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Between the 1930s and 1970s, the Scottish football club Rangers had an unwritten rule whereby the club would not knowingly sign any player who was a Roman Catholic. [1] [2] This was because Rangers were viewed as a Protestant, Unionist club, in contrast to their Old Firm rivals, Celtic, who were viewed as an Irish Catholic club, although Celtic never adopted a similar signing policy.
The foundation of Celtic, a club with a distinct Irish Catholic identity, was crucial in the subsequent adoption by Rangers of a Protestant, Unionist identity. [17] From around the 1920s onwards Rangers had an unofficial policy of not signing Catholic players or employing Catholics in other roles.
Rangers' traditional support is largely drawn from the Protestant Unionist community, whilst Celtic's traditional support is largely drawn from the Catholic community. The first Old Firm match was won by Celtic and there have been over four hundred matches played to date.
Rangers' traditional support was largely from the Protestant community, and for decades the club had an unwritten rule whereby they would not knowingly sign a player of the Catholic faith. [21] The policy was decried by Graeme Souness when he became manager, and he brought ex-Celtic forward Mo Johnston to the club in a very public move away ...
Celtic employed Protestant players and managers, but Rangers have had a tradition of not recruiting Catholics. [81] [82] Major watersheds were Rangers signing of the Catholic player Mo Johnston (b. 1963) in 1989, and in 1999 the appointment of their first Catholic captain, Lorenzo Amoruso. [83] [84]
Data from the 2021 census released on Thursday showed 45.7% of respondents now identified as Catholic or were brought up Catholic, compared with 43.5% identifying as Protestants.
Celtic employed Protestant players and managers, but Rangers have had a tradition of not recruiting Catholics. [99] [100] This is not a hard and fast rule, however, as evidenced by Rangers signing of the Catholic player Mo Johnston (born 1963) in 1989 and in 1999 their first Catholic captain, Lorenzo Amoruso. [101] [102]
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