MATCH 2011 - Sunday 6 April 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  McDIARMID PARK

ST JOHNSTONE  1  CELTIC  0

Scorer:  Balodis

This was a bottom v top clash but an early goal from the home was enough to upset the odds and give the Saints a valuable win in their fight to stay in the top flight of Scottish football.

An off day for Celtic despite a support taking up three stands inside McDiarmid Park.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 3rd time attending this fixture this season - 2 at McDiarmid Park & 1 at Celtic Park
• 59th time seeing this fixture in the league
• Overall the 64th time seeing this fixture

MATCH 2010 - Saturday 29 March 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PRMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  HEARTS  0

Scorers:  Maeda(2), Jota

AMAZING MAEDA

All three goals are scored in the first half with the amazing Daizen Maeda scoring two and assisting with the other. After scoring the first when he was sent clear through the middle, he was a whisker away from his second a third when a glancing header came off the inside of the post but fell nicely into the path of Jota who made it 2-0.  Then he finished off a great quick Celtic attack by tapping in at the back post.

Hearts had their chances early in the first 45 minutes but while they missed Cltic and Maeda in particular were clinical.

Finnish goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo made his league debut and will be happy with his clean sheet after making a fine, sharp save in the opening stages of the match.

The latest Hearts manager to visit Celtic Park is Englishman, Neil Critchley.

Cold, wet & windy day in Paradise

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• First time attending this fixture this season
• The 103rd time attending the fixture in the league since 1981
• Overall I've now seen this fixture 120 times

MATCH 2009 - Sunday 16 March 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  RANGERS*  3

Scorers:  Maeda, Hatate;  Raskin, Diomande, Igamane

Celtic recovered from two goals down at half time to tie the match at 2-2 but a late defensive slip allowed the visitors to snatch victory.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• The 3rd time attending this fixture this season
• The 15th time seeing the fixture in the league 
• Overall the 25th time attending this new Scottish fixture

MATCH 2008 - Thursday 13 March 2025

SEASON 2024/25

Last 16, Second Leg

Venue:  OLD TRAFFORD

Attendance: 73,189

MANCHESTER UNITED  4  REAL SOCIEDAD  1

Scorers:  Fernandes(3), Dalot;  Oyarzael

The tie was nicely poised at 1-1 from the first leg and with each side being awarded a penalty in the opening 15 (both converted) it was still in the balance going into the second half. I'm sure the club from the Basque Country will point to the referee as the one who tipped the tie in United's favour by first awarding a debatable penalty and then reducing them to ten men following a last man challenge.  Anyway the second half became the Bruno Fernandes show, as he converted his second penalty and then completed his hattrick with a well taken third.

The Bruno Show:

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 20th time I've seen United in UEFA competition including 5 against Spanish opposition
• First time seeing Real Sociedad in Europe since 1982 when they were champions of Spain and played Celtic.
• Overall 3rd time seeing Real Sociedad including a friendly at New St Mirren Park

I meet some Real Sociedad fans on the Metro to and from the game, they were all very friendly and a credit to themselves and their club.

MATCH 2007 - Sunday 9 March 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH CUP Quarter Final

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  HIBERNIAN  0

Scorers: Maeda, Idah

Beautiful Sunday in Paradise

Pre-match scene

The great Green divide - 7,000 away fans

Since Hibs beat Celtic last month in the league this cup tie has been eagerly anticipated especially in Edinburgh which is why Hibs easily sold 7,000 tickets to bring the biggest away support to Celtic Park in years.

Celtic dominated possession throughout the game and went in front just before half time but Hibs were never out of the tie until Adam Idah doubled the lead in the final minute.

Match Report: LINK

Personal note:

• 5th time attending the battle of the Scottish Greens this season, with the clubs meeting in all three domestic competitions
• The 12th time I've attended this fixture in the Scottish Cup

MATCH 2006 - Saturday 8 March 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Venue:  BALMORAL STADIUM

COVE RANGERS  3  QUEEN OF THE SOUTH  1

Scorers: Yule, Emslie(2);  Lyon

Attendance:  411

Random match, a battle of the northern blues from Cove in Aberdeen v southern blues from Dumfries, to visit one of the last Scottish football grounds I hadn't previously been too.

A decent game with Queens starting off well and taking the lead inside 10 minutes with a very well worked goal but Cove soon grew into the game and scored an excellent equaliser. A well placed shot from outside the box from Yule who was later named Man of the Match.  Then two good striker goals in each half to win the three points.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• New ground
• New fixture
• Second time seeing Cove Rangers and 7th time seeing Queen of the South

MATCH 2005 - Tuesday 25 February 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

A brief reflection for former Celtic goalkeeper -
Ewan Williams RIP

CELTIC  5  ABERDEEN  1

Scorers: Maeda(2), Jota, McGregor, Yang;  Morris

Another three points for Celtic at home against the one Scottish team to deny them all three points in the league, at home this season.  Dazien Maeda continued his amazing scoring record this season with a brace.

Arne Engels in midfield had an excellent night with a good range of passing throughout the game.  With a hand in three of the goals he was rightly awarded the Man of the Match.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My match no. 38 of the season including three matches between these sides
• The second time attending this fixture in the league this season and overall 113th.
• Overall the 137th time I've attended this fixture

MATCH 2004 - Saturday 22 February 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue - EASTER ROAD STADIUM

Sunshine on Hibs

HIBERNIAN  2  CELTIC  1

Scorers: Campbell(2); Maeda

Attendance: 18,357

Celtic end ticket

Hibs score in first and last minute of the first half to take a commanding lead into the second half.  Celtic make three changes and have the baulk of the play after the break and the ball in the net twice still lose out 2-1.

The long walk back to the bus over the smallest bridge in "Auld Reekie"

Match report: LINK

Personal note: 

• 4th time attending this fixture this season
• In the league it is match 111 between the Scottish Greens
• Overall my match no. 128 between the sides
• My 8th Celtic away day of the season 

MATCH 2003 - Saturday 15 February 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIR LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  DUNDEE UNITED  0

Scorers:  McGregor, Jota, Idah

First half kick off and very usually Celtic attack towards the traditional Celtic End (Jock Stein Stand)

Celtic kick off shooting towards to the Lisbon Lions Stand and it is the Celtic captain, Callum McGregor who leads the way by firing Celtic into the lead after finding a way through a packed United defence.  Jota adds a second before half time.

Celtic are not as fluid in the second half but still add a third through Adam Idah.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My 36th match of the season and the 3rd time attending this fixture
• 103rd time attending this fixture in the league
• Overall it's th 122nd time attending this fixture since 1981

MATCH 2002 - Wednesday 12 February 2025

 SEASON 2024/25

KNOCKOUT PLAY OFF ROUND

CELTIC  1  BAYERN MUNICH  2

Scorers: Maeda;  Olise, Kane

The starting XI's

The new Champions League format reaches the knockout phase and Celtic are unlucky to be drawn against the giants of not only Germany but European football, FC Bayern. 

The last time Bayern visited Celtic Park, Bredan Rodgers was in his first stint as Celtic manager and Jupp Heynckes was the Bayern manager, this time Vincent Kompany was the manager in the away dugout.

A great strike from Michael Olise and a clinical finish from Harry Kane put Bayern in a commanding position to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League.  

Wunderbar wheels

Match report:LINK including TV highlights

Personal note:

• 5th time seeing this fixture.  All at Celtic Park including three in the Champions League
• 18th time seeing a Germany club in UEFA competition - 16 v Celtic, 1 v Motherwell and 1 v Manchester United

MATCH 2001 - Saturday 8 February 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH CUP 5th ROUND

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  5  RAITH ROVERS  0

Scorers:  Maeda(3), McGowan, Yang

A hattrick from inform Daizen Maeda made this a comfortable tie for Celtic who many changes including two players making the Celtic debuts, goallkeeper Viljami Sinisalo and left back Jeffrey Schlupp.

Former Celtic player Barry Robson makes a return to Celtic Park as Raith's manager.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• 3rd time seeing this fixture in the Scottish Cup
• Overall the 22nd time attending this fixture 
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MATCH 2000 - Friday 7 February 2025

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH CUP 5th Round 

SCOTTISH CUP 4th Round

Venue:  SOMERSET PARK

AYR UNITED  0  HIBERNIAN  1

Scorer: Bushiri

Attendance:  7,364

Scott Brown's Ayr side against his first club Hibs and a chance to see and experience Ayr's new North stand. The new stand comprising of only four rows offers a fantastic view of the pitch and is a much needed improvement to the old style ground. 

A good cup tie was spoiled by the treatment of the away fans due to a lack of basic facilities. The stewards were great but there was a lack of information directing fans to the four turnstiles for 3000+ visiting fans.  Once in the ground it was a trip back into time, to a time when fans were treated disgracefully.  Firstly, there were no turnstiles for the new stand. Secondly, a serious bottleneck as away fans entered to make their way to the Railway End terrace -  real safety risk.  Thirdly, a real lack of Ladies & Gents facilities.  Ayr have ambitions of being a top flight club but would surely have to greatly update their ground before being allowed entry.

North Stand and Enclosure

Old Main Stand

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• Milestone match - my 2000th senior match attended
• First time attending this fixture
• Overall 6th time seeing Ayr United and 3rd visit to Somerset Park
• Overal the 139th time seeing Hibernian