Celtic Fans Collective Update

The Celtic Fans Collective are keen to encourage more supporters to participate in the process of establishing a new democratic committee. If you, or a representative from your organisation, would be interested in getting involved in this, please let them know. The success of the Collective will depend on supporters from across the fanbase helping to shape its future.

FAQs

Is the Celtic Fans Collective just a protest movement?

During last season, frustration among the Celtic support reached levels not seen since the 1990s. This led to a range of protest actions, many of which were organised by the Celtic Fans Collective.

While those actions reflected the mood of supporters at the time, we recognise that constant protest is neither desirable nor sustainable among members and the wider Celtic support. Above all, fans want to enjoy following Celtic and backing the team.

Our ambition is to be a strong, effective and united supporters’ organisation that represents fans, holds the Board to account through meaningful engagement and scrutiny, and campaigns on issues that matter to supporters.

Protest remains one of the tools available to us, but it is not our purpose. We will use it only when circumstances leave no reasonable alternative.

I’m not involved in a CSC or a fans group – can I join the Celtic Fans Collective?

Independent supporters make up the vast majority of the Celtic fanbase yet currently have little opportunity to have their voices heard. If you’re not part of a recognised supporters’ club or fans group, there are few opportunities to engage with the Club collectively or have your say. Celtic Fans Collective offers an avenue to change that.

By joining the Collective, you become part of a democratic organisation that represents supporters on the issues that matter most and holds the Board to account where necessary.

The more supporters who stand together, the stronger that voice becomes.

Whether it’s ticketing, supporter engagement, policing, governance or any other issue affecting the fanbase, a strong Celtic Fans Collective ensures independent supporters have a voice that the Club cannot ignore.

Why should my CSC join the Celtic Fans Collective?

CSCs have always been an important part of Celtic’s history and supporter culture. Yet supporters’ clubs have faced increasing challenges in recent years. Fans have been hit by rising ticket prices, significantly reduced ticket allocations and opaque distribution processes. On matchdays, supporters have also had to contend with policing and operational decisions that have had a detrimental impact on the matchday experience. Unaffiliated CSCs, in particular, have been left with few opportunities to engage with those making these decisions.

There are existing and well-established organisations representing CSCs that continue to do excellent work. Indeed, two of these organisations are represented within the Celtic Fans Collective and continue to operate independently. The Collective is not intended to replace them or diminish their role. Instead, it exists to create a democratic union of supporters’ organisations, fan media, independent supporters and organised fan groups, bringing together every part of the support to campaign on the issues that affect us all.

Every CSC retains its own identity and independence while benefiting from the strength of that wider movement. Together, we can speak with a stronger voice, hold the Club to account more effectively and give ourselves the best opportunity to improve the experience of supporting Celtic.

I run an independent Celtic fan media platform – why should I join the Celtic Fans Collective?

Independent fan media has become an integral part of many supporters’ experience of following Celtic. Whether it is informing supporters, encouraging debate or holding the Club to account, the fan media scene at Celtic is thriving. Despite this, Celtic FC continues to exclude fan media from engagement with the Club, leaving outlets with no formal route to contribute to discussions affecting supporters.

Celtic Fans Collective has consistently called for Celtic FC to end its exclusion of fan media. We believe supporters benefit from a diverse, independent media landscape and that constructive engagement between the Club and fan media is in everyone’s interests. We will continue to campaign until the ban is lifted and fan media is recognised by the Club as a legitimate part of Celtic’s supporter movement.

By joining the Collective, your platform becomes part of a democratic organisation bringing together supporters from across the fanbase while retaining its own unique identity and editorial independence.

With fan media representatives on the committee, fan media will have a direct role in shaping the Collective’s work and strengthening the campaign to end the Club’s ban, while ensuring its perspective forms part of wider engagement with Celtic FC and other relevant stakeholders.

I run an independent Celtic fan media platform – why should I join the Celtic Fans Collective?

Independent fan media has become an integral part of many supporters’ experience of following Celtic. Whether it is informing supporters, encouraging debate or holding the Club to account, the fan media scene at Celtic is thriving. Despite this, Celtic FC continues to exclude fan media from engagement with the Club, leaving outlets with no formal route to contribute to discussions affecting supporters.

Celtic Fans Collective has consistently called for Celtic FC to end its exclusion of fan media. We believe supporters benefit from a diverse, independent media landscape and that constructive engagement between the Club and fan media is in everyone’s interests. We will continue to campaign until the ban is lifted and fan media is recognised by the Club as a legitimate part of Celtic’s supporter movement.

By joining the Collective, your platform becomes part of a democratic organisation bringing together supporters from across the fanbase while retaining its own unique identity and editorial independence.

With fan media representatives on the committee, fan media will have a direct role in shaping the Collective’s work and strengthening the campaign to end the Club’s ban, while ensuring its perspective forms part of wider engagement with Celtic FC and other relevant stakeholders.

Who decides what the Celtic Fans Collective does?

Every member of the Steering Group will have one vote, regardless of which organisation or group they represent. No organisation has a veto or additional voting rights. Representatives are accountable to the supporters who elected or nominated them and will be expected to consult those they represent on significant issues.

The purpose of the structure is to ensure that no single organisation can dominate the Collective while recognising the contribution that existing supporters’ organisations have already made. Ultimately, the Collective will be guided by democratic decision-making and by the views of its membership.

Is the Celtic Fans Collective trying to replace existing supporters’ organisations?

No.

The Collective exists to bring together existing organisations alongside independent supporters within a democratic structure. Every participating organisation retains its own identity, independence and ability to campaign on issues affecting its own members. The Collective provides an opportunity for supporters to work together where there are shared interests while respecting the independence of each participating group.

Celtic FC needs urgent change – can the Celtic Fans Collective deliver this?

There is no doubt that Celtic FC requires urgent change, with significant personnel change and a fundamental shift in culture needed if trust is to be rebuilt between the Club and its supporters. Celtic Fans Collective was established in response to those concerns. However, most supporters also recognise that meaningful and lasting change is rarely achieved overnight, and that a large, united and representative supporters’ organisation has far greater influence than individuals or groups acting alone.

Our preference will always be to engage constructively with Celtic FC, presenting evidence-based proposals and advocating on behalf of our members. Where the Club is willing to listen, we will work collaboratively to improve the experience of supporting Celtic. It is in the interests of both the Club and its supporters for trust to be rebuilt and unity to be restored.

However, constructive engagement must be matched by accountability. Where the Club fails to listen or act in the interests of supporters, the Collective will use a range of democratic campaigning methods to apply pressure and drive change. This may include public campaigns, media engagement, supporter consultation and, where members believe it is necessary, organised protest action.

Ultimately, our influence will be determined by our membership. The more CSCs, independent supporters, fan media and fan organisations that stand together, the stronger our collective voice becomes and the greater our ability to secure meaningful change for Celtic supporters.

Is the Celtic Fans Collective trying to replace existing supporters’ organisations?

No.

The Collective exists to bring together existing organisations alongside independent supporters within a democratic structure. Every participating organisation retains its own identity, independence and ability to campaign on issues affecting its own members. The Collective provides an opportunity for supporters to work together where there are shared interests while respecting the independence of each participating group.

Celtic FC needs urgent change – can the Celtic Fans Collective deliver this?

There is no doubt that Celtic FC requires urgent change, with significant personnel change and a fundamental shift in culture needed if trust is to be rebuilt between the Club and its supporters. Celtic Fans Collective was established in response to those concerns. However, most supporters also recognise that meaningful and lasting change is rarely achieved overnight, and that a large, united and representative supporters’ organisation has far greater influence than individuals or groups acting alone.

Our preference will always be to engage constructively with Celtic FC, presenting evidence-based proposals and advocating on behalf of our members. Where the Club is willing to listen, we will work collaboratively to improve the experience of supporting Celtic. It is in the interests of both the Club and its supporters for trust to be rebuilt and unity to be restored.

However, constructive engagement must be matched by accountability. Where the Club fails to listen or act in the interests of supporters, the Collective will use a range of democratic campaigning methods to apply pressure and drive change. This may include public campaigns, media engagement, supporter consultation and, where members believe it is necessary, organised protest action.

Ultimately, our influence will be determined by our membership. The more CSCs, independent supporters, fan media and fan organisations that stand together, the stronger our collective voice becomes and the greater our ability to secure meaningful change for Celtic supporters.