River Plate and Boca Juniors. Manchester United and City. Arsenal and Tottenham. AC Milan and Inter Milan. These are just a few of some of the world’s best known intra-city derbies.
None of these quite live up to the billing of the famous and some would argue infamous OldFirm/Glasgow Derby, though, which has divided Scotland’s second city in half for well over a century. The antagonists – Celtic FC and Rangers FC.
To understand this derby is to understand something of the West of Scotland culture. There’s no separating it from everyday life. For the clubs’ respective supporters, their team is who they are.
This is more than often a process that begins early in the life of a Glaswegian. Steve Livingstone, JAXUSL president and CEO, is no exception.
“It’s certainly a big part of life in Glasgow,” Livingstone said. “I was taken to my first Celtic game when I was about four years old.”
The two sides have been facing off since 1888, making it one of the world’s oldest running city rivalries. With long-standing religious and political undercurrents, this local clash – played around four times a year – is arguably the fiercest in the game.
While exciting, attending your first match is typically a well-planned and thought-out experience. This was anything but for Livingstone, largely thanks to two audacious uncles who wanted to make sure that the wee laddie’s first experience of the ‘fitbaw’ was green and white.
“They basically kidnapped me for the day and took me to Celtic Park,” Livingstone recalled. “And that was that: I was a Celtic fan.”
Great for Steve but not so good for Livingstone’s dad Alex, himself a fan of Rangers who served in the shipyards and was unaware of his son’s afternoon adventure until he returned home from work that evening to find that his brothers-in-law had jumped the indoctrination.
There were efforts to get Steve back on the red and blue path, including quite a few trips to Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium, but it was all futile. The deed had been done.
While it may be a funny story, it perfectly exemplifies the all-consuming European love for the game that Livingstone hopes to nurture even further on the First Coast with JAXUSL.
“No doubt there’s an interest and a passion for the game here in this community,” Livingstone said. “As soccer continues to grow nationally here in the US, that interest will continue to grow as well.”
Soccer may be more prevalent in European communities, but the sport has developed its own special culture here in the United States. Local examples of this could be seen at any of the World Cup watch parties that JAXUSL hosted in 2022, which saw droves of fans congregate to cheer on the men’s national teams. The game’s impact on the area doesn’t have to end with watching games in the pub, though.
Success on the pitch is a key focus early on for JAXUSL, but its leaders believe that the club can ultimately be used for the greater good by uplifting the Jacksonville area. Being inclusive of all, particularly of those with special needs and reaching underserved segments of the population is going to be major part of the club’s mission not only in terms of access but also in facilities planning.
This inclusive community aspect is something that Livingstone relates to at Celtic, which was founded as a means to raise funds to feed the impoverished immigrant Irish community which had been ghettoed in the East End of Glasgow towards the turn into the 20th century. Livingstone looks forward to JAXUSL following in Celtic’s purpose-driven footsteps.
“Matchdays are great, they’re exciting,” Livingstone said. “But I think the bigger satisfaction is in doing something that is going to be transformational for the entire community and in particular those who have been left out or marginalized previously.”
It’s this ability to serve and influence positive change that excites Livingstone as JAXUSL moves along the process of starting a professional club on the First Coast. As the group sets out to build a stadium, the formation of its teams isn’t the only thing in mind.
The facility will host a plethora of space for youth sports and community events, serving as more than merely a pitch with four stands. It will also go beyond basic ADA access and intends to be fully adaptive and cognitive for all abilities.
Additionally, JAXUSL has already begun forming partnerships with local youth soccer organizations across Northeast Florida. Even early on, the development of opportunities for youth soccer and providing high-quality pitches and facilities is high on the list of priorities for JAXUSL. This is all in hopes of providing local youth with the best pathway to playing professionally down the road.
As for the club’s fan base, Livingstone is aware that Jacksonville isn’t Scotland. Soccer isn’t necessarily as culturally pervasive in these parts, but that’s okay. He believes that, with time and understanding of what the club is trying to do, they’ll have a chance to foster a unique soccer identity for the city.
“Meeting with our supporters at the Town Halls and Listening Sessions, it’s clear that the passion and appreciation for the game is universal, although we’ve still got a lot of work to do in reaching out to all parts of our community here on the First Coast,” Livingstone said. “Consulting with the community is key to us making that connection and showing that we are trying to be a force for good. And I think the more the community can learn about what we stand for and the scale of what we are trying to do for our community with the clubs and the facilities we are planning, more will understand and want to get behind us.”
While it may be an ambitious ask, Livingstone hopes to incorporate all of these elements into the new USL clubs. Results can be worried about later, but for the time being, these foundational aspects remain a priority.
“That opportunity to actually use sport to affect change and transform a community is huge,” Livingstone said. “I think we have an opportunity to do something really good for the community on the back of soccer and that’s what excites me the most.”
