MATCH 2036 - Wednesday 5 November 2025

 SEASON 2025/26

GROUP STAGE

Venue:  ETIHAD STADIUM

MANCHESTER CITY  4  BORUSSIA DORTMUND  1

Scorers:  Foden(2), Haaland, Cherki;  Anton

Attendance:  50,513

A trip to Manchester but for a change to see the blue half.  This was my first visit to the Etihad Stadium since 2016.  We were sitting in the middle tier of the Stadium above the South-west corner flag and it gave an excellent view of the pitch and a Man City team on top form.

Two goals in each half gave City a comfortable victory over their German opponents.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• My 3rd time attending a match at the Etihad Stadium
• This was the 9th time seeing Manchester City and the first time since 2016
• And the 6th time seeing Borussia Dortmund - the first time since 2008.

MATCH 2035 - Sunday 2 November 2025

 SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP Semi Final

Venue: HAMPDEN PARK

CELTIC  3  RANGERS*  1

After Extra Time

Scorers: Kenny, McGregor, Osmand;  Travernier

Attendance:  49.446

Celtic reached the Scottish League Cup final with a hard fought win over 10 man Rangers*.  Celtic dominated the first half should have had more than one goal for their efforts. However there was another crucial incident before half time when Rangers* were reduced to 10 following a stright red card.

In the second half the 10 men responded very well and played much better than when they had 11. Celtic literally paid the penalty for missing a load of chances to seal the match when Rangers* were awarded a penalty with ten minutes remaining.

It meant the game went to extra time and Celtic finally made the extra man count scoring in each half of extra time including a sweet strike from captain Callum McGregor.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:  

• 6th time seeing this fixture in the Scottish League Cup all at Hampden Park
• Overall the 26th time seeing this fixture with 11 at Hampden Park
• Overall 129th time seeing Celtic in the Scottish League Cup
• Overall 143rd match at Hampden Park

MATCH 2034 - Wednesday 29 October 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  4  FALKIRK  0

Scorers: Kenny(2), Nygren, Tounekti

A special night at Celtic Park as an ordinary league encounter featured the great Martin O'Neill in the home dugout following the departure of Brendan Rodgers two days earlier.

It was a decent Celtic performance with two goals in each half to win the match comfortably.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• The second time attending this fixture this season.
• The 30th time attending this fixture in the league
• Overall the 39th time attending this fixture
• This was the 40th time seeing Falkirk - 39 v Celtic and 1 v Airdrie

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 2032 - Thursday 23 October 2025

SEASON 2025/26

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  2  STURM GRAZ  1

Scorers:  Scales, Nygren;  Horvat

Celtic managed to win their first European match of the season at the 5th attempt.  They had to do it the hard way, coming from behind after the Austrians took the lead in the first half.  Two second half goals though secured the points.

Another huge European crowd at Celtic Park despite a poor start to the season, especially in Europe and we were rewarded to a win and decent performance.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• 4th club from Austria that I've seen Celtic take on in UEFA competition 
• 4th European tie of the season with Celtic.
• Overall the 174th time watching Celtic in Europe/UEFA competition 
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MATCH 2031 - Saturday 18 October 2025

SEASON 2025/26

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  STADIUM OF LIGHT

SUNDERLAND  2  WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS  0

Scorers: Mukiele, OG

My first visit to the Stadium of Light for over two years for a football (previous visit was for a Bruce Springsteen gig in May 2024) and as it was Daniel's birthday it was great to see a home win.

A comfortable three hour car journey as the traffic for once was fine all the way on M74, A69 and A1231.  Parked at the Stadium of Light metro star

Wolves started better but Sunderland had a great period in the middle of the first half.  They had a goal disallowed for offside and then scored an excellently crafted goal that included a number of intricate passes and a calm finish from right back, Mukiele.  Wolves finished the half strongly but were pretty toothless in front of goal.

In the second half Sunderland tactics were to contain as Wolves continued to take the game to the home side but when the few chances were created their finishing continued to be very poor.  As Wolves pushed for a late equaliser they were caught out by a breakaway and conceded a second through an own goal.

Overall a good day

Away section - high up in the gods

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• My 50th Sunderland match - breakdown 39 League, 4 FA Cup & 7 Friendlies
• Stadium of Light visit no. 32
• 2nd time attending this fixture, both in the Premier League and at SoL
• 4th time seeing Wolves

The aftermath 

MATCH 2030 - Sunday 5 October 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  MOTHERWELL  2

Scorers:  Iheanacho, Nygren, Maeda; Stamatelopoulos(2)

An injury time winner for Celtic but for much of the game it looked like another frustrating 90 minutes for the hoops.  The match had plenty of drama with two penalties, the lead changing three times, five goals as well as the very late winner.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• The 114th time seeing this fixture in the league 
• Overall the 128th time attending this fixture 

MATCH 2029 - Thursday 2 October 2025

SEASON 2025/26

Group Stage

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  0  SPORTING BRAGA  2

Scorers:  Horta, Martinez

Matchday 2 in the UEFA Europa League as Celtic hosted Portuguese outfit, Sporting Club Braga to give them their full title.  The deadlock was broken midway through the first half by a long range effort which seemed to decieve goalkeeper Schmeichel.

In the second half Celtic had an equalising goal controversially dissallowed which the Video Assistant Referee could have asked the match referee to review but this didn't happen. 

Late in the game Braga sealed victory with a scappy goal and Celtic were unable to muster a reply.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:  

• 2nd time attending this fixture both in UEFA competition at Celtic Park
• Overall the 3rd time seeing SC Braga all in UEFA competitions
• Over the years I've seen six clubs from Portugal in European competitions
•  This was my 10th tie I've seen at Celtic Park between Celtic and Portuguese clubs

MATCH 2028 - Saturday 27 September 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  0  HIBERNIAN  0

Yet another draw which is becoming the theme of this season.  Lots of effort from Celtic to break the deadlock but just lacking quality in front of goal.

Hibs game plan was to frastrate and contain which they achieved at the expense of their normal attacking game.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• The 131st time I've attended this fixture
• This was the 113th time seeing the fixture in the League 
• This was the 12th time in the 131 matches that the clubs played out a 0-0 draw.

MATCH 2027 - Wednesday 24 September 2025

 SEASON 2025/26

Group Stage

Venue:  Stadion Rajko Mitic

RED STAR BELGRADE  1  CELTIC  1

Scorers:  Arnautovic;  Iheanacho

Very much a bonus match as I won a competition with the Celtic Pools for a wonderful trip to this match in Serbia that included flights, hotel, walking tour, coach transfers and match tickets.

Our tickets were in a small section in the main stand among the hordes of Red Star fans. Thankfully they were friendly except for one young man, an 11 year old boy stating just outside the ground "you are not safe" to our small group passing through the scores of home fans.

The match started in heavy rain. Locals were unhappy and headed for cover.  In first half Celtic had lots of procession however it was Red Star who created the chances but the match was goalless at half-time.  

In the second Celtic start strongly making several chances and were rewarded when substitute Iheanacho scores but 10 minutes later the tie was level again as strong pressure from Red Star forced the equaliser.

In the end a draw is a fair outcome.

Match report: LINK

Personal note:

• Second occasion seeing this fixture but first time in UEFA competition.
• 8th time seeing Celtic in UEFA competition in mainland Europe and 9th overall.
• First visit to Serbia - the 15th country I've seen football in.

FULL TRIP ITINERARY & SUMMARY:

• Day 1: 11:30am Meet and collect tickets in Glasgow airport
• Congregate in lounge with light lunch and drinks (bump into Jim Craig)
• Flight to Belgrade at 2pm (arrive 6:30pm local time)
• Arrive at 5 star Bristol Hotel at 7:30pm
• A relaxed evening walk then a few drinks in the Three Carrots Irish Bar
• Day 2:  Breakfast at 9am
• 11am Walking Tour through Belgrade fortress
• Afternoon in city centre and a final drink in Irish Bar
• Pick up for match at 7:15pm
• Arrive for game at 7:45pm
• Kick off at 9pm
• Whisked away straight after game to Belgrade airport
• Depart at 2am and arrive back in Glasgow as scheduled at 4am