Former Ranger Recalls “Chaotic” Parkhead Atmosphere
American winger DaMarcus Beasley, who played for Rangers from 2007 to 2010, recently spoke on his time in the Scottish Premiership.
Beasley, now 38 years-old, recently spoke with former USMNT teammate Jimmy Conrad in a video interview first reported by the Daily Record looking back on his 20-year senior career.
Before playing at Ibrox, he spent a season on loan with Manchester City of the English Premier League, witnessing the famed Manchester Derby first-hand. Even then, the winger, who made 30 appearances for the Glasgow-side over three seasons, spoke of the Glasgow Derby between Celtic and Rangers, recalling the chaotic atmosphere between the two sides.
It is no surprise that Parkhead is one of the most intimidating atmospheres to play football in all of Europe. In fact, the noise and passion that the Celtic supporters bring is regularly considered one of the most prolific in all of the sport’s world.
Here is what Beasley had to say when talking about that atmosphere to the Daily Record:
"“Oh man, it’s something that you can’t explain.“You have to experience it either as a player or a fan. It’s hard to explain the noise.“The Rangers’ Stadium is like 50,000 and then obviously Celtic’s is a bit bigger, about 62-63,000 and they’re full every game.“When you play Rangers against, say, St. Mirren, it’s 50,000 people and they cheer, it’s not quiet, but for Celtic… man!“I mean, you cannot hear a thing, it’s like you’re playing in front 100,000 people at the Azteca, and the atmosphere is so overwhelming.“Each of the fans want it more, I think they probably want it more than the players do…“The noise and amount of chaos that goes on even before the game starts is unreal, it’s unreal.“Especially at Ibrox when you’re about to step out for warm-ups, the whole stadium is full and they’re already signing, and they’re already chanting…“I remember my first one I came on as a sub. I just remember warming up before and it was so loud…“It was just crazy the amount of chaos that goes on two weeks before that game, during the game, and then after the game. Because obviously it depends on who wins.”"
Conrad then goes on to recall a friendly with the U.S. against the Scottish National Team in Scotland and how fans “sang the whole halftime. I remember thinking how special it was just to be out there and to absorb it, so I can only imagine what it was like to be out there and play in the Old Firm.”
While he experienced success at Ibrox with two Scottish Premier League titles, two Scottish Cups, and two League Cups, Hoops fans have experienced a run of nine-straight in the time since and surely can attest to the atmosphere in Parkhead. Beasley went on to make appearances for Bundesliga-side Hanover 96, Mexican-side Puebla, and ended his career on a six-year stint with Houston Dynamo in the MLS last season.