MATCH 1969 - Sunday 4 August 2024

Season 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  KILMARNOCK  0

Scorers: Hatate, Scales, Kuhn, Ralston

Celtic start their league campaign at home with a resounding victory over the side that gave them most problems in last season successful campaign.

Two goals in each half and a fine team performance entertain the capacity crowd.

Kasper Schmeichel made his debut for Celtic.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• My 44th season attending Celtic matches
• 77th time seeing this fixture in the league
• Overall the 87th time attending this fixture

MATCH 1968 - Saturday 13 July 2024

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP - Group Stage

Venue:  PALMERSTON PARK

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH  0  ABERDEEN  3

Scorers: Solker(2), Shinnie

This is the start of my 44th season attnding football matches.

The first game of new season is a trip to Dumfries for my second visit to Palmerston Park. Aberdeen have their new manager in the dugout, Jimmy Thelin for his first game while QOTS manager is former Carlisle captain, Peter Murphy.

I watched the game from th front row of the old main stand.  The first row is elevated above the dugouts giving an excellent view of the pitch.

In the first first Aberdeen dominated and took advantage of poor defending to build a three goal lead.  In the second Aberdeen continued to make good chances but couldn't add to their total.

Palmerston is a great wee ground to visit with the perfect blueprint layout of an old style ground.  Comprising of two good covered stands running the length of the either side of the pitch and terrace behing each goal - one large covered end for home fans and when required a smaller uncovered terrace for away fans.

I expected a nice drive down but it was grey skies all the way and then grey and drizzle on the road home.  Summer football in Scotland!

Small v Big

Main Stand

View from Main Stand front row

Middle of summer in Scotland and floodlights require to be on

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 1st time attending this fixture in any competition.
• My 133rd tie in the Scottish League Cup including Queen of the South 3 times and Aberdeen 14 times.
• Overall 140th time seeing Aberdeen against 6 different opponents and the 6th time seeing QotS against 4 different opponents.

MATCH 1967 - Saturday 18 May 2024

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PRMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

Another sunny day in Paradise

CELTIC  3  ST MIRREN  2

Scorers: O'Riley, Kyogo, Palma;  O'Hara(2)

St Mirren twice took the lead in the first half to make it an interesting end of season affair howvwer Celtic eventually took the lead in the final minutes of the league season.

Celtic were AGAIN presented with the league trophy at the end of the match.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 3rd time attending this fixture this season all at Celtic Park and all in the league due to the lottery of the SPFL Premiership split
• This was my 66th match in the league between the sides.
• Overall I've attended the fixture 76 times - Celtic Park 53, St Mirren Park (Old) 18, St Mirren Park (New) 2 and Hampden Park 3

MATCH 1966 - Saturday 11 May 2024

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  RANGERS*  1

Scorers:  O'Riley,  OG;  Dessers

Attendance: 60,000

The Players

Celtic repeated their December performance over their Ibrox rivals scoring two first goals but failed to capitalise on further chances including a penalty which lead to a more nervy finish than it needed to be.

A different route today via Dalmarnock train station

The audience

The stage is set

Performance in front of royalty

Match Report: LINK

Personal note:

•  2nd time attending this fixture this season, both in league at Celtic Park
• 13th time attending this fixture in th league - all at Celtic Park
• Overall 22nd attending this fixture - 13 at Celtic Park and 9 at Hampden Park

MATCH 1965 - Saturday 4 May 2024

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  HEARTS  0

Scorers:  Kyogo(2), O'Riley

Celtic put on their best performance of the season to see off the team that has caused them most problems this season. Celtic dominated from the start and Kyogo gave them a deserved two goal lead before the break.

If anything Celtic's performance got even better in the second half although they didn't get the same reward in terms of goals until two minutes from the end when they were awarded a penalty which was converted without any fuss from Matt O'Riley.

The result and performance was hailed by the 60,000 crowd who whipped up a sensational atmosphere throughout the game.

Personalnote:

• 2nd time attending this fixture this season, both at Celtic Park
• 102nd time attending it in the league
• 119th time overall

Match Report: LINK

MATCH 1964 - Sunday 28 April 2024

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: DENS PARK

DUNDEE  1  CELTIC  2

Scorers:  OG;  Forrest(2)

Attendance: 9,120

A rare trip to the city of Dundee's other stadium across the road from the Tannadice Stadium.  This was my first visit in 9 years and my first time in the Bob Shankly Stand.

James Forrest is the man of the match scoring both Celtic goals to win the points.

Dundee's quirky main stand

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 3rd time attending this fixture this season all in the league
• 63rd time attending in this league fixture
• Overall the 69th time attending this fixture - 18 at Dens Park and 51 at Celtic Park 

MATCH 1963 - Saturday 20 April 2024

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH CUP Semi Final

Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

ABERDEEN  3  CELTIC  3

After Extra Time, Celtic won 6-5 on penalties

Attendance: 45,385

Celtic's indifferent season continued at Hampden in the semi final of the national cup competition allowing leads to slip, not once but twice.  In the last minute of normal time and in the dying moments of extra time which allowed the match to go to the lottery of penalty kicks.

Joe Hart was eventually the hero saving Aberdeen's 7th penalty after missing his own penalty that would have taken Celtic through after five kicks each.

Personal note:

• 3rd time attending this fixture this season and at the third venue - Pittodrie, Celtic Park and Hampden.
• The 13th time attending the fixture in the Scottish Cup and the second time it's went all the way to penalties - the other being the 1990 final.
• Overall the 134th time attending this fixture since my first in March 1981.  League 111, League Cup 10 times.

Match report: LINK

MATCH 1962 - Saturday 13 April 2024

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  ST MIRREN  0 

Scorers: Hatate, Kyogo, Idah

Three second half goals from Celtic see off a stubborn St Mirren side to claim the three points.

Personal note:

• The second time seeing this fixture this season - both at Celtic Park.
• 65th time seeing this fixture in the League - 46 at Celtic Park, 18 at St Mirren Park and 1 at New St Mirren Park
• Overall this was the 75th time attending this fixture. League 65, Scottish Cup 7, League Cup 3

Match report: LINK

MINOR MATCH 69 - Friday 12 April 2024

SEASON 2023/24

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE 2

Venue: OLD TRAFFORD

MANCHESTER UNITED  U21  0  LIVERPOOL U21  3

Scorers: Kone-Doherty, Gordon, Danns

An opportunistic chance to get to another match at Old Trafford, this time a less glamouress encounter as England's big two met in the Premier League 2 for their under 21 players. I was accompanied usually by wife and daughter who wasn't particularly enthusiastic that our day trip to Manchester ended with a trip to the Theatre of Dreams.

United opened up the North Stand lower and around 10,000 took advantage of the very low priced tickets to get their families to a match at Old Trafford - £3 for adults and under 16s £1.50.

Personal Note:

• My 4th visit to Old Trafford this season and overall 59th match at Old Trafford
• My 212th match outside of Bonnie Scotland

MATCH 1961 - Saturday 6 April 2024

SEASON 2023/24

SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Venue:  HAMPDEN PARK

QUEENS PARK  0  DUNDEE UNITED  5

Scorers:  Fotheringham(2), Moult, Graham, Sibbald

A visit to Hampden with a difference, to see Queens Park in a lower league match against the league leaders, Dundee United.  My second time seeing Queens Park this season with a reverse of the scoreline again Elgin at the begining of the season making their aggregate score 5-5.

Personal notes:

• This season the 2nd time seeing Queens Park (both at home) and 3rd time seeing Dundee United (all away)
• This was the first time seeing these two clubs in a lower league match 
• Overall I've now seen Queens Park 5 times, Dundee United 130 times and this was my 137th visit to Hampden.