The Day Twitter Took On Ibrox

It was a very cold early January morning when the Twitter Brigade descended upon Ibrox to do battle with Rangers, right behind our Celtic boys with every song, hug, hand shake and cheer directed towards everything Celtic. There were only really 2 names I didn’t expect to see on the Celtic team sheet and they were Mulgrew and Forrest, however I was delighted young Forrest had been given a chance to showcase his undoubted talents infront of the teds!

Now I’ll be the first to admit I was very very lucky indeed to get the ticket to Ibrox, through the kind heartedness of @oaocelticnews to draw names out of a hat for his spare ticket, I was very surprised and delighted that Housey’s missus picked out my name. So that was that, I was going to Ibrox, via a pit stop at the Celtic office where the delightful @teri_celticX provided me with my golden ticket, I felt like Charlie out of that Willy Chocolatey thingy!

So as I get on the bus in Dumbarton, I’m well aware that there will be a significant twitter presence at the game, the nerves were starting to build, a few stiffeners follow, cheeky vodka and irn bru’s in a plastic bottle to sneak onto the bus and we were off, songs sung and cheers cheered, It was Celtic’s day, it was Twitter’s day, it was my day.

One thing that surprised me was the walk from where the buses parked to Ibrox, en route I was shocked to hear my name being called out by a distinct English accent, alas, it was @MrTimDonnelly, wishes me the best for the new year and the next few hours. More surprisingly, is the fact that the Celtic fans pass the ‘Wee Gers Club’ which I’d imagine is their social club where their pre match bigotry is tested to the maximum, 1 copper stood between, thousands of Celtic fans, and a group of Rangers fans. Then there was a row of officers, between us and them, the thin ‘hi-vis’ line.

My God What A Sight.

Taunts from the currants were met with an almighty gasp of ‘HAIL….HAIL…THE CELTS ARE HERE’ from myself led to a wonderful chorus of the Celtic song from most of the Celtic fans walking to the ground, We’d drowned out them, that was a victory in itself. When I entered the ground I was greeted by another 2 Brucehill Bhoys sitting behind me, and more Dumbartoners in the rows next to me, apart from the bigotry and the blue seats, it felt like home.

So the game got underway and it was as tight a first half as ever, It didn’t matter if it was McGregor taking a goal kick or Lee McCulloch heading towards goal, every time Rangers got the ball my heart was well and truly in my mouth, Celtic took 10 minutes to settle, and after 30 minutes, there was only gonnae be one team that were going to win it. Half time came and at 0-0 a quick meet and greet with @smit1888 followed and I told him I was quietly confident that Celtic were only saving their goals for our end of the ground, and only 2 minutes into the second half I thought my dreams had came true when Samaras sent McCourt through with a lovely knock on, but McCourt’s left footed shot flew wide.

Then, deliverance.

With the heart in the mouth as Rangers had possession down the Celtic left, Forster gave the ball straight to Ledley, us in the ground could see the pass before he’d even made it, exquisite left footed pass which cut the 2 world class Rangers center halves open (Don’t you mean a punt up the park? – DailyRecord Ed) and Samaras chased, McGregor came and couldn’t get the ball, infact, he couldn’t even foul Samaras which he tried to do! Samaras touched it by him, as the ‘ooohhhh’ came, Samaras delightfully slotted the ball into the corner. Cue bedlanm, I started in row M, I finished in row Q, The top tier bounced as Samaras jumped into the crowd, Celtic were infront, Celtic had something to hold on to, Rangers HAD to come out.

But they didn’t, they threw on Lafferty and accepted defeat, Celtic broke clear from a corner and Samaras picked the ball up inside his own half on the right, he ran past Ness like he wasn’t even there, he even slowed down for a breather whilst skinning the ‘wonderkid’, he shuffled into the box and past Bougherra who clattered him to the ground. Penalty Celtic! Even Craig ‘Apologies’ Thomson couldn’t deny Celtic this one.

 The Celtic End Erupted Once More.

Super Sami picked himself up and with one stroke of his almighty right boot, Celtic were out of sight. Celtic danced past Rangers and passed them into an abyss for the last 20 minutes, Lafferty dived and got nothing, he should’ve got a boot in the face but nothing can ever be perfect.

 So I left the ground to texts from @teri_celticX saying ‘dude you were a few behind me’ and others of a similar nature from friends. It just wasn’t me in Ibrox myself, there was 7000 of us, whether next to each other, away from each other, above or below each other, the Celtic support was united behind Lennon and the players. Theres no doubt the players did the damage on the park, Kayal was out of this world, the best midfielding display from a Celtic player in years! (It wasthat good) However Celtic struck the first blow off the park to Rangers. There was NO way a backing like that was going un-noticed and unrewarded. Celtic, as a whole, players, fans, staff even the kitman, were excellent.

Twitter Roll Of Honour Is As Follows

@krys1888 @teri_celticX @dantausney @sting_nimrod @gillzy @rudebhoy1888 @callumbhoy @oaocelticnews @DavieAdam @smit1888 @mrtimdonnelly

And by the way, check out @Krys1888 ‘s audio footage of the game, its excellent and well worth a listen, you can find it at www.lostbhoys.com under their new podcast with Celtic Underground (Part 1 is at www.celticunderground.com) 2 great listens as they chat drunkenly about the game, like a lot of us Where doing on Sunday night!

Feel free to add your name to the twitter roll of honour, now I know you might be saying ‘its friday, that was on Sunday…’ But as you’ve probably guessed by now…

I Just Can’t Get Enough