Sashes and Rosaries Scottish Sectarianism and the Old Firm Jon Magnus Løfgren Skeide Department of Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion (AHKR) University of Bergen Spring 2010 1 The picture on the frontpage shows the flags of Scotland and Great Britain, represented as the Union flag, the Red Hand of Ulster, representing Northern Ireland and the flag of the Republic of Ireland, the Irish tricolour 2 Preface First of all, I would like to thank all the informants who were willing to share their experiences, opinions and views on the subject of sectarianism in Scotland and Glasgow. I would also like to thank my sister and brother in-law who brought me into their home and provided valuable advice throughout my stay in Glasgow. Similarly, I would like to extend my gratitude to Professor Gerry Finn at the University of Strathclyde, who provided help and advice on how to navigate the vast amount of work that has been done in relation to the subject of Scottish sectarianism, anti- Catholicism and anti-Irishness. I would like to thank my parents, who has put up with me throughout my Masters degree. Also I would like to thank fellow student, Michael Hertzberg, who has not only provided stimulating conversation on the subject of religious conflict and advice on how to shape the thesis, but who has also helped me navigate some of the theoretical framework used in this thesis. Lastly, I would like to thank my supervisor Professor Lisbeth Mikaelsson who has provided invaluable advice and guidance throughout, and without whom this thesis would not have been possible. Sincerely, thank you. 3 Abstract Denne masteroppgaven tar for seg det religiøse motsetningsforholdet mellom katolikker og protestanter i Glasgow, med spesiell vekt på hvordan fotball-lagene Glasgow Rangers og Glasgow Celtic fungerer som identitetsbærer for dette motsetningsforholdet. Gjennom begrepet ”sektarianisme” kan vi se hvordan dette motsetningsforholdet kommer til uttrykk og blir forstått i Skottland. Oppgaven fokuserer på hvordan forholdet mellom katolikker og protestanter er forstått i skotsk sammenheng, og hvilken rolle disse fotball-lagene spiller for de religiøse fiendebildene som uttrykkes i Skottland. Ved å gjennomgå religionshistorien i Skottland, har jeg sett på hvordan disse fiendebildene tidligere har kommet til uttrykk. Debatten om ”sektarianisme” blir også diskutert slik den fremkommer hos akademikere, samfunnet generelt og informantene jeg intervjuet under mitt tre måneders feltarbeid i Glasgow. Sektarianisme blir vanligvis knyttet til tre områder: Skole, arbeidsliv og fotball, og jeg vil se på hvilke tiltak som gjøres for å bekjempe fenomenet. Ved å fokusere på motsetningsforholdet mellom Rangers og Celtic (det såkalte ’Old Firm’), som mange mener er ”siste skanse” for sektarianisme i dagens Skottland, finner jeg opprinnelsen til hvordan lagene har blitt identitetsbærere for de to grupperingene. Jeg vil også se på hvordan nasjonale, politiske og religiøse skillelinjer blir uklare i sammenheng med skotsk ”sektarianisme”. Til slutt kommer jeg inn på fotball som offentlig uttrykk for sosial og kulturell identitet, hvordan identitetens rolle ofte kom opp i intervjuene med informantene og hvordan nasjonalitet, politikk ble blandet sammen i identitetsuttrykkene i skotsk fotball. 4 Preface....................................................................................................3 Abstract ..................................................................................................4 1.0 Introduction .....................................................................................7 1.1 Research Agenda..............................................................................................8 1.2 Research on the subject ....................................................................................9 1.3 Methodology and Sources ..............................................................................10 1.4 Structure.........................................................................................................14 2.0 Religious Background of Scotland ................................................15 2.1 Pre-Reformation Church in Scotland ..............................................................16 2.2 The Reformation ............................................................................................17 2.3 After the Reformation.....................................................................................18 2.4 The Disruption and Reunification...................................................................21 2.4.1 Ireland and Irish Immigration...................................................................22 2.4.2 The Orange Order and its place in Scotland .............................................23 2.5 The Kirk’s Disgrace .......................................................................................26 2.6 Summary........................................................................................................27 3.0 Sectarianism – A suitable term for the religious situation in Scotland? ..............................................................................................28 3.1 Definition(s) of “sectarianism” .......................................................................28 3.1.1 Is there a problem?...................................................................................30 3.2 Conceptions of “sectarianism” among informants...........................................33 3.3 Summary........................................................................................................37 4.0 Expressions of sectarianism...........................................................38 4.1 Education .......................................................................................................38 4.2 Employment...................................................................................................42 4.3 Summary........................................................................................................44 5.0 Anti-Sectarian Work......................................................................46 5.1 Nil by Mouth..................................................................................................46 5.2 Citizenship through Football...........................................................................46 5.3 Other Anti-Sectarian Initiatives ......................................................................47 5.3.1 Police Initiatives ......................................................................................47 5.3.2 Ecumenical Initiatives..............................................................................49 6.0 Scottish Football, Sectarianism and the ‘Old Firm’ Rivalry .......50 6.1 Foundations of a Rivalry.................................................................................51 6.2 Origins of the Old Firm ..................................................................................57 6.3 Sign no Catholics............................................................................................60 6.4 Scottish Football.............................................................................................62 6.5 Irish Sport.......................................................................................................64 6.6 The Souness Revolution .................................................................................67 6.7 Security issues................................................................................................70 6.8 Findlay Scandal..............................................................................................72 6.9 Present Perception ..........................................................................................73 7.0 Identity, Sectarianism and Football Culture................................75 7.1 Definitions of Identity ....................................................................................75 7.2 Identity and Football.......................................................................................77 7.3 The Football Match and its Symbolism...........................................................78 5 7.4 First Encounters with “Sectarianism” and the Old Firm ..................................85 7.4.1 Blurred Lines...........................................................................................88 7.5 Supporter’s Identity........................................................................................89 7.6 Summary........................................................................................................93 8.0 Conclusion ......................................................................................95 8.1 Sectarianism...................................................................................................96 8.2 Schools...........................................................................................................97 8.3 Employment...................................................................................................97 8.4 Football..........................................................................................................98 9.0 Literature .....................................................................................102 6 1.0 Introduction Upon visiting Scotland in 2007, I saw an example of what I would later come to see as the blurring of lines between politics, religion and football. On a train