MATCH 1617 - Saturday, 29 August 2015

Season 2015/16
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    3    ST JOHNSTONE    1

Scorers: Griffiths, Rogic, Mulgrew;  OG

Teams take the field

Celtic eventually recover from midweek Champions League disappointment to beat Perth Saints who were going for 3 Celtic Park wins on the trot following their League win last season and their Cup final win.  Not to be on this occasion but it took some terrific saves from Craig Gordon to restrict them to one goal.

Scott Allan made his Celtic Park debut in the second half.

Waterbhoys

Polish Bhoys pre match

Personal note: 

Fixture count 46 encounters between these sides, overall 47th St Johnstone match of which 42 in the league.

MATCH 1616 - Wednesday, 19 August 2015

Season:  2015/16
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFYING ROUND 1st Leg
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

My little legend!

CELTIC    3    MALMO    2

Scorers: Griffiths(2), Bitton;  Berget(2)

Fantastic night of European football at Celtic Park with both sets of fans experiencing a rollercoaster ride of football's highs and lows.  There was a near capacity crowd and a terrific away following from Sweden that created a wonderful atmosphere that you only get in Champions League football.

At 3-1 up going into the latter stages Celtic were one second away from a very good result, one goal away from an exceptional result or one goal away from a mini disaster.  Like Alex Ferguson old European comment "just when you think you are OK the roof falls in".  And that's exactly what happened when Malmo scored a last second goal to bring the tie within their reach again.  For the first time the atmosphere change to incredible silence except for the merry band of Malmo fans.

Leigh Griffiths produced a splendid No. 9 performance scoring twice.

The stage is set!

Personal note:  Malmo became the 197th club side that I've seen and the fourth European tie involving a Swedish club following Gothenburg, Helsingborgs IF and IF Elfsborg.
In order to keep my run of 14 years of not missing a home match going my little daughter attended her first UEFA tie.

MATCH 1615 - Saturday, 15 August 2015

Season: 2015/16
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC    4    INVERNESS CT    2

Scorers: Lustig, Griffiths, Armstrong(2);  Christie, Lopez

My 24th fixture between these sides - 20 in the SPL.  A strong performance from Celtic until the 70th minute, then ICT gave their very small travelling support something to cheer about with two good goals.

Stuart Armstrong was the main man scoring two second half goals.


New signing from Hibs, Scott Allan was introduced to the crowd before the start of the match.

MATCH 1614 - Saturday 1 August 2015

Season: 2015/16
SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:  CELTIC PARK (903)

FLAG DAY IN PARADISE

Setting the scene for John Clark

CELTIC    2    ROSS COUNTY    0

Scorers:  Griffiths, Johansen

My 7th Celtic match of the season although it's the opening game of the league season.  It was a one sided first 45 minutes however County came into the match more in the second, creating a number of chances.

Pre match Celtic raised their 46th league flag in recognition of last seasons'  league title win.

Fans enjoying the occasion

Personal note:  Only my 8th match involving these sides, Celtic have a win rate of 50%

MATCH 1613 - Wednesday 29 July 2015

SEASON:  2015/16
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFYING ROUND 1st Leg
Venue:  CELTIC PARK (902)

CELTIC    1    QARABAG    0

Scorer:  Boyata

Over 43,000 Celtic fans in attendance as the UEFA Champions League qualifying process steps up a level and the Champions of Azerbaijan prove to be touch opponents.  It takes Celtic until the last 10 minutes to find the breakthrough.

The hand shakes

The huddle

Sorted for kick off

Personal note:  136th UEFA tie of which 115 involve Celtic

Qarabag become the 196th club that I've seen but the 1st from Azerbaijan

MATCH 1612 - Saturday, 25 July 2015

Season:  2015/16
FRIENDLY
Venue:  CELTIC PARK (901)

CELTIC    2    RENNES    0

Scorers: Griffiths, Mackay-Steven

Low key pre-season friendly with only around 15,000 turning up.

Personal note: Stade Rennes 2nd visit to Celtic Park bringing the total number of matches I've seen involving French teams to 12.   

9 club & 3  national matches

Pre-match huddle

View from section 440

The Great North Stand - 20 years old!

Venue from the Emirates Arena after the match

MATCH 1611 - Wednesday, 15 July 2015

Season: 2015/16
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Qualifying Round 1st Leg
Venue:  CELTIC PARK (900)

CELTIC    2    STJARNAN    0

Scorers:  Boyata, Griffiths

Just like last season the new season starts with Icelandic opponents in UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round.

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2016/matches/round=2000631/match=2015591/index.html

Personel note:  Landmark game for me, my 900th match at Celtic Park.

Line ups

New season kicks off

First goal of season

Personal note:
My 114th Celtic UEFA tie - only 2 involving Icelandic clubs.

Overall only my 3rd match involving an Icelandic side - the first one was the national side under 21 team v Scotland at Fir Park in 1984 when over aged player Roy Aitken scored the only goal.
FC Stjarnan become the 195th club side I've seen.

MATCH 1610 - Friday, 10 July 2015

Season:  2015/16
Friendly
Venue: New St Mirren Park (4)

CELTIC    1    REAL SOCIEDAD    0

Scorer: Mackay-Steven

Celtic end their three game pre-season stint at New St Mirren Park with a narrow win over Real Sociedad. Gary Mackay-Steven was once again on the scoresheet.
Crowd: 7150 one of the biggest attendances in the new ground.

3rd Pre-season match at St Mirren FC

Add caption

Kick off

Subs warming up

MATCH 42 - 3 November 1982 FLASHBACK

SEASON: 1982/83
UEFA EUROPEAN CUP 2nd Round 2nd Leg
Venue:  CELTIC PARK

33 YEARS AGO

CELTIC    2    REAL SOCIEDAD    1

From a memorable season of all out attacking football from Billy McNeill's side.  

Only my 2nd European match.  Watched from the Front Stand across from a packed "Jungle" with the Sociedad fans in the Upper Stand behind me and 54,000 Celtic fans hoping to see Celtic turn around a 2-0 deficit.  However as soon as Real scored an early away goal the task was too great.  Murdo McLeod did score twice to at least win the tie on the night.

Celtic team:  Bonner, McGrain, Reid (Burns), Aitken, McAdam, Sinclair, Provan (McCluskey), McStay, McGarvey, McLeod, Nicholas

MATCH 1609 - Tuesday, 7 July 2015

Season: 2015/16
UEFA CHAMPION LEAGUE Qualifying Round 2nd Leg
Venue:  Park Hall Stadium

Match ticket

The New Saints (Wales)  4  B36 Tórshavn (Faroe Islands)   1

Scorers: Wilde(3), Williams; Cieślewicz

My most random match ever, still a new ground visited and two new clubs to add to the list.  The champions of Wales v the champions of the Faroe Islands played in Oswestry, England!

The basic end of UEFA Champions League football

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2016/matches/round=2000630/match=2016703/index.html

UEFA flags

B36 bus

The stadium turnstyles & VIP area

Our view from the "Gazebo" stand

Kick off

New Stand

Near the end of the match