MATCH 2078 - Wednesday 12 August 2026

SEASON 2026/27

FRIENDLY

Venue:  CROKE PARK

MANCHESTER UNITED  1  LEEDS UNITED  1

Scorers: Zirkzee;  Aaronson

Attendance: 82,300

I travelled to Dublin purely to see a football match at the iconic Croke Park which traditionally is exclusive to GAA games of hurling and Gaelic football.

The chance to see it with Manchester United was too good an opportunity not to and it didn't disappoint.

Not much to look at outside ground but inside its presence is breathe taking.  It's a monster of a stadium, holding 82,000 which was full for this pre-season friendly between two of England's top clubs.

The 82,000 crowd mainly made up of Irish Man U fans but on every leg of my journey from Glasgow Airport on Wednesday morning to Dublin Airport on Thursday morning all I encountered were groups of Leeds fans heading to and from Ireland's capital.

The Leeds/Man Utd rivalry is one of the most fierce in football but there was absolutely no trouble as the game was played in a wonderfully friendly atmosphere.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My 10th match in Ireland in Dublin,(7) Cork, Dundalk, Derry
• My 87th time seeing Man United
• My 6th time seeing Leeds United

My pictures from Croke Park:

Leeds legend, Eddie Gray

My first view

MATCH 2075 - Saturday 25 July 2026

SEASON 2026/27

FRIENDLY

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  AC MILAN  2

Scorers:  Duran, Forrest;  Camarda(2)

Celtic's last pre-season match before the season starts for real and they welcomed seven time European Champions, AC Milan to Paradise.  My favourite foreign team mainly due to the wonderful players like Franco Baresi and Paulo Maldini.

Thankfully both clubs wore their traditional kits.  Celtic in the magnificent hoops of green & white and Milan in their equally famous red & black stripes. The two finest kits in world football.

Milan's new manager, Ruben Amorim was in the away dug out for his first match in charge, his first job after leaving Manchester United.

It was far from vintage AC Milan with the Rossoneri gifting Celtic the opening 2 goals certainly not in the class of Baresi and Maldini.  Celtic took the lead into half time but it didn't last long as two goals within the first 7 minutes of the restart brought the sides level again.  There were no more goals so the entertaining contest ended in a draw.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• This was the 5th time attending this fixture, the other four were in the Champions League
• Overall this was the 7th time seeing AC Milan since 1994

MATCH 2074 - Saturday 18 July 2026

SEASON 2026/27

FRIENDLY

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  1  MIDDLESBROUGH  1

Scorers:  Duran;  Strelec

Typical pre-season match - good competitive first half with both teams finding the back of the net and then the second half continually interrupted with a string of substitutions from both sides.

Middlesbrough brought a good following of around 5,000 fans who gave their team plenty of support especially in the first half.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• The 2nd time attending this fixture
• 5th seeing Middlesbrough but the first time in Scotland
• Overall the 1765th time seeing Celtic

Match 2019 - Saturday 19 July 2025

SEASON 2025/26

FRIENDLY

VENUE:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  NEWCASTLE UNITED  0

Scorers: Engels, Kenny, Yang, Scales

My first match of season 2025/26 which is my 45th year of attending football and following Celtic FC.  We were sitting in the main stand for a change which although over 50 years old and by far the oldest part of Celtic Park, the upper part offers the best pitch views in the ground.

This pre-season game was billed as a challenge match between the winners of the Scottish and English League Cups attracted a large crowd of over 45,000 with nearly 10,000 away fans to give it a great atmosphere with a bit of needle.

Match report: LINK

Personal notes:

• The fourth time attending this fixture all at Celtic Park and all friendly matches
• Overall the 11th time seeing Newcastle United - 1 home & 10 away
• In total my 1,723rd Celtic match

MATCH 1881 - Saturday 23 July 2022

SEASON 2022/23

FRIENDLY

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  NORWICH CITY  0

Scorers: Maeda, Turnbull

Another pre-season friendly and this time a chance to see Norwich City.   The two sides wear their traditional kits which is very pleasing on the eye as they look terrific gracing the Celtic Park pitch.

Huddle pre-match

This is the 4th time seeing Norwich but they are unable to keep up their 100% win record having won the previous three at Carlisle(2009), Celtic (2012) and Blackpool (2014).

MATCH 1879 - Saturday, 16 July 2022

SEASON 2022/23

FRIENDLY

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  BLACKBURN ROVERS  2

Scorers:  Jota, Turnbull;  Gallagher, Brereton Diaz

The start of my 42nd season attending football matches and I don't have to wait too long for the first goal of the season as Blackburn score within the first minute.

5th time attending this fixture and 15th Blackburn match overall.

Match Report: LINK

MATCH 1805 - Sunday 4 August 2019

SEASON 2019/20

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS CUP

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR  1  INTER MILAN  1

(Inter win 4-3 on penalties)

Scorers: Lucas Moura;  Sensi

A glamour friendly under the title of the International Champions Cup and a chance to visit the newest and possibly grandest stadium in the UK, The TottenhamHotspur Stadium.