MATCH 2018 - Saturday 24 May 2025

 SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH CUP FINAL

HAMPDEN PARK

ABERDEEN  1  CELTIC  1

Scorers: OG;  OG

Aberdeen win on pens 4-3

A different view from my usual East Stand tickets

Kick off

Aberdeen came from behind to force extra-time and then win the cup on penalties.   The final was largely disappointing, lacking quality and excitement until the last 10 minutes of normal time.

In the closing minutes both sides had chances to win but the match could not be decided after 120 minutes and went to penalty kicks.  Aberdeen converted all their penalties expertly and like in 1990 they claimed the old trophy on penalties at Celtic's expense.

A great display from the Celtic Ultras

The celebrating Aberdeen fans

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• 4th time seeing Aberdeen play Celtic in the Scottish Cup final
• Overall 20th Scottish Cup Final I've attended - all bar one involving Celtic
• I've now seen Celtic in 154 Scottish Cup matches and Aberdeen 14 times

MATCH 2017 - Saturday 17 May 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  1  ST MIRREN  1

Scorers:  Forrest;  Ayanga

For the 16th consecutive season James Forrest scores for Celtic.  The goal came in injury time with Celtic trailing 0-1 in their final league match of the season and was greeted by the crowd like a winner.

FROM EAST

TO WEST 

CELTIC ARE BEST

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• 2nd time I've attended this fixture this season both in the league at Celtic Park
• Overall I've now attended the fixture 78 times with 68 of them in the league
• This was my 28th match at Celtic Park this season making it 1154 games seen at Celtic Park

PARA...

PARA...

PARADISE

MATCH 2016 - Saturday 10 May 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  HIBERNIAN  1

Scorers:  Kuhn, Idah, Hatate;  Boyle

The second last home match of the season played in beautiful sunshine and for the 6th time this season it was the Battle of the Greens, the originals from Edinburgh against the Glasgow hoops.

Hibs took the lead and looked to be heading into a half time lead but a quickfire double from Celtic in the final few minutes of the half completely turned the game on it's head.  There was only one goal in te second half and it went to Celtic to seal another home victory.

First half Hibs turn Celtic round to shoot towards the Celtic End 

PARADISE

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• 6th time attending this fixture this season and the 4th at Celtic Park
• The 112th time I've attended this fixture in the league
• Overall this was the 130th time seeing this fixture

MATCH 2015 - Thursday 8 May 2025

SEASON 2024/25

Semi Final 2nd Leg

Venue:  OLD TRAFFORD

MANCHESTER UNITED  4  ATHLETIC CLUB  1

Scorers:  Mount(2), Casemiro, Hojlund;  Mikel Jauregizar

(Aggregate: 7-1)

Attendance: 73,298

Manchester United came from behind on the night to comfortably book their place in the final which will be played at Athletic's home ground in Bilbao.  Despite being 3 goals down from the first leg the fantastic fans from Bilbao travelled in large numbers and they got some reward with a good first half performance from their team which included the opening goal of the second leg to make it uncomfortable for the United's fans at half time.

However as soon as United levelled the match up in the second half the task was just too great for Athletic as United confidence grew they began to wilt.  4-1 flattered United as did the overall aggregate score of 7-1 however they remain unbeaten in the competition including the five home victories in the ties I have managed to attend this season.

The A fans from Bilbao:

Full support to the end

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• The 5th time I attended a Manchester United match this season all in the UFEA Europa League
• Overall the 22nd time seeing Man United in UEFA competition, including three semi final ties
• This was the first time seeing Athletic Club in UEFA competition but overall I've now seen 11 clubs from Spain competing

MATCH 2014 - Sunday 20 April 2025

 SEAS0N 2024/25

SCOTTISH CUP SEMI FINAL

Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC  5  ST JOHNSTONE  0

Scorers: McGregor, Maeda(2), Idah, Jota

Attendance: 43,632

My normal view from the East Stand

As the clock ticked past the 30 minute mark St Johnstone must have been pleased with the first half hour of the match as the score was still 0-0 and Celtic not causing any serious problems but by half-time they were 4-0 down and facing an impossible task to reach another cup final.

After captain, Callum McGregor fired Celtic into the lead they quickly found their final pass accuracy which had been missing in the early stages.  McGregor then turn provider for Maeda to make it two.  Soon after Idah made it three before Maeda added his second right on the stroke of half time to make it four.  Jota neatly finished a good move at the back post in the second half to complete the five goal rout which sent Celtic into another Scottish Cup Final.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My 141st match at Hampden Park
• Fourth time attending this fixture this season
• 6th time attending this fixture in the Scottish Cup - with 2 at Hampden, both in the semi final
• Overall this was the 67th time attending this fixture - play in four stadia: Muirton Park 1, Celtic Park 48, McDermid Stadium 16 and Hampden 2

Halfway to Paradise

Paradise II on Easter Sunday
From the back of Hampden Celtic Park clearly in view

MATCH 2013 - Thursday 17 April 2025

SEASON 2024/25

QUARTER FINAL 2nd Leg

Venue:  OLD TRAFFORD

MANCHESTER UNITED  5  LYON  4

(After Extra Time)

Scorers: Ugarte, Dalot, Fernandes, Main, Maguire;  Tolisso, Tagliafico, Cherki, Lacazette

Aggregate: 7-6

An amazing UEFA Europa League tie at the "Theatre of Dreams" as Manchester United recovered from being 4-2 down in extra-time to win 5-4 with 3 goals in the last 7 minutes to book their place in the semi final.

The game was a roller-coaster as it went from United 2 up v 11 to 2 down v 10 to 5-4 in two hours of great European football.

Man United took a two goal lead in the first half and were well in control and should have increased their lead at the beginning of the second half but once Lyon pulled one back they looked the most likely to scored again and they did to send the match into extra-time. Lyon did have a set back when they were reduced to 10 men before then end of the 90 minutes but it did not hold them back from taking control of the match in extra time as they went 4-2 up and then came the most dramatic comebacks from United in last 7 minutes

My journey this time to Old Trafford was firstly by car to Blackpool and then train and metro from Blackpool to Manchester to Old Trafford but well worth it - in the end.

The starting XI's but not by no means the full cast of stars

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My 4th match at Old Trafford this season - all in the UEFA Europa League
• Overall the 21st time seeing Manchester United in UEFA European competition since 1991
• The 4th time seeing Lyon 

MATCH 2012 - Saturday 12 April 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  5  KILMARNOCK  1

Scorers:  Hatate(2), Maeda, Carter-Vickers, Ralston; Armstrong

Celtic raced into a four nil lead in the first half including two memorable long ranch shots, firstly from Hatate to open the scoring and then a thunderbolt from Carter-Vickers.  Kilmarnock pulled one back which was also a great goal to add to the first half entertainment.

After being spoiled in the first half, the second half was nowhere near the same level and it wasn't until the final seconds of the game that another goal was added to the tally.

The win and the three points means that Celtic are on the brink of the league title.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• The 3rd time attending this fixture this season - all at Celtic Park
• The 78th time seeing this League fixture - including 51 at Celtic Park
• Overall the 89th time attending this fixture - with 54 at Celtic Park

MY FULL BREAKDOWN FOR THIS FIXTURE

MATCH 2011 - Sunday 6 April 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  McDIARMID PARK

ST JOHNSTONE  1  CELTIC  0

Scorer:  Balodis

This was a bottom v top clash but an early goal from the home was enough to upset the odds and give the Saints a valuable win in their fight to stay in the top flight of Scottish football.

An off day for Celtic despite a support taking up three stands inside McDiarmid Park.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 3rd time attending this fixture this season - 2 at McDiarmid Park & 1 at Celtic Park
• 59th time seeing this fixture in the league
• Overall the 64th time seeing this fixture including 17 at McDiarmid Stadium

MATCH 2010 - Saturday 29 March 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PRMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  HEARTS  0

Scorers:  Maeda(2), Jota

AMAZING MAEDA

All three goals are scored in the first half with the amazing Daizen Maeda scoring two and assisting with the other. After scoring the first when he was sent clear through the middle, he was a whisker away from his second a third when a glancing header came off the inside of the post but fell nicely into the path of Jota who made it 2-0.  Then he finished off a great quick Celtic attack by tapping in at the back post.

Hearts had their chances early in the first 45 minutes but while they missed Cltic and Maeda in particular were clinical.

Finnish goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo made his league debut and will be happy with his clean sheet after making a fine, sharp save in the opening stages of the match.

The latest Hearts manager to visit Celtic Park is Englishman, Neil Critchley.

Cold, wet & windy day in Paradise

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• First time attending this fixture this season
• The 103rd time attending the fixture in the league since 1981
• Overall I've now seen this fixture 120 times