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

MATCH 2026 - Saturday 23 August 2025

SEASON 2025/26

SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  3  LIVINGSTON  0

Scorers:  Nygren(2), Kenny

My 5th match in 9 days including 3 at Celtic Park in three different competitions.  This time it was in the league and three goals in the second secured the three points for Celtic.  Celtic had all the play but struggled to make a clear chance until the 48th minute when Nygren stepped up and produced a bit of quality to break the deadlock.  He picked up the ball in his own half and burst forward before passing to Yang, those shot was spilled into the path of Nygren who neatly slotted the ball home to ease the tension around Celtic Park.  Nygren also added the second, a well placed shot into the roof of the net.  Irish forward, Johnny Kenny completed the scoring with the third.

Livington are back in the top flight of Scottish football after a short period in the championship division and are still managed by David Martindale.

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• My 3rd Celtic league match attended this season.
• This was the 27th time attending this fixture in the league
• Overall this was my 33rd time seeing Livingston (32 v Celtic and 1 v Sunderland)

MATCH 2025 - Thursday 21 August 2025

 SEASON  2025/26

Qualifying Round 1st Leg

Venue:  EASTER ROAD STADIUM

HIBERNIAN  1  LEGIA WARSAW  2

Scorers:  Mulligan;  Nsame; Wszolek

My second time attending a Hibernian European tie and like the previous occasion it ended in a narrow one goal defeat.  Hibs started well and could've had the lead in the early stages but a dodgy VAR decision change the course of the game when the Polish side were awarded a penalty.  Before half time they doubled their lead.  

His did have their chances to at least get a draw but passed up several golden opportunities and now face a huge task in Poland to progress to the group stage.

My seat was in the centre of the main stand upper giving a perfect view of the pitch and the whole stadium.  Easter Road is a class ground to watch football

The impressive East Stand - now renamed the Pat Stanton Stand

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• This was a new fixture match up for me, in total the 430th fixture I've seen
• My second time seeing Hibs in Europe and the third time seeing Legia
• This was the 13th different opponent I've seen Hibernian play

Kick off

MATCH 2024 - Wednesday 20 August 2025

SEASON 2025/26

Qualifying Round 1st Leg

Venue:  CELTIC PARK

CELTIC  0  KAIRAT  0

Attendance: 58,000

A disappointing night as Celtic fail to gain a lead ahead of the second leg in Kazakhstan.  

Match report:  LINK

Personal note:

• This was the 4th time seeing Celtic play opposition from Kazakhstan, having previously played Astana(twice) and Shakhter Karagandy all in UEFA Champions League Qualification.
• Overall this was the 167th time seeing Celtic in UEFA competition