Luna-tic @ Jan 17 2012, 05:15 PM wrote: The Tartan Army for many club football fans in Scotland are a bit of a joke figure.Like the Clog wearing Oranje boiler suit wearing Holland fans.

There is no doubting though,that they take great numbers to away games.And at Hampden can create very good atmospheres.

In regards to who makes up the support.With Hampden being in Glasgow,Its been mostly west of Scotland football fans who made up the numbers through the years i would say. In the 60's,70's,80's From the west of Scotland those who followed Scotland,with out doubt most were from a Rangers background. In fact in they decades Scotland fans would boo Celtic Players,and sing Rangers songs in certain areas of the ground.

In the 90s Rangers attracted many big Internationalists from England.And from then on INMO Rangers fans more and more became less interested in Scotland.

Now i would say the Rangers element of the Scottish Support has declined hugely.Its very very common to see Rangers fans wearing England strips and putting there support behind England in games instead of Scotland.

Celtic have never ever had,and never will inmo have a big interest in the National Team.Celtic fans following Scotland has never been a big thing,There has been little to no interest in Scotland games. Celtic have traditionally had a large section of there support who follow the Republic of Ireland,due to Celtic's Irish roots and the amount of Irish fans who follow Celtic. Much of Celtics songs,colour's,history etc has been linked to Ireland.

I would say now though,there is possibly a slightly more positive opinion of Scotland by the Celtic support.Though again inmo,it will never rise to anything more than a passing interest.
With Celtic players being over looked to play for the National team,Rangers songs at Scotland games,Celtics on going and never ending confrontations with the Scottish Fa,its referees etc,then Celtic fans have never felt part or wanted to be part of anything the National teams or fans do INMO.


You also have Celtic and Rangers fans who would never support a team,that there rival players play for...Like National teams.I for 1,had never known a Celtic fan who had been to a Scotland game until a few years ago,and i had been going to Celtic games for decades.

You do have Celtic and Rangers fans who support Scotland,who go to games etc.But its not a huge amount or a big and popular thing to do inmo.

The majority of the Tartan army just now and for a good amount of years now is from smaller clubs,provincial and non Celtic and Rangers fans. Again though i would say that Rangers still have a large element who follow Scotland and definitely much much larger than the element of Celtic match going Scotland fans.

Clubs not from the West coast of Scotland are the biggest influence and population of the Tartan Army now.

International football is shit inmo.

There is Aberdeen,Hearts,hibs,Rangers fans who view this forum,who will no doubt add there own opinion.

Red_Dog @ Jan 18 2012, 10:41 AM wrote: I'm just speaking for Rangers here, no idea about the other clubs.

But over the last few years there has been an increasing anti-British sentiment among the Tartan Army (caused by the call for independence from the UK), and this is shown in mostly Rangers players being abused when playing for Scotland.

FatCasual @ Jan 18 2012, 04:17 PM wrote: IMHO anti-British would be pro Scotland (yes I am aware of politics and call for the independence ) and that's what TA is after all, to support Scottish national team.

Speaking of "anti-British" influence among Tartan Army, check this link and comments.

STEWART REGAN last night warned Scotland’s Olympic hopefuls to expect a furious backlash from the Tartan Army if they wear the colours of Team GB.



Cheers and please carry on with the comments and info.

MacWATP @ Jan 23 2012, 08:53 PM wrote: This article baffles me. I read it when it was first published and still can't get my head around something. He says TA will turn on any Scottish player who plays for Team GB. What about the Scottish players who play for Ireland, where is their 'backlash'?

btw not saying that from any kind of anti-Irish point of view, just making the point that there are Scottish players not playing for Scotland which don't get the abuse which that clown suggests will happen.

Not a fan of the TA or the SFA which, unfortunately, dwindles my supports for the National team.