Spectator Sports in Glasgow

Football (Soccer)

Glasgow's Southside is the site of Scotland's national football (soccer) stadium, Hampden Park (tel. 0141/620-4000; Bus: 75 or 89). It seats more than 52,000 fans and is used for Scotland internationals as well as annual cup matches. There is also a football museum here.

The city's two big clubs are Celtic and Rangers. As any international soccer fan knows, these are the two largest professional soccer teams in Scotland -indeed, among the biggest in Europe. Collectively called the "Old Firm," they have passionate, even fanatical, followers, a portion of whom can be violent in their desire to show their loyalty. Celtic play in the East End at their stadium in Parkhead (tel. 0141/556-2611; www.celticfc.net). Rangers are based south of the Clyde at Ibrox Stadium (tel. 0870/600-1972; www.rangers.co.uk). Two relatively smaller soccer clubs also play their home games in Glasgow: Partick Thistle at Firhill in the West End and Queen's Park at Hampden.