MATCH 2046 - Sunday 28 December 2025

SEASON 2025/26

ENGLISH FA PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  STADIUM OF LIGHT 

SUNDERLAND  1  LEEDS UNITED  1

Scorers: Adingra; Calvert-Lewin

Attendance:  46,675

My second trip to Sunderland this season and the first time seeing Leeds since 2007!

As the kick off was 2pm, it meant an early start leaving just after 8am to make it down from central Scotland in plenty of time.

Another bumper crowd with the away fans in fine voice from kick off and throughout the match.

Leeds had most of the possession and majority of the chances especially in the second half, however Sunderland created the best of the chances in the first 45 minutes plus the five minutes added on. They took the lead midway through the half and could and should have doubled their lead on the stroke of half time but the effort only hit the top of the bar. 

They soon rued the miss as Leeds scored a super equaliser at the start of the second half. A great passing move that involved the whole team.  Leeds controlled the remainder of the match but couldn't convert their dominance into any more goals.

Overall a draw was just about the right result.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• A new fixture to add to the list and now totals 435
• Second visit to Stadium of Light this season and no. 33 in total
• Overall the 51st time seeing Sunderland and the 5th time seeing Leeds 

Post-match - Mass at St Mary's RC Church

MATCH 2045 - Saturday 27 December 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  ALMONDVALE STADIUM

LIVINGSTON  2  CELTIC  4

Scorers: Montano(2);  Nygren(2); Yang, Engels

Attendance: 8,861

A crazy start to the game with four goals shared in the opening 10 minutes.  In a breathtaking first half Celtic added two more goals including a VAR awarded penalty to take control of the match at half time.

There were no more goals added to the six from the first 45 minutes in a more sedate second half.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• 2nd time attending this fixture this season.
• This was the 28th time seeing the fixture in the league.
• Overall I've now attended 33 matches between the clubs.

MATCH 2044 - Sunday 21 December 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  ABERDEEN  1

Scorers:  Nygren, Tierney, Forrest;  Bilalovic

Celtic went into this match after four successive defeats so when 10 man Aberdeen equalised with around 10 minutes remaining it looked like the winless run would continue.  Instead of accepting their fate Celtic rallied and scord twice in the final minutes to clinch a much needed win.

Celtic should have been out of sight but missed chance after chance - the story of their season.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note: 

• The second time attending this fixture this season
• The 115th time seeing fixture in the league
• Overall the 140th time attending this fixture 

MATCH 2043 - Sunday 14 December 2025

 SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP FINAL

Venue: HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC  1  ST MIRREN  3

Scorers: Hatate; Fraser, Ayunga(2)

Attendance: 49,914

St Mirren took a very early lead but Celtic quickly got on equal terms and then looked more likely to go in front until Kelechi Iheanacho went off injured before half Tim.

In the second half it was a different story as St Mirren created the chances and took them to deservedly win the League Cup.

View from seat - East Stand section F3

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• Overall this was the 80th time attending this fixture but the first in a Final.
• In the Scottish League Cup this was only the 4th time seeing this fixture since 1981 with Saints winning 3 of them.

MATCH 2042 - Thursday 11 December 2025

 SEASON 2025/26

GROUP STAGE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  0  ROMA  3

Scorers:  OG, Ferguson(2)

Celtic are completely outplayed in the first half and lucky to be only three down.  It seemed everything that could go wrong did.  Firstly a own goal was conceded, then Irishman Euan Ferguson scored twice to make it 0-3, next on the stroke of half time Celtic missed a penalty.  The bad luck continued in the second half as Celtic had a goal ruled out by VAR for offside.

Finally something did go right when Roma had a goal chopped out for offside to the deficit at least did not increase.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note: 

• Roma become the 6th Italian club that I've seen Celtic play in UEFA competition
• This was the 2nd time seeing Roma play Celtic both at Celtic Park
• Overall the 3rd time I've seen Roma

MATCH 2041 - Sunday 7 December 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  1  HEARTS  2

Scorers: Tierney; Braga, McEntee

Celtic welcomed their new manager, Wilfried Nancy for his first match in charge but it wasn't a good first day in the office.  Despite a good first half performance Celtic fail to take their chances and pay the price as Hearts clinically take their chances when they come to remain top of the table.

The latest Hearts manager in the dugout is Derek McInnes.

Match report: LINK

Personal note: 

• This was my 23rd time attending a match this season - 17th time seeing Celtic, 1st time seeing Hearts
• In total it was the 104th time attending this fixture in the league
• Overall it was the 121st time seeing this fixture

MATCH 2040 - Wednesday 3 December 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  1  DUNDEE  O

Scorers:  Maeda

Celtic dominated the match but created few clear cut chances and in the end had to settle for a single goal victory. 

The fans were happy to settle for this as it meant Martin O'Neill's short stint as interim manager ended on a high.  If this is O'Neill's last managerial job it will be fitting that he ended his illustrious career at Celtic Park were he spent 5 successful years at the start of the Millennium.  While former Celt, Steven Pressley was in the Dundee dugout for this time at Celtic Park.

Christmas decs - The Celtic Way

Thank you Martin

Match report: LINK

Personal Note:

• First time attending this fixture this season
• In the league it was the 67th time attending the fixture
• Overtime this was my 73rd time attending this fixture