They are French but they support Celtic Glasgow

Celtic Glasgow has fans in France -

• Lille receives the legendary Celtic Glasgow club this Thursday (6:55 p.m.) for its second Europa League match.

• Supported by supporters scattered around the world, the Scottish club also has its aficionados in France.

• We met four of them who tell their Celtic passion.

The colors, the origins, the songs to give you chills.

For many, Celtic Glasgow is one of those legendary football clubs that rarely leave people indifferent.

All over the world, the great Scottish club have fan communities.

In France, there are more than 40 of them who regularly discuss their passion for the Greens and Whites on social networks.

Before the Lille-Celtic Europa League match, which will be played this Thursday (6:55 p.m.) behind closed doors at the Pierre Mauroy stadium, we spoke with French fans of the Scottish club.

They tell us about their passion. 

Valentin, 26, creator of the Celtic France Twitter account (Lorraine)

“I've been supporting the club for a good ten years.

It was by watching fan videos on

that the club attracted me. Originally, I had no connection with Celtic.

I am from Lorraine, I live in Nancy and I also support Sochaux.

I've been to Glasgow three times now and seen ten games at Celtic Park.

I liked the atmosphere right away.

When I first heard “You'll Never Walk Alone”, I got chills.

The values ​​of work, combat and the mentality of the club are closer to my values.

I have been following all the matches on TV or streaming since this year because the Scottish Championship no longer has a broadcaster in France.

This season, the club are hoping to win their tenth title in a row which the Rangers have never done.

This is the main objective.

But at the moment, the club, which remains on three games without a win, is in trouble.

Celtic will not be in a strong position at all in Lille.

I would have come to the match if we had been able to travel as had been the case in Rennes last year.

But hey, that's not possible because of the Covid ”. 

💪 The Bhoys train at the Celtic Park as we prepare for @EuropaLeague matchday two!

🍀🟢

#UEL #LOSCCEL

- Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 28, 2020

Antoine, 35, creator of the Celtic French-speaking supporters Facebook page (Isère)

“My mother is of Irish descent, so I supported Celtic from the age of 12-13.

If Celtic is a Scottish club, it is also the club of the Irish disapora in the whole world.

It was established in 1887 by Irish people who lived in the poor areas of Glasgow.

Celtic has always identified with Ireland in particular through the colors of the club (green and white) or through its associative, humanitarian and even political commitments because members of the office were campaigning for the independence of Ireland.

Pushed by one of my cousins, Celtic quickly became my favorite club, well ahead of French clubs.

I follow all the club's matches, I went to see them play in France or abroad, but I have never been to Celtic Park.

I have never returned to British territory.

I'll go to Cetic Park when Scotland is independent (laughs).

Lille are superior to Celtic and the health context with these games behind closed doors also makes it harder for players to transcend themselves this season.

I don't expect much from this Europa League match.

"

Cédric, 40, Celtic fan since 2002 (North)

“One of my best friends in college was Irish and a big Celtic fan.

He often had tickets to see matches in Glasgow at Celtic Park.

The first time I went there was in 2002 for the Old Firm, the big derby against the Rangers.

I came back from the stadium completely crazy about the supporters and Henrik Larsson.

The atmosphere was crazy.

Since then I have been there five times and even went to see the derby at Ibrox Park, the home of the Rangers.

The history of the club is magnificent.

It was a young monk who developed this club for the Irish diaspora in Glasgow and for the poor.

Celtic continues today, through charitable actions, to give to the poor and I find that very beautiful.

This year, the club is suffering defensively.

The last games have been very average.

I went to support Celtic in Rennes last year and I had to come to Lille this year.

"

Pascal, 46, Celtic fan for 25 years (Haute-Savoie)

“In 95-96, I subscribed to the Parc des Princes.

And when PSG faced Celtic in the European Cup, I met Scottish supporters in Paris.

I really fell in love with the model of supporters they represented.

That is to say, party without taking the lead.

There is something lighter in the way of taking it.

I have become a great Celtic supporter.

I have been to Celtic Park about twenty times and have also supported them on their European trips.

Historically, I am a fan of PSG but Celtic takes up a lot of space in my life.

I communicate a lot with other French Celtic fans.

I also have a large network of friends in Scotland with whom we also talk a lot.

Without knowing each other physically, we have a very nice network.

I even chatted for 8 years with another Celtic fan.

The first time I saw him last year in Rennes, we felt like we already knew each other.

Today, Lille seem superior to Celtic, which is betting everything on a 10th league title in a row.

There is no question of being humiliated but the European Cup is not a priority.

"

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