. He was a Marist Brother and headmaster deeply committed to improving the lives of impoverished Catholic Irish immigrants in Glasgow.
Brother Walfrid’s founding purpose for the club was a charitable one: to raise funds for his “Poor Children’s Dinner Tables,” which provided food for hungry children in the East End neighborhoods. The name “Celtic” was chosen purposefully to reflect the Irish and Scottish Celtic heritage, symbolizing solidarity across these communities.
From its very beginning, Celtic was intertwined with the political and social struggles of its community. The club supported Irish nationalist causes such as the campaign for Irish Home Rule and was associated with anti-imperialism, exemplified by protests against British actions during the Boer War. Celtic’s identity became deeply tied to the Irish diaspora in Glasgow, aligning with republican and socialist traditions, as well as the labour movements that were active in the city at the time. This political culture within the club and its supporters carried forward through decades of social struggles.
Celtic’s origins are steeped in a mission that goes beyond sport, a club created for charity, deeply rooted in Irish identity, and committed to political activism and social justice from its earliest days. This foundational history sets the context for the contemporary club culture, where political activism and solidarity with oppressed peoples remain central to fan identity and action.
This deep sense of heritage creates a powerful lens through which to view present-day struggles within the club, including fan dissatisfaction with its board and the vocal support for Palestinian solidarity that echoes Celtic’s longstanding commitment to resistance and social justice.
From my perspective, watching Celtic from Australia and following every twist at all hours, the growing anger and disappointment among fans towards the club’s board is absolutely palpable, and rightly so.Dermot Desmond, Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson, and their ilk have presided over what feels like a betrayal of the very spirit Celtic was founded on. This isn't just a difference of opinion, it's a fundamental failure in leadership.
The board has consistently bungled transfer business, failing to secure key players or reinvest properly, leaving Celtic weaker year after year, especially when it matters most in European competition. Their governance has been marked by detachment and complacency; it’s clear they barely register the mounting frustrations of loyal supporters who keep the club alive in spirit.
Fans have mounted numerous protests and silent demonstrations, showing up in force yet receiving empty platitudes in return. Meetings between fan groups and the board have yielded no meaningful change, just more of the same old excuses and no accountability.
What’s infuriating is the arrogance and lack of humility from those at the top. Dermot Desmond famously declares he’ll do what he believes is right regardless of popular opinion, as if the club is his personal fiefdom rather than a communal treasure. Peter Lawwell, who continues pulling strings behind the scenes while drawing a hefty salary, has long been viewed as an enforcer of Desmond’s will rather than a champion for fans or footballing ambition. Michael Nicholson acts as the dutiful yes-man, managing the books while real passion and ambition fade away.
Supporters see this board as a self-serving clique that profits while letting Celtic’s competitive edge and proud traditions slip into decay. The once fearsome giant of Scottish and European football now feels shackled by a group more focused on protecting their own interests than restoring glory or honour to the club. This disconnect has sparked a fierce grassroots campaign for transparency, accountability, and genuine engagement, fans are mobilizing to reclaim Celtic’s soul from those who treat it as a business asset rather than a symbol of community, identity, and resistance.
Living so far away, I feel this divide deeply because I know the history, the passion, and what Celtic represents beyond just the game. The board’s failures are not just sporting; they threaten the very ethos that has empowered generations of supporters around the world to rally behind the club’s name. This is why the fight against the board is part of a larger struggle to protect Celtic’s legacy and ensure its voice remains loud, proud, and aligned with the values of justice and solidarity that have always defined it.
Celtic fans have become a powerful and visible force in expressing solidarity with Palestine, weaving this cause tightly into the club’s identity as inheritors of a legacy of resistance and political activism. At matches, particularly at Celtic Park and during key European fixtures, fans display banners and wave Palestinian flags with pride and defiance, often in spite of warnings or sanctions from governing bodies like UEFA.
This activism is not just symbolic; it is rooted in an emotional and historical connection. Celtic, a club born from the Irish immigrant experience and associated with Irish republican and socialist movements, finds parallels in the Palestinian fight against occupation and injustice. Fans see the Palestinian cause as an extension of the same fight against oppression and for national self-determination that defined Celtic’s origins.
The Green Brigade, Celtic’s ultras group, has been instrumental in organizing displays of solidarity, such as their “Show Israel the Red Card” campaign responding to the Israeli occupation and attacks on Gaza. The fans’ pro-Palestine activism continues a legacy of supporting global causes for justice and anti-imperialist roots.
Celtic’s story is a powerful reminder that football is never just about the game; it is about the communities it represents, the struggles those communities face, and the ideals they hold dear. From Brother Walfrid’s humble mission to feed hungry children in Glasgow’s East End, Celtic has grown into a global symbol of resistance and solidarity. The spirit that founded the club lives on in the hearts of fans who refuse to accept a board that seems indifferent to Celtic’s values, who continue to fight not just for better management and footballing success but for a club that stands firmly with oppressed peoples worldwide.
As someone watching from the other side of the world, this connection binds me directly to the battles being fought on and off the pitch. The ongoing protests against the board, the relentless activism supporting Palestine, and the refusal to let Celtic become just another corporate asset all speak to a club culture that, at its best, channels the voice of the marginalized, the defiant, and the hopeful. It’s not simply nostalgia for a proud past; it’s a living, breathing movement of fans who insist that Celtic remains a beacon for justice and community.
At its core, Celtic is more than a club. It is a legacy of resistance shaped by history, passion, and principle, a legacy that demands accountability from those entrusted to run it and unwavering solidarity with those who struggle elsewhere.
This blog is my tribute to that legacy and a call to keep the green and white flag flying high, across continents and generations, as a symbol of courage and hope for all who dare to stand up for what is right.