Robin Scott-Elliot: England’s joyless fans need a new songbook

Bile and abuse: England supporters at Celtic Park on Tuesday night (Getty Images)

It felt like an occasion, an entertainment full of sound and fury but not signifying much beyond a football match. At least if you were in the majority at Celtic Park. Then there was the minority, and possibly a minority of that minority. Yet however many they were, they were plainly heard amid the hubbub.

“F*** the IRA” was the chant that rose relentlessly from England’s corner of Parkhead. On and on it went for the opening minutes. Walking away from the ground some hours later, after one of the better performances of Roy Hodgson’s reign by a young side of impressive passion, it was the joylessness of the English fans that accompanied the positive on-field impression. What a miserable, boorish bunch. To think the Scots are accused of being stuck in the past.

It was not the evening Scotland’s fans had wanted. But they still had plenty of fun. There was passion, some abuse of the English, largely through pantomime booing, and plenty of singing – “Doe, a deer” remains a favourite. This is supposed to be about fun, an escape from the daily grind. Scotland have become a better team on the pitch in part because Gordon Strachan has put some fun back into playing for the country.

During half-time one of the Tartan Army’s other regular numbers, the “Bonnie Banks”, was blasted around the ground sparking a mass sing-a-long – the words popped up on the scoreboard to help everyone join in. On it went, fans jumping up and down, waving flags, having a ball (despite a nagging feeling the game was already beyond their team). When it was done the England fans responded with a chorus of “What the f***ing hell was that?”

England’s fans have, as a whole, done much to improve their image, as Scotland’s did before them. Outside the ground there was no feeling of menace. Inside it, however, the support offered England seemed to be forever filled with bile and abuse.

England don’t play again until spring – time to work on a new start, a new songbook and put some joy back into following England.