Mick McLaughlin

Off to Villa Park. A few words on some of the rhetoric around our visitors tonight. I'm an England fan. I take my Cross to games, home and away. Amongst some of that support are people who, in my view, sing songs and make gestures or vote for political parties that don't align with mine. That's fine, why? We only share supporting a football team for 90 minutes, nothing more, nothing less. In Birmingham, and narrowing it down further to Erdington, a Villa heartland, one of the largest Irish diasporas anywhere came to live. The old Irish Centre in Digbeth was legendary, as are many Villa fans, hardcore Villa fans I may add, who'll be going tonight and who also, through that diaspora are proud of their Irish roots of which Celtic, despite being a Scottish club are emblematic to millions of the grit, determination, kindness and success of the Irish community under what can only be called dogs abuse for generations in Scotland and England. The fact many have a soft spot for Celtic is similar to saying our Indian or Pakistani diaspora have a soft spot for touring Indian or Pakistani cricket teams. You can be both a Villa fan brought up as English as a cuppa, and be a Celtic "man or woman" because Celtic were founded by Irish refugees in Glasgow and have one of the largest supporter bases on earth due to that original Irish diaspora. Aston Villa have an extraordinary history with Scotland and Ireland and Celtic . From Mcgregor to God to Grealish to McGinn to McNeil to O'Neil to Staunton to Houghton to Petrov to Venglos , all have links in some way to both and in most cases served both or have an affinity to both. I know a Villa fan, Irish Brummie, goes home and away who's excited about tonight as they get to shout their support for their one true love, Villa, while getting to host family, friends and celebrate a part of who they are too. How cool? A bit like a British Indian guy hosting his family from Mumbai for a one dayer Edgbaston. To Celtic fans coming to Villa Park, I hope you enjoy our wonderful stadium, Birmingham and get a hammering on the pitch, but be absolutely under no doubt that the City of Birmingham success is also the success of the Irish and many other diaspora communities, as I'm sure you're finding out through the day. To Villa fans bent out of shape about why so many Villans are looking forward to the visit of Celtic, do a little research on the huge numbers of the diaspora who came and what they did to make Birmingham a great city. The minority of any supporter base never have nor ever will speak for the majority. And we spend far too much time on the minority. UP THE FUCKING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE VILLA 💜💙

🏠 The Ibrox 12 Heritage Kit​ 💙 Celebrate 12 years of history at Ibrox – a tribute to the stadium that has witnessed many of the club’s greatest moments. And not one, but TWO clubs