Celtic and Rangers. Glasgow Giants. The Bhoys and the Bears. The 'Old Firm'. Despite the rivalry of the great Glasgow teams, their traditions are inextricably intertwined in what has been called 'a business based on bigotry'. Rangers entered a new world of sport and big business in April 1986 when they signed Graeme Souness as player and manager, and more notably when he was joined by a new owner, millionaire businessman David Murray. Both were committed to taking the Ibrox club into the elite of European football - even at the expense of signing Catholic players, which the club had hitherto avoided.Celtic were slow to react to this challenge but after years of squabbling found unlikely salvation in th form of expatriate millionaire Fergus McCann. Under McCann and Murray the Old Firm rivalry was modernised beyond recognition as the clubs entered a new world of globalised sport in which the bigotry of the past was a barrier to the riches awaiting Europe's top footballing sides. After five momentous years at Celtic. McCann left the club shortly after the frustrated Rangers attempt to beat the Jock Stein record of nine League flags in a row. With that albatross removed from the necks

Author Biography

Bill Murray's previous publications include- GLASGOW'S GIANTS- 100 YEARS OF THE OLD FIRM, THE OLD FIRM- SECTARIANISM, SPORT AND SOCIETY IN SCOTLAND, A HISTORY OF THE WORLD GAME and THE WORLD'S GAME- A HISTORY OF SOCCER.