International Hall of Shame

As Ryan Jack recovers from the ordeal of a couple of dozen fans booing him on his international debut he joins the small band of players to have been abused and jeered on international duty. Celtic players have been in the firing line in various situations with the ferocity of club rivalries often being carried into the international arena. For generations Rangers supporters made up the bulk of the Scotland support with Ibrox players inevitably being picked to keep the supporters onside. As an obvious example Ronnie McKinnon won 28 Scotland caps- one less than Billy McNeil with McKinnon making his international debut in 1965. McNeil made his Scotland debut in 1961 but could rarely get in the international side during Celtic's dominant years of the laste sixties due to McKinnon. With the bedrock Scotland support now drawn from the remotest parts of the country there is no real handicap to the international career of Celtic players with Gordon Strachan regularly starting with six Celts in his starting XI. It is a sad story, hopefully there will be no additions with international fans supporting the jersey rather than club colours. NEIL LENNON As a Leicester City player Lennon was a popular midfielder in the Northern Ireland side but that position changed markedly in November 2000 when he moved to Celtic. As the very visible symbol of Martin O'Neill's successful Celtic side his standing with elements of the Northern Irish support plunged. Lennon put up with the abuse for 18 months but quit playing for his country in August 2002 after being informed by police of a death threat. Since that incident the IFA have supported a number of anti-sectarian initiatives. ROY AITKEN Back in season 83/84 the rivaly between Celtic and Aberdeen was intense with Aitken the most prominent Celtic player. Over that season the two clubs played each other seven times, Aitken was sent off in the Scottish Cup Final with the two legged League Cup semi-final a festival of non-football separated by a Mark Reid penalty. In March 84 Jock Stein decided to give Aitken game time with the Scotland u-21 n a vital European Championship tie against Yugoslvia at Pittodrie! Celtic team-mates Brian McClair and Paul McStay were in the side that won 2-1 but despite captaining the team Aitken was fiercely booed throughout the match. JIMMY JOHNSTONE The Greatest Ever Celt won just 23 international caps over a 10 year span! During the late sixties and early seventies Rangers fans made up the bulk of the Scotland support and made their club allegiances very clear. As Celtic dominated domestically and excelled in Europe the 'Scotland' support made it clear that they'd rather be watching Willie Henderson than Johnstone. The two men were great pals off the pitch but when it came to pulling on the dark blue of their country the Celtic winger became the enemy within with the fans quick to let him know who they'd rather see in action. TOMMY GEMMELL Unlike Johnstone big Tam had no real Ibrox rival for the left-back position with John Greig playing in a variety of positions. The Scotland support at the old Rangers End just didn't like the Celtic defender with the chant of Gemmell is a b****** popular whether he was playing for Celtic or Scotland. Despite scoring in two European Cup Finals Gemmell only won 18 international caps with his final appearance coming against Germany in 1969 which ended in a red card and a scene that became famous on Fantast Football League with Frank Skinner. ANTON ROGAN When he stepped up to make his Northern Ireland debut in 1988 the Linfield/Rangers mob made it known just how unwelcome Rogy was at Windsor Park. Back in those days the attitude was that he just had to get on with it with no-one at the Irish Football Association or manager Billy Bingham prepared to speak out against the fans gleefully chanting 'If You Hate Anton Rogan Clap Your Hands'.

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TOMMY GEMMELL

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