‘He brings it on himself,” or ‘Neil Lennon angrily reacted’ or other old favourites such as ‘Fuming hoops gaffer’ or  ‘Snarling from the side’ are just a few of the phrases that are attributed to Neil Lennon almost every week since he became our boss.
Prior to that, similar quotes or headlines were often used about Neil as a player. Recently, not for the first time, Lennon was abused, he was spat at, he had fluid and objects thrown at him.
As a player, he was often booed at every away ground for almost every touch of the ball that he had.
Some teams have a player who is capable of turning a game on it’s head by scoring a 40 yard shot or by making what seems like an impossible pass. Other players can beat half of the opposition before scoring or laying on an unmissable chance for a team mate.
I can understand fans booing them or giving them a bit of abuse on the park, it’s an attempt to try and put them off.
Think to any one of the penalties given against Celtic in some big matches at Parkhead, as a fan, you do what you can to unnerve the opposition. At Champions League games, you often hear our crowd booing or whistling when the opposition has the ball.
It’s all designed to distract the opponent, that’s fine too. With some players, there’s a strong sense of dislike bordering on hatred. Two that spring to mind are Ronaldo playing against us for Manchester United and Neymar for Barcelona.
Both of those players are highly dangerous opponents and both can be knocked over by a gust of wind. Both can be perceived as attempting to cheat to gain an advantage for their team.
All of which, for me at least, is justifiable reason to dislike them during the game.
As much as most people tell me I’m wrong, I believe it’s purely down to the fact that he is a Catholic from Northern Ireland. It wasn’t that long ago that people in Scotland had to lie about their religion or place they went to school in order to secure a job.
The people who denied the Catholics a job and who hated them for no real reason are still around. These people produced and raised children so it’s reasonable to assume that their kids were raised with similar beliefs – not all of them obviously but some.
It’s this that leads me to believe that the hatred of Neil Lennon is purely down to bigotry.
Some people reading this might be asking what is the point of me writing this, well, I’ve lost count of the amount of times that people tell me that the hatred is nothing to do with religion and his background.
The same people who tell me this have never provided a valid reason for the hatred. The number of people who tell me they don’t like him despite having no valid reason or having never met the guy is a high number of people.
Some have said that the hatred might eventually drive him away from Scotland. If it was me, I reckon I’d have been gone a long time ago so it’s safe to say that our teams boss must be one of the most mentally strong people out there.Â
I guess sometimes that strong mindedness is both a good and bad thing. It’s bad in the way that certain players, when fit, tend to be a guaranteed starter in the team regardless of how well they are playing.
It also may dictate that the same tactics, formation etc will be used more often than they should be. Some matches, everyone in the stand seems to be unhappy with the style of play, the performance of certain players but that strong mindset or stubbornness, if you prefer, will ensure that changes will be made only when the gaffer says so.
Overall, I think that Neil Lennon being the type of guy he is has given us more good than bad as Celtic fans. Will any of us forget that night v Barcelona? What about the league win despite being 15 points behind at one point?
What about some of the wins against our dead, former rivals ?
I’d like to think that we will have Neil Lennon around as boss for a wee bit longer and I’d also like to think that some of the narrow minded folk in this country would stop believing everything they are told and make decisions for themselves.
I’ve never met Neil Lennon before but I’ve told that he’s a great guy. Anyone who seems to know him tell you the same thing too.
There really is something inside him so strong and to compare the current team to the one that he inherited, when you consider the players that have been sold, tells me that there’s also a good manager in there as well as a strong character.
Great article,Stevie.
Ah…. Scotland’ s shame.
You are right, the hatred is down to bigotry.With Lenny’s link to Celtic being the catalyst for the HATERS.
The FACTS are: Lenny was a respected
professional footballer plying his trade in
England.Also a Northern Irish International,judged soley on his football
ability.
However, when he joined us, in 2000, ALL
THIS CHANGED.
First the loyalist death threats, booing at
scottish grounds and at Windsor Park.
Why now ?
The hatred of the famous Glasgow Celtic,
which Neil was now PROUDLY part of,the
CELTIC FAMILY.
Yes,Neil Francis Lennon is indeed a remarkable man,Stevie.
Exactly correct in your article
Remember the abuse Aiden McGeady got at every ground he played at.
0nly one reason for it.
In a nutshell no more to add GBNL
Good piece Steven,
I think there is absolutely no doubt Neil Lennon has received abuse from certain fans simply because he is an Irish Catholic!
HH!
NL was vilified and abused at EVERY ground in Scotland from the moment he pulled on the hoops. The reason ? Northern Irish catholic, a real ‘taig’. There’s a word for this, BIGOTRY.
NL played for his country many times, he could have opted for the Republic of Ireland. There wasn’t a problem until again, he pulled on the hoops, again there’s a word for this, BIGOTRY.
Anton Rogan had to endure the same level of venom from the old Rangers and Northern Irish football fans, his crime was the same as Neil Lennons.
Monti bhoy! your bang on!
Bigotry Bigotry Bigotry.Come on MSM name it.Scotlands Shame.
I know a Rangers supporter, who has taught his son not to eat any green sweeties , green jelly or anything green.Who would name their son Ibrox I know one.A senior polis who had the team he coached wear Orange Strips with 1690 on them.Don’ t tell me that bigotry is only from a few bad eggs .I was raised in Ayrshire and know all about bigotry from many sources .What foot do you kick with?what school did you go to?Lennon must have had a similar upbringing in Ulster .However Scotland is no different when it comes to hatred of the Catholic minority. A National disgrace how our Manager has been treated
I thought that sectarianism and bigotry were a 90 minuet thing at a game of footy . no no it is INSTITUTIONAL in Scotland . sectarian attacks on R.C. s since 2003 not football games as PC plod would have you believe were covered up by the crown office . read and make your own mind up http//scottisishlaw blogspot com/2011/sectarian-Scotland-cover-up-crown html
Livening in Carluke So I know all about bigotry Don’t tell me it just 90 min I am so happy that the Hun are died Long live the Bhoys in green Hail Hail JMJ
Its sad that in 2014 that is still goes on. Scotland’s shame
Apart from being a N.Irish Catholic playing for Celtic, which would always attract abuse from the knuckledragging Klansmen, what ra peepel really can’t stand and what really sticks in their craw, is that Neil is fearless, gallus and proud of what he is, and not content to sit at the back of the bus.
The hatred is even more pronounced now since he assisted greatly in the demise of their foul club.
If he was black and lived in Mississippi he would most likely be called “uppity” by the zombies’ degenerate subhuman cousins.
I used to work as a delivery driver. I lived in Oban. I took a delivery from Oban to a sevice staion on the M74 near Motherwell, where I rendezvoued with a driver from glasgow who was to take the delivery from me and drive it down to London.
this was on the day that it was announced Celtic had signed a player called Neil Lennon.
As the other driver and I transferred the load from my van to his, he started to talk about “fitba'” saying he wasn’t that interested in “fitba'” but couldn’t understand why Celtic had signed “that dirty wee ba**ard, Lennon.” Quite bemused, I egged him on, and it wasn’t long before he confirmed he really wasn’t interested in football, ‘cos he was a red hot rangers fan!!
He had Neil Lennon boxed away before Lenny had even kicked a ball….I wonder why???
Liam “ghodsson” Griffin
I have personal experience of the old “what school did you go to ?” line from the bigots, during job interviews in Scotland. This country of ours is rife with bigotry – Lenny booed by most opposition fans, verbal and physical attacks in the steets of Glasgow and Edinburgh, nails and bombs in the post – all because his is an Irish Catholic. The bigotry is embedded in Scottish society and nothing is done about it. We really are “The best wee bigoted country in the world”. God bless Neil Francis Lennon. Hail, hail.
Green lantern, just as a side-note, do you know who founded the Ku Klux Klan? He was the son of a Scottish Free Kirk (or Presbyterian) minister who had emigrated to the USA….a chip off the old block as they say. It’s one of the few Scottish “inventions” I don’t mention to my students.
GBNL
After all the abuse and biased reporting from all quarters in regards to incidents involving Lenny you would think he would get full backing from us (the supporters ).
Lenny’s made a massive contribution to our club both as a player and manager while having to defend himself constantly from physical attacks aswell as an MSM agenda to demonise him at every opportunity.He’s also had to battle depression which can be really tough.
While I acknowledge the fact he does make mistakes and seems to repeat them on occasion it’s worth remembering the state the team was in when he took over and where we are at now.
I feel the fans expectations of Lenny are unrealistic at times considering its his first job and the financial restraints he is expected to operate in. The criticism he gets after one bad result/performance from us is way OTT at times.
Since Lenny took over we’ve recouped £20M+ more than we’ve spent in transfers while improving the team out of sight which IMO is truly remarkable.
I’m full of admiration for the guy and hope he stays for a long while yet cause I think he will only improve as a manager with more experience.
Nothing but PURE BIGOTRY!! Story ended.
They know who they are and they are the scum of the Earth!
HH 1NL TAL
All previous contributions are valid, what year are we living in? Ask anyone and invariably your answered it’s only Banter,well for their level of intelligence maybe.What are the Scottish government doing about it? SFA. ? Managers union, absolutely nothing. I’ve told my sons all along we’re on our own, every neutral is a bluenose but as we say our day will come(TAL),HH.
Eebee,
I concur with your points above.
What year is it ?
Sadly, in 50 years time, the HATRED for
RC in this country,will NOT have diminished.
It is in-built,and in-bred.
Then it manifests itself,in all it’s UGLINESS,
at a cesspit called IBROKES !!
100% correct. They fear the unrepentant feinian who’s not on bended knee. When they realized Lenny doesn’t do walking away.they moved attention to the green brigade.Who highlighted that you can’t leave injustice at the front door.So the mostly shite media are using the divide and conquer Tim technic.Much to the shame of some.
Unbowed unrepentant rebel feinian bassa and proud of it.HH
Next they’ll be writing that Jesus brought it on himself!!!!