MATCH 2025 - Thursday 21 August 2025

 SEASON  2025/26

Qualifying Round 1st Leg

Venue:  EASTER ROAD STADIUM

HIBERNIAN  1  LEGIA WARSAW  2

Scorers:  Mulligan;  Nsame; Wszolek

My second time attending a Hibernian European tie and like the previous occasion it ended in a narrow one goal defeat.  Hibs started well and could've had the lead in the early stages but a dodgy VAR decision change the course of the game when the Polish side were awarded a penalty.  Before half time they doubled their lead.  

His did have their chances to at least get a draw but passed up several golden opportunities and now face a huge task in Poland to progress to the group stage.

My seat was in the centre of the main stand upper giving a perfect view of the pitch and the whole stadium.  Easter Road is a class ground to watch football

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• This was a new fixture match up for me, in total the 430th fixture I've seen
• My second time seeing Hibs in Europe and the third time seeing Legia
• This was the 13th different opponent I've seen Hibernian play

MATCH 2024 - Wednesday 20 August 2025

SEASON 2025/26

Qualifying Round 1st Leg

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  0  KAIRAT  0

Attendance: 58,000

A dissappointing night as Celtic fail to gain a lead ahead of the second leg in Kazakhstan.  

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• This was the 4th time seeing Celtic play opposition from Kazakhstan, having previously played Astana(twice) and Shakhter Karagandy all in UEFA Champions League Qualification.
• Overall this was the 167th time seeing Celtic in UEFA competition

MATCH 2023 - Saturday 16 August 2025

SEASON 2025/26

ENGLISH LEAGUE DIVISION 1

Venue:  BLOOMFIELD ROAD

BLACKPOOL  3  HUDDERSFIELD TOWN  2

Scorers:  Ennis(2), Evans;  Wiles, Gooch

Attendance:  10,922

10-man Blackpool shock early league leaders Huddersfield in a clinical first half. Coming from one goal down to lead 3-1 before ex-Sunderland man, Gooch reduced their lead.  All five goals were scored in an eventful first 45 minutes which also included a red card for the scorer of two of Blackpool's goals, Niall Ennis.

This was a bit of a bonus game as we headed to Blackpool for a day out.  Thankfully it was a clear journey down the M6, which is more than can be said of traffic heading north towards the Lake District.

Both clubs played in their traditional kits, Blackpool in tangerine shirts and Huddersfield in light blue & white stripes.

Managers: Blackpool - Steve Bruce;  Huddersfield - Lee Grant

The match was played in a great atmosphere with the away support in fine voice early on due to the confidence from their good start to the season and the Seasiders got right behind their team when they went down to ten men. In the second half they cheered every clearance and gave the team tremendous backing to help the 10 men keep going until then 97th minute to claimed a deserved victory.

Pre-match formalities 

Goal celebration

Final whistle and the Seasiders fans celebrate

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• First time attending this fixture. The 428th different fixture attended.
• My 9th visit to Bloomfield Road since 1981.
• Overall this was my 11th time seeing Blackpool and the first seeing Huddersfield Town.

MATCH 2022 - Friday 15 August 2025

 SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP 2nd Round

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  FALKIRK  1

Scorers:  Maeda, Johnston, Murray, O.G.;  Adams

Friday night football at Celtic Park and it was played with a good vibe Friday atmosphere.  For the home support it was an enjoyable tie with four goals to cheer as their team coasted through to the next round.  Which is not always the case against Falkirk.

This was the second season in a row the clubs had met in the League Cup at Celtic Park and it produced the same outcome.

Falkirk manager - John McGlynn.  Ex-Celtic goalkeeper, Scott Bain returned to Celtic Park as Falkirk's No 1 following his summer transfer to the Bairns.

Match report: LINK

Personal Note:

• 6th time attending this fixture in the Scottish League Cup
• Overall 38th time attending this fixture

MATCH 2021 - Sunday 10 August 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  PITTODRIE STADIUM

ABERDEEN  0  CELTIC  2

Scorers:  Nygren, Hatate

Attendance:  18,388

An early morning start, leaving at 07:15 for what was my 38th visit to Pittodrie Stadium and it was a very pleasant day all round in the Granite City.  For a change the weather was hot and sunny and Celtic made up for their cup final disappointment in May with a solid performance against the same opponents scoring a goal in each half to claim the points. 

Reo Hatate who missed the cup final secured the victory with an excellent strike in-off the crossbar in the second half.  New Celt, Benjamin Nygren opened his Celtic account with a well take goal in the first half.

Warm up

Kick off

View of Pittodrie from the top of the hill at the beach end

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• My first away match of the new season
• The 139th time attending this fixture with 37 at Pittodrie
• Overall this was my 1725th time watching Celtic and 145th time seeing Aberdeen

Match 2020 - Sunday 3 August 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  1  ST MIRREN  0

Scorer:  McGowan

First league match of the new season and Celtic secure a hard fought 1-0 victory against a well organised Buddies side as we have come to expect and respect from a team managed by Stephen Robinson.  The goal coming in the final few minutes of the regulation 90.

It was an uninspiring first half from Celtic but the second was better as they went close to scoring several times.

It was also flag day with Paul McStay doing the honours of unfurling the league flag.

Great tribute from the NorthCurve to a Celtic Great - John Clark, RIP

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• This was the 69th time I've attended this fixture in the league
• It was the 80th time seeing St Mirren, all bar one v Celtic.  The other one was v Airdrieonians in a Scottish Cup tie

Match 2019 - Saturday 19 July 2025

SEASON 2025/26

FRIENDLY

VENUE:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  NEWCASTLE UNITED  0

Scorers: Engels, Kenny, Yang, Scales

My first match of season 2025/26 which is my 45th year of attending football and following Celtic FC.  We were sitting in the main stand for a change which although over 50 years old and by far the oldest part of Celtic Park, the upper part offers the best pitch views in the ground.

This pre-season game was billed as a challenge match between the winners of the Scottish and English League Cups attracted a large crowd of over 45,000 with nearly 10,000 away fans to give it a great atmosphere with a bit of needle.

Match report: LINK

Personal notes:

• The fourth time attending this fixture all at Celtic Park and all friendly matches
• Overall the 11th time seeing Newcastle United - 1 home & 10 away
• In total my 1,723rd Celtic match

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