Rangers tribute to the late Queen today
0
Rangers, unsurprisingly are ramping things up today with commemorative programmes and the playing of National Anthem. While that in itself is all perfectly permissible in the current period between the Queens passing and imminent funeral, the question needs to be asked as to how many Rangers fans are genuinely deep rooted advocates of the Royal Family?
They give you the impression of being so, but ultimately, the majority of them are only advocates as an extension of supporting the club they choose to do.
I found myself questioning this after seeing social media posts from Rangers fans I know over the last week, and coming to the conclusion that they are only really doing this because they are Rangers fans. The Royal family will not enter their thinking any other time during the week other than when they are at Ibrox and singing GSTQ.
The same goes for support of the Loyalist cause in NI. Most have no connection whatsoever to Northern Ireland, or even the West of Scotland, but staunchly align with those politics simply as a by product of supporting Rangers. The less said about also being defenders of the Protestant faith despite never practising any religious faith the better.
Rangers know this of course, and will be one of the few clubs who could confidently issue a programme cover like this (certainly in Scotland) and plan their pre match tributes safe in the knowledge that it will be endorsed 100% from their fanbase present.
Hibs, along with every other club have a broad supporter base from all religions, social backgrounds and political opinion, but those are largely left behind at the turnstiles when you enter Easter Road to watch Hibs with your fellow fans where the common bond is our club that we all hold dear.
This is where tributes that the club will be obliged to conduct become a challenge with a diverse support, and I really do hope that any dissent will be by way of simply not standing or joining in with the minutes applause.
At Ibrox, when the capacity crowd stands silent then booms out the National Anthem, its actually going to be more about Rangers than the late Queen.
Saturday's matchday programme pays tribute to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Supporters are encouraged to arrive early to the stadium as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be honoured with a minutes silence and a rendition of the National Anthem.
They give you the impression of being so, but ultimately, the majority of them are only advocates as an extension of supporting the club they choose to do.
I found myself questioning this after seeing social media posts from Rangers fans I know over the last week, and coming to the conclusion that they are only really doing this because they are Rangers fans. The Royal family will not enter their thinking any other time during the week other than when they are at Ibrox and singing GSTQ.
The same goes for support of the Loyalist cause in NI. Most have no connection whatsoever to Northern Ireland, or even the West of Scotland, but staunchly align with those politics simply as a by product of supporting Rangers. The less said about also being defenders of the Protestant faith despite never practising any religious faith the better.
Rangers know this of course, and will be one of the few clubs who could confidently issue a programme cover like this (certainly in Scotland) and plan their pre match tributes safe in the knowledge that it will be endorsed 100% from their fanbase present.
Hibs, along with every other club have a broad supporter base from all religions, social backgrounds and political opinion, but those are largely left behind at the turnstiles when you enter Easter Road to watch Hibs with your fellow fans where the common bond is our club that we all hold dear.
This is where tributes that the club will be obliged to conduct become a challenge with a diverse support, and I really do hope that any dissent will be by way of simply not standing or joining in with the minutes applause.
At Ibrox, when the capacity crowd stands silent then booms out the National Anthem, its actually going to be more about Rangers than the late Queen.
Saturday's matchday programme pays tribute to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
Supporters are encouraged to arrive early to the stadium as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be honoured with a minutes silence and a rendition of the National Anthem.