It’s Old Firm week, unfortunately for Rangers fans though, there are no tickets for Parkhead thanks to Celtic digging their heels in on ‘safety’ grounds.
This doesn’t mean that there won’t be a presence in Glasgow as the build up to one of the most important derbies in years gets underway.
At Ibrox on Sunday, Rangers fans group the Union Bears struck first blood and the story behind their Green Brigade heist is as simple as it is hilarious.
Rangers fans group the Union Bears get one up on Green Brigade
Since the prevalence of fan culture has increased, singing sections and ultras groups have become more prominent.
A regular feature of tifo’s and banners is the targeting of bitter rivals and Rangers are no different.
The Union Bears, even in the darkest of hours, can be heard and their move to the Copland Road stand will only enhance the Ibrox atmosphere.
The biggest difference between the Union Bears and Green Brigade is that one has a primary focus on supporting their club whilst the other seems to have a misplaced sense of political morality.
It isn’t the Union Bears that has been banned from their home ground or had season tickets revoked for breaking club guidance on what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour.
Against Kilmarnock on Sunday, there were a few raised eyebrows as to why the Union Bears were seen holding banners that seemed to be targeted against their own players.
And then it became clear, as word spread around Ibrox.
The head honchos of both fan groups are well known to each other, and a chance encounter saw the Union Bears stumble upon an opportunity after seeing one of the leaders of their rivals in the city.
An opportunity that saw the Green Brigade’s planned banner display for the derby left unattended and end up in enemy hands.
The Union Bears took full advantage and added their own message too.
The Green Brigade will have to go to plan B for this weekend’s Old Firm knowing that they are already 1-0 down.
Away fans to return to derby next season
Next season sees fans return to both grounds with an estimated number being around 2,500.
Chief executive, James Bisgrove, has been key to negotiating this development, but has eased fears of a return to the Broomloan Road stand takeover:
“We recognise that some supporters will be frustrated and impacted, but we as a club consistently believe away fans should be present at all games.
“Those who have been disrupted by this will receive priority access to next season’s Old Firm matches and have been contacted directly by the club.
“Let me also be clear that this board will never entertain a return to the full Broomloan Stand away allocation and believe the European allocations appropriate.”
It will be the last derby without away fans as Rangers look to pull off what seemed impossible when Philippe Clement first took charge.
Rangers haven’t won at Parkhead since a Connor Goldson double in October 2020 on their way to the title.
The vice-captain might be missing, but a repeat scoreline could well end up with the same result which really would give fans something to sing about.
