The Bhoys are back at it this season, climbing the ranks to the top of the Scottish Premiership. Taking the top rank in the first phase, as well as leading in the second. Celtic fans have a lot to be thankful for. Stadium passion is through the roof on game day. Both the games that are taking place in Celtic Park and those away from home have supporters jumping with joy and excitement.
Top tier performances by the players involved are certainly among the reasons why the Celts are one of Scotland’s most popular teams. But, their success goes beyond the 90 minutes that it takes for them to show off their talent. The modern match day in football is so much more than just the match itself. Players must stay engaged throughout the day, lest they are lured away by one of the numerous activities available to them on game day.
A Strong Online Community
Celtic F.C. is one of the two most popular Scottish football teams in their country of origin. However, when it comes to worldwide fans, the Hoops blow the competition out of the water. With 9 million fans around the globe, Celtic has accumulated a fandom that will support them no matter where in the four corners they find themselves. But, how can the Bhoys be expected to maintain such a huge audience from all over the world?
Well, one way in which they do so is by having a strong online presence. Social media websites are a great way to get exposure, and communicate with fans. The Scottish football club has accumulated over a million followers across various X.com profiles, runs an official Facebook page, and has several pages dedicated to them on Reddit.com. What is more, betting sites like betfirstcasino.be are always happy to cover the latest Celtic match, as it is sure to get traction, not just in Scotland, but also Japan, and Europe.
But, how does a strong online community help to farm engagement? Well, Celtic fans are certainly excited on match day. Many of us wish to share our excitement with fellow fans, and a lot of us are certainly spending time online. Their strong presence online ensures that Celtic F.C. allows fans to connect with fellow Scots, and with like-minded football fanatics from all over the world.
Fans Love Merchandise
As a sport, football dates back to the ancient era. The game cuju resembled modern day football greatly, and was played in China millennia ago. However, the modern iteration of the game comes from the Victorian age, and with the first modern clubs, came the first instance of merchandising. Fans would buy colour-appropriate flags and wave them during matches to show their support. In the 21st century, football merchandising has become an entire industry all on its own.
Celtic has jumped on the bandwagon, launching an official Celtic online shop, which fans can reach through the club’s website. Though a part of the team’s brand, the shop even has its own X.com profile, which fans can follow for any new updates on the latest gear, home kits, and various other products that one could display proudly on their shelves. For some, the idea of merchandising may seem tacky, but believe it or not, the fans love it.
As we said, football fans are notoriously passionate, looking for any way to show off their love for their favorite club. Followers of the Bhoys are no different. They proudly purchase home kits, jerseys signed by the players, and anything else they can think of. Some fans even have collections of Celtic figures from players past and present. It is another popular way to signal which club a person is rooting for, and support the team that has given them hours of joy and entertainment.
Podcasting is the New Radio
Back before the silver screen took over home entertainment, fans of sports would rely on the radio to get the latest news on their favorite clubs. People would gather around the portable audio mechanism, and listen hours before the game to the recaps, news, and analysis of the clubs that are participating. Today, many lament the “death of the radio.” However, we would posit that the radio did not die, but rather like film and television, simply evolved.
Podcasts are the new radio shows, and podcast hosts are the new sports analysts, who can and often do spend hours talking about the clubs that they are dedicated to. As far as Celtic fans are concerned, there are plenty of internet shows dedicated to the Hoops. It is fun to debate endlessly on match day, with fellow Celtic fans about the upcoming game. Sometimes, it can even be fun to argue with rival team supporters about who will take the cake. Having said that, a lot of people want an expert’s opinion.
Like with radio shows, you can listen to podcasts no matter what. Through any electronic device, you can access a podcast while relaxing at home, driving to work, or even on a long walk to calm the nerves on game day. That way, you can have some form of engagement with the Celtic throughout match day, and not just during the 90 minutes while they are playing their hearts out.
Some Last Words on the Matter
Many imagine modern football as a completely different beast from what the sport was a hundred years ago. However, we would posit that football fans have always been the same. They’ve always been deeply passionate for the sport, and have been looking for new and exciting ways to engage with their favorite club.
The only difference nowadays is that the internet has made it much easier to remain engaged with everybody’s favorite sport. And whether it was Celtics’ last match against Aberdeen, or any of the upcoming games in the 2nd phase of the Scottish Premiership, we know that fans of the Bhoys will remain enamored to the very end.
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