The Old Firm: Celtic vs. Rangers

Although not in the Premiership, the rivalry between Scotland's Celtic and Rangers football clubs is so fierce it needs to be mentioned. Perhaps the most heated rivalry in football history, the dislike that the Celtic and Rangers share for one another reaches back more than a century, originating from a torrid history of disputes ranging from religious to political to cultural-infused intolerance between the two clubs' fan base. Celtic and Rangers are referred to as the Old Firm, although even the name itself isn’t agreed upon. Some argue that the name stems from a newspaper report in the late 1800's stating that Celtic and Rangers behaved like "old firm friends"; others contest that the name has implications involving the commercial success of the rivalry; yet others claim the name has something to do with the two clubs' historic and geographic standing. Whatever the original reason for the name, the words "Old Firm" mean the most severe football rivalry to anyone in Scotland or the U.K. for that matter. The Rangers mostly represent a Protestant and Scottish fan base and the Celtic represent an Irish-Catholic fan base. The rivalry between supporters of the two clubs goes well beyond team colours to a dark and violent past that has plagued the region for more years than anyone cares to remember. The teams’ histories, combined with the fact that both teams are based in the same city- Glasgow, plus the fact that they are arguably the two best teams in Scotland, spell out a most “gourmet” recipe for disaster.