Seven years on from its founding in January 2018, the Proud Huddle Celtic Supporters’ Club continue to go from strength to strength. This year, alongside the club and Celtic FC Foundation, the group is once again excited to be taking part in Glasgow’s Pride parade today, Saturday, July 19, marking their third year of participating in the event. Since its founding, Proud Huddle CSC members have celebrated unforgettable moments – from the Treble Treble, to the women’s team’s first ever SWPL title – and like the wider Celtic support, they’re now dreaming of more silverware ahead of the 2025/26 season. Formed by six fans – Chloe Divers, Iain Sharkey, Pauline Kelly, Lindsay Hamilton, Robert Cairney, and Soraya Din – their first official gathering took place on January 23, 2018, when they watched Celtic’s 2–1 win over Partick Thistle at Firhill. But for Proud Huddle, it was never just about the results on the pitch. Chloe Divers explained: “The main reason for founding the group was to support Celtic – the club we all love – and to enjoy watching games and talking football in a safe space. “Some of us have experienced homophobia or discrimination – in school, at work, even within our own families. “So the idea of walking into a pub or a stadium full of football fans can be daunting. Football has its stereotypes, and stadiums haven’t always been welcoming spaces.” Proud Huddle has worked to challenge those stereotypes simply by existing and providing a visible, welcoming alternative within Scottish football. “Success, to me, looks like a bunch of people who’ve become genuine friends through a shared love of Celtic,” Chloe adds. “We’re a visible part of the LGBTQ+ community – a group who would happily welcome anyone who wants to come along and join us.” Over the years, the group has proudly taken part in campaigns such as Football v Homophobia, Glasgow Pride, LEAP Sports’ Festival Fortnight, and events run by the Celtic FC Foundation. “New members can follow us on Instagram or X, and come along to watch an away game,” Chloe said. “If someone’s nervous about showing up, they just need to drop us a message and we’ll make sure one of our members meets them beforehand and helps them feel at home.” Looking ahead, Proud Huddle remains focused on growth and inclusion. “We want to strengthen our ties with the club and continue representing the LGBTQ+ community proudly within the Celtic fanbase,” Chloe explained. “We hope to keep growing our membership and look forward to more events and collaborations with the club over the next few years.” As a club welcoming to everyone, we are committed to making Celtic Park and New Douglas Park safe and inclusive spaces for all supporters, including those from the LGBTQ+ community.
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