MATCH 1877 - Saturday 7 May 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  HEARTS  1

Scorers:  Maeda, Kyogo, O'Riley, Giakoumakis;  Simms

Hearts take a surprise lead but before half time the Japanese bhoys have Celtic in front.  A further two are added in the second half from O'Riley (above) and Giakoumakis to win the match.  A signifcant win as it all but secures another league title.

Personal note:

• Hearts 3rd visit to Celtic Park this season and overall the 115th attending this fixture.
• Overall my 120th Hearts match over 41 seasons.

MATCH 1876 - Sunday 1 May 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  1  RANGERS*  1

Scorers:  Jota; Sakala

A goal in each half as the top two sides at thr top of the league have to settle for a draw.  An excellent strikers goal from Sakala cancels out Jota's first half opener.

Personal 

• 3rd time attending this fixture this season and my 16th overall.
• My 17th Rangers* match.

MATCH 1875 - Sunday 24 April 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  VICTORIA PARK STADIUM

ROSS COUNTY  0  CELTIC  2

Scorers:  Kyogo, Jota

I drove up the 3 and a half hours to Dingwall early Sunday morning mainly to take my son to the match but with 15 minutes to kick off I got a ticket for the Main Stand giving a great central view of the match.  I not usually this close to the action. 

A good if not spectular Celtic performance wins the three points.

Personal note:

• 4th visit to Dingwall 
• 3rd Celtic away match of season
• 3rd time attending this fixture this season and no. 21 overall.

MATCH 1874 - Sunday 17 April 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH CUP SEMI FINAL

Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC  1  RANGERS*  2 (After Extra Time)

Scorers: Taylor;  Arfield, OG

With Celtic leading 1-0 through a rare Greg Taylor goal, Carter-Vickers hits the bar and a fews minutes later concede an equaliser.  An own goal in extra time gives Rangers a rare win.

Tricolour Day

Pre match photo - Gormans CSC Airdrie.

Personal:

My 132nd match at Hampden Park.  Ticket in the South Stand upper which gives a much improved view of the pitch than my usual position in the triple rows of the East Stand way behind one of the goals.

Total number of Celtic games seen in Scottish Cup now up to 142.

This is the 17th time seeing the new Rangers* club.

Minor Match 65 - Saturday 15 April 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH LOWLANDS LEAGUE

Venue: FALKIRK STADIUM 

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE  2  BERWICK RANGERS  1

Interesting match between two former Scottish League sides who are now in the 5th tier of Scottish football.  Berwick bring a noisy following not sure if it's because it's the last league of the season or the chance to get to a very decent ground.

Personal note:

7th Lowlands League fixture for me this season.

Overall 3rd visit to the Falkirk Stadium

4th time seeing East Stirlingshire & 2nd watching Berwick Rangers

Paul on the line.

MATCH 1873 - Saturday 9 April 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  7  ST JOHNSTONE  0

Scorers:  Hatate, Giakoumakis, Maeda, Juranovic, O'Riley(2), Abada

Celtic hit top form against the Perth Saints.  Seven goals, five different scorers from 5 different nations - Japan, Greece, Croatia, Denmark & Israel.

Personal:

Celtic v St Johnstone 2nd time attending this fixture this season - both at Celtic Park - to make it 60 matches overall between them since my first one in 1983.

• 53 in League
• 2 in Leagie Cup
• 5 in Scottish Cup

Pre-match the masses begin to assemble.

MARCH 1872 - Saturday 19 March 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  ROSS COUNTY  0

Scorers:  Giakoumakis(3), Maeda

Greek striker Giakoumakis scores his second hat-trick in a few short weeks as he starts to show the Celtic fans full scoring potential.  

Personal stuff:

Celtic v Ross County - 15th time seeing this fixture at Celtic Park - 14 in League and one in Scottish Cup.

End of another game in Paradise and the fans head off very happy.

MATCH 1871 - Tuesday 15 March 2022

SEASON 2021/22

Round of 16, 2nd Leg

Venue: OLD TRAFFORD

MANCHESTER UNITED  0  ATLETICO MADRID  1

Scorer: Lodi dos Santos

Atletico score a few minutes before half time to book their place in the quarter final. It is a weak performance from United at home in a Champions League tie as they struggle to carve out decent chances.  

Current managers are Ralf Rangnick, interim and long time Atletico manager, Diego Simeone.

This is my first visit to Old Trafford in nearly 5 years making it 53 matches.

My 72nd Manchester United match.

3rd occasion seeing Atletico.

Pre-match Spanish gathering

Arrived!

Great setting - the Theatre of Dreams but more of a nightmare at the moment

Happy Spaniards

MATCH 1870 - Sunday 6 March 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE 

Venue:  ALMONDVALE STADIUM

LIVINGSTON  1  CELTIC  3

Scorers:  Shinnie;  Maeda, OG, Forrest

Celtic return to a ground that they have not performed well on for years but despite an early penalty miss produce a strong performance to comfortably beat a side they had only taken one point from six in the two previous league meetings this season.

This is my 11th visit to Almondvale Stadium since my first match there in 2002.

MATCH 1869 - Wednesday 2 March 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  ST MIRREN  0

Scorers: Carter-Vickers, McGregor

Two second half goals see Celtic win despite an uninspiring performance. St Mirren are now managed by Stephen Robinson.

St Mirren's 2nd visit of the season to Celtic Park and the 71st time I've seen them overall.

MATCH 1868 - Sunday 27 February 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: EASTER ROAD STADIUM (50)

HIBERNIAN  0  CELTIC  0

Not a great encounter for my 50th visit to Easter Road Stadium as Shaun Maloney's strugglers frustrate Celtic's efforts to secure another victory.

Again in the Hibs end but unlike the last visit the seat is probably the worse in the ground.

4th Hibs match of season and 128 in total.

Minor Match 64 - Friday 25 February 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH LOWLANDS LEAGUE

Venue:  RECREATION PARK, ALLOA

BROOMHILL  0  RANGERS-B  2

• 6th Scottish Lowlands League game me this season. 
• 4th Broomhill match, 3 of them at Recreation Park.
• 2nd time seeing Rangers-B.

MATCH 1867 - Sunday 20 February 2022

SEASON 2021/22

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  DUNDEE  2

Scorers: Giakoumakis(3);  Mullen, Sweeney

Great Greek Giorgos Giakoumakis

Maybe a European hangover or taking their opponents too lightly but a straightforward home match against the bottom side in the league turns out to be a real struggle. However an outstanding goalscoring performance from Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis wins the three points. After a slow start from Giakoumakis, today maybe a new star is born.

My 67th time seeing Dundee (60 in Premier League all v Celtic) who have their new manager, Mark McGhee in the stand.