Why Celtic should be invited into the English football leagues
Should a team with a 69 game unbeaten run in their domestic league be allowed to compete in arguably the best league in the world? With a record like that they should be at least given a case to join Britain’s elite. For years the idea of Celtic joining the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea has been talked about but no action has been taken. I will explain why this prestigious and successful team should be invited to England by discussing the clubs rich history and dominance in Scotland, but also how this could benefit English football.
Celtic have a massive global following and could bring more money to England than some of the Premier League regulars. In a 2015 football brand rankings Celtic sat 38th in the world ahead of Premier League team Leicester City in 42nd who would go on to win the EPL title in 2016. This gives an excellent example of Celtic being just as big of a brand as some Premier League clubs, despite playing in Scotland. Celtic are also more globally known than a lot of these teams due to their reoccurring appearances in the Champions League, which some teams have never competed in, for example Huddersfield Town FC, Watford FC and Crystal Palace FC. This emphasises Celtic’s superiority over some English clubs in European competition.
“The Hoops” have ruled the Scottish league since the liquidation of Rangers in 2012 as they struggle to find able competitors to challenge them for domestic titles. Celtic’s loss against Hearts in 2017 ended an extraordinary 69 game unbeaten run and they show no signs of slowing down their blitz to 10 Scottish league titles in a row. Although Rangers are back in the top flight of Scottish football and Aberdeen have shown promise over the last few years there just isn’t a team currently that will challenge Celtic like Rangers used to, but what if there was a way that Celtic could fulfil their potential as a brand but also make Scottish football more competitive and entertaining? That’s where the prospect of Celtic moving to England comes in.
The old firm derby is one of the most renowned rivalries in world football. Before the liquidation of Rangers, the old firm was like seeing roman gladiators fight to the death. It was never an easy game for either team and was a true show of passion and incredible football moments. One of the best of these games was the Scottish Cup semi-finals between the two clubs where Rangers came triumphant on penalties. The game was a fantastic display by the players and a breathtaking goal scored by Barrie McKay set the match alight. If Rangers were to follow Celtic on this journey it would benefit the premier league as this would be one of the best rivalries in English football.
Celtic have shown over many years they can compete with some of footballs top clubs. In 2012 Celtic faced possibly the worlds most revolutionary team, FC Barcelona in a Champions League group stage match. Celtic were victorious with a 2-1 scoreline after goals from Victor Wanyama and teenager Tony Watt. This game shows us that Celtic can compete at any level if they can beat the Catalonian giants. You may argue that it Barcelona deserved to win the game after being the dominant team, or maybe an off day for Messi and co? Although that may be true it gives us evidence to support Celtic having the ability to compete against top level sides. Celtic have also held the cash slinging Manchester City to two draws, scores being 3-3 and 1-1. In recent times the Manchester club has shown they are a brute force in England thanks to their financial power and an illustrious set of players. In the 1-1 draw between the two sides, Celtic put up great statistics and matched the sky blues in their result and performance, boasting more shots and shots on target while also roughly matching them in every other category. Now that shows us the Scottish club can compete with anybody put in their way.
Celtic’s crowds create some of the best moments in football. Even the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi agreed and said “I’ve been fortunate to play in some great stadiums in Europe with Barcelona but none compare to Celtic. The atmosphere their fans create make it a very special European night of football.”
Celtic could bring a fantastic following to the premier league. Celtic record attendance in the 2017/18 season is 59,259 and their average league attendance is 57,692 which would come fourth in the premier league, even beating Newcastle United and West Ham who are renowned for their loyal fan base and large stadiums. This shows Celtic’s fan base is larger than most premier league teams as “the hoops” triumph over “the magpies” and “the hammers.”
If Celtic do cross Hadrian’s wall, what would happen to Scottish football? The Scottish league could decline on the financial side of things due to the mass amounts of their Tv revenue are brought in through Celtic, however it would become more competition for Celtic, will they be up for the challenge?