Abstract
The article evaluates the nature of football fandom, cultural identity and political consciousness in the specific context of Glasgow Celtic Football Club and the Tiocfaidh Ar La fanzine. The central hypothesis is that Celtic's extraordinary history, as the symbolic champion of the Irish diaspora, has facilitated the articulation of not only ethno-national aspirations but a self-consciously Republican and socialist sub-culture. Celtic has provided a relatively secure setting for the expression of a particular socio-political perspective for many followers of the club. Moreover, this tendency has been sustained in relatively onerous circumstances, as the club has adapted to and exploited the new commercial opportunities in football. The TAL fanzine has been the most vociferous manifestation of this section of Celtic support, and a considered content analysis of the publication reveals it to be more politically articulate and …
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 5-18 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Football Studies |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |