Being Baptized a Celtic F.C. Fan, I Realized Why Soccer's the Most Popular Sport in the World

Celtic F.C. Fans Singing at Landsdowne Pub before friendly with Sporting. (SawxBlog Video) Two tickets to last nights match between Celtic and Sporting fell into my lap yesterday afternoon, and by the end of the evening, I was glad that they did. I've been to Fenway Park for concerts in the past, and have obviously attended my fair share of baseball games, but even I was surprised with the atmosphere that surrounded the Park before, during, and after the match.

The plan was to meet up with my fiancé at the Landsdowne Pub before the game, I ended up arriving a little before her and the vibe surrounding the pub was shocking. I felt as if I had crossed through some strange vortex and was suddenly across the pond and standing in an Irish Pub. I was surrounded by more green than a Boston Celtic playoff game, and each smiling face had a pint in their hand, and a song on the tip of their tongue. These were good people, my type of people, people I wanted to get to know better. The entire bar was as festive and good natured as you could hope for - and suddenly, without any precognitive thought or intention, I found myself profusely dedicating my undying loyalty to Celtic F.C.

This is when it hit me - as I ordered another IPA it was as if a Looney Toon light bulb popped on over my head. "I get it!" I thought, "Now I really get it." Amid the din of the Football chants, raised arms, raised pints, raised spirits, and the beautifully dim lights of the Pub - I finally understood why the overwhelming popularity of the sport we Americans call Soccer is as big as it is. Sure it may be due in part to its accessibility, the materials and people needed to play soccer are minimal at the most - but in the end the actual sport has nothing to do with it, it's the people - the people are the reason for the sport being more religion than entertainment.

It's human nature to want to belong to something that's bigger than ones self. That's why people go to church. Shoot - last night I drank my share of "wine", and there also was a lot of singing in unison, which are all things you'd find yourself doing on the Sabbath. Seeing these soccer hooligans arm-in-arm, swaying to song, and watching their pint tip with them just enough so that it spills over the edge to baptize the floor - made me insanely jealous that I wasn't in on the party. And it also made me realize how tame, lame, and boring Americans are when it comes to rooting for their teams. 

Boston sports fans are universally known as some of the best in America, the only other cities that I think can match our intensity, loyalty, and knowledge are New York and Philly (with maybe Chicago thrown in there too). But what I saw in the Pub last night has never been matched in the decade I've lived in this great city. The only time it touched that level of brotherhood was in the holy year of 2004, but it hasn't come close since. Maybe I'm just hungover in the haze of Celtic F.C. Fever - but I swear to whatever you call God, that the people in the Landsdowne Pub last night had more passion for a friendly exhibition game, than a lot of "Red Sox fans" I've been surrounded by have had before a playoff game - and those were games that actually "meant" something.

The game, for all intents and purposes, was pretty boring, but that's not why the Park was filled. Sure people were there to hopefully see a good match - but more importantly, they were there to worship their chosen religion together, they were there to be part of a brotherhood, they were there to be part of something bigger than themselves, and for one night - I was thankful to be part of it with them.

Comments

[Cmon the hoops]

this is a great story and i for one am glad to see that you have came to grips of the real reason why this sport is such a success. half the enjoyment came from meeting up before hand, getting a few drinks and singing till your throat hurt and then singing and yelling some more in support of your team.

I am just thankful that you got to do this with Celtic, which is my home team here in Glasgow, Scotland.

oh and if you think there was atmosphere there, you should visit a Celtic v Rangers match which i would say means "something" but in actual fact it means "everything!!" to get one on your local rivals. :)

glad you enjoyed your nite and thanks for a good read from across the pond

oh and Celtic are a Scottish team, not irish :) although it was co-founded by an irish priest in 1888 which is where all the irish roots came from

[Glasgow-Irish]

Celtic are an Irish team that play's in Scotland. Get your facts right Cmon the hoops :-)

[Derek Hixon]

Now you guys have me completely confused ;-)

(also thanks for the kind words)

[Celtic Warrior]

Don't listen to c'moan the hoops , Celtic ARE a Scottish team with Irish roots , hence the name CELTIC . But don't let a pretend Irishman or plastic paddies as we call them let you think otherwise.

Glad you enjoyed the night and welcome to the Celtic family.

[MikeyBhoy]

join www.thehuddleboard.net the best independent celtic forum on the net. You are already abit of a legend on there

[Derek Hixon]

@Mikey - I've tried but it's saying I don't have proper privileges? (user = derek_paul)

All good though - I'd most likely ruin any positive cred I've developed and have my Celtic family card revoked, the best legends are the ones left in the shadow right?

You guys just make sure you give any NY Yankee fans hell when you see 'em, lol.

[paul]

"Celtic are an Irish team which plays in Scotland" who said this? Billy McNeil, the most successful captain in Celtic's history, i agree, and i'm Scottish!

[Seany]

Sean Fallon once said, "we play IN scotland, but we play FOR Ireland." At the end of the day our mixed scots/irish heritage is what makes us unique as a club. Glad you enjoyed it Derek, welcome to the club.

[Stefano]

Great story. Glad you had a good time. Having visited Boston I was never in doubt Celtic would get a fantastic reception over there. I've had many a great night in the Doncaster area. Happy Days. Wish I was there.

Great post by Paul and would agree 100%. I'd even say we are a Scottish AND Irish club, but I'm just greedy.

For celtic info see..
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/

huddleboards a great forum. Theres also...
http://www.kerrydalestreet.co.uk

Hail Hail & c'mon the hoops.

[Celticwiki]

hi

can we add this article to our site below:
www.thecelticwiki.com

[Derek Hixon]

Thanks for the links and words again all - I'll do my proper research to represent Celtic correct - and will leave you with this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7H4HumAbTU

Cheers.

[Marci]

I was the game too and enjoyed it very much. I was with more Red Soxy fans than football fans, but we were all trying to love the game, and there were some sensational moments and very pretty lightning.

[Dick Lynas]

Just a pity the game ws not between Celtic and Rangers as originally proposed. Then you would really have seen some atmosphere!