MATCH 1975 - Saturday 28 September 2024

SEASON - 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: McDiarmid Stadium

ST JOHNSTONE  0  CELTIC  6

Scorers: Kyogo(2), Bernardo, McGregor, Maeda, Idah

An evening stroll in Perth for Celtic with the match kicking off at the unusual time of 17:45 on a Saturday.  The six goals are laced with four great team goals.

St Johnstone are without a manager and are certainly in need of good guidance.

Match report: LINK

Personal note: 

• 62nd time seeing this fixture of which 57 have been in the league
• 16th visit to McDiarmid Stadium
• The 8th match I've attended this season

MATCH 1974 - Sunday 22 September 2024

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP Quarter Final

Venue: CELTIC PARK 

CELTIC  5  FALKIRK  2

Scorers: Bernardo, Idah(2), Kuhn(2), MacIver, Yeats

Great match between two sides unbeaten in their respective leagues - Celtic in the top tier and Falkirk in the Champtionship (tier two).  Falkirk lead at half time 2-1 against a much changed Celtic starting XI however on the hour mark Celtic make four substitutions and then score four goals to take the tie away from Falkirk.

A feature of the match is Nicolas Kuhn's half hour appearance in the second half sees him make two goals, score two goals and win man of the match.

Match report: LINK

 Persona note:

• My 125th Celtic tie in the Scottish League Cup
• The 5th time seeing this tie in the Scottish League Cup
• Overall the 37th time seeing this tie

MATCH 1973 - Wednesday 18 September 2024

 SEASON 2024/25

GROUP STAGE

CELTIC  5  SLOVAN BRATISLAVIA  1

Scorers:  Scales, Kyogo, Engels, Maeda, Idah

Celtic record their biggest score in the group stage of the Champions League, in the first night of the new revised format which gives 36 clubs, eight matches against eight different opponents (4 home & 4 away).

Personal note:

• First time seeing this fixture
• The 162nd attending a Celtic European tie
• Only the second time seeing a team from Slovakia

FLASHBACK - MATCH 1156 - 2 AUGUST 2005

 SEASON 2005/06

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Qualifying Round

CELTIC  4  ARTMEDIA BRATISLAVIA  0

Scorers: Thompson, Hartson, McManus, Beattie

Trailing by five goals after an awful first leg for Celtic and their new manager, Gordon Strachan, they come storming back in the return leg backed by their home fans. 

Celtic score their 4th goal with 8 minutes to play but unfortunatly can't find the 5th and are knocked out of Europe at the qualifying stage.

This is the first time I seen Celtic play Slovakian opposition.

MATCH 1972 - Sunday 1 September 2024

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  RANGERS*  0

Scorers: Maeda, Kyoto, McGregor

Celtic continued their impressive start to the season with another three goals and three points.  Another capacity crowd see Celtic introduced new signings Arne Engels (their record signing) and Luke McCowan during the second half as well as James Forrest who made his 500th appearance for the club.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 23rd time attending this new fixture 
• 14th time in the league - all at Celtic Park

MINOR MATCH 70 - Tuesady 20 August 2024

SEASON 2024/25

LOWLANDS LEAGUE

Venue: EXCELSIOR STADIUM

CELTIC-B  3  LINLITHGOW ROSE  0

Scorers: Robertson, Cummings, Donovan

 Three quickfire second half goals continue Celtic's B side impressive start to their league campaign in the Scottish Lowlands League.

The match was played in torrential showers, which seems to be a feature of matches in Airdrie.

Personal note:

• 9th time attending a Lowlands League match, including 3 featuring Celtic-B
• 10th match attended at the Excelsior Stadium
• 2nd time seeing Linlithgow Rose

MATCH 1971 - Sunday 18 August 2024

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP 2nd Round

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  HIBERNIAN  1

Scorers: Maeda(2), Kuhn; Kukharevych

Second meeting between the Scottish Greens in eight days, this time in the League Cup.  Like last week Celtic took an early two goal lead to set up another fairly comfortable win although Hibs did at least find the back of the net this time to reduce to first half deficit to 2-1.

In the second Hibs shot themselves in the foot by conceding a very soft third goal when they had procession of the ball.

Aftermath of another game in Paradise

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• The 6th time attending the Battle of the Scottish Greens in the Scottish League Cup. 
• Overall my 134th match in the competition including 124 ties involving Celtic and 8 involving Hibernian
• Overall the 137th time seeing Hibernian in all competitions.

MATCH 1970 - Sunday 11 August 2024

SEASON 2024/25

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  EASTER ROAD STADIUM

HIBERNIAN  0  CELTIC  2

Scorers:  Kuhn, McGregor

Attendance: 17,918

A stroll in the sun for Celtic.  Two up within 20 minutes.  The only downside is there were no more away goals after the 20th minute.

In the wings of the Main Stand but it was a very good seat in line with the six yard box.

Front entrance

The magnificent one tier East Stand

Some of the happy away fans

Match report: LINK

Personal Note:

• My 55th visit to Easter Road 
• The 109th time attending this fixture in the league.
• My 125th time attending this fixture overall.

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.