Sports
Lajee Celtic Celebrates Ten Years of Football and Solidarity
By Liam O'Hare
Nearly 200 people gathered in a small Lebanese bakery in east London to mark the tenth anniversary of Lajee Celtic, a grassroots football club founded in the Aida Camp refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. The event featured Palestinian flags, freshly baked manousheh, and Lajee Celtic shirts worn by celebrities such as Eric Cantona and actress Hannah Einbinder.
Martin, an organiser who travelled from Glasgow for the celebration, said the project’s success was unexpected. He highlighted Celtic’s Irish identity, diaspora community, universal support, and shared values as key factors.
Mohammed al‑Azzeh, director of the Lajee Centre, recalled the club’s origins. He and friends from Scotland and Ireland began discussions about a football academy in 2012, and by 2015 a group of camp players travelled to Belfast for a match. In 2016, during a Champions League draw, Celtic were paired with Israeli side Hapoel Be’er Sheva. Celtic supporters displayed Palestinian flags, leading to a UEFA fine. The Green Brigade responded with the Match The Fine For Palestine campaign, using the proceeds to support Palestinian organisations and help establish the academy in Aida Camp.
The club now brings together young Palestinians from villages around Bethlehem, refugee camps, and communities in Hebron and Jerusalem. Al‑Azzeh said the team’s existence means “a lot” for Palestinians, providing a space to meet and play beyond just football.
Lajee Celtic is entering organised competition for the first time. Although it was set to join the Palestinian league three years ago, the competition was cancelled amid the Gaza war. The club has now entered the Thousand Martyrs Cup, named after the 1,014 athletes killed in Gaza since October 2023.
Bassil Mikdadi, journalist and founder of Football Palestine, described Lajee Celtic as a blueprint for how European club fans can directly support Palestine. He called it “connective tissue” that links supporters abroad with on‑ground communities.
Martin explained that the club’s shirts are more than merchandise; purchases fund football, sports, and youth development in Palestine. Wearing the shirts in cities such as Glasgow, London, or New York becomes a personal act of solidarity.
The club’s ambitions extend beyond football, including boxing and table tennis, and creating opportunities for young Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza, and the diaspora. Al‑Azzeh noted that while fundraising campaigns come and go, a tangible football club provides a lasting journey.
A memorable moment for the club came in 2025 when Samir al‑Amir, a coordinator who had spent over 19 years in Israeli prisons, travelled with the team to Cape Town, South Africa, for two friendlies. Al‑Azzeh recalled watching Samir enjoy the sea for the first time, saying the experience would not have been possible without Lajee Celtic.
The club’s work remains vital as Palestinian football faces disruption following the Gaza conflict, with grassroots clubs serving as the foundation for the national team’s recent successes.