When I was younger, I used to go to the football on a regular occurrence.

I went to home games, away games, midweek games, European games but the best and most exciting games I ever attended were the Old Firm games.

You never forget your first Celtic and Rangers game. Emerging onto the terraces and feeling the immense fervour and electrifying atmosphere was a memory I have never forgotten.

A Glasgow stadium, one half blue and white and the other half green and white. I remember thinking how gloriously colourful it all looked.

The noise was deafening with the raucous renditions of the various supporters passionate songs.

To my shame, I suppose, I enjoyed the 'quid pro quo' exchanges between Celtic and Rangers fans. The patter was often hilariously quick witted and accepted between opposing fans as a normal part of the match.

To some it was and still is a 'cauldron of hate' but to others it is simply a unique and adrenalin filled occasion.

Nowadays, many of these exchanges aren't allowed and of course that is probably for the best.

In fact there hasn't been an Old Firm game for three years. Since 2012 the traditional Celtic and Rangers rivalry has been halted by the Ibrox club's demotion to the lower tiers of Scottish football.

But the old gang are reuniting on February 1 for the semi-final of the Scottish League Cup and I'm sure that Old Firm fans on both sides are looking forward to the fixture which will be played at Hampden in front of 52,000.

Already I've noticed the build up to the match being punted on sports channels and unfortunately there has been concerns levied at the long anticipated game.

The aftermath of the game is of prime concern. Police Scotland are on high alert amid fears that the fixture could unleash a 'tsunami' of disorder across much of Scotland.

From their control room they have previously watched a wave of impact spread from outside the stadium to the wider Glasgow area then to Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire and eventually to other parts of the country.

More than 1,000 extra police officers will be deployed. I hope they are not used. The history of these two clubs and their supporters is as colourful as the terracing when they get together so I hope there is no trouble and the fans behave themselves.

There will always be the bams on both sides but I hope they don't spoil the day for those true supporters who have greatly missed this crazy, loud, iconic derby.

A gay school or more time teaching tolerance?

I don't know what to make of the latest plans in Manchester to create an entire school devoted to homosexual, bisexual and transgender children.

I thought the ethos lately was to integrate in the pursuit of acceptance. Much has been made, over the years, of separate Catholic schools.

I wonder if many of those backing this venture have been opposed to segregated schools in the past.

I suppose I also wonder where will all this end? It is said the reason for this particular school is bullying. Many children are bullied and for lots of different reasons. We all know the usual causes of playground taunts usually because of poverty, weight issues, religion, colour of hair, colour of face, perceived lack of intelligence or too much intelligence.

Most of the time there is no rhyme nor reason to the onslaught of this hateful pastime. Continuing to promote bullying as 'uncool' and teaching 'tolerance of others' in our schools is surely a better use of resources which will include all children.