MATCH 2072 - Saturday 23 May 2026

 SEASON 2025/26

141st SCOTTISH CUP FINAL

Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC  3  DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC  1

Scorers:  Maeda, Engels, Iheanacho;  Cooper

Attendance:  49,613

The 141st Scottish Cup Final was contested between Martin O'Neill's Celtic and his former player, Neil Lennon's Dunfermline. In contrast to the full season it was a comfortable win for Celtic to win their 43rd Scottish Cup.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• This was the 3rd time attending a Scottish Cup Final between these two clubs
• In total this the 9th time attending this fixture in the Scottish Cup since 1983
• Overall I've now attended this fixture 62 times - the first was 1982
• I've now attended 21 Scottish Cup Finals including 20 involving Celtic

MATCH 2064 - Sunday 19 April 2026

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH CUP Semi Final

Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC  6  ST MIRREN  2

After Extra Time

Scorers:  Maeda, Ralston, Iheanacho(2), McGowan, Nygren;  Mandron(2)

For 90 minutes it was an unremarkable game with Celtic leading 2-1 however it quickly escalated into a semi final classic when St Mirren scored a dramatic equaliser which took the game to extra time.  Then from nowhere exploded into life scoring four goals in the first period of extra time to eventually book their place in the final on the 23rd of May.

As pretty usual for the past 10 seasons I was in the East Stand.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• The 4th time attending this fixture this season, including 2 at Hampden
• 8th time attending the fixture in the Scottish Cup
• Overall this was the 82nd time attending this fixture

MATCH 2059 - Sunday 8 March 2026

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH CUP Quarter Final

Venue: IBROX STADIUM

RANGERS*  0  CELTIC  0

AET - Celtic win 4-2 on penalties

Attendance: 50,000

Celtic, depleted by long term and short term injuries, defend with their lives for 120 minutes to take the Scottish Cup tie to penalties.  Throughout the match they lacked quality to take the game to the home side but in contrast they coolly slotted home their four penalties to reach the semi final.

The aftermath 

This was my first visit to Ibrox in 12 years and the first with Celtic since 2003.

Match report: LINK

Personel note:

• This was the 1st time attending this new fixture at Ibrox.  Overall it was my 55th game at the ground.
• This was the 3rd time attending this fixture this season 
• It was my 6th time attending it in the Scottish Cup but the first not at Hampden

MATCH 2054 - Saturday 7 February 2026

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH CUP 5th Round

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  DUNDEE  0

Scorers:  Adamu, Tounekti

Celtic made it through to the next round of the Scottish Cup but only just.  A goal with the last kick of the ball saved them from an early exit at home to Dundee.

A quiet Celtic Park erupted in the 97th of "normal time" as Celtic finally scored and within two minutes of extra time the small crowd nearly took the roof off as Celtic took the lead which was enough to see them through.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• This was the 2nd time attending this fixture this season 
• This was the 4th time attending this fixture in the Scottish Cup
• Overall it was the 74th time attending this fixture  

MATCH 2051 - Sunday 18 January 2026

 SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH CUP 4th Round

Venue: RUGBY PARK

AUCHINLECK TALBOT  0  CELTIC  2

Scorers: Kenny, Tounekti

Attendance: 10,723

My second Scottish Cup tie of the weekend and this time to Kilmarnock and my 30th match at Rugby Park.

It was described as David v Goliath as 6th tier Auchinleck Talbot took on Celtic.  With their own ground deemed unfit to host the biggest game in their history it was moved 16 miles to the next nearest senior ground.

As expected Celtic had the vast majority of possession but were limited to small number of clearcut chances.  In the end Celtic had to settle for a goal in each half to see off their Ayrshire opponents.

Under the lights at Rugby Park

Great view from the East Stand

Close to the action!

Match Report:  LINK

Personal note:

• My first Celtic Scottish Cup tie of season 25/26 but my 4th overall
• The first time seeing Auchinleck Talbot but my 30th match at Rugby Park since 1982
• The 155th Celtic tie I've attended in the Scottish Cup since 1981 

MATCH 2050 - Saturday 17 January 2026

SEASON 2025/26

 

SCOTTISH CUP 4th Round

Venue: CARMUIRS PARK

CAMELON JUNIORS  1  ELGIN CITY  3

Scorers:  Kirkpatrick;  Hester(2), OG

Attendance: 1,190

New ground visited within the town of Falkirk which was only a 30 minute drive from Airdrie and finally after 12 games and 40 goals conceded I saw a win for Elgin as they progressed into the next round of the Scottish Cup.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 3rd Scottish Cup tie of the season - all involved different clubs.
• 12th time seeing Elgin all in 12 different grounds
• New ground and first time seeing Camelon Juniors
• Carmuirs Park is the 58th ground I seen a football match in Scotland and the 125th overall throughout Europe.

MATCH 2038 - Friday 28 November 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH CUP 3rd Round

Venu: PRESTONFIELD 

LINLITHGOW ROSE  1  QUEENS PARK  3

Scorers: McMullan;  Murray, Savoury; Fowler

My second visit to Linlithgow and again it was for Scottish Cup action.  This time it was against ten time winners of the cup, Queens Park.  

The underdogs from the Scottish Lowlands league got off to a great start by taking the lead however Championship side, Queens didn't panic and scored 3 close range goals to take the tie away from the "Rosy Poseys".

Fine grandstand

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My 20th game of the season including two Scottish Cup ties
• My 2nd visit to Prestonfield 
• Overall I have seen Linlithgow Rose 3 times and Queens Park 6 times

MATCH 2033 - Saturday 25 October 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH CUP 2nd ROUND

Venue: OLIVEBANK ARENA

MUSSELBURGH ATHLETIC  1  FORFAR ATHLETIC  2

Scorers: Todd;  Morrison, Slater

Attendance: 700

My second visit to Musselburgh to see an early Scottish Cup tie.  Exactly one year since my first.  This time the opposition was a Scottish League club in Forfar. A lovely bright day just before the clocks go back tonight!

The story of the match was exactly the opposite of last season's tie in that the home side took a first half lead only for the away team to win the match with a second half turnaround. The winner was a very well executed free kick near the end of the 90 minutes.

Kick off

Match report: LINK

Match video:  

Personal note:

• A new fixture (number 432)
• 2nd time seeing Musselburgh; 6th time seeing Forfar (1st since season 1989/90)
• The 170th time attending a Scottish Cup tie; the16th not involving Celtic

MATCH 2018 - Saturday 24 May 2025

 SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH CUP FINAL

HAMPDEN PARK

ABERDEEN  1  CELTIC  1

Scorers: OG;  OG

Aberdeen win on pens 4-3

A different view from my usual East Stand tickets

Kick off

Aberdeen came from behind to force extra-time and then win the cup on penalties.   The final was largely disappointing, lacking quality and excitement until the last 10 minutes of normal time.

In the closing minutes both sides had chances to win but the match could not be decided after 120 minutes and went to penalty kicks.  Aberdeen converted all their penalties expertly and like in 1990 they claimed the old trophy on penalties at Celtic's expense.

A great display from the Celtic Ultras

The celebrating Aberdeen fans

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• 4th time seeing Aberdeen play Celtic in the Scottish Cup final
• Overall 20th Scottish Cup Final I've attended - all bar one involving Celtic
• I've now seen Celtic in 154 Scottish Cup matches and Aberdeen 14 times

MATCH 2014 - Sunday 20 April 2025

 SEAS0N 2024/25

SCOTTISH CUP SEMI FINAL

Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC  5  ST JOHNSTONE  0

Scorers: McGregor, Maeda(2), Idah, Jota

Attendance: 43,632

My normal view from the East Stand

As the clock ticked past the 30 minute mark St Johnstone must have been pleased with the first half hour of the match as the score was still 0-0 and Celtic not causing any serious problems but by half-time they were 4-0 down and facing an impossible task to reach another cup final.

After captain, Callum McGregor fired Celtic into the lead they quickly found their final pass accuracy which had been missing in the early stages.  McGregor then turn provider for Maeda to make it two.  Soon after Idah made it three before Maeda added his second right on the stroke of half time to make it four.  Jota neatly finished a good move at the back post in the second half to complete the five goal rout which sent Celtic into another Scottish Cup Final.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My 141st match at Hampden Park
• Fourth time attending this fixture this season
• 6th time attending this fixture in the Scottish Cup - with 2 at Hampden, both in the semi final
• Overall this was the 67th time attending this fixture - play in four stadia: Muirton Park 1, Celtic Park 48, McDermid Stadium 16 and Hampden 2

Halfway to Paradise

Paradise II on Easter Sunday
From the back of Hampden Celtic Park clearly in view

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