Scotland although it is a relatively small country, is renowned the world over for its magnificent coastline its dramatic landscapes, and a bloody history of battles lost and battles won to differing invaders,

Bagpipes and kilts, Haggis and whisky, the thistle and the home of golf, Scotland is a proud nation, proud of our heritage and our culture, proud of our land, proud of the history that has made us who we are today.

On the whole the population of Scotland are a friendly sociable bunch of people, always a kind word, always willing to help, always there when needed

But there is a problem in Scotland and until that problem is resolved, Scotland will never be the proud race that they once were.

Religion has divided Scotland into two nations, on one side are the Catholics and on the other are the Protestants, and that is where football, or if you prefer soccer, comes into the frame.

Glasgow Celtic Football Club, have a predominantly Catholic support and Glasgow Rangers Football Club have a predominantly Protestant support.

When the play against each other it is called an old firm match.

When the teams play against one another you can almost physically see the hatred in the air, sectarian chants from both sides fill the air, religious bigotry at its worst, it is like walking into a cauldron of fire and it doesn't stop after the game is over each set of supporters verbally abuse each other teasing, taunting, goading and more often than not there are many violent conflicts between the rival fans.

There have been many deaths over the years before during and after the old firm matches when rival supporters have attacked each other.

This has been a major problem and has brought shame to Scottish football for many years.

Football is fighting back

Things are changing, football and Scotland as a whole are fighting to combat sectarianism and religious bigotry, we are getting tough on offenders and slowly but surely in the near future the problem should be all but eliminated.

Starting in the schools, children are being taught to respect the religion of others in various ways, religious and sectarian chants are banned from football grounds, anyone caught using a sectarian chant or song is banned from visiting a football game for life, although the hatred is still there at the Old firm game, there is now very little violence and most games are played without incident and the only battle that takes place is where it should be on the football park.

Scotland and football is winning this battle and the pride is coming back to our nation, there is no place for sectarianism or religious bigotry in football or in Scotland anymore and the future is looking bright for the Scottish people.