Joey Barton: I’ll show which side of the Old Firm divide I’m on

Ever since signing for Rangers over the summer, some (including Scott Brown) have jumped on Barton’s past as a Celtic “supporter” in an attempt to get one over on the former Newcastle, Man City, Marseille and QPR midfileder.

In an interview with FourFourTwo Barton answered questions on his upbringing in an Irish-Catholic family ahead of his Old Firm debut tomorrow.

"I don’t think I’ve ever supported Celtic," the midfielder said. "I’m a born-and-bred Evertonian, I’ve not met any true football fan who supports two teams.

"My name is Joseph Anthony, I went to St Agnes Primary School and St Thomas Becket Secondary School, and my grandmother is a staunch Roman Catholic of Irish heritage. So when Rangers played Celtic, the same way as when Barcelona play Real Madrid, you pick a side based on what’s going on around you.

"Things like that are always an issue until the first game, then people know which side of the divide you stand on."

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