Flash Back - Match 35 - 1st September 1982

Season:  1982/83
Scottish League Cup - Sectional Match
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    4    ARBROATH    1

Scorers: MacLeod, McCluskey, Nicholas, Dobbin

Att: 5,200

Celtic v Arbroath is a rare fixture in the Scottish game.  Personally I have only see it on two occasions.  The first and only one at Celtic Park was 30 years ago in on the 1st September.  Celtic enjoyed a free scoring start to the season and this match was no different as they scored four in a very comfortable victory. 

Charlie Nicholas

The scorers on the night included Charlie Nicholas and from my records it was the first time I had saw Charlie score, mainly due to the fact he was just returning after a long lay off following a broken leg.  A young reserve player, Jim Dobbin made his debut and also managed to get on the score sheet. John Buckley was another debutant.

The match was played in front of a very low crowd at Celtic Park of 5,200 as the midweek sectional format of the League Cup proved a real turn off for supporters.

Celtic team: 
Bonner, McGrain, Reid, Aitken, McAdam, MacLeod, Provan, Buckley, Dobbin, Nicholas, Burns, McCluskey

Flash Back - Match 309 - 7th Nov 1987

Season:  1987/88
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  TYNECASTLE

HEARTS    1    CELTIC    1

Scorer:  Colquhoun;  McGhee 
Att: 29,000

Hearts - Celtic clashes especially at Tynecastle have always had an edge.  The new stands maybe more intimate however the old terraces packed alot more people in with the away end holding 10,000 alone and was regularly sold out.

Just look at the packed ends behind each goal in this intense encounter from 1987.  Both teams were riding high in the league and although Hearts held a lead against a 10 man Celtic team Roy Aitken inspired his team to draw with a lateish equaliser.  Through great determination (his trademark) and a fair level of skill he sent over an excellent cross for Mark McGhee to power home a header.  In the first half John Colquhoun had scored from a cracking shot from out side the box.  Mick McCarthy was the Celt that was shown the red card. 

This is proof that rivalry in football is a good thing.  

Match 1489 - Saturday 24th November 2012

Season 2012/13
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

                        

CELTIC    0   INVERNESS CT    1

Scorer:  McKay

Celtic's poor SPL home form continues as they lose there 2nd home game of the season. Another game where we could have played all day and not scored.  Best chances fell to Coomons and Lustig just before the break and it didn't get any better for Celts in second half. 
Watched the match from the North Stand rather than my usual seat in the South Front so I could see the small band of Caley fans even if I couldn't hear them although I'm sure they enjoyed it.
My normal seat went to my three year old daughter who attended her first match at Celtic Park with her mum and apparently became the youngest ever hooligan went she turn round and punched a wee boy on the nose.  Was the game really that bad?

Celtic

• 01 Forster 02 Matthews (Brown - 69' ) 04 Ambrose 21 Mulgrew 23 Lustig 15 Commons 33 Kayal 67 Wanyama 09 Samaras 32 Watt (McCourt - 65' ) 88 Hooper (Nouioui - 76' )

Inverness Caledonian Thistle

• 12 Reguero 02 Raven 03 Shinnie 05 Warren 14 Meekings 04 Tudur-Jones 10 Shinnie 07 McKay (Sutherland - 84' ) 09 Foran 17 Doran 23 Roberts Booked (Pepper - 90' )

Att: 44,379

Personal note:  This was only the Highlanders 2nd win and first in the SPL in the 16 matches I've seen them, all against Celtic.

Celtic  12 wins
Draws:   2
Inverness:  2 wins

SPL  13
LC  2
SC  1

Celtic Park   14
Caledonian Stadium  2

FLASH BACK - Match 1131 - 13th November 2004

Season: 2004/05
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

                 

CELTIC    3    INVERNESS CT    0

Scorers: Sutton, Hartson(2)

Although Inverness CT inflicted the most infamous defeat of Celtic at Celtic Park in the Scottish Cup in 2000 I was delighted when they gained promotion into the top league as it meant a flesh SPL opponent.

In front of a 56,500 crowd at Celtc Park ICT were no match on this occasion as the formidable pairing of Sutton and Hartson scored the goals that eventually seen Celtic run out comfortable winners.  Although they were helped by Inverness missing a penalty.

Teams:

CELTIC:  Hedman, McNamara, Balde, Varga, Valgaeren, McGeady, Lennon, Sutton, Thompson, Hartson, Camara

INVERNESS:  Brown,  Tokely,  Golabek,  Dods,  McBain,  Wilson, Bayne,  Hart,  Juanjo,  Duncan

Personal note:  This was the first time I had seen Inverness in the SPL but the 3rd time overall having seen in them in the Scottish and League Cups all at Celtic Park.

FLASH BACK - Match 656 - 3rd November 1993

Season:  1993/94  

UEFA Cup Second Round Second Leg 

Venue:  ESTADIO J. ALAVALADE

** SPORTING LISBON 2 - 0 CELTIC **

Scorers: Cadete(2)

On a very wet night in Lisbon (more like Glasgow weather) Celtic crashed out of Europe as Bobby Robson side comfortably over turned the one nil defeat of the first leg in Glasgow.  A goal in each half from Jorge Cadete made the aggregate score 2:1.  Celtic had there chances but failed to make any count when it mattered in what was Lou Macari's first match as Celtic manager.

I travelled over with Passport Travel who were based in Clydebank on a one day charter flight from Glasgow returning into Edinburgh in the early hours.  The highlight of the day was a stop off at Estádio Nacional near Lisbon were Celtic won the European Cup in 1967.  Sadly there where no heroics from this Celtic side.



FLASH BACK - Match 18 - 30th January 1982

Season: 1981/82
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium

           

ABERDEEN    1    CELTIC    3

Scorers: ?; McCluskey, MacLeod, McStay

This weekend's Aberdeen-Celtic match brings back many memories of trips to Aberdeen.  Some good, some bad and some indifferent however my first visit to Pittodrie was one to remember.  A packed stadium was buzzing as 17 year old Paul McStay made his league debut following his first appearance in green and white hoops the previous weekend against Queen of the South in a Scottish Cup tie.

Aberdeen established a very early lead but George McCluskey cancelled this out during the first half.  In the second half a deflected  Murdo MacLeod shot flew past Jim Leighton before a debut goal from McStay. The new midfield maestro burst into the box and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.

At this time Pittodrie Stadium was one of the few all seated grounds in Britain and the Celtic fans were housed in the Paddock Stand which faces the beach.

My first view of Pittodrie from the Paddock End

FLASH BACK - Match 1103 - 11th March 2004

Season:     2003/04
UEFA CUP Round of 16, 1st Leg
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    1    BARCELONA    0

Scorer:  Thompson

Last week was not the first time Celtic had defeated a star studded Barcelona side.  In 2004 Martin O'Neill's terrific side of 2003/04 beat nine men Barcelona on an eventful night in Glasgow.  After a farcas in the tunnel only 20 players emerged for the second half and soon afterwards another Barcelona star was heading for an early bath.  Which left 10 v 9 in Celtic's favour.  Celtic took full advantage when Alan Thompson connected with a neat Henril Larsson knock down to win the first leg tie fie.
Barcelona starting XI on the night included Puyol and the best player in the world at the time, Ronaldinho. 

Match 1488 - Sunday, 11th November 2012S

Season:  2012/13
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: CELTIC PARK

                                 

CELTIC     1     ST JOHNSTONE     1 

 Scorers:   Watt;   Hasselbaink

For the 4th time since April these two sides clash at Celtic Park.  Like all SPL home matches this season Celtic are not at their best and after getting in front through half time substitute Watt, are unable to push on and get any more goals.  St Johnstone grow in confidence and after a spell of good pressure get the equaliser which secures an away point.

Football Focus ~ SPANISH ENCOUNTERS

Full list of matches involving Spanish sides:

1982   European Cup     Celtic  2  REAL SOCIEDAD  1  - Glasgow
1984   FIFA WCQ   Scotland  3   SPAIN  1   -   Glasgow
1994   Champions League Final   AC Milan   4  BARCELONA   0   -   Athens
1994   Champions League     Manchester United  2  BARCELONA  2  - Manchester
1996   Friendly       Celtic   0   BARCELONA   1   -   Glasgow
2001   UEFA Cup     Celtic    1   VALENCIA      0   -   Glasgow
2002   Champions League Final  REAL MADRID   2   Bayer Leverkusen   1  -   Glasgow
2002   UEFA Cup     Celtic    1   CELTA VIGO   0   -   Glasgow
2004   UEFA Cup   Celtic    1   BARCELONA   0   -   Glasgow
2004   UEFA Cup     Celtic    1   VILLARREAL   1  -   Glasgow
2004   Friendly        Celtic   1    SEVILLA     0   -   Glasgow 
2004    Champions League     Celtic   1    BARCELONA   3   -   Glasgow
2006   Champions League Final    BARCELONA   2   Arsenal   1   -   Paris
2007   UEFA Cup Final   SEVILLA  2  ESPANYOL  2 **Sevilla won on pens. ** Glasgow
2007   Friendly        Hearts   1   BARCELONA   3  -  Edinburgh
2008   Champions League      Celtic   2   BARCELONA   3   -  Glasgow
2008   Champions League      Celtic   2   VILLARREAL   0   -   Glasgow
2009   Wembly Cup    Tottenham   1   BARCELONA    1  -  London
2009   Wembley Cup  Al Ahly          1   BARCELONA    4  -  London
2011   UEFA Cup         Celtic   0   ATLETICO MADRID   1  -  Glasgow
2012   London Olympics  Japan   1   SPAIN   0   -   Glasgow
2012   Champions League    Celtic   2   BARCELONA   1   -   Glasgow

*** 22 MATCHES  ***

Team/Encounters:
BARCELONA              11
VILLARREAL               2
SEVILLA                        2
REAL SOCIEDAD        1
CELTA VIGO                1
VALENCIA                    1
REAL MADRID             1
ESPANYOL                    1
ATLETICO MADRID   1

NATIONAL SIDE          2

Match 1487 - Wednesday, 7th November 2012

Season: 2012/13

Group Stage - Match 4

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC     2     BARCELONA      1

Scorers: Wanyama,  Watt;   Messi

A magical night in Paradise as Celtic beat the might of Barcelona.

Victor Wanyama & Tony Watt were the scorers for Celtic but all in green and white played their part.  However special mention should go to Fraser Forster who had an outstanding match and was the main reason Celtic experienced the sweet taste of victory against the World's outstanding football team.

Celtic were celebrating their 125th anniversary and both teams entered the arena to a splendid display marking this special occasion. 

Barcelona dominated possession throughout the match however it was Celtic who took the lead midway during the first half.   Celtic won a corner on the right and when it was delivered to the back post the outstanding Victor Wanyama powered a wonderful header past Valdés.  Before half time Barcelona would hit the woodwork twice.  First from a flash shot from Messi which clipped the top of the crossbar.  Then Sánchez was unlucky to see his header hit the outside of the post.

In the second half a series of world class saves from Forster kept Celtic in front.  As the second half wore on and Barcelona failing to turn possession into goals they sent on "A class" reinforcements in the shape of Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fàbregas and David Villa to supplement the talents of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta.  Incredibly though it was a Celtic substitute 18 year old Tony Watt from Coatbridge that scored the scored goal of the game to put Celtic two up and increase even further the noise level around Celtic Park.

Just as the fourth official held aloft the board showing 4 additional minutes Messi scored but thankfully it was no more than a consolation and Celtic enjoyed one of the finest nights in their 125 year history.

St Johnstone 40th Match

The Scottish League Cup tie on 30th October 2012 was the 40th time I have seen St Johnstone.  All of the matches have been against Celtic in 4 venues - Celtic Park, McDairmid Stadium, Hampden and the old Muirton Park

The first match was at Celtic Park in September 1983 which ended in a 5-2 win for the home team. 

Stats:

SPL                              36 

Scottish Cup                  3 

Scottish League Cup      1

Venues:

Celtic Park                 28

Muirton Park             1

McDiarmid Stadium 10

Hampden Park            1

Record:

Wins       5

Draws     3

Defeats   32

Goals:

For

Against

Match 1486 - Tuesday, 30th October 2012

Season:  2012/13
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP 4th Round
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

           

CELTIC     5     ST JOHNSTONE     0

Scorers: Commons(3), Hooper, Mulgrew

On a stormy night in Glasgow, Celtic breezed past Saints with an inspired performance infront of another low crowd for a home cup tie.  Kris Commons was on top form displaying a great range of passing and shooting.