SEASON 2023/24
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: CELTIC PARK
SEASON 2023/24
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP 2nd Round
Venue: RUGBY PARK
SEASON 2023/24
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: PITTODRIE STADIUM
ABERDEEN 1 CELTIC 3
Scorers: Miovski; Abada, Kyogo, O'Riley
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| 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
SEASON 2023/24
ENGLISH CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: STADIUM OF LIGHT
SUNDERLAND 1 IPSWICH TOWN 2
Scorers: Neil; Broadhead, Hirst
Att: 41,409
Really good game. Score could've been anything. Sunderland started very well but couldn't get the breakthrough. Ipswich had a couple of good chances on the break themselves but when they did take the lead on stroke of half time it was due to a touch fortunate, as a huge deflection took the ball into the net. The type of luck Sunderland don't seem to get.
In the second half Ipswich doubled their lead with a finely taken goal and looked like they were about to run away with the game especially as Sunderland were reduced to ten men with just under 20 minutes to play.
However the home side dug deep and got back into the game with a few minutes to go however the officials added on 13 minutes for injuries and time wasting which lead to an all out onslaught from the ten men, who were very unfortunate not to equalise when they hit the post in the dying moments of the game.
Great seat on the upper level of the main stand.
Match report: LINK
Personal note:
SEASON 2023/24
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: CELTIC PARK
CELTIC 4 ROSS COUNTY 2
Scorers: Turnbull(2), Kyogo, O'Reily; White, Brown
Celtic begin their new league campaign at home to Ross County. After starting the match well, the visitors fell behind when Celtic's full back, Taylor was tripped just inside the box. A fortunate start for Celtic but they took full advantage and before half time had raced into a 3-0 lead.
County kept up their good level of play in the second half and were rewarded with two goals to reduce Celtic's overall advantage to two.
Match report: LINK
Personal note:
SEASON 2023/24
JAMES FORREST TESTIMONIAL
Venue: CELTIC PARK
CELTIC 3 ATHLETIC CLUB BILBAO 2
Scorers: Hatate, Bernabeu, Turnbull; Unai Gomez, Muniain
A testimonial match for Celtic's James Forrest, who first appeared in the Hoops in 2010. Very welcome opponents to Celtic Park are Athletic Club from the Basque Country.
It was an entertaning 90 minutes with Celtic coming from behind to record a good pre-season victory. As it was pre-season, returning Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers used two different teams in each half. The first half XI lost 2-1 but the second half XI were able to turn the deficit round.
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| 1st August in Scotland - "weather is Dreich" |
SEASON 2023/24
FRIENDLY
Venue: BRUNTON PARK
CARLISLE UNITED 0 DUNDEE UNITED 2
Scorers: Moult, Middleton
Attendance: 2,853
My second Dundee United match in two weeks and a huge improvement on the Spartans match. United played all the football and were in complete control for 70 minutes when they made six substitutions, but it had no effect on the game as Carlisle were very poor and never looked like getting back into the match.
A sparse crowd in Brunton Park today but a decent away support of 738. My ticket was in the away end which cost £18 and maybe the reason for the poor turnout.
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| The happy away support |
Match Report: LINK
Personal note:
Question & Answer Session with a true Legend - Roy (Feed the Bear) Aitken
Venue: Barras Art and Design (BAaD)
The early part of my football match days were spent watching some great Scottish footballers, one of my all time favourites was ROY AITKEN.
Therefore it was a bit special for me to be part of the audience listening to great stories from a terrific era in Scottish Football
Roy came across as very honest and loyal to not only his Celtic team-mates but also to his old foes from rival clubs. and even referees.
Jock Stein gave him his debut for Celtic as a 16 year old schoolboy and also made him captain for a number of games when he was still a teenager. Then he was a huge part of Billy McNeill's Celtic teams. He was also selected by Alex Ferguson for Scotland. Three of the most iconic men of Scottish Football.
Although I never seen the start of Roy's career it was a pleasure to watch him for almost 10 years with Celtic. During this time I seen him win 3 league titles, 3 Scottish Cups and 1 League Cup. His teammates included Danny McGrain, Tommy Burns, Murdo McLeod, Davie Provan, Pat Bonner, Paul McStay, Charlie Nicholas, Frank McAvennie, Mick McCarthy and Mark McGhee.
I witnessed Roy playing for Scotland many times including:
Away from football I also seen him win the Balloch Highland Game 90-metre sprint in 1983 or 84.
I was delighted when he was finally invited back into the club in an ambassador role in 2017. There isn't anyone more fitting for the role as he has never said a bad word about the club.
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| Roy's Celtic career in figures - I seen 24 of his Celtic goals. |
SEASON 2023/24
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP - Group Stage
Venue: LESSER HAMPDEN
SEASON 2023/24
SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP Group Stage
Venue: AINSLIE PARK
THE SPARTANS 1 DUNDEE UNITED 0
Scorer: Henderson
Attendance: 1,701
Start of new season and Dundee United started it the way the finished the old one - in the doldrums.
In contrast The Spartans are on the up. Starting their first season as a Scottish League club and they recorded a fine win over their opponents from two divisions above them in the league set up.
Spartans started well and scored an early goal. For the rest of the game, they were fairly comfortable apart from when they conceded a penalty in the second half however Tony Watt's poor strike was easily saved by Carswell who was named man of the match for his efforts.
