The BBC Scotland three-part on the Ultras cuts both ways. It’s obvious these groups bring energy, young bodies through turnstiles and genuine community initiatives, yet the illegal stuff — pyro, damage, fines and thuggish moments — often leaves clubs picking up the bill.
Where they help
There’s a side worth recognising. Across the leagues you’ll hear about foodbank collections, toy collections at Christmas and charity drives that actually help smaller clubs and their communities. Motherwell Ultras worked with the club on suicide prevention and gambling addiction initiatives, examples of groups using their voice for good. Camelon have embraced young fans, and Partick Thistle’s Ultras cooperate with the club SLO over banner content. For cash-strapped junior outfits, the gate money these youngsters bring can be lifeblood.
The other side of it
But the documentary doesn’t shy away from the damage. Petershill say they’ve had to divert funds to repairs; Kilwinning banned certain groups fearing a pyro-related fine would shut them down. There are also grim anecdotes — a supporter taking smoke bombs to a cup final, ending up off the game and into expensive legal bother. Stewards don’t want to get stuck between angry young men and safety risks. Older fans just want the match and detest the disruption. It’s messy, and the costs are often borne by volunteers and lower-league clubs who can least afford them.
So what do we do?
There’s no neat answer. Government can offer quick fixes, but the root causes — youth boredom, reduced access to local playing spaces and underfunded police — run deeper. Clubs that allow early access to set up displays should demand a two-way street: agreed ground rules, respect for the club’s stance and a real willingness to police out the illegal elements. Bans might be necessary in extreme cases, but a blanket approach risks losing the positives these fans bring.
Truth is, it’ll take patience and common sense. Work with the groups where possible, clamp down where needed, and remember the people who keep the lower leagues alive: volunteer stewards and club officials who already do so much.
Related Articles
About Rangers News Views
Rangers News Views offers daily Glasgow Rangers coverage including match reaction, transfer analysis, SPFL context, tactical breakdowns and opinion-led articles written by supporters for supporters.
