MATCH 1947 - Saturday 30 December 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  RANGERS*  1

Scorers:  Bernardo, Kyogo;  Tavernier

Portugese midfielder Bernardo celebrates scoring his first Celtic Park goal

Three excellent goals from two ordinary teams. No away fans for this fixture again and it certainly worked in Celtic's favour as Celtic Park is a horrible place for any Rangers side and even worse with no one in their corner.

The latest Rangers* manager in charge at Celtic Park was Belgian, Philippe Clement.

Personal note:

• 20th time seeing this "new" fixture
• 12th time in league - all at Celtic Park (unsurprisingly)  
• Last match of 2023 in all 47 attended, 37 Celtic and 10 non-Celtic

A team with no support 

MATCH 1946 - Saturday 23 December 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  LIVINGSTON  0

Scorers: Kyogo, Scales

Two second half goals are good enough to beat bottom of the table Livingston as the visitors are having an unusually poor season.

Personal note:

• 29th time seeing this fixture
• Overall the 30th time seeing Livingston - one v Sunderland 
• The first match was under the name of Meadowbank Thistle in 1995 v Celtic at Hampden in the Scottish Cup

MATCH 1945 - Saturday 16 December 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  0  HEARTS  2

Scorers: Shankland; Kingsley

Poor performance from Celtic but excellent one from Hearts scoring two goals from reliable sources - their talisman Lawrence Shankland and free kick expert Stephen Kingsley.

No real response from Celtic.

First time seeing Hearts win at Celtic Park since season 2009/10.

MATCH 1944 - Wednesday 13 December 2023

SEASON 2023/24

Group Stage

CELTIC  2  FEYENOORD  1

Scorers: Palma, Lagerbielke; Minteh

A last minute goal gives Celtic their only win of six Champions League group matches.  Two goals from summer recruits Luis Palma (Honduras) and Lagerbiekle (Sweden) seals the win again the Dutch champions.

Huge away support from Holland

Personal note: 

• My first time seeing Feyenoord in UEFA competition 
• 3rd time seeing this fixture - 2 Celtic Park and 1 Feyenoord Stadion
• My 161st Celtic match in UEFA European competition since 1982

MATCH 1943 - Wednesday 6 December 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  HIBERNIAN  1

Scorers:  Oh(2), O'Riley, Palma;  Doidge

Hibs came to Celtic Park with another manager from their last visit.  This time it's Nick Montgomery in their dugout.  Celtic get off to a flyer scoring early and by half time had doubled their lead. 

In the second half another early goal saw Celtic stretch their lead from the penalty spot and then Oh scores his second of the game to complete Cltic's scoring.  A clean sheet is not achieved though as Hibs scored a consolation.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• 123rd time attending this fixture
• 110 in the League

MATCH 1942 - Saturday 25 November 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  1  MOTHERWELL  1

Scorers:  Turnbull;  Obika

Poor match - a weak Celtic line up and Motherwell employing outrageous time wasting antics which the referee was unable to deal with.

As for the game Celtic were awarded two penalty kicks and typically missed one.

Report: LINK

Personal note:

• Overall my 18th match of the season including:
• 10 Scottish Premiership league matches - all Celtic
• 10 matches at Celtic Park in all competitions 

MATCH 1941 - Sunday 12 November 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  6  ABERDEEN  0

Scorers: Yang, Kyogo, Palma, Turnbull, Oh(2)

A United Nations of goalscorer at a sun drenched Celtic Park with goals from South Korea, Japan, Honduras and Scotland as Celtic recorded their biggest win of the season.

Match Report:  LINK

Personal note:

• 133rd time attending this fixture 
• 111 time in the league
• 81st at Celtuc Park

MATCH 1940 - Wednesday 1 November 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  ST MIRREN  1

Scorers: Turnbull, Oh; McMenamin

Celtic with a few top players missing found it difficult to create many goal chances but kept plugging away and eventually claimed victory in the final stages with a lovely move from Kyogo and Holm and an empathic finish from Oh.

In the first half St Mirren took an early lead but Turnbull's long-range effort gave Celtic a quick equaliser.  The same player then passed up the opportunity to put Celtic in front before half time when he missed a penalty.  

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 74th time attending this fixture - Breakdown: League 64, Scottish Cup 7, League Cup 3
• Overall I've seen St Mirren 75 times - the other game was a Cup QF  v. Airdrie in 1983

MATCH 1939 - Sarurday 28 October 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: EASTER ROAD 

HIBERNIAN  0  CELTIC  0

Attendance: 18,548

A rare Saturday 3pm away fixture for Celtic.  After the midweek Champion League match they lacked energy until the latter stages of the game but ultimately couldn't find a breakthrough.

Personal note:

• 122nd time attanding this fixture overall (106th in league)
• 53rd match at Easter Road Stadium
• In the away stand for a change

MATCH 1938 - Wednesday 25 October 2023

 SEASON 2023/24

Group Stage

CELTIC  2  ATLETICO MADRID  2

Scorers: Kyogo; Palma;  Griezmann, Morata

A terrific first half performance from Celtic saw them score two excellent goals to take a deserved 2-1 lead at the break.  In second half Celtic were unable to maintain the same levels and Atletico made a few tactical adjustments and were able to find an equaliser to take a point from th match.

Personal note:

• 4th time seeing Atletico - record 3 wins and a draw
• My 16th time seeing Celtic take on a Spanish side in European competition
• 
  

Minor Match 67 - Wednesday 25 October 2023

SEASON 2023/24

UEFA YOUTH LEAGUE

Venue: THE CITY STADIUM (aka LESSER HAMPDEN)

CELTIC-B  0  ATLETICO MADRID YOUTHS  2

Scorers: Munoz, Belid

The young Spanish side dominate the match from start to finish and score a goal in each half to earn a comfortable victory. 

MATCH 1937 - Saturday 7 Octobr 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  KILMARNOCK  1

Scorers: Hatate, Palma, Taylor;  Watson

A very good Celtic performance especially after the disappointment of the midweek Champions League defeat.  The performance should have yielded more goals but some good goalkeeping and over elaborate play in the box kept the score down.

Personal note:

• 85th time sing this fixture - 75 of them in the league
• 50th Celtic Park game.  Hampden Park 6 and 29 at Rugby Park
• Total goals scored in these 85 games 247.

Match Report: LINK

MATCH 1936 - Wednesday 4 October 2023

 SEASON 2023/24

Group Stage

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  1  LAZIO  2

Scorers: Kyogo; Vecino, Pedro

The fixture that gives a last minute winner - every time .  Unfortunately this time it wasn't for Celtic as the Italians snatched a last gasp goal to take all three group points.

Celtic took an early lead with a lovely move however conceded a soft set piece goal which meant the sides were level at half time.

Personal note:

•  Only the 2nd time seeing Lazio
• The total number of times I've seen Celtic take on Italian opponents in Europe (UEFA competitions) is nine
• Total number of Champion League group stage matches attended is 65 (with 54 at Celtic Park)

Match Report: LINK

MATCH 1935 - Saturday 30 September 2023

SEASON 2022/23

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  FIR PARK

MOTHERWELL  1  CELTIC  2

Scorers:  Spittal;  Palma, O'Riley

It looked like one goal would decide the game so when Celtic's recent signing Luis Palma scored his first goal for the club it seemed like the winner, it was only after the game I seen it was as late as the 87th minute, however a crazy injury time period gave us another two goals.

Motherwell first scored a dramatic equaliser but incredibly Celtic still managed to score again to secure the three points on a difficult away trip. 

Personal note:

• 122nd time attending this fixture 
• 42 of them at Fir Park
• Overall the 133rd time seeing Motherwell 

Match Report:  LINK

MATCH 1934 - Saturday 16 September 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  DUNDEE  0

Scorers:  Turnbull, Kyogo, O'Riley

Back to Celtic Park after three weeks and three second half goals give Celtic the three league points.

A few debuts for Celtic today - Nat Phillips (joined on loan from Liverpool), Luis Palma (Honduras) and Paulo Bernardo (Portugal).

Personal note:

• 67th time attending this fixture. League 61, Scottish Cup 3 and League Cup 3
• 61 at Celtic Park and 16 at Dens Park
• Overall my 1132 match in Scotland's top league.

MATCH 1933 - Saturday 26 August 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  0  ST JOHNSTONE  0

Only the second home match of the season and it ended in a goalless draw.

Personal note:

• 62nd attending this fixture, 55 of them in the league
• 46 of them at Celtic Park
• The 7th draw seen between the sides

MATCH 1932 - Sunday 20 August 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP 2nd Round

Venue: RUGBY PARK

KILMARNOCK  1  CELTIC  0

Scorer:  Watkins

An understrength Celtic struggled all game to get into the match and pay the price by exiting the cup.

Personal Note:

• 7th time attending this fixture in the Scottish League Cup.
• Overall the 84th time attending this fixture.
• 29th visit to Rugby Park all for Celtic games.

MATCH 1931 - Sunday 13 August 2023

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  PITTODRIE STADIUM

ABERDEEN  1  CELTIC  3

Scorers: Miovski;  Abada, Kyogo, O'Riley

Beautiful Sunday with Pittodrie basking in the sunshine

A lovely day in Aberdeen (not something you say too often) for my first visit to Pittodrie since 2012.  

A hard fought win with Celtic's new recruits having to learn the Scottish game quickly as Aberdeen tested their resolve and quality however it was the "old bhoys" that got all three goals.

A full house which was good to see and the noise that accompanied the equaliser was like the old days.  As Barry Robson said "what a great game of football".

Match report: LINK

 Personal note:

• My 37th match at Pittodrie Stadium  (36 v Celtic and the other v Man Utd)
• The 132nd time attending this fixture - the 110th in the league.
• Same scoreline as my first Pittodrie visit in January 1982.