North London Derby

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Lore & Background

Founded in 1887 to support a poverty-stricken Irish Catholic population in East Glasgow, Celtic quickly became a symbol for that community. Rangers were founded 15 years earlier in 1872 and had no initial religious leanings. The rivalry intensified after the Ibrox disaster of April 1902, where a stand collapse killed 25 people, forcing Rangers to rebuild and sell players, allowing Celtic to win six successive titles between 1905 and 1910. The term 'Old Firm' may stem from the 1904 Scottish Cup final or a satirical cartoon in 'The Scottish Referee.' By 1912, Ulster Protestant workers moving to Glasgow adopted Rangers, while Celtic remained linked to Irish Catholic identity, embedding politics and sectarianism into the fixture. Today, religious adherence is falling, and the old voting patterns no longer hold, though violence still spikes on derby weekends.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell softly on Celtic Park as fans in green and white prepared for another Old Firm clash. The atmosphere was electric with the roar of Glasgow's East End, not London's North. There was no talk of Spurs or Arsenal; the only name that mattered was Rangers. Since 1985–86, one half of the Old Firm has won the Scottish League every season. After Rangers faced liquidation in 2012 and dropped to the fourth tier, Celtic won the title for nine consecutive campaigns before Rangers prevented a tenth in 2020–21.

Reader's Guide

The premise of a 'North London Derby' involving Celtic is incorrect; it conflates two different football landscapes. Celtic's rivalry with Rangers began in late 19th-century Glasgow and is defined by the Old Firm identity, though some Celtic supporters now use 'Glasgow derby' due to Rangers' 2012 liquidation. Between them, they have won 111 Scottish League championships (Celtic 56, Rangers 55), 77 Scottish Cups, and 50 Scottish League Cups. As of 10 May 2026, the two teams have played 452 times in major competitions.

Did You Know?

• As of 10 May 2026, Celtic and Rangers have played each other exactly 452 times in major competitions.
• Between the two clubs, they hold a combined total of 111 Scottish League championships, 77 Scottish Cups, and 50 Scottish League Cups.
• In April 1902, a stand collapse at Ibrox during a Scotland v England fixture killed 25 people, forcing Rangers to rebuild and sell players, which helped Celtic win six successive titles from 1905 to 1910.
• Since the 1985–86 season, either Celtic or Rangers has won the Scottish League title every single year.
• Strathclyde Police incurred costs of £2.4 million for just seven Old Firm derbies in the 2010–11 season, while the clubs contributed only £0.3 million.