MATCH 1599 - Sunday, 5 April 2015

SEASON:  2014/15
ENGLISH FA PREMIERSHIP
Venue: STADIUM OF LIGHT

SUNDERLAND  1  NEWCASTLE UNITED  0

Scorer: Defoe

Easter Sunday Derby

A massive derby even more than usual for Sunderland due the Premiership position just outside the drop zone so Defoe's amazing strike just on half time was very welcome.  Best atmosphere ever at Stadium of Light as the Makems celebrated 5 derby wins in a row. However this was the first time I had experienced it. 
Dutch guys everywhere in the stands (Feyenoord fans), in the dugout (Advocaat), in goals (Tim Krul) and at left back the very impressive van Aanholt.

Personal note: 4th Sunderland-Newcastle match; 10th Newcastle game overall; 5th Sunderland match this season.
It was good to meet Jonathan and Paul FTM from http://www.footballgroundguide.com/ forum pre match at:

MATCH 1598 - Saturday, 21 March 2015

Season: 2014/15
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    3    DUNDEE UNITED    0

Scorers: Mackay-Steven, Guidetti, Denayer

For the 3rd time in 7 days these sides played each other with Celtic winning all 3.  Today all three goals were very well taken.  After winning both cup ties and Aberdeen slipping up at Dundee in the lunch time kick off the pressure was off as Celtic kicked off at 3 o'clock on a Saturday at home for the first time in 2015. 


Personal note:  It was my 120th Dundee United match overall.

Match no. 38 of the season.

MATCH 1597 - Wednesday, 18 March 2015

Season: 2014/15
SCOTTISH CUP QUARTER FINAL Replay
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    4    DUNDEE UNITED    0

Scorers:  Denayer, Griffiths, Commons, van Dijk

Celtic progress to Scottish Cup semi final.  We went to the match with an Aussie girl, Michelle who thought the mild March evening was very cold but still enjoyed her football debut.

MATCH 1596 - Sunday, 15 March 2015

Season: 2014/15
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP FINAL
Venue: HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC    2    DUNDEE UNITED    0

Scorers:  Commons, Forrest

The match was far from a classic but Celtic clinched their 15th League Cup.  Both goals scored when United were down to 10 men, 1st when Dillon was off having treatment, 2nd after the sending off of the same player.

Celtic End turnstyles

HAMPDEN ~ 2.00pm

HAMPDEN ~ 2.15pm

HAMPDEN ~ 2.30pm

HAMPDEN ~ 3.00pm - The United end has been "Tango'd"

Kick off

Second half

Personal note:  14th League Cup final - 13 involving Celtic
2nd one contested between these sides
7th Celtic victory (1982, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2009 & 2015)

MATCH 1595 - Wednesday, 4 March 2015

Season:  2014/15
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    0    ST JOHNSTONE    1

Scorer: Swanson

After the high of Sunday's victory over title challengers Aberdeen this was the low of another home defeat.  With Celtic a bit flat St Johnstone took full advantage and were worthy of their win.

Personnel note:  35th match of the season.  First St Johnstone match since the Cup Final victory in May.

MATCH 1594 - Sunday, 1 March 2015

SEASON:  2014/15
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    4    ABERDEEN     0

Scorers: Denayer, Griffiths, Mackay-Steven; Johansen

Kick-off

Early kick off (12 noon) for top of the table clash.  Celtic beat their nearest title challengers for the third time this season.

Aberdeen begin better but against the run of play Celtic take the lead late in the first half, then produce a stirring second display to secure all three points.

MATCH 1593 - Sunday, 22 February 2015

SEASON: 2014/15
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    4    HAMILTON    0

Scorers:  Commons(2), Johansen, Guidetti

Very wet Sunday lunch time for the second meeting of the clubs at Celtic Park this season.  I wasn't able to get my own supporters bus into the park but I was able to catch a lift on the Edinburgh Shamrock CSC who had stopped off in Coatbridge on route to the game.

It was all about getting the first goal and as soon as it came the floodgates opened.

ANOTHER RAINY DAY N PARADISE

Second half - kick off

Personal note:  33rd match of the season; 23rd Hamilton match overall

MATCH 1592 - Thursday, 19 February 2015

SEASON:  2014/15

ROUND OF 32, FIRST LEG

VENUE:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    3    INTER    3

Scorers:  Armstrong, O.G., Guidetti;  

Shaqiri; Palacio(2)

A classic UEFA Europa League encounter at a packed Celtic Park between two iconic European club sides with Celtic scoring in injury time to earn a draw against their legendary Italian opponents.

The only thing missing was Inter's famous blue & black jersey.

Inter took a two goal lead inside 15 minutes but Celtic responded well with two quick fire goals midway through a dramatic first half. However Inter regained the lead just before half time which they held until three minutes into stoppage time.

Personal note:  This was the first time seeing Inter in a European tie but 11 involving an Italian club.  My 7th European tie of the season

Match Programme

MATCH 1591 - Saturday, 7 February 2015

Season: 2014/15
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP
Venue:  LIBERTY STADIUM (1)

SWANSEA CITY    1    SUNDERLAND    1

Scorers: Ki;  Defoe

37 hour marathon to follow Sunderland to Swansea and visit a new ground!  Trip started just after 8pm on Friday with a train into Glasgow, then overnight travel on the Megabus sleeper service to Cardiff. The final leg of the to journey to Swansea was completed by train plus the local No. 4 bus from town to ground. We eventually arrived home at 9am on Sunday.

This was my first match in Wales therefore a new ground.  The modern Liberty Stadium is neat to say the least, holding just over 20,000.  There is a good atmosphere at the away side of the ground.

As for the game it wasn't a classic so the goals were welcome.  A typical Defoe strike out of nothing opened the scoring giving Sunderland a half time advantage.  The equaliser came in the second half from ex-Celt Ki Sung-yueng.

Personal note:
14th country to watch football in.
67th top division match in England
33rd Sunderland match in 8 different grounds
2nd Swansea match (other one in Carlisle Apr 2008)

Cardiff, 7.30am

Swansea Train Station

The away support

MATCH 1590 - Sunday, 1 February 2015

Season: 2014/15
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP Semi Final
Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC    2   RANGERS*   0

Scorers: Griffiths, Commons

Two first half goals gave Celtic a comfortable victory over their lower league opponents which booked their place in the final.  This was the billed by the media as the first "Old Firm" game since the liquidation of the former Rangers club in 2012.
Apart from the two goals the game lacked any quality throughout.

From the back of the Celtic End with the young W Gorman CSC crew

Personal note:  

• 30th match of season
• 112th match at Hampden
• 98th Celtic League Cup tie
• 2nd Rangers match since 2012