Not being ‘one of us’ has absolutely nothing to do with Greg Taylor criticism

The Celtic Star

·7 January 2025

Not being ‘one of us’ has absolutely nothing to do with Greg Taylor criticism

A lot has been spoken and written about the Celtic fans since Brendan Rodgers interview after Sunday’s game against St Mirren…

Greg Taylor and Callum McGregor with the Premier Sports Cup. Photo Kenny Ramsay

There have been plenty of people outraged by the manager’s comments and plenty like myself who can see where his frustrations are coming from. Everyone has had an opinion on this and most people have made valid points in whichever way they are leaning in the debate but one thing I have noticed cropping up more than a few times (including in the comments section of my last article) is an absolutely nonsensical notion that our fans don’t like Taylor because he’s not ‘one of our own’.

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A theory that has popped it’s ugly head

This is a theory that has popped it’s ugly head up many times over the years regarding certain players and I have never believed it in the past, and still don’t until this day. The theory goes that Celtic fans are unforgiving when a player isn’t ‘one of our own’.

Firstly let me try and explain what people mean in regards to this statement, as it can sometimes be complicated. Do they mean someone Scottish or Irish? Do they mean someone who was brought up a Celtic fan? Or do they have to be Catholic? Well from what I can guage it can be a mixture of all three or none at all. It’s definitely a strange one.

Greg Taylor celebrates after scoring Celtic’s first goal during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

I know practically nothing about Greg Taylor’s upbringing

Now before I go on let me tell you I know practically nothing about Greg Taylor’s upbringing, his faith or lack there of, his political beliefs or pretty much anything else about his personal life. I do know like most of you however that at some stage he was part of Rangers youth academy but that’s about the height of it. The reason I know so little is because I genuinely don’t care. All I know is that for the last few years he has turned up game after game for Celtic and gave his absolute all for the club. That will always be good enough for me.

James Forrest Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, Celtic Park, 07 December 2024 Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

James Forrest – Celtic legend

Greg Taylor isn’t the only player that this weird theory has been used on. People in the recent past have also said this is the reason why Celtic fans at times criticise James Forrest. It’s the reason why, even though he will go down an absolute certified club legend who will retire with many of our clubs records to his name, he still doesn’t have a song sung about him. It must be because he’s not one of us. What a load of nonsense. It has absolutely nothing to do with that.

Brendan Rodgers with Scott Brown holding the League Cup in November 2016, Brendan’s first trophy as Celtic manager. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.

Scott Brown and Callum McGregor? Jock Stein, Danny McGrain and Kenny Dalglish?

The thing is this theory has so many holes in it, where do you even start? Look at our last two clubs captains, Scott Brown and Callum McGregor? Both hero worshipped by our fans yet rumour has it both grew up as Rangers fans. Look even further back at some absolute club legends who still have their names sung at Celtic Park. Jock Stein, Danny McGrain and Kenny Dalglish were all supposedly Rangers fans when they were younger, or at least from families who supported our bitterest rivals. Now try and tell me again the reason why people aren’t supportive of Greg Taylor?

Photo imago/ColorsportKenny Dalglish

It’s pretty much universally known that football fans regardless of whatever club they support will always feel a strong connection with someone who grew up like they did supporting that club. They will see in that player someone who is like them, that dreamt about playing for the team they have always loved and are getting to live that dream out in reality.

Luke McCowan during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and St. Mirren at Celtic Park on January 05, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

That video of Luke McCowan

We saw that video of Luke McCowan beaming coming out of the Celtic Park tunnel when being presented as a Celtic player. We could all see ourselves in him and we were happy to see him fulfil his lifetime ambition. The thing is if Luke’s form nosedives will we just ignore it? Not a chance. He will be judged like every other player in the squad.

Liam Scales celebrates a goal by Daizen Maeda during the match between Celtic and Motherwell at Celtic Park, on 26th December 2024. Picture by Mark Runnacles.

Liam Scales and Adam Idah

Look at Liam Scales and Adam Idah. Both Irish. Both with Celtic connections in their families and Idah has spoken about supporting Celtic when he was younger many times. Has this helped those pair? Not in the slightest. Scales is one of the biggest whipping boys for our fans in the whole squad and Idah this season isn’t far behind him.

Adam Idah in action during the Premier Sports Cup Final victory over theRangers at Hampden on 15 December 2024. Photo AJ for The Celtic Star

Kieran Tierney

If Kieran Tierney does return to the club and goes through a period where he is rotten game after game and gets dropped for Greg Taylor (if he stays), do you think the Celtic fans will be up in arms if Taylor comes in and plays well? Not a chance. They will want what’s best for the team.

Football fans of all clubs are mostly the same. Look at any club and you will see players who have given everything for the club over the best part of their careers yet don’t get their name song on the terraces. Then a foreign player with a fancy name comes in and the fans worship the ground he walks on until he leaves for more money at a bigger club at the first chance he gets. It’s just the way football is and pretty much always has been.

Anyone trying to peddle the theory that it’s more sinister than that obviously has an ulterior motive.

Conall McGinty