Hibs v. Rangers

Over the break, I was able to experience a UK premier league football/soccer match - the Scottish premier league. It was everything I hoped it would be: crowds forming around pubs along the route to the pitch, tension mounting, police separating the local Edinburgh (Hibernian "hibs") fans from the Glasgow Rangers fans to prevent fighting. In the arena, local and away fans are also separated into different parts of the stadium. Once in the stadium, no alcohol is served for obvious reasons. The match was fantastic and full of atmosphere. From the moment the game started, everyone was standing on their seats, and the songs poured out. There was a song for everything and every player on both sides - a goal scoring song, a bad ref call song, etc. Some of the
songs were 'blue' and not for mixed company. Rangers, the far better team, won 2-1. Leaving the stadium, the police made sure the entire Rangers contingent had exited the stadium before we were allowed to exit. Pretty wild stuff. Following the match, we all went to the Scottish story telling center to hear some local folklore and songs. All in all, a great day.